Many brides pulled all-nighters! Tips for transporting your belongings right before the big day: A must-know for all brides!

2019.06.30 published

殿堂記事

The Event Right Before the Wedding: "Move-In"*

Hello, I'm Keiko from the Marry editorial team. For all the brides-to-be, how is your wedding preparation going? ♡ As the big day approaches, I’m sure many of you are feeling a bit nervous.

Today, I’ll be introducing an event that all couples experience just before their wedding: "Move-In".

Move-In is the process of bringing all the items to be used on the wedding day to the venue anywhere from a week to a day prior. By completing the Move-In ahead of time, you’ll only need to show up on the wedding day with just yourself!*

However, this Move-In can be quite tricky. Many brides have reported that "it took 12 hours" or "I packed all night," making it a challenging event...!!

Like many others, I also struggled significantly with the Move-In. I found myself thinking, "If I had known this sooner, I wouldn’t have had to go through so much trouble..."

So, this time, I’ve compiled points about Move-In that I wish I had known in advance. Since personal experiences with Move-In are not very common, I hope this will be helpful!

Move-In Tip 1: Prepare Packing Items in Advance!

During Move-In, you’ll need to transport a large number of items to the venue. That’s where packing items such as boxes and duct tape come into play.

It’s best to gather all the necessary tools and start packing so you won’t have to rush out to buy them once you start preparing! ◎

(It’s a good idea to keep boxes and bubble wrap that you have from the preparation period just in case.)

◆◆ Items to Prepare ◆◆

☑ Boxes ← Plenty of them!

☑ Duct tape

☑ Permanent markers

☑ Bubble wrap ← If you have fragile items

☑ Rubber bands

☑ Notepad

☑ Larger zip lock bags ← Useful for organizing smaller items

@w_account0723

If you have only a small number of items to bring, large tote bags may suffice. However, if you want to display a lot of goods in the welcome space, you’ll need to consolidate them into a box rather than using tote bags.

Bringing a lot of paper bags or small boxes to the venue can be difficult to store and can also lead to loss, so be sure to prepare boxes in advance. *(You can purchase larger boxes at hardware stores or online, and some supermarkets may give them away. The 100 yen shop tends to carry smaller sizes like B5 or A4.)*

If you plan to ship items, keep in mind that the total of the three dimensions must be less than 175 cm in order to be accepted at convenience stores or post offices. (I had to arrange a pickup because my package was too large...!)

Move-In Tip 2: Create a Checklist of Items to Bring!

This is a common occurrence during Move-In…

If you rush your packing and Move-In process at the last minute, you will almost certainly end up forgetting something.

If you inadvertently forget to pack an item, you may have to make multiple trips to the venue. (I went to the venue three times in two days... haha)

It’s advisable to prepare an item list to check for any deficiencies in what you’re bringing!

Each time you buy or create an item, add it to your list; this way, you can check off items as you pack, ensuring you don’t forget anything!*

Move-In Tip 3: Arrange for a Spacious Vehicle

Since I don’t own a car, I rented one for Move-In...

However, I couldn’t fit everything into a regular car’s backseat and trunk. This was unexpected, and I ended up having to make two trips!

If you rent a car for Move-In, I recommend choosing a larger vehicle, even if it’s a little more expensive.

Of course, if you start packing early, you’ll have a rough idea of how much stuff you have, which can help you avoid such mistakes. *

If you have a small amount of items, taking a taxi instead of a rental car is another option. With ride-sharing apps, it’s easy to call for a car!*

➡ Download the taxi app "MOV" here＊

Move-In Tip 4: Categorize Items by Use When Packing

Similar to packing for a move, the basic principle is to "group items by where they will be used."

For example, group items for the welcome space, items for the reception, items for the photo booth, decorations for the head table, and so on, and then pack them accordingly. *

By categorizing everything properly, you can avoid the regret often expressed by married individuals, such as "Why was something that should’ve been displayed in the welcome space found at the photo booth?”

Be particularly cautious with smaller items * Even if you group them into boxes, there’s a chance they could get mixed up when the venue staff opens them.

To be safe, it's recommended to attach labels to each box stating "for welcome space," "for guest tables," and so on. ◎

marry-xoxo.com

Move-In Tip 5: Take Photos of Items in Advance

This is something I really regretted during the packing and Move-In process…

I wish I had taken a photo of each item!

Doing so would provide you with instructions for placing the items and also serve as a reminder for yourself. *

While it can be extremely difficult to take photos of everything while packing, I think it’s best to take pictures on the day you buy or create each item. ♡

@chisa_sen

Move-In Tip 6: Create an Instruction Sheet

This ties into Move-In Tip 5, but having an instruction sheet for items before Move-In will make it easier to explain things to your planner. ◎

Create an instruction sheet that clearly indicates how and where to display each of the numerous items, using text and photos. *

Even if you can’t make it in time for Move-In, you can always send the photos via email later! ♡

@keiko_tk03

Summary of Move-In Tips＊

I’ve shared tips on the major event right before the wedding, "Move-In." I hope this has been somewhat helpful! ♡

The days right before the wedding can be very busy, and it’s easy to lose sleep. Even though I couldn't do it, I recommend starting your preparations early so you can finish your packing and Move-In smoothly! ◎

➡ Check out other wedding-related articles here＊

@syueri.wd