In a matter of weeks, I’ll be celebrating my own nuptials and truth be told—I’m already freaking out. It has nothing to do with marrying my partner in crime or whether the buttercream frosting on that four-tier cake might droop under the sweltering Kansas heat—no, it’s pretty much all the other ridiculous details that have me waking up in cold sweats in the middle of the night.
Honestly, I can feel my blood pressure rise just thinking about the night before the big day and the moment I’ll repeat my vows in front of our mob of loved ones. It’s enough to make my face break out in anticipation.
To combat the day-of drama, I’ve set out on a mission to find tips and tricks on taking back my sanity the day of the wedding. Of course there are the tried-and-true pearls of wisdom about getting a good night's sleep, not drinking the night before, squeezing in a stellar breakfast, and not drugging up a la Sixteen Candles before hitting the aisle, but this bride-to-be needs way more than that!
Read on for some of the best and brightest outside-the-box ideas I’ve stumbled upon for taking back the big day:
It’s been scientifically proven that music has the power to change moods, so it seems like a no-brainer that it should play an integral part in the wedding prepping process—way before those perfectly pedicured toes ever hit the dance floor.
Sara Gaum, owner of L.A.-based event planning website VendorBar.com, recommends creating a custom playlist to listen to while you’re getting ready, instead of leaving the background tunes to the Pandora radio gods. “Find relaxing songs that remind you of your fiancé, to help calm the mood.”
Maybe it’s the ADHD-ridden child in me, but I’m always up for a well-timed distraction. “I had a bride that loved to do crossword puzzles to relax,” recounts Ebony Coston, owner and lead planner of California Sol Creations, weddings and events.
Unwind in the hours leading up to the aisle—work on a craft project, draw, doodle, or even knit—whatever activity it may be, find an outlet that works for you. Consider putting a bridesmaid in charge of bringing a board game to the hotel room or renting a movie to play while you and your beauties are killing time.
In the months leading up to the big day, you’ve no doubt been bombarded with to-do lists everywhere you turn—there was that ‘must-have’ registry checklist, planning guide, and shower 'thank you’s—so honestly, what’s one more?
“Having things in place to de-stress on the day of isn't enough,” says Wendi Riggens of Wendi Riggens Photography. “Everyone involved in the wedding needs to know what is going on, where to be, when and they need to be reminded. The least stressful weddings and the ones that run smoothest are the ones where the wedding party and family all know when to be where. This can be done via newsletters and emails and reminding everyone at the rehearsal the night before.”
After cutting checks to what seems like every wedding vendor in a 300-mile radius, it may seem like a struggle to stretch the budget for hiring an in-room beauty brigade, but Felicia Gantar of Felicia Events has had plenty of industry experience to know that the splurge is worth its weight in gold.
“Find a hair dresser and make-up artist to come to the bride’s hotel room, it’s one less thing to worry about than trying to get to the salon on time and getting back to the hotel to start getting dressed. Then you don't have to worry about any one getting lost, especially if it is a destination wedding.”
If you’re like me, you don’t have the luxury of having a wedding planning professional to choreograph the chaos months out. Fortunately, for a fraction of the cost, brides can still nab a “day of" event planner to drive their ship for a fraction of the cost--or even recruit a trust-worthy loved one.
“Delegate as many duties as possible to friends and family members or hire a ‘day of event’ wedding planner to handle last-minute duties so that you, your family, and friends can all relax and enjoy your big day,” suggests Phyllis Cambria, co-owner of WeddingPlansPlus.com and co-author of “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Throwing a Great Party.”
Look for local, full-service event planners that often offer day-of services at a discount.
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In digging up ideas for de-stressing on the big day, what surprised me most was how much practical advice women AREN’T getting.
For the brave brides that have gone before me, how’d you cope and what advice can you impart for ramping up the relaxation factor? I know I’ll need all the help I can get!
Natalie Bogan is a Houston-based freelance writer and editor. Her work has been published in a variety of lifestyle magazines, newspapers and online publications including Houston Brides, Houston Modern Luxury, and Southwest Airlines' Spirit magazine.
