If you are getting married in your hometown, your house is likely to become wedding central. Even if you aren’t planning to get ready at home, you still have to plan for friends and family dropping by — some may even be staying with you for the weekend. Taking time to prepare your living space in the weeks ahead of your wedding date can help take a load off your mind so you can fully immerse yourself in the joy of getting married.
Here are tips to help you get your home ready for your big event.
Make Your Place Smell Great
Whether you are having guests stay or not, it’s a good idea to gather all the linens around the house and give them a good washing. Over time, household items like sheets and towels pick up dust, mites, and other allergens that can leave your home smelling not-so-fresh. Giving them a good wash in hot water is an easy way to make your entire home smell cleaner.
To enhance their scent in a natural — but still long-lasting — way, try throwing linens in the dryer with a wool ball soaked in a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Wool balls are an eco-friendly alternative to dryer sheets. Plus, you get to customize their scent with your preferences. Use that same scent profile to personalize other DIY cleaning products to reinforce that fresh feeling. You can also sprinkle some essential oils in a diffuser to make a particular room smell nice.
Here are a few amazing-smelling essential oil combinations to try:
- Orange and peppermint
- Grapefruit, lavender, lemon, and spearmint
- Vanilla and wild orange
- Wild orange, grapefruit, lemon, and bergamot
Prepare for Messes
A week or so before the wedding, stock up on everything your home may need as far as snacks, drinks, and — perhaps most importantly — cleaning supplies. Don’t forget disposable products you regularly use, including toilet paper, paper towels, and quick-use disinfecting wipes. If you have an old plastic canister and want to save some money for the honeymoon, try making your own disinfecting wipes with rubbing alcohol and dish soap. You can also make them with recycled rags for a more eco-friendly alternative.
Another handy little tool to have around is a quality vacuum cleaner. Consider a cordless model that easily moves from room to room, which will make it easy to clean up small messes as they pop up so you don’t have one giant mess to deal with after the wedding.
Beautify Your Lawn
Keep your lawn looking its best for guests by bringing in a lawn aeration service. Lawn aeration can improve the health of your grass by opening up the soil so it can receive more nutrients. Search for “aerator near me” to find capable contractors and learn about customer reviews and ratings. Aeration services average $124, but if you request extra services like dethatching and fertilizing, expect to pay more.
Breathe New Life Into Tired Spaces
Are your guest bedrooms looking a little tired? Not enough time to give the walls a fresh coat of paint? Don’t fret – there are still options available! For example, peel-and-stick wallpaper allows you to easily add a little pizzazz to your guest bedroom. And later on if you don’t like the colors you’ve picked out, you can easily remove the wallpaper and replace it with a different design.
Safely Stow Your Pets
If you have some four-legged family members, it’s in your and their best interests to find alternative accommodations for them during the days leading up to the wedding. If you have people coming in from all over and expect a lot of foot traffic, it can easily stress out your pets, which can lead to destructive behaviors due to anxiety. Boarding your pets places them in a safe environment where they will get the attention they need. Meanwhile, you have one less thing to worry about during the big day.
If boarding doesn’t sound ideal, consider looking for a local pet sitter that will take your cat or dog. When choosing a pet sitter, make sure you find one that has commercial liability insurance that can cover costs associated with accidents and negligence. Talk to your veterinarian to get a trusted recommendation for a professional pet sitter.
Your wedding day is going to be busy. Getting your house in order beforehand can make everything easier. Making your place smell amazing is a great way to welcome guests. Wash all linens and clean surfaces, and give your guest room a refresh. Stock up on the things you need to clean up messes as they pop up, such as disinfectant wipes and a handheld vacuum. Finally, make sure your furry family members are taken care of by boarding them or leaving them with a sitter.
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This is a guest post, written by Jennifer Scott, SpiritFinder.org
Featured Image by Hickok Photography.
