Top 3 Stress-Free Wedding Day Tips

Listen, planning a wedding is hard work. Like, it’s basically a full time job. I’ve been there too!

Since my wedding 5 years ago (before I worked in the wedding industry myself) I have learned all about what goes on behind the scenes on a wedding day. It can be chaotic and stressful, but it doesn’t have to be!

1) IT STARTS WITH THE BRIDESMAIDS | You have to surround yourself with good people! Make sure those around you are YOUR PEOPLE. When you have amazing bridesmaids/groomsmen/friends/vendors/people around you on your big day, it’s much easier to keep your focus on all the good, happy, wonderful things that are happening! These are the people who set the tone for the day, so choose them wisely! Make sure they know that you love them dearly and that you need them to help you stay un-stressed. They accepted their role as a bridesmaid because they love you and want to see you happy! So trust them to take care of you and just relax!

2) BE INTENTIONAL | It’s wayyyy too easy to get caught up in the hustle & bustle of the day. And let’s be real, it’s going to be a whirlwind of a day no matter what. BUT if you’re super intentional about your wedding day you can actually create a lot of meaningful, calm memories. Take the time before your wedding to develop a thoughtful timeline for the day. Your wedding planner and photographer can help you with this! (You definitely want to consult with your photographer on your schedule to make sure you have plenty of time for the photos you want to capture!)

Make sure that your wedding day is intentionally centered around your MARRIAGE! Find those aspects of your day that actually mean something to you and your fiance. This means including or NOT including certain wedding traditions. It’s your day. You get to decide what’s important to you and what isn’t!

Here’s a few ideas that can help you build in time for intentionality on your wedding day:

Scheduling a First Look - This gives you a set time to actually connect with your almost-spouse! The day goes by so fast, but this will give you so much more time together. Plus you’re likely to get more time for photos, so that’s always a plus!
Write letters to each other - Be sure to write them before the actual wedding day or this will just add stress! Give them to each other privately or during the First Look!

Give yourself a private meal - Yes, this is really an option! Directly after the ceremony, while all of your guests are eating their own dinner or are enjoying a cocktail hour, you & your new husband can actually have your own meal in a private area away from the reception! This is a great way to make sure you actually get to EAT! Plus you get some uninterrupted alone time, which is pretty rare for a wedding day.

3) HIRE A WEDDING COORDINATOR | You have to delegate. If you want to be less stressed on your wedding day, you just cannot be the one doing everything. I know how hard it can be to let go of all of the little details, but if you give the responsibilities to someone you trust, you’ll have a much more relaxed day! Even if you can’t afford a full wedding planner/coordinator (although I highly recommend making room for one in your budget) the best thing you can do for your sanity is to entrust SOMEONE besides you *or your mom* to handle the events of the day. Your goal should be to enjoy your wedding! There’s way too much business that has to happen on a wedding day for you to handle it all AND be the bride AND enjoy yourself! So please - DELEGATE! And if at all possible, hire yourself an amazing day-of-coordinator! I have a list of recommendations that I’m happy to send you if you need some help on where to start!

If you have any questions or if you have additional stress-free wedding day tips, please let me know! I’d love to hear your thoughts & experiences!!!