Think about it—roll out of bed to start drinking mimosas with your wedding party. Then simply take the elevator down to the ceremony. Finally, grab an appetizer (and a kiss from your now husband or wife) and switch rooms for your reception.
It could be that easy. Just ask Deb Trask from Holiday Inn Rapid City – Rushmore Plaza, who sees it all of the time. 605 Weddings chatted with Trask on why this streamlines the process, why ending the night in a hotel room with your significant other is a must, and what mistakes to avoid when getting ready for the big day.
Why do you recommend getting ready at the venue where you’re getting married?
Having a suite at your venue gives you an intimate space for all the moments before the ceremony. It’s a time for you to connect with your wedding party and family, whom you may not have seen in months. And if you have a large wedding party, you’ll want to make sure you have enough room for everyone. Your team of vendors will have an amazing space to work in and capture all these moments as you prepare.
What are the pros of having your ceremony and reception at the same venue? And also having your hotel room there as well?
We can offer our couples so many accommodations. Having your ceremony and reception at the same venue enables your guests to relax and enjoy themselves. Your loved ones won’t have to worry about driving or finding a way home. Not only this, but we can offer an amazing space for a gift opening brunch the next morning, so you can carry on the celebrations the following day!
Make Your Wedding Morning Relaxed
+ Hand out timelines of the day to the wedding party, vendors, and others that apply at the rehearsal dinner so everyone knows where to be.
+ Don’t stay up too late or drink too much the night before.
+ Lay out your dress, suit, and accessories so you know where everything is.
+ Have something for breakfast. It’s a long (and amazing) day.
+ Find mindfulness with a walk, yoga, meditation, or something simple like a bath.
+ Pamper yourself with candles, essential oils, flowers, moisturizer, and other things that make you happy.
+ Have a playlist ready with songs that either calm you, make you happy, or both. Not sure what to play? Have Spotify handy.
+ Pack your “getting ready” outfit. Whether it’s a robe or your favorite t-shirt and athletic pants.
+ Coordinate someone to be “your person.” Planning should be done on your end, so if anyone has questions, send them to your mother, best friend, or whomever you assign to be the middle person so you can relax and have fun.
+ Surround yourself with your favorite people. If a certain person will stress you out, have them arrive later on or see them at the wedding. Don’t feel pressured to have anyone with you all day who will only give you anxiety.
+ Start celebrating with champagne, treats, and/or whatever gets the party started. Just don’t start celebrating too much before.
If you’re not getting married at a hotel, why is it important to get a hotel room for your wedding night?
Your first night as a married couple is so special. Having a hotel room or suite to come back to after your reception just completes the whole experience. Oftentimes, your suite can be a perk as part of contracting your guests’ rooms.
What are some recommendations on how to have your hotel room set up for the wedding day/night?
Our Presidential Suite has a huge vanity and a second bathroom, so there is a lot of space to get ready. We work closely with our couples and wedding parties and make sure to freshen up the space during the ceremony and reception so you come back to a perfectly made-up space just for the two of you. Our catering department can prepare a light meal or tray to be waiting for you. Work with your hotel contact so your family or close friends can bring in any bags in advance for you and even check in for you.
Sometimes wedding parties or friends surprise the couple and sneak into their hotel room to make it romantic for their wedding night. What have people done, and ho do you recommend they sneak in?
We have a lot of couples who trust their wedding party or moms to add those special touches. We’ve helped to add chilled champagne and chocolates to the suite. We make sure to talk about this with our couples during the planning process, and they let us know who should have access.
What is something super important that you should do/bring to get ready?
Along with the power strips and extension cords, a wedding day emergency kit is the best invention ever. You never know when you will need as extra safety pin, nail glue, or a breath mint.
For more information, visit rushmoreplaza.com.
