8 Tips for a Low-Stress Wedding Day
Guest Post by Kacey Bradley
You've downloaded your wedding apps, you've chosen your colors and bookmarked the wedding dress of your dreams — all of these point toward being ready for your wedding day. But what about all the factors that could arise last minute that you haven’t planned for?
Stress is common on the big day. It’s been conditioned in our minds that getting married is the biggest moment of our lives and it should be a spectacle. Here are eight tips that can help alleviate those worries and contribute to a low-stress wedding day.
Delegate
Delegate, delegate, delegate. No matter if you have a full entourage or just your two witnesses — divvy up the planning. This will give you more flexibility to focus on the details that matter to you while ensuring tasks and caterers are handled.
You picked the people in your party, so you know the strengths and capabilities of each person. And don’t rule out the knowledge and power of mothers. Your mother and mother-in-law are probably waiting to be asked to help out, so use their excitement!
Don’t Go Overboard
When you plan your wedding, you lean towards the details that matter to you. You want only the important people to attend and don’t care about the traditional dances. The ceremony will be short and sweet but the reception hall will be lit with fairytale lights.
Don’t try to fit every stereotype of a wedding into your day if it’s not what you want. Going all out will only cause you emotional pain and you’ll find yourself with parts of a day you won’t want to remember.
Try on Your Attire – All of It
If you follow your wedding planning apps, you’ll know to get your dress refitted in addition to the initial sizing. But what they might not remind you is to try on all the other aspects of your wedding day attire.
You don’t want to be seen stumbling down the aisle or fidgeting with hair pieces all night. Walk around in your shoes, dress up your hair for a night, try on your jewelry to make sure your pieces are at the desired length — your dress might not be the only thing that needs adjusted! And, if you’re going for special lingerie, make sure you can be comfortable for at least six hours!
Capture the Memories
Your videographer and photographer are available to capture all of the visual moments of your wedding day so you can experience it without obligation. But what about the cute party favors, the embroidered napkins or the flute you toasted your champagne in?
Ask someone close to you to snag a few of these items before the end of the night. Whether you choose to scrapbook them or keep them stored safely, you can always have a piece of your wedding day to touch and hold in your future.
Schedule When to Be On and Off
If you are prone to having anxiety or worry there may be a chance for a panic attack, be sure to think think ahead. Psychologist Dr. Ben Michaelis encourages you to know what might trigger you and identify the coping strategies that work for you. Find times during your day to be by yourself versus times you’ll need to be “on” and ready for photos and hugs. You can have these moments as you walk away from the ceremony, after photographs and even during designated bathroom breaks.
Eat Something
One thing wedding planners emphasize over and over again is how often couples forget to eat during their wedding. Because everyone wants to take a photo or catch up with you, you may feel guilty stepping away to grab a bite. Ask your caterer or wedding party member in advance to prepare a plate of food that you can pick at while everyone else is being photographed, or as you’re waiting to enter the reception hall.
This is also a great time to catch a tiny date with your partner to re-center yourselves and share a quiet “I love you!”
Factor in the Wine
Let’s face it, your guests expect to drink in your honor — and drink a lot. You have to make sure well in advance that you have more than enough for everyone for the night. You also need to factor in if you’re serving only one wine, a variety of blends or multiple alcohol types.
Wine is a popular choice for weddings, so get ready to do some math. One standard bottle will fill at least four glasses, so if you’re expecting to have an evening reception, you may want to consider purchasing one bottle per guest. Of course, this varies if not everyone is of the legal drinking age — but it is a great estimate to prepare your budget.
Everyone Remembers Food and Music
Every guest will leave your wedding remembering two things — how good the food was and if they could dance to the music. Choose wisely! If you have chosen wine for your wedding, it might not hurt to look into food and wine pairings. Your guests will be pleased with their plate, no matter if it’s a full meal or multiple appetizers.
Music should also be appropriate for you as a couple. Pick songs that mean something to the two of you and be mindful to throw in a few crowd favorites. Whether you have a live band or a plugged-in playlist, your guests will want to feel invited to join in the fun.
Wedding days are full of beautiful memories for you and everyone involved. Planning ahead will not only help you organize your schedule but will allow you to enjoy a low-stress day. Best wishes to the happy couple and always remember — love is what brought you to this day!
Kacey Bradley is the lifestyle and travel blogger for The Drifter Collective, an eclectic lifestyle blog that expresses various forms of style through the influence of culture and the world around us. Kacey graduated with a degree in Communications while working for a lifestyle magazine. She has been able to fully embrace herself with the knowledge of nature, the power of exploring other locations and cultures, all while portraying her love for the world around her through her visually pleasing, culturally embracing and inspiring posts. Along with writing for her blog, she frequently writes for sites like US Travel News, Thought Catalog, Style Me Pretty, Tripping.com and more.
Follow Kacey on Twitter and subscribe to her blog to keep up with her travels and inspiring posts.