My wedding day has come and gone. It’s absolutely incredible how quickly the day flies by. I married my best friend on June 25, 2016, and the day was absolutely perfect (for the most part). One of the reasons why I think brides get so stressed is because we want to control every little thing. The day of my wedding, I woke up with a huge dread deep down in my stomach because I felt like I had so much to do. I remember talking to one of my bridesmaids saying that I can’t wait for the day to be over. However, as the day progressed, I found that I had more love and more help than I ever imagined. I also kept my attire cozy and simple while getting ready for the big day in Soul Flower’s comfy tie dye harem pants!
Instead of a stressful day, use these tips to being a stress-free bride instead.
1. Choose a peaceful venue
I chose to have my wedding in the Big Thompson Canyon along the Big Thompson River in Colorado. It was scenic and peaceful and just hearing the rushing water from the river was relaxing for me and my guests. If I started to feel overwhelmed, I would walk by the river and give myself a couple minutes to reflect and just ‘be.’ I found gratitude that I had found someone that I loved so much and that I was able to marry him in a gorgeous place.
2. Reduce the guest list
If you haven’t started planning your wedding yet and are wanting a stress-free day, reduce your guest list to immediate family and close friends. At my wedding, I had a total of 29 guests. It really took a lot of stress off (both mentally and financially) knowing that my day was intimate.
3. Incorporate yoga or meditation in your pre-wedding schedule.
I try to incorporate yoga or meditation into my everyday life, and I didn’t want my wedding day to be any different. Since I didn’t have much time to include an hour-long yoga sesh, I meditated while getting my hair done. One of my bridesmaids did my hair, who also happens to be a yoga teacher, and she guided me through meditation while she was doing my ‘do’!
4. Make sure to eat, drink water, and get enough sleep the night before.
Food, water, and sleep will keep your body feeling good, even when your brain wants to freak out. I did not get enough sleep the night before, was too nervous to eat a lot, and too preoccupied to drink enough water, so I felt seriously drained. About midday, I was struck with extreme exhaustion and a headache. After realizing that I wasn’t giving my body its basic needs, I ate, hydrated, and took a tiny power nap to keep myself feeling refreshed for the rest of the day.
5. Have a solid team of do’ers
All of these tips will help you to have a stress-free wedding day. However, this tip will most likely be one of the most important to have. Since my wedding was so small, I didn’t find it necessary to hire someone to be my wedding planner. Therefore, I relied on a small group to get things done. My mom, aunt, maid of honor, and matron of honor were my solid team of four that did nearly all of the decoration, communicated with the vendors, made floral arrangements, and set everything up. The days before the wedding, you will most likely be approached by dozens of people saying that they are willing to help. This is definitely kind of your family and friends to offer help, but you need ‘do’ers’ that don’t need direction but can lead and do tasks without supervision.
6. Make a schedule
Have a wedding day schedule written and posted up on a wall for reference. The day of my wedding, I had my photographer asking how much time I wanted to allocate for bridesmaids pictures, my dad asking when dinner was going to start, my maid of honor asking when the catering would arrive, and my father-in-law wondering when cake would be served! Instead of answering all of these questions with annoyed and sassy responses, simply direct them to the schedule so that everyone is in the know without you having to memorize a timeline in your head.
7. Add calming scents
I had collected vintage tapestries and linens for almost a year to include in the decor of my wedding day. I washed all my tablecloths and tapestries with lavender essential oils and sprayed them with an essential oil blend known as ‘Chill Pill.’ Not only did my decor smell relaxing, but so did my floral arrangements! I included lots of eucalyptus and sweet pea in the bouquets and table vases, adding lovely and therapeutic scents.
My wedding day was everything that I had hoped for. The weather was beautiful, I felt like a princess, and my family and friends had an incredible time in Colorado. Weddings can be stressful, but they really don’t have to be. I hope these tips will help you have a stress-free wedding day!
Madison wore the Electric Tie-Dye Organic Harem Pants
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abbi gemini
July 6, 2016 at 9:43 pm (8 years ago)So stunning! wow!
Hollie Ramsey
July 7, 2016 at 2:49 pm (8 years ago)Your dress is dreamy!! For the sake of my sanity I shaved down our guest list from 300 to 50. 100 people showed up because our parents leaked out some invites, but still better than 300!!