Let's go, G.N.O
What better way to get the celebrations going than a good old fashioned Girls Night?!
The wedding day itself comes and goes so quickly. It’s super important to make the days leading up to the wedding special too! …. and I’m not talking about the bachelorette party or the bridal showers.
LOOKING FOR A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER? LET’S GET IN TOUCH!
What it is:
This is a prep and pamper sleepover night for you and your ladies to get everyone feeling good and excited for the wedding day to come! Save the “girls gone wild” vibes for the bachelorette party and spend this event relaxing and soaking in the love from all your besties. You’ll be getting your nails done and moisturizing from head to toe anyways, so why not make an event out of it?
When you should do it:
Ideally, this slumber party would take place the night before your big day. That way your manicure is fresh and you will have everyone already there in the morning the day of to get ready for the wedding together.
If you’d prefer to get your beauty rest alone or spend your last night as a single lady with your family, you could also plan this girly get together for a day or two before your wedding. Just be sure you don’t get too far in advance because you don’t want time for your nails to grow out between your visit to the salon and the time you get in your gown!
PRO TIP: Get a hotel room or Air BNB near the wedding venue to make the night before your wedding feel extra special + different from a regular night. PLUS it’s nice to have a short drive to the venue. Less drive time = less stress
Why you should do it:
The best way I can think to explain why pre-celebrating is important is to compare your wedding to Christmas.
Christmas Day is so special and exciting, but it is usually a day filled to the brim with traditions and family gatherings, and it passes in the blink of an eye.
So what makes Christmas so amazing is the buildup we create leading up to the actual day for an entire season but especially the night before — or Christmas Eve.
How many of you had matching P.Js, Christmas sleepovers with your siblings, and hours of excitement waiting for Christmas morning to arrive? Christmas Eve is always my favorite part of Christmas because the excitement in the air is nearly tangible and the anticipation is just so FUN! Christmas eve is also a generally more relaxed, intimate evening where you get to enjoy the holiday spirit and soak in every moment! So make your “wedding-eve” special and anticipation-filled too!
You have been preparing and planning and checking off lists for your perfect wedding day for months—so plan for a laid back, fun evening to feel every ounce of excitement and joy and happiness! Don’t let your wedding eve pass without making it a day for you and your favorite people to stop the stress and start the celebration.
What you should do:
Think chick flicks, pedicures, manicures, facials, etc. Matching bathrobes, pjs, or even just socks make it extra fun for everyone! Pamper yourselves and prep with each other! You can be as extravagant or as simple as your energy level (and budget) will allow!
a sample itinerary could look like:
Start at the salon for manicures and/or pedicures
go out for dinner or pick up takeout, or order room service
watch some favorite movies or tv re-runs while you snack, do at-home facials, and talk the night away
get to bed early so you are all well rested for the festivities to come
get up in the morning and get ready together (maybe do brunch or have a breakfast spread for everyone to eat)
go have a WEDDING!
PRO TIP: Depending on your venue and your wedding day itinerary (and how many hours you have booked at your venue/with your vendors) you may want to have your hair and makeup done at the hotel before you go to the venue. Most event facilities will have a brides room and a grooms room, so you will likely want to travel to the venue in comfy clothes, and get in your gown in the brides room. (if the facility is big enough bridesmaids can change with you there, if it’s not you may want them to get dressed before they come to the venue)
Who should be there:
Generally this group would be your bridesmaids, since they all have the same place to be the day of and it’s fun to get ready together. BUT. It’s completely up to you! You can invite your bridesmaids, or spend the girls night with your sisters and mom, or just you and your maid of honor, or your sisters and sister-in-laws, or your family (even brothers and dad) just whoever you want to spend this time with and whoever will make it special for you!
Whatever you do, and whoever you invite, the point is to pause and make the most of your time as a bride. Don’t let it pass by without stopping to soak it in and making the entire thing special, and important. Your wedding represents the beginning of forever, so get the celebration and memory making going well before and beyond the 6-8 hour period you have vendors booked for!