1) Don’t Try to Do Everything Yourself
If you try to personally attend to every detail of your wedding day, you’ll wind up feeling stressed out and upset. Delegate different tasks to people you trust. Turn to reliable family members and friends or hire a wedding coordinator to assist with the logistics. Although you’ll still have the final say about any decisions, you’ll feel relieved knowing you won’t have to shoulder all of the responsibilities.
2) Carefully Plan Your Wedding Day Schedule
It’s important to not feel rushed throughout your wedding day. Give yourself time to eat a nutritious breakfast and take a relaxing shower. Make sure your dress and hair preparations aren’t hurried. Depending on where you’re holding the ceremony and reception, allow for the time it will take to travel between locations, especially if there’s traffic. Figure out how long the photographer will need to take formal shots of your family, bridesmaids and groomsmen.
3) Come up With Strategies for Dealing With Difficult Guests
Are you stressing out about troublesome guests? Maybe they’re noisy, demanding or prone to making inappropriate remarks. Maybe they’ve got a vicious temper or a need to generate drama. Whatever problems you anticipate, come up with strategies for managing these guests. Discuss rules for appropriate behavior in advance. If two people tend to fight, seat them at different tables. Maybe some of your other guests can serve as mediators and deal with stressful situations for you. In some cases, you may need to leave people off your guest list to enjoy a more relaxed wedding day.
4) Don’t Neglect Your Personal Comfort
Make sure you’re attending to your own comfort throughout the day. For example, change to more comfortable shoes after the ceremony. Pack a small bag containing practical or relaxing items such as a package of tissues and your favorite chocolates. Spend the most time throughout the day with people who are loving, kind and easygoing.
5) Remember What the Day Is All About
You may dream about a flawless wedding, but don’t lose sight of what your special day is really about. You’re starting a new life with someone you love, and your friends and family have come to share in your joy. Even if imperfections crop up in the ceremony and reception, react with laughter and a generous attitude. Make sure to show appreciation for everyone who came to wish you well. And be thankful about all the ways in which you’re blessed.
There’s a beautiful Irish blessing that states, “May the saddest day of your future be no worse than the happiest day of your past.” A relaxed and joyous wedding day will hopefully set the tone for the rest of your life and remind you of how much happiness you can find with your loved ones.
