Your wedding day is one of the most special days of your life, and while it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement and details, it’s important to remember that this day is about celebrating love and creating memories. To help you make the most of your big day, I’ve compiled 10 tips for a stress-free wedding day that will keep you relaxed, organized, and fully present as you walk down the aisle. From staying calm in the morning to capturing beautiful memories, these pointers are sure to help you enjoy every moment to the fullest!
1. Start with a Relaxing Morning
Have breakfast and lunch arrangements planned ahead of time to make sure you and your wedding party are fed while getting ready, as the day will get busy and you’ll want to make sure you’re not operating on an empty stomach! I definitely recommend writing your vows ahead of time rather than on the day of, but if you’re also planning to slip your spouse a note ahead of the first look you should have that written ahead of the day as well.
2. Give Yourself Plenty of Time
On wedding days it’s important to remember the 30/5 rule; activities that typically take 5 minutes on a regular day will end up taking 30 minutes on a wedding day. You’ll also want to give yourself plenty of time to get dressed; whether it’s a wedding dress or a suit, and have a helper nearby who can help you with any small buttons or clasps.
3. Delegate Tasks
Make sure you assign tasks to your planner or wedding party so you can focus on enjoying the day. I recommend hiring a planner or day of coordinator like Double A Weddings who will do an amazing job managing logistics, and putting out fires before they happen. A day of coordinator is so incredibly helpful as they can help keep the timeline running smoothly, and handle any unexpected issues so you can focus on enjoying the day.
4. Set Aside a Shoebox for Wedding Details
Before your wedding day you should set aside a shoebox with all the important details you’ll want your photographer to capture for flat lay photos. Here’s what that might include: rings, ring boxes, invitations, veil, shoes, perfume, jewelry, and vow books. You may also want to think about bringing a personalized (or just nice looking) hanger to hang your dress or outfit from.
5. Look at Your Guests When you Walk Down the Aisle
Look around at your guests as you walk down the aisle, so you can remember seeing the faces of those who love and support you and are so excited to celebrate you on your big day. This can be a wonderful memory to cherish, and you can also ask your photographer to capture the expressions of your guests during your ceremony.
6. Take a Moment for Yourselves
I recommend having a spot you can go to immediately after the ceremony where you and your now spouse can take a breather together for 10 minutes and absorb all that has just happened. It’s also good to have an “escape room” you can go to at any point in the day when you’re feeling overstimulated whether by the music or excitement of the day, just to breathe for a moment.
7. Have a Wedding Day Emergency Kit
Make sure you pack a kit with the essentials like safety pins, pain relievers, makeup touch up items, extra hairpins, a Tide To Go pen, scissors, and water.
You can even order your own wedding emergency kit with all the essentials like this one from Pinch Provisions: Shemergency Survival Kit for Brides
8. Have Your Officiant Announce to Put Phones Away and Move in Closer
If you’re having an unplugged ceremony, (no phones or devices out) which I recommend, you should have your planner or officiant announce to everyone to put their phones away before the ceremony starts and move in closer if there are empty seats for the best photos. I’ve also noticed that some officiants forget to tell people they may be seated which can be uncomfortable for your guests if they’re standing for 10+ minutes.
9. Have Guests Sign a Guest Book Rather than Saying Goodbye When They Leave
You may have guests leaving early especially if they have small children to get back to, and when the reception starts you’ll want to party and dance focus on the moment rather than be called away every 5 minutes. I recommend planning time either during cocktail hour or after you’ve eaten dinner when you can walk around to every table and chat with your guests beforehand, and have them sign the guest book when they leave for the night. Setting up a photo booth can also be a great way to get pictures with your guests while still celebrating.
10. You are the guest of honor, so celebrate your way!
Remember that you are the guest of honor, not the host, so it’s important you plan the wedding of YOUR dreams, and not feel obligated to do things a certain way to please someone else. Enjoy celebrating this momentous day together and cherish the memories you’ll make on this day.
Oregon Wedding Photographer
My name is Olivia and I’m an Oregon Wedding photographer capturing candid, emotion-driven moments in the PNW. I love capturing magical wedding days that look like they came right off the page of your favorite storybook. If you’re looking for a wedding photographer and this fits your exact vibe, I would love to chat with you!
You can inquire with me here
More Wedding Inspiration:
Intimate Backyard Wedding in Spokane, WA
Oregon Wedding Photographer Starting Prices:
- Starting at 5 hours of coverage at $2,775
- 200+ digital images
- online gallery with printing rights
Leave a comment!
Let me know if you ended up using any of these tips on your wedding day and what worked for you!
