Our friend, Julie DiGiovine of The Stylish One shares helpful hints throughout her real-life journey to “I do!”

This is it! Next week, I’ll be walking down the aisle. It’s been an incredible journey and given me such a sense of appreciation for the effort it takes for brides to balance life, work, and wedding planning. I can’t emphasize how much the support of family, friends, and an amazing team of vendors can really mean.

For my last post of the series, I wanted highlight a few things that you don’t want to forget to do before you say, “I do!” Here we go:

1. Insure your rings
Before you pack up for that honeymoon, make sure your new bling is protected. If you’ve been procrastinating and haven’t insured your engagement ring, do it! The last thing you want is to be snorkeling for your wedding rings.

2. Clean up
This one goes for both brides and grooms. Get those eyebrows waxed a week or two ahead of time so you don’t have any redness or chance of breakouts. Need a trim? Go 2-3 weeks prior so your hair can settle. If you’re planning on getting a spray tan, have your nails done first to avoid streaking.

Grooms, get a fresh cut early in the week and don’t forget to shave or at least trim your beard. Clean and cut your nails and don’t forget to choose a nice, subtle cologne for the Big Day. Just be sure that whatever look you choose is one you’ll love years from now.

3. Get your marriage license
This may sound like an obvious one, but don’t forget to get your marriage license before the wedding. You can’t make it official without one. Keep in mind, it takes a bit of time for your local city hall to process the paperwork before you can pick it up, so give yourself some time. You also want to make sure that you know the expiration timeline. Most are valid between 30 and 90 days after the issue date.

4. Touch base with your team
I was fortunate enough to visit the flower market with my friend, Whim Co-founder and Aesthetics Director & Floral Designer, Moira Thompson, which is something she does with many of her floral clients. It was so inspiring and a perfect time to make sure we were ready to go on the Big Day.

Although not all of your vendors will require an in-person meeting, or offer special time like this, you should definitely be in communication with each of them so everyone is aware of the timeline. You’ll also want to take care of any remaining balances and confirm all of the details… that’s where having a planner comes in handy!

5. Pick an after-party meeting place
If you plan on partying into the wee hours, pick a place to meet and let people know. If you’re getting married at a hotel, chances are there may be a bar for you all to gather at. If not, consider a spot near the venue that’s open late. That will avoid any stress, confusion, or hurt feelings the night of the wedding. PS. Don’t forget to bring a change of clothes, unless you want to rock that dress all night, which you have every right to!

6. Power on
This may seem like a silly one, but don’t forget to bring chargers with you while getting ready for the Big Day. Although you shouldn’t be spending too much time on your phone, you will most likely want to snap a few selfies with your girls while you’re getting glam and you definitely want to have a way to call vendors and bridal party members if need be.

7. Write a love letter
There’s nothing better than reading a love letter from your sweetheart before walking down the aisle. Take the time to write something special that you can each read while getting ready. It will be a wonderful way to express your feelings on a more intimate level and to let your bride or groom know just how excited you are to be marrying one another.

As stressful as the last few days can be, take in all the special moments. Have a blast on your bachelorette party, go on a date night, hug and thank everyone who has been helping you along the way, and don’t forget to use the word “fiancé” as much as you can.

We’d love to hear some of your Big Day tips and tricks. Tweet me and be sure to follow @TheStylishOne_ and @WhimEvents on Instagram for inspiration and a look behind the scenes. I can’t wait to share Moira’s work and some special wedding photos with you all. Love and best wishes to the brides and grooms out there!