[Originally at 11 Little Tricks for a Stress-Free Wedding Day by Elizabeth Passarella]
1. Weather. You can’t control it anyway.
You can, however, prepare in advance — especially if your ceremony or reception is outdoors. Ask your rental company to put an extra tent on reserve, says Calder Clark of Calder Clark design firm in Charleston, South Carolina. (They may charge you a small percentage of the total cost, but it buys you peace of mind.) You can also reserve stand-up fans if you’re worried about a heat wave. After that? Stop looking at the hourly forecast every 45 seconds.
2. Hire a day-of coordinator.
“So many couples think they can do all of the planning on their own, and that’s completely fine — up until the day of the wedding,” says Brooke Keegan of Brooke Keegan Weddings & Events in Newport Beach, California. “If you can hire someone to handle the details on the actual day, it alleviates so much stress. You should be a guest at your wedding, not the staff.” Even if a soup-to-nuts planner isn’t in your budget, many offer more affordable, day-of services.
3. Keep your schedule clear.
It’s tempting to plan a big brunch or line up manicures, pedicures, hair, and a bikini wax on the morning of the wedding, but try not to do too much. (Stick to the absolute necessities — hair and makeup.) “Your wedding day will fly by faster than you could ever imagine. If you have too many activities, you won’t have space to take in the real once-in-a-lifetime moments,” says Maria Baer, co-owner of Ritzy Bee Events in Washington, D.C.
4. Don’t “check in” on your venue beforehand.
It’s tempting on the day of to peek in (or drive by) the reception site while everyone is setting up. Don’t do that. “Brides want to see all of their planning and vision come to fruition, of course. But my advice is to wait for the big reveal, when the candlelight, the beautiful linens, the great band can really tell the story,” says Audrey Hurst of Audrey Hurst Weddings in Memphis, Tennessee. Not only is the payoff not as sweet if you’re checking on lighting and flowers all day; you’ll just make yourself crazy seeing a half-finished hall.
5. Make sure someone knows how to bustle your dress.
Don’t rely on a safety pin and a prayer. Have a friend or relative go with you to a fitting to learn how to bustle the train, if you have one, and make sure that person practices and sticks around post-ceremony to button you into shape.
See the full list at https://www.realsimple.com/weddings/weddings-planning/stress-free-wedding-day-tricks or read more cool wedding stuff at www.dowoakevents.com/services
A wedding day can seem inherently stressful. Buuuut there are ways to reduce the levels of stress. From setting times for you two to escape the hustle and bustle of the reception to have some quiet time together to having back-up plans for any potential catastrophe, stress can be mitigated. Take it from the brides here!
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