It’s one of the biggest life events you will ever have to plan. Weddings can be stressful as there’s so much that you have to organise. They also have to run to a schedule. Short of hiring a professional wedding planner, there are some simple ways to ensure your day is less stressful. Here are some of our tips for planning a stress-free wedding day.
Have a wet weather plan, and stick to it!
Telling yourself that it won’t rain on your wedding day will not save you when a huge summer storm rolls through 5 minutes before your outdoor reception dinner. If it’s even slightly likely that it will rain, organise a wet weather back up plan. You do not want to be worrying about rain on your wedding day, you want to be enjoying yourself, relaxed in the knowledge that no matter what happens, you’ll have a wonderful day! Organise with the venue to place a tentative hold on a backup function room or hire a marquee just in case. You’ll thank yourself later!
Eat breakfast. Really.
It really goes without saying, but the day of your wedding is a long day. You’ll be up early and will feel like you do not stop from the moment you open your eyes until midnight when you finally get to bed. If you’re like most brides, you’ll most likely not eat anything until the reception that evening. Not to mention you’ll also have a few champagnes under your belt by the end of the day! You’ll probably also be tired from lack of sleep the night before. So, make sure you eat a light yet filling breakfast in the morning. See if your hairdresser offers a light breakfast as part of their bridal package or ask if you can bring your own. Drink plenty of water the day before and the morning of your wedding to stay hydrated throughout the day.
Don’t sweat the small stuff
Weddings can be stressful, and it is easy to place so much pressure on the day, expecting everything to be perfect. This is not a realistic expectation and can leave you feeling miserable if you’re obsessing over perfection. Remember the actual reason you are celebrating today – you are marrying the one you love! No one is going to notice if the florist forgot to include the baby’s breath in your bouquet, the flower girl has a supermarket tanty or the entrée is a little late being served. Just enjoy this special time with your new partner, your family and friends.
Organise someone to pack up the gifts and wishing well
Ask a friend or family member to take care of packing up the gift table and wishing well and ensure that you agree beforehand as to where the gifts and/or money will be stored overnight. If your reception venue offers for a staff member to do it for you, again ask a friend or family member to accompany them. That way there will be no confusion around where the gifts are the morning after and you can sleep soundly knowing they are safe.
Break in your wedding shoes
Make sure you pre-wear your wedding shoes as much as you can before the wedding day. The last thing you want is blisters and sore feet on your wedding day. Wear them around the house with a thick pair of socks to stretch them out a bit. Savvy brides will bring along a pair of flat shoes like these pocket ballerinas to wear during the outdoor photo shoots and at the reception for dancing! Either way, make sure you or your bridesmaids pack Band-Aids in your purse on the day, just in case.
Take time to soak it all up
Your wedding day will fly by in a blur if you’re not careful. It’s a busy day full of hair, makeup, formalities and photography, zipping from place to place on a tight schedule. Make sure you set aside some time to just enjoy the moment with your new spouse. Sneak away from the reception for ten minutes, have a quick drink together privately in your room before the reception, or even book yourselves a private car from the ceremony to the reception, just so you can spend a little bit of time together as husband and wife for the first time before the craziness of the reception.
Delegate
Control freaks, listen up. You cannot, and will not, be capable of managing everything on the day of your wedding. Ask your good friends, siblings, or even pay a professional, to help on the day with little jobs. Knowing you have someone taking care of the important tasks like picking up or delivering the cake, putting out the wishing well, guest book and decorating the tables will help you relax. Allocate someone trusted to the job of the music at the ceremony and make sure you do a practice run with them prior to the day. Give your mobile phone to one of your bridesmaids or even a family member on the day of the wedding. That way, they can help to deal with any issues like missed flights and late flower deliveries.
Do your wedding day your way
Remember that your wedding day is about the love between you and your partner and should reflect both your personalities. If you’re not into structure and want a more relaxed cocktail reception rather than a formal sit-down dinner, do it! If you would prefer to skip the lengthy posed photography before and after the reception, why not? Do your wedding your way as the most important thing is that you are relaxed, comfortable and happy on your wedding day. If you’re having a good time, your guests will too.
More tips
You can read more helpful tips on how to plan a successful event on our blog here.