How to Have a Stress-Free Wedding Day

Weddings and stress go hand in hand, but a stressful wedding day doesn’t have to be a given. There are many ways to reduce your stress through specific steps that should simplify your day and keep you calm enough to thoroughly enjoy the big day.

First, make sure you plan in advance. The more you procrastinate, the more you’ll be stressed. By staying organized and setting deadlines that you stick to, you’ll have everything finished in advance — as much as is possible.

Simplify. If you’re not able to hire an outside planner, just keep things simple. Eliminating unnecessary elements of your wedding, from paring down on decorations to keeping the ceremony and reception straightforward, will streamline things the day of.

Next, be sure to ask for help when you need it. Don’t be afraid to rely on good friends and family to take some of the pressure off of doing everything yourself. You may be inclined toward type A behavior that makes you feel as if you should do everything, but that’s a great way to overburden yourself. Know when to delegate.

And on the day of, treat yourself: book a massage, drink some Champagne, do something to make yourself feel special. And, as much as you can, breathe deeply and try to relax. Not everything will go perfectly, and that’s okay. Your guests probably won’t notice.