Studio Ostendo operates in multiple creative fields including photography, design, and education.
I remember walking down the stairs onto the stone terrace where our closest friends and family were gathered the night before our wedding. I stopped under the same archway I’d walk through with my dad the next day on my way to marrying my best friend, and just watched. I watched my friends laughing together, my grandpa creeping up on a peacock, my flower girl showing off her dress, and my dad and Kaleb’s standing next to each other, hands in pockets, talking and waiting for the rehearsal to start.
That time might have been the beginning of the sweetest 24 hours of my life, maybe 29 hours if you count the dancing at our reception, which was a highlight for sure. Our rehearsal was a kind of starting point for our wedding day bliss, a little early celebration with our family and our best friends.
SO much happens during the weeks and days leading up to your wedding. I’m sure I had a million things to do and cross of my list. But you know what I remember about those days? I remember the moments that were special to me and the people I spent time with, because I took care of all those tasks and to-do's ahead of time.
To help you do the same, I’m sharing a list of things to do the night before your wedding…so you can cross them off your list, and focus on what really matters.
Before your rehearsal, finish any last minute details and things you need to prepare for the next day. Getting these things done before the rehearsal will help you relax and enjoy your night!
Create a list in advance of all the things you need to get done before the rehearsal so you can get them done and delegate some tasks! Here are some things that may be on your list: give vendor payments to a reliable friend/family member/personal attendant, make copies of your “Wedding Day Itinerary” for your wedding party/family/anyone else who needs a hard copy, gather all your detail items for your photographer and put them in a box or bag for the following morning, AND anything else you need to get done…including the following two things…
The sooner you finish packing for your Honeymoon, the less you’ll have on your brain! Take some time earlier in the day to finish packing for your honeymoon so you're not scrambling last minute.
If you haven’t done this earlier in the week, stop by your jewelry store and get your ring cleaned. Just like you pamper yourself, pamper your new favorite accessory so it shines on your wedding day!
Because you use them throughout the day, once you’re settled for the night, set aside any personal items you want with you on your wedding day. For me, that included items like my wallet and ID, phone, and chapstick that weren’t necessarily in my emergency kit.
If you wrote your own vows, grab your maid of honor or one of your girls to practice once or twice!
Staying hydrated for your wedding will make a huge difference in how you feel throughout the day, so start the night before!
Instead of snacking on junk food, consider choosing a healthier option. The last thing you want is to feel bloated or have an upset stomach on your wedding day!
Instead of planning a bunch of things or saving wedding tasks until the night before, spend time with your wedding party! It’s one of those things that’s just better for your soul.
You know yourself—how much sleep you need, what activities are relaxing to you. Wedding days are usually long and packed full of activities that keep you moving all day long, so find ways to relax and rest the night before your big day!
Wedding photography is my heartbeat. For me, it holds the perfect tension between creativity and authenticity, observation and connection. In front of my camera clients transform to friends, and behind it you'll usually find me tearing up, cheering you on, or holding my breath because of the raw goodness of the moment at hand.
Get in Touch
