I think the bride''s posy as a centrepiece sounds like a great idea! (not sure what a sweetheart table is, but anyway...)
Doesn''t the gown come in a special zip bag, with the petty coat (if you have one) also in a travel zip bag? Just hoist them over your shoulder and go! Carry on luggage, and if you''re lucky, the airhostess (presuming you''re travelling to your wedding) will put them in a hanging cupboard for the journey.
I would do a rehearsal if you want, especially for the makeup. I did my own makeup, so it was okay, but if I had hired someone else, I would really like to see what the girl has in mind. Also, some make-up artiists are really not very good at their job, and some can even be incredibly inexperienced as well, you should suss her out first.
Regarding hairdressers, again, some are great colourists, some do great cuts, and some to fantastic updos! The best updos for me are from a woman who did her apprenticeship in the early 1960s. She is a farking genius!! Unfortunately, she did not do my hair at the wedding. The women who did my hair at the wedding were my age, apprenticed in the age of down dos, and were not good at updos.
but we muddled through. They were much better and more confident with the curled down dos that the BMs were wearing though! My BMs looked great!