If you’re planning your wedding, you may have recognized by now that there’s a WHOLE lot that can be a cause for stress when it comes to the biggest day of your life. From the weather to whether or not your dress is going to fit, it seems like there are endless things to worry about.
But your wedding day doesn’t have to be defined by stress. In fact, it should be the most magical, wonderful day of your life, and I believe you should be able to enjoy it stress-free! So, here are my top 10 tips to planning a wedding day that won’t stress you out.
Hire a wedding planner or day-of coordinator
You’ve been dreaming of this day for your entire life…not to mention the months you’ve spent planning like crazy! So, you should be 100% free to enjoy every moment on your wedding day instead of coordinating vendor arrivals and putting out fires. A wedding planner or day-of coordinator will take care of all the little details, ensuring the best day of your life really IS the best day of your life!
Share your wedding day timeline
The last thing you want to be worried about 15 minutes before you head down the aisle is whether or not the groomsmen, Uncle Scott, and Great Grandma Ruth know what time the wedding begins! By sharing your wedding day timeline (complete with location addresses!) with all bridal party and family members — and checking with them at the rehearsal dinner to make sure they’ve seen it — you can give everyone their best shot at being there on time.
Pre-pack an emergency kit
Hope for the best and plan for the worst, am I right? Yep. I’m definitely right! You never know what you’re going to need until you don’t have it, so spend the week leading up to your wedding day slowly putting together an emergency kit. Fill it with breath mints, blotting papers, a mini sewing kit, hair spray, tissues, Tide pens, fashion tape, bobby pins, scissors, Tylenol, lotion…the list goes on! Not sure you’ll need it? Who cares! If it comes to mind, toss it in!
Stock up on water and snacks
Staying hydrated and fed is one of the easiest ways to ensure a fun-filled, stress-free wedding day! You’re going to be wildly busy and probably drinking, so keep water bottles and energy bars in your getting ready space, car, and mom’s purse to keep exhaustion, headaches, and hangery-ness at bay.
Assign a “keeper of the phone”
So, you’re sipping mimosas while your hair is being curled, enjoying every second of getting ready for your wedding. Then, your phone starts buzzing. Uncle Tim wants to check to make sure there are plenty of parking spaces and your florist wants to let you know she’s running a little behind schedule. Suddenly, you’re frantically trying to respond to a barrage of texts instead of enjoying your wedding morning. NO! Save yourself a mountain of stress by assigning your most responsible bridesmaid to be the keeper of your phone. She can take care of those details while you choose what color of lipstick you want to rock.
Bring a comfy pair of dancing shoes
No one wants to be stuck in a pair of stilettos — even those pretty Kate Spades or Jimmy Choos — all day! So be sure to pack a second pair of comfier shoes in case you just can’t keep your wedding shoes on a minute longer. I believe with all my heart and soul that no pair of shoes should keep a bride from busting a move on her wedding day!
Plan for an “unplugged ceremony”
Nothing kills the fairytale mood of a wedding ceremony like being greeted by a bunch of cellphones — or, Lord have mercy, iPads — instead of the teary-eyed, smiling faces of your loved ones on your way down the aisle. All that tech just blocks views, rips your guests out of the moment, and ruins your photos as seen on The Knot! Do yourself a favor by placing a sign outside your venue and making a note in the program asking your guests to keep their phone tucked away until you make your grand entrance into the reception venue as husband and wife. You may even want to ask your officiant to make an announcement before everything gets started to really hammer the point home. Trust me, your final wedding gallery will thank you!
Practice bustling your gown
This may seem like a silly one, but you don’t want to break a sweat 30 seconds before your reception entrance trying to figure out how to bustle your gown on the fly. And you CERTAINLY don’t want to have to sit out the epic dance party you’ve planned because you never figured it out! At your final dress fitting, ask your mom or a bridesmaid to practice bustling and unbustling the dress a few times so that when the moment arrives, you’re ready to go.
Schedule in alone time with your new hubby
Your wedding is going to speed by in a blur of hugs, congratulations, and wild dance moves, and you’re going to have an absolute blast! But don’t forget what everyone has gathered to celebrate: you and the love of your life. So, schedule in (yes, actually SCHEDULE in) time for the two of you to step away and process the incredible thing you’ve just done. It’s not everyday you promise to spend forever with someone, so make sure to share a private drink or snuggle away from your guests to really savor the moment and make a memory.
Be present!
Believe it or not, this is the most forgotten thing on a wedding day. With the whirl of activity and the high degree of pressure, each piece of your wedding day can start to feel like a task that has to be accomplished instead of a moment to be enjoyed. Don’t let that happen! You can’t control everything, so don’t stress about the little things! Instead, embrace the day as it comes to you and make the kind of special, once-in-a-lifetime memories you’ll treasure forever.
