6 Tips to Help You Slow Down and Enjoy Your Wedding Day

Photo Credit: Ockenfoto

Many married couples describe their wedding day as a blur, from greeting all of the guests to keeping up with the timeline. It’s easy to get swept up by the commotion. However, your wedding only happens once, and a lot of love and planning went into it, so you should try to slow down and appreciate it before it’s over.

Here are six tips to help you remain present and stay grounded on your wedding day. Think of these tips as practical reminders and not as more items piled up on your big day.

1. Build a Breathing Room Moment Into Your Timeline

It’s normal to want your wedding day schedule to be jam-packed. However, this leaves little to no room for spontaneous or quiet moments. Consider implementing timeline buffers into your schedule to ensure flexibility.

Allow an extra 15-20 minutes between each major event. This way, if anything needs more time or you need a little space for yourself, you aren’t delaying anything for your guests.

Each timeline buffer helps you take in the moment for each stage of the wedding day. For example, instead of diving right into portraits after the ceremony, take a moment to hug your spouse and family members. You just had the most special moment together, so take a few minutes to acknowledge it before everyone goes off in different directions.

Alternatively, you may want a moment by yourself if you’re feeling overwhelmed. Use a three-minute mindfulness technique to take a deep breath and center yourself.

2. Delegate and Trust Your A-Team

You’ve been planning your wedding for a long time. As the captain of the ship, your wedding day is the best time to let go of that control so you can devote all your energy to the wedding. After all, you hired experts for a reason. Trust the photographers, caterers and entertainment to keep things running smoothly.

You can also assign smaller tasks to your family or bridal party. For example, you could designate someone to bring you water or drinks throughout the night so you don’t waste time waiting in line at the bar. You can also have someone put your ring box, bouquet and other ceremony items in a safe place so you don’t lose them.

3. Connect With Your Spouse

Photo Credit: Rowan + Birch Photography

There will be many things happening at your wedding, making it hard to be fully present with your feelings and your partner. There will also be moments when you two will be apart, such as before the ceremony and when mingling with guests during the reception.

Agree on a subtle check-in signal with your partner to share brief moments of connection. Something as simple as a hand squeeze or a silly face from across the room can make your day even brighter.

4. Intentionally Sit and Eat Your Meal

It is a common joke that wedding couples don’t actually get to eat their own food at their own celebration. However, you have planned the meal and paid for it, so why shouldn’t you enjoy the food?

You could even have your caterer plan a private meal for you and your spouse. Use this time to enjoy each other’s presence, and some much-needed quiet time, before you join the rest of the party.

After you eat, you can go to each table and greet your guests as they have dinner. This way, you can be sure you talk to everyone. Once the dancefloor opens up, people scatter and it gets harder to have one-on-one conversations.

5. Have a Private First or Last Dance

For some people, being the center of attention all day can be overwhelming. If you find yourself dreading moments like the first dance, consider doing it privately. During cocktail hour, you and your partner can take a few moments to dance together with no pressure.

If you do decide to have your first dance in front of your guests, you can also plan a private last dance. Have your guests head outside to prepare for your sendoff. While they are assembling, have your DJ play one last song for just the two of you. This special moment will close the day on an intimate and memorable note.

6. Plan for an Unplugged Ceremony

No-phone weddings are becoming more popular. It can be distracting to have your ceremony and just see a sea of phones instead of the guests’ faces. Let your guests know in advance that you would appreciate it if they put their phones away so you can all be fully present.

Some of the best ways you can announce your intention for an unplugged ceremony are:

• A note in the invitations or wedding program.
• A small but visible sign before the entrance of the ceremony space.
• A brief announcement by the officiant or coordinator before the ceremony begins

You can even designate one or a few people in your wedding party as a “phone person” for those immediate, ready-to-go candids you just can’t wait to see and share.

Your Wedding Is an Experience, Not a Performance

After spending months planning your wedding, it’s time to enjoy yourself. Trust your vendors and loved ones to keep the day running smoothly so you can focus on appreciating the special moments with your spouse.

Author bio: Cora Gold is a wedding writer and editor of Revivalist magazine. She aims to inspire couples to achieve the wedding of their dreams. Connect with Cora on LinkedIn, Pinterest and Twitter.