Finding a job, moving house, and planning a wedding are often cited as three of life’s most stressful events. At Hearts and Souls Event Management, however, we are firm believers that wedding planning can be more joy than stress. Here are our top strategies to help you stay calm on your big day.
1. Practice Mindfulness and Meditation
On the big day, it is important to start the day off right. This can be done through mindfulness exercises and/or meditation. Both have been shown to reduce anxiety, and studies show that mindfulness can decrease stress levels by enhancing emotional regulation and improving focus (for example, a review in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology; see the reference below).
Wondering how to start with mindfulness? Here’s a simple exercise: focused breathing. Sit or lie comfortably and close your eyes. Take slow, deep breaths, inhaling through your nose and exhaling through your mouth. Focus your attention solely on your breath. Notice how your body moves with each inhale and exhale. If your mind wanders, gently bring it back to your breathing. Do this for a few minutes. You might not be great at first. I wasn’t. Practice makes perfect when it comes to focused breathing.
2. Create a Detailed Schedule
Stress can often come from the fear of the unknown, and this has never been truer than when it comes to weddings. Having a detailed schedule or timeline for the wedding day (our day-of coordination includes one for every vendor) can help alleviate stress and provide a sense of control and predictability. Leveraging digital tools and a wedding planner to manage these details can make the process more manageable and less daunting. Often, both are necessary to ensure that everything runs smoothly and on time. It also helps to coordinate with DJs, florists, caterers, and any other pertinent vendors.
3. Delegate Responsibilities
Don’t go into battle alone. We encourage you to delegate tasks to trusted friends, family members, and wedding planners. Not only will this reduce stress, but it will also make sure that you don’t feel alone on your big day. It also has the added benefit of making the wedding run more efficiently and without as many hiccups.
We completely understand that not everybody’s family and friendship dynamic is reliable. Often, we don’t get to choose our family, but we do get to choose our wedding planner or day-of coordinator. It is important to take the time to compare the reputable wedding planners in the area where you plan on getting married. Please check out our blog “Wedding Planning: The Key to Choosing Your Perfect Planner” for more information on how to pick the ideal wedding planner. In that article, we’ve outlined steps to make the monumental task that is wedding planning much easier.
4. Have a Support System
It is important to have a support system on your wedding day. This is why choosing a best man or best woman can be important. They will be a shoulder to lean on when things may not be going exactly to plan, or a barrier when you need a break from everyone.
A good wedding planner should also be a professional at this, and they should be that extra layer of support on your awesome wedding day. Unfortunately, a bad wedding planner may not show this type of empathy or consideration.
5. Incorporate Physical Activity
Some light physical activity, such as a morning walk or yoga session, can help to reduce stress and start the big day off on the right foot. It has been well documented that exercise can reduce stress hormones and improve our overall mood, so it is a great idea for brushing off those wedding day jitters.
If all else fails, then there is always whisky or tequila lol. Since I can hear my lawyer yelling from here, I must emphasize the importance of enjoying your special day responsibly. So, while it will be natural to encounter some stress on your wedding day, the strategies that we’ve discussed should significantly ease it. As the celebration unfolds, you’ll likely find that any nervousness fades, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the joy of marrying the love of your life. Keep sight of the bigger picture, the beautiful future and the enduring love that you are building together, and let the stress drift away.
If you are looking for an officiant, wedding planner, or day-of coordinator who will reduce your stress levels, then look no further. We are fully licensed, insured, and equipped to make your wedding planning experience a breeze and your big day as stress-free as possible. Please contact us here for more information, or click here for our pricing.
References
Hofmann, S. G., Sawyer, A. T., Witt, A. A., & Oh, D. (2010). The effect of mindfulness-based therapy on anxiety and depression: A meta-analytic review. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 78(2), 169–183. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0018555
