An amount of stress is inherent in the planning of every wedding, but it doesn’t have to be the predominant factor. Here are a few ways to keep stress from becoming the all-consuming ingredient in the creation of your wedding.
Finish everything before the week of your wedding
Most brides begin planning their wedding 6 – 12 months in advance. This should give plenty of time to plan things well in advance, so you’re not running around tying up loose ends the week before the wedding. That way, you can keep those precious days free to spend time with out-of-town family, enjoy friends, and prepare yourself to be a beautiful, relaxed bride.
Spend your wedding night in town
Weddings are joyous events, but they can leave you exhausted. You will have just spent several emotional hours crying (happily!), hugging, dancing, posing, entertaining, and possibly drinking alcohol. Leaving some time between the reception and honeymoon will give you time to recover. My husband and I spent our wedding night in town, and then left for our honeymoon the next morning – late morning! We were already packed, but we slept in and ate a leisurely breakfast before we left. It was a priceless way to begin a priceless week.
Hold the rehearsal two days before the wedding
Holding the rehearsal two days before the Big Day will leave the day before open to simply relaxing and enjoying. Have someone film the rehearsal so you can watch it if you or someone in your wedding party needs a reminder.
Create a list of emergency day-of phone numbers
Make a list of the cell phone numbers of your vendors, bridal party, and family members. Designate a friend to be the contact person who will deal with issues or no-shows so you aren’t running around worrying about details.
Don’t go into debt for your wedding
Having a good financial start to your marriage is worth more than anything you could purchase for your wedding celebration. Don’t let your eyes get bigger than your budget!
