Yp wedding tips

A Jewish wedding is a day filled with beautiful traditions, heartfelt moments, and joyous celebrations. Capturing every aspect of this special occasion requires a well-structured timeline to ensure no moment is missed. Below is a detailed wedding photography timeline that helps keep everything organized while allowing time for the couple to be present with the people that matter the most.

Wedding Photography Timeline

11:30 – 12:15 | Bride’s Details & Final Touches

• Main Photographer Photographs Bride’s Details
  Make sure to have all your bridal details together in one spot (i.e. all three rings, shoes, invitation suite, jewelry, perfume, veil, etc.). These details set the tone for the day and are an important part of telling your wedding story.
• Associate Photographer Captures Final Touches of Hair & Makeup
  The final moments of hair and makeup application are perfect for capturing the bride’s anticipation and excitement as the day officially begins!

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12:15 – 1:00 | Bride & Groom Prep

• Main Photographer Photographs the Bride Getting Into Her Dress
  This is when it starts getting REAL. The emotions, the nerves, the excitement—it all comes together as the bride steps into her wedding gown.
• Associate Photographer Captures Groom Getting Ready
  Tying ties, buttoning jackets, and adjusting cufflinks—this is a great opportunity to capture candid and refined portraits of the groom and his groomsmen.

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1:00 – 1:15 | Bridal & Groom Solo Portraits

• Main Photographer Captures the Bride’s Solo Portraits
  These timeless images showcase the bride in all her beauty before she walks down the aisle.
• Associate Photographer Captures the Groom’s Solo Portraits
  Strong and dapper, these portraits highlight the groom’s excitement and confidence before seeing his bride.

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1:15 – 1:30 | Walk to the First Look

• A quiet moment before the couple sees each other for the first time. This short walk allows anticipation to build, making the first look even more special.

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1:30 – 1:45 | First Look

• One of my favorite moments of the day!! Such a beautiful and intimate moment, filled with such emotion as the couple sees each other for the first time.

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1:45 – 2:15 | Couple Portraits

• Romantic, joyful, and full of love—these portraits capture the couple’s excitement and happiness before the ceremony begins.

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2:15 – 2:30 | Bride with Bridesmaids

• These shots capture the bride with her closest friends and family, celebrating this once-in-a-lifetime moment.

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2:30 – 2:45 | Full Bridal Party Portraits

• Lively, elegant, and full of energy—this is where the entire bridal party comes together for fun and classic group shots.

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2:45 – 3:00 | Groom with Groomsmen

• These portraits highlight the friendship and joy of the groom with his best friends and family members.

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3:00 – 3:30 | Family Formals

• Capturing family members in various groupings ensures everyone gets their moment in front of the camera. These images will be cherished for generations to come.

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3:30 – 4:00 | Couple’s Break & Venue Details

• Bride & Groom Hide, Rest & Retouch
  A much-needed moment of calm before the ceremony.
• Main Photographer & Associate Capture Ceremony and Reception Decor
  The chuppah, floral arrangements, table settings, and personalized details deserve their moment in the spotlight too!

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4:00 – 5:00 | Tisch & Bedeken

• The Tisch (groom’s gathering) and Bedeken (veiling ceremony) are essential parts of a Jewish wedding. These emotional and meaningful traditions set the spiritual tone for the ceremony.

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5:00 – 5:45 | Wedding Ceremony

• The moment we’ve all been waiting for! The chuppah, vows, blessings, and the breaking of the glass—it all comes together in this sacred moment.

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5:45 – 6:05 | Yichud Room

• The couple’s first private moments together as husband and wife. A truly special time to capture love, joy, and excitement.

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6:15 – 6:30 | Grand Entrance

• The energy is high, and the celebration officially begins as the couple makes their way into the reception!

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6:30 – 8:00 | Reception & Dancing

• From the hora to heartfelt speeches, every moment is filled with emotion, love, and joy. Our goal is to capture all of the laughter, excitement, and energy as the celebration unfolds.

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8:00 – 8:10 | Sunset Portraits

• Golden hour is the perfect time for intimate husband-and-wife portraits. With the sun setting behind them, these images have a soft, romantic glow.

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8:10 – 10pm | Reception & Final Moments

• Dancing, cake cutting, and celebrating into the night—our team stays until we’ve captured every incredible moment of the evening.

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A well-planned timeline ensures that no special moment is missed and that the couple can truly enjoy their day without feeling rushed. Every Jewish wedding is unique, and this schedule can be adjusted to fit specific traditions and preferences. The key is to leave enough room for spontaneity and joy while still keeping the day structured and smooth.

At Yael Pachino Photography, we specialize in capturing the beauty and traditions of Jewish weddings, ensuring that every memory is preserved with love and artistry. If you’re planning your wedding, we’d love to be part of your day! Reach out to us to discuss your vision and how we can make it come to life through stunning photography.

Mazel tov and happy planning!

Jewish weddings are rich in tradition, symbolism, and culture, making them incredibly meaningful for couples, families and the entire community as a whole.

Whether you’re attending a Jewish wedding, planning your own, or just interested in the unique customs involved, this article will explain everything you need to know about Jewish wedding traditions and their significance!

1. Chuppah

The chuppah is a canopy under which the couple stands during their wedding ceremony. Symbolizing the home the couple will build together, it’s a beautiful representation of shelter, protection, and love.

The chuppah is often held up by four poles and can be decorated with flowers or fabric. The open sides of the chuppah are meant to represent the couple’s willingness to welcome friends and family into their new home.
Common across all branches: Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform.

The chuppah is a central aspect of Jewish wedding ceremonies, and the design can vary greatly depending on personal style and preference.

While some couples opt for simple wooden structures, others go all-out with elaborate designs featuring fabric, flowers, or even greenery. A unique chuppah helps add a personal touch to the ceremony and sets the tone for the wedding! Your florist and Event Planner can help bring your Chuppah vision to life!

2. Ketubah

A ketubah is the Jewish marriage contract. It’s an important document outlining the couple’s obligations to each other. Traditionally, it’s signed by two witnesses and is often beautifully decorated.

After the wedding, the ketubah is typically displayed in the couple’s home as a reminder of their commitment.
Common across all branches: Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform.

The ketubah is not just a legal document; it’s also a deeply emotional part of the wedding ceremony. It outlines the rights and responsibilities of the husband toward the wife, ensuring that she will be supported and cared for.

While the ketubah is traditionally written in Aramaic, many modern couples today choose to have it in English, Hebrew or both Hebrew and English, especially in Reform weddings.

3. Sheva Brachot

The Sheva Brachot (Seven Blessings) are recited during the wedding ceremony and at the end of the Reception right after everyone recites the prayers of Grace after Meals.

These seven blessings are also recited at the subsequent seven days of celebrations, typically at a dinner. These blessings express gratitude for the creation of the world, joy in the couple’s union, and the hope for a future filled with love and peace.

The Seven blessings are traditionally said in Hebrew, but many couples choose to have both the Hebrew blessings and English versions of the blessings under the Chuppah. Having both is a beautiful way to include tradition with a modern twist to make sure everyone can appreciate the special blessings.
Common across all branches: Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform.

These blessings include words of praise for God’s creation, the gift of marriage, and the celebration of love and life. In many Jewish wedding traditions, these blessings are recited in Hebrew, and family members and friends take turns reciting them at the wedding celebration.

These blessings are repeated during the week-long festivities that follow the wedding, known as Sheva Brachot dinners.

4. Kabbalat Panim

Before the wedding ceremony, the kabbalat panim is the reception where the bride and groom are greeted by family and friends. Traditionally, the bride and groom are separated, and each receives guests in their respective areas.
Common in Orthodox and Conservative weddings, though not a standard practice in Reform weddings.

The kabbalat panim is a time of joyful celebration before the wedding ceremony begins.

While the groom and bride traditionally celebrate separately, the mingling and excitement build anticipation for the ceremony. This tradition allows both families and friends to enjoy the occasion together before the formalities begin.

5. Tisch

The tisch is a traditional pre-wedding gathering where the groom, family, and friends celebrate together before the ceremony.

It’s often lively and includes singing and dancing, especially with the groom’s male relatives and friends. The groom is usually seated at the head of the table, and the atmosphere is filled with joy and excitement.

The tisch sets the stage for the festivities to come and allows the groom to relax and enjoy the support of his loved ones.
Common in Orthodox and Conservative weddings, but not typically observed by Reform Jews.

The tisch is a key part of the Orthodox and Conservative Jewish wedding experience. The groom’s close friends and family gather around, singing and sharing moments of joy before the ceremony.

It’s a time for the groom to relax and focus on the joy of the occasion before the formalities of the wedding.

It is a cherished tradition for the groom to share words of Jewish wisdom. As he speaks, his family and friends joyfully interrupt with songs and dance, infusing the moment with lively celebration and communal spirit.

6. Bedekin

The bedekin is the veiling ceremony that takes place just before the couple’s wedding ceremony. The groom places a veil over the bride’s face, symbolizing modesty and the groom’s acceptance of the bride’s inner beauty.

During an Orthodox and Conservative wedding, this usually takes place right after the Tisch. The groom walks or dances his way to the bride with the whole community with him, once he is in front of the bride, he goes to her and puts the veil over her head to cover her face.
Commonly practiced by Orthodox and Conservative Jews, though some Reform weddings may include it based on personal preference.

The bedekin is a beautiful and symbolic ritual, highlighting the groom’s commitment to his bride.

It’s a moment of intimacy before the ceremony begins, and it is a very traditional part of Orthodox and Conservative Jewish weddings. It is also a time for the families to come together and celebrate the union. In Reform weddings, the veil may be less emphasized, and couples may choose to focus on other elements of the ceremony.

7. Ring Exchange

During the ceremony, the couple exchanges rings as a sign of their commitment to one another. In Jewish tradition, the groom typically places the ring on the bride’s index finger and recites a blessing.

The ring is traditional a gold band. A simple, unbroken circle shape represents a marriage without conflict or distraction. 
Common across all branches: Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform.

The ring exchange is one of the most important moments in the Jewish wedding ceremony.

In Orthodox traditions, the ring is given without any markings or gemstones, representing the couple’s pure and eternal bond.

While this is the most common custom, Reform Jews may opt for a ring that has more personalization, such as engraving or the inclusion of gemstones.

8. Breaking the Glass

At the end of the wedding ceremony, the groom (and sometimes along side the bride) breaks a glass, typically wrapped in a cloth, with his foot.

This act has multiple interpretations, including the reminder of the destruction of the ancient Temple in Jerusalem and the hope that the couple’s marriage will be filled with both joy and sorrow, as life is full of contrasts.
Common across all branches: Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform.

Breaking the glass is one of the most iconic traditions at Jewish weddings.

The sound of the glass shattering symbolizes the breaking of the couple’s past life as they begin their new life together. In some traditions, guests shout “Mazel Tov!” immediately after the glass is broken, signaling the celebration of the couple’s future.

9. Yichud

After the ceremony, the couple spends a few moments in private, called yichud. This tradition allows the couple to be alone together for the first time as newlyweds, reflecting on the commitment they’ve just made. It also symbolizes their new status as a married couple.
Common across all branches: Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform.

The yichud period is a moment of quiet reflection and intimacy after the chaos of the wedding ceremony. The couple is in a secluded room where they can enjoy their first moments as husband and wife.

This practice is observed in both traditional and more modern Jewish weddings, providing a peaceful pause in the celebration.

In both Orthodox and Conservative traditions, the Rabbi will inspect the Yichud room beforehand to ensure it is properly secluded and free of any other guests.

Once the bride and groom enter and settle into the room, the door is closed behind them, and two witnesses stand guard outside to ensure their privacy, maintaining the sacredness of this intimate moment.

10. Chatan and Kallah

In Jewish weddings, the groom is referred to as the chatan and the bride is called the kallah.

These terms reflect the couple’s roles in the wedding ceremony and signify the joyous occasion.
Common across all branches: Orthodox and Conservative

The terms chatan (groom) and kallah (bride) are used throughout the wedding ceremony to refer to the couple. These words are a sign of respect and are used when referring to the individuals being united in marriage.

While they are commonly used across all Jewish traditions, you may also hear these terms in other aspects of Jewish life, such as during blessings or prayers.

Jewish weddings are beautiful, deeply rooted in tradition, and filled with meaningful rituals that symbolize love, commitment, and faith.

Understanding these terms will help you better appreciate the beauty and significance of a Jewish wedding and the many layers of meaning that come with this joyous celebration.

Whether you’re planning the wedding, attending your first Jewish wedding, or something in between, knowing the meanings behind these terms can deepen your connection to the experience.

Jewish weddings are a celebration of love, life, faith and tradition and each term, custom, and ritual plays a vital role in honoring that legacy.

“Aunt Yael when are you getting married?” My eldest niece asked me for the third time of the weekend “I just can’t wait to be a flower girl!”

My nieces are more excited about my future wedding (whenever that may be) than I am. All they want is to wear pretty dresses and throw petals down the aisle. All they want is to get their hair done, wear flower crowns and walk down the aisle but being a flower girl is no small feat!

Here are some helpful tips to make the big moment seem a little less scary for our favorite little ones.

The Buddy System:

Never underestimate the buddy system. Sometimes, it can be a little overwhelming for anyone, not just for our cute little humans, to walk down the aisle with 200 people watching them, that’s why sending them down the aisle together makes everyone happy. Not only is it adorable, but it makes it less scary for them!

Talk to them Well in Advance!

Talk to them! If your flower girls are anything like my nieces they will absolutely love talking in detail about what their flower girl duties are. Tell them early and multiple times. They will feel important. They will take it seriously and will understand what is expected of them if you begin telling them well in advanced! Plus, you get to watch as their eyes light up as you talk about them being flower girls! It’s a win, win!

Invite her to the shower & other bridesmaid functions (like a brunch, not the bachelorette party😄😄😄)

The more comfortable your little flower girls are the better. Inviting her to your wedding shower or bridesmaids brunch will help her get to know the rest of the bridal party. This way, on the day of the wedding, your bridesmaids will be familiar faces and she will be WAYY more comfortable!

Strategically place her parents

If her parents are in the wedding party or even just guests, have them sit (or stand) towards the front of the ceremony, this way she can concentrate on her parents encouraging smile reassuring her all the way down the aisle.

With these few simple tips your flower girls will be set up for success! They will be ready, be excited and most importantly comfortable!

The father of the bride is usually the most underestimated and untapped resource on your wedding planning team. Trust me when I say, your dad wants to help, as much as he can! You are his little girl for crying out loud! Of course he wants to help!

What kind of tasks can you give your dear old dad?

Here are my top father of the bride duties he can do with 100% success!

The Logistics:

Need to find out how much a trolley or limo is but are dreading talking quotes on the phone? Give that job to Dad! Need someone to keep track of when the vendor checks have to go out? That’s on Dad. Need someone to break the tie of what color linens, just ask Dad! He will feel useful and you will be so thankful to have him on the job!

The At-home Stuff:

Wedding planning comes with a lot of small at home tasks that are, let’s face it, mundane, time consuming tasks that Dad can totally help with. Like what you may ask? Stamps, licking envelopes, folding programs, keeping track of the RSVP cards, organizing spreadsheets etc… Your dad will be the real MVP of the at home tasks that no one really looks forward to!

The Budget:

If Dad CAN help with the budget, he will do as much as he can…

The Delivery:

Dad is the perfect person to do the week before deliveries to the venue, hotels and ceremony location… From signage to place cards, all the way to bar decor and welcome baskets. Your dad will be more than willing to help drop everything off, keep out of your hair and do something productive!

The Giving his Daughter Away:

At the end of the day, the most important tasks that dad has to do for the wedding is prepare himself to walk his little girl down the aisle. This is the moment he has been waiting for since the day you were born, this is the moment he watches his baby make a family of her own. This is the moment that means more than anything to both of you!

Yael Pachino Photography LLC wants to thank all the amazing father of the bride’s that I have worked with in the past! You have been amazing in every way! Cheers to you Dad! We love you!

Spending your special day with the ones you love is important. I know! I know how much your closest friends mean to you, how much you want everyone to be there standing next to you as you say “I do.” But what happens when your fiance has one or two more friends they want to be in the wedding party? Is having an uneven wedding party OK? I am here to tell you YES! Of course it is!

Stop your worrying now! Stop feeling pressured into adding or subtracting people simply to ensure your numbers match. You can make it work and no one will even notice! For brides-to-be with an uneven wedding party here’s how to strike the perfect balance.

Double up or fly solo down the aisle. If the walking in and out of the ceremony part is what you are worried about, here is what you do; you’ve actually have a couple really cute options. You can either let your besties fly solo or have each groomsmen walk with two bridesmaids or vice versa depending on whether or not you have more groomsmen or bridesmaids. Of course, you can mix and match it. You can have your maid of honor walk down alone while the rest of the girls walk down with groomsmen, you can have your best man escort your puppy down the aisle and even have two of your groomsmen walking down the aisle linking arms; It’s always a crowd pleaser : )

Get creative with spacing. Use spacing to your advantage. How? Well, trick the camera and your guests into thinking you have an equal amount of bridesmaids and groomsmen! It’s actually pretty simple! During the ceremony, have the side with fewer attendants spread out a little more making extra space in between each person, while the side with more attendants stands closer together. This would make each side a similar length so no one will notice the difference, not even the camera!

Change it up. I know it’s traditional to have the bridesmaids on one side and the groomsmen on the other but it doesn’t have to be like that! Why not shake things up a little and give your ceremony a modern twist. Make things symmetrical and unique by mixing the bridesmaids and groomsmen up on both sides.

Trust your photographer. Your photographer is an expert. They know exactly how to use space and angles to their advantage, be open with them. Tell them that you are worried about your wedding photos looking unbalanced. They will know exactly what to do to!

Now go on, ignore the numbers and focus on the people that mean the most to you! You won’t regret it!

Your wedding was magical. You’ve never felt so much love or joy in your entire life. You are overwhelmed with bliss! You are finally married to your best friend and ready to get out of planning mode and into every day life mode! But wait one second… Do you feel like you forgot something??! What do you still have to do before you can officially say goodbye to the wedding to-do list??!

Before you walk off, hand in hand, into the sunset, make sure you have officially completed your wedding to-do list!

Thank You Notes

Your family and friends were a huge part of your big day, from helping you plan, to being there to celebrate with you all the way down to providing you with your favorite new kitchen appliances, writing a short, yet sweet thank you note will go a long way! Spend an evening getting them done or plan on writing 15 a night every night until you’ve written them all!

Return Un-used Wedding Day Items

The cute paper straws you forgot to bring to the venue, the three different centerpieces you bought before settling on the beautiful flower arrangement for each table or even the bag of bubbles that were never handed out before your grand exit. Let’s just say, you probably have tons of wedding decor and props you never ended up using, don’t keep it! Return it! Get your money back! It’s a great way to start your marriage off with a little extra cash in the bank!

Review Venders

You loved your venders. You loved the energy they brought to your big day, your grateful for all the advice they gave you through out the wedding planning and are so thankful for all the time they put into each and every detail of your wedding day. You couldn’t have imagined having a different event planner or photographer with you on the best day of your lives. Make sure they know it! Write a review, ask your vender where you should post your review and tell the world about your wedding experience. Your venders will be forever grateful!

Have your Wedding Dress Cleaned or Preserved

Get it cleaned! No matter what you plan on doing with your dress after you say “I do,” get that baby cleaned! You and your dress deserves it!!! After all the time, love and energy you put into choosing out the dress of your dreams, don’t just put it in the closet and forget about it! Maintain it! Love it! And maybe, just maybe, your baby girl one day will want to wear it too!

Wedding Album

I mean let’s be honest, I may be slightly biased but this is a definite must! I mean it is your wedding photos for crying out loud! All the precious moments, lovely details and beautiful portraits are too special to not print them! I know, it sounds daunting, how do you choose!??? Ask your photographer for help! I absolutely love helping my clients design their dream album!

Return Unwanted Wedding Gifts before its too late!

No matter how much time and thought you put into your wedding registry, you will get duplicate gifts or even off-registered gifts! Don’t feel pressured to keep them! Your gift-giver wants you to be happy and want their gift to be desirable! Return those unwanted gifts, get cash back or even something else you really, really want!

Legally Change your Name

If you are planning on taking your SO’s name that is! Updating your online profiles is the easy part! You’d be surprised how many different steps there are you need to take to legally change your name! Trust me when I say you are going to want to start the process as quickly as possible!

So, even though your big day are now beautiful memories and you are ready to be an old married couple, you will feel a lot better once you get these things done! Cheers to no more wedding to-do lists!!

You are about to be announced as Mr. and Mrs. for the first time. You’re still flying high from the amazing morning surrounded by family and friends, your emotional and intimate first look and the best wedding ceremony you could have asked for. Now, as your guests are getting seated and situated, it’s time. Time to bustle that dress. Maid of Honor this is all you!

Bustling a wedding dress can be a daunting task! Every wedding dress has its own, unique bustle and if you are anything like me, I wouldn’t even know where to start. That’s why, I always suggest being prepared!

Here are YPPs “Maid of Honor Bustle Five Step Survivor Guide” for all the amazing and incredible Maid of Honors out there!

Step 1: Go to the Wedding Dress Fitting!

Cue the tears and the champagne!! As Maid of Honor it is not only a privilege but your duty to go along to at least one of your besties wedding dress fittings! Seeing your best friend try on her dress before the big day is a moment you will cherish forever! Plus, it gives you the perfect opportunity to watch the pros at work and see exactly how to bustle the dress! The bustle isn’t usually designed until the alterations begin so this is a great opportunity to really understand the bustle for the wedding day!

Step 2: Record it!

Imagine, you are watching your BFF stand in front of you in her white dress, huge smile and twinkling eyes. It’s her final wedding dress fitting. All the alterations have been made. The bustle has been perfectly placed and her wedding is in just a few short weeks. You are in complete awe as you watch the bride-to-be glow in every way. Get your head in the game! You are here for a reason! Ask the stylist to show you exactly how to bustle the dress. Pull out your phone and hit record! Make sure you get every detail on video. It will make it that much easier to bustle it on the big day!

Step 3: Take note of how long it takes!

As you stand there watching the stylist expertly bustle your friends dress in, pay attention to how long it takes her! Bustles can go from a simple, one button contraption to a few dozen hooks, you need to make sure you have plenty of time to bustle the day of!

PRO TIP: I always suggest adding an extra buffer of 10-15 minutes for the bustle just in case!

Step 4: Squad Goals

Although the responsibility usually falls on the Maid of Honor, it’s never a bad thing to have a few other helping hands! Grab a couple of the other bridesmaids to help you bustle as quickly and as well as possible! The more eyes on the video, the more people holding the dress, the easier and faster it is to get your bride moving as swiftly as possible!

Step 5: Emergency Kit

Bustles are delicate. Buttons can pop, ribbons can break, ties can loosen but the show must go on! Your responsibility as the Maid of Honor is to make sure you have a back up plan. More often than not, a damaged bustle can be fixed with a safety pin! That’s right, a safety pin! To be the ultimate Maid of Honor and win major points, come prepared. bring a little bag full of all different sized safety pins. You will be the hero of the night!

Weddings are intimate, personal and meaningful. Some couples just simply want to have an unplugged wedding. Hey, I get it. You want your guests to be in the moment, you want your guests to really feel the love and see the magic without looking through their phone screens! But a “no phone rule” is hard to enforce, especially when you want everyone to enjoy your big day! Here are YPPs best practices to getting the unplugged ceremony you have always wanted!

Decide on How Unplugged

One of the major questions I get from my clients is “how unplugged does my wedding have to be?” Well, it is completely up to you! If you want the entire wedding, from before the ceremony and all the way until the final dance to be unplugged that’s great! If you don’t care what happens after the ceremony that’s awesome too! It is seriously up to you! You can have your wedding as unplugged or as plugged in as you want!

Let Guests Know in Advance

Although I wouldn’t suggest announcing your unplugged desires on the formal invitation itself, there are still ways to let your guests no in advance! For example, on the wedding website, an insert that goes in the wedding invitation envelope, your wedding ceremony printed programs, a sign… the list can go on!

Signs and Reminders

I love friendly reminders, especially when they are written in beautiful calligraphy! One of my favorite unplugged announcement methods is the classic sign. It’s a gentle, yet not so subtle way to ask your guests to put the phones away and be in the moment. They are there for a reason, and guess what, I (the photographer) am there for a reason too! I got it covered, I promise!

Make an Announcement!

Have your officiant or Best Man make an announcement! It’s as simple as that! Most guests will have absolutely no problem putting their phones away if they are told that it’s what the bride and groom want. Remember, these are your people! Your family, closes friends and the community who have watched you grow up over the years. They want you happy and if they knew you wished to have an unplugged ceremony, that will be enough of a reason to put their phone off and away.

Don’t forget it, it’s your wedding, your dream, you get to have an unplugged wedding if that’s what you want!

You cannot wait for the special moments, the dancing and all the love, but first you need to actually get to your wedding. Transportation. It’s not always glamorous but always necessary and the thought of traffic has never seen so daunting!

Here are YPP’s top Wedding Day Transportation tips to help you get to your wedding without a glitch!

Book Early!

You’d be surprised to hear how many cars are rented out each month! You wouldn’t want the transportation of your dreams to be all booked up due to proms, graduations or even Mitzvahs! The YPP tip of thumb is to book your favorite mode of wedding transportation between 9 months and 6 months out!

More than Just Limousines!

If you aren’t a limousine kinda couple, that it totally ok! You’d be amazed with how many different kinds of transportation options there are out there. Antique cars, vintage trucks, tandem bicycles, vespas, golf cart, gondola, taxi and horse and carriage are a few other options!

Book in Person

I don’t know about you, but whenever I rent a car online, I’m usually not 100% percent happy! Do your research! Talk to them on the phone. Make sure you actually see your mode of transportation in person and meet the driver before the big day! This way you can avoid as many surprises as possible!

Give Yourself Extra Time

Traffic is one of my least favorite things, especially on a wedding day! Being late to your own wedding because of traffic might make your day way more stressful than it needs to be! That’s why, I suggest giving yourself an extra 20 to 30 minutes, just in case of traffic or any other transportation issues! Being early is never a bad thing! Actually, if you are asking me, being early is preferred!

Specific is Terrific!

It’s your wedding day, you want everything to be exactly so! From the champagne and beer brands stocked in your party bus all way down to the music that you and your wedding party want to dance to on the way to the reception hall! Make sure you write down what you want and send it to your car company at least a month before your wedding!

Ask about Decorations!

Be sure to ask about decorations! If your dream is to drive off into the sunset in a beautiful, all decked-out vintage car, make sure you can actually decorate it!

Now go on, pick out the wedding transportation of your dreams, do the research, make the playlists and schedule extra time for pick up and drop offs! Trust me, you won’t regret it!

I remember like it was yesterday, it was the night before my Bat Mitzvah, I was so giddy and excited that I spent the entire night staring at the light-up star stickers on the ceiling of my orange and blue painted room. All I wanted to do was start getting ready for my big party. I was only 12 years old and I did absolutely none of the planning… I can only imagine what it feels like the night before your wedding! A mix of excitement, pure bliss and tons of nerves! I mean let’s be honest, you have been planning your wedding for months, maybe even years, and it is finally here! How can you possibly sleep!!

Here are YPPs 7 Top Tips for getting the a great sleep before your wedding!!

BTW, Robert, if you are reading this, I’m sure you are rolling your eyes because I know you think I never get enough sleep!

Exercise like Never Before!

That’s right. Get up and go for it! Sweat like never before! A few hours before you want to go to sleep, workout like you are training for a marathon! Go for a long run, hit an awesome kickboxing class or even find a great HIIT routine on YouTube! Whatever kind of workout you like, just go for it! I swear it will tire you out and relieve stress all at the same time!

Avoid Caffeine After 12pm

I know, this one is tough, specially with all the last minute details and moving parts going on the day before your wedding, but trust me on this one, it is amazing how much quicker you fall asleep without caffeine in your system! So, get a double espresso or double fist your favorite caffeinated tea that morning , but after 12pm, stick to water!! You will be so thankful you did!

Schedule Some Worry Time

“Don’t worry, everything will be great!” It’s easier said than done that’s why, as the Type A kinda gal that I am, I suggest scheduling time to worry. Don’t let the worry and nerves take over your entire day or even your pre-wedding week. This is such a special time! You deserve to enjoy it. That’s why, scheduling a designated worrying time allows you too relieve that need to stress but then when you are done, you are done. If you still feel stressed and worried once you climb into bed, practice meditation or deep breathing! It can really help!

Put the Screens Away!

The blue light from your computer screen, phone screen and even TV screen can keep you up for hours after you are ready to go to bed! Turn your phone on silent and try not to get too distracted by any screens laying around!

Massage!

A soft massage can do wonders for you! It can relieve the stress in your body and mind. Is a massage not an option? That’s ok! Bring your favorite facial mask or face cream to get you in the calming mood. It can really do the trick!

BONUS: Lavender scent is known to calm your mind and your body, I highly suggest bringing a lavender scented candle to light a few hours before you climb into bed! It will be discrete, yet powerful!

Write Down all the Feels!!

You are going to be feeling A LOT of different things. Grab a pen and a notebook and write them down. Letting everything out on paper is a great way of releasing it all out to the universe. Write the good and the bad! The things you are excited about and the things that might be stressing you out! You might even find yourself writing some new vows that you seriously cannot wait to share with your SO!

Don’t be too Hard on Yourself

Sometimes, you just can’t fall asleep, don’t let that stress you out even more! No matter what you are going to have an incredible day and marry your best friend. So don’t let your sleeping schedule make you even more worried!!