It’s the most wonderful day of your life – but also one of the most nerve-wracking! Here’s our guide to preventing wedding nerves from overwhelming you in the run-up to your big day!
It’s totally normal to feel nervous when you have a big event coming up – and your wedding day is pretty much the biggest you’ll ever face.
So of course, it’s going to be stressful – picking out the perfect venue, the decor, the dress, not to mention wrestling with a guest list full of people who may not necessarily play well together!
Combine that with a year and a half of Covid restrictions that has left couples having to reschedule their big day time and time again, plus the wrangles with suppliers and legal woes that can result.
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Even without that extra pandemic pressure, there’s still plenty to worry about – so here’s our guide to stop anxiety from overwhelming you in the run-up to the big day.
Don’t worry about the walk
Being the centre of attention and having all eyes on you isn’t for everyone, and for some this mental block can cause a lot of stress.
For those who suffer social anxiety disorder and feel this is likely to be triggered whilst walking down the aisle, there are techniques you can practise to help you cope with this before the big day.
Take a break from organising the wedding to make time for the usual routines and practises you do to help deal with your everyday anxieties.
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Rehearse rehearse rehearse
Rehearsing the big day beforehand will give you a taste of what the real event will be like, helping you to feel more comfortable with the venue and not be as overwhelmed. As for techniques to try whilst practising your big day, focus on making eye contact with your partner, not the guests around you. That way, you can ease some of the anxiety around having all eyes on you.
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Don’t forget to eat!
Your diet can be a trigger for anxiety too, so try to cut out any high-sugar or caffeine-fuelled drinks on the day of your wedding. But a light meal can settle nerves or at least calm those butterflies, and you’re burning nervous energy so you will need to replace that energy to see you through the day. Try to eat little and often, and graze while you’re getting ready on the day.
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You don’t have to spend, spend, spend
Probably one of the biggest concerns for many people is the financial aspect of a wedding. It’s no secret that weddings are expensive, especially if you’ve had to rearrange due to previous Covid restrictions, and setting a budget is key for ensuring an unnecessary amount of money isn’t spent on the ceremony.
If the price tag of your wedding is causing you to lose sleep at night, it’s important to remember that your wedding is for you and your partner—not a fancy display for the guests. So, if you don’t want something, you don’t have to buy it.
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Manage your budget
Dividing your budget into the different sections of your wedding will help organise your finances. That way, you have greater control over where your budget is going and how much you plan to spend on each part—leaving no nasty surprises when it comes to calculating the final cost.
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But do it your way
Although sticking to your budget and only buying what you can afford is key, don’t settle for anything less. If you’re a diehard Liverpool fan who has always dreamed of marrying close to Anfield or you’ve always wanted to marry in the middle of a lake, then find a way to make it happen!
Work together
It’s important that you and your partner solve your worries together, rather than separately. When you suffer from anxiety, it’s common to isolate from those around you – don’t give in to these negative emotions and accept the support and advice provided by those around you.
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Reach out
You’re not alone. There are many couples that are dealing with the same situation as you due to the pandemic, so reaching out to brides or grooms who are feeling the same via social media groups can help provide a supportive circle. It is also a great way to offer and receive advice on how to deal with the stress of reorganising your wedding. Why not join our Wedding Journal Inspo Facebook page to chat to likeminded brides, swap tips and give each other a boost?
Find some perspective
Whether your wedding day has been delayed due to previous pandemic restrictions, or the organisation is causing you anxiety, it is vital you put things into perspective. Right now you might be experiencing a lot of stress and anxiety, but think about 10 years from now. Your wedding is one day, but the commitment you and your partner make to each other is forever.
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Distract yourself
Although your wedding day might be the only thing you can think about, find distractions from this. Whether this be through sport, cooking, art, or even watching a TV show that makes you laugh, these are all healthy outlets to relieve stress and anxiety.
Manage the adrenalin
When You’re nervous and feel butterflies in your stomach, that’s adrenalin – it’s the hormone that helps us to lift huge weights, run like the wind and survive things we thought we couldn’t. It’s useful for survival, but only when you’re in a survival situation. So control adrenalin by forcibly relaxing your muscles, and breathing deeply in through the nose and out through the mouth. Visualise yourself somewhere calm and happy like a beach or spa and the adrenalin will drain out of your system.
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Sleep
Sleep is the one thing that will help your body to cope with stress. If you’re struggling to sleep, take a warm bath or read a book and relax and eventually your blood pressure will drop enough to help you to relax into sleep, even for a little while. It all helps.
Get active
Doing exercise can help to burn off adrenalin and calm your nerves, so take a gentle class, do a little yoga, go for a run or bike ride or take the dog for a long walk. Do whatever it takes to tire yourself out, but don’t exhaust yourself. If you have time, it’s worth even going for a short walk or run on the day itself to calm nerves.
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Ask for help
Don’t be afraid to delegate – your life is full of people who want to help out on the big day. Once you can be sure that everything is in hand, it should help to reduce your stress levels. Don’t forget to take a few minutes to yourself away from others to calm down – chill out quietly, listen to music alone, read a book or magazine to take your mind off things and relax.
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Think about what it means
Rather than be consumed by the aesthetics of the day, think about what it actually symbolises. Since in the end, that’s all that matters. Although weddings do entail some level of stress regardless of a pandemic, it is important that you find ways to deal with this rather than pushing your feelings aside.
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Still organising your perfect day? Check out our gallery of fabulous suppliers HERE.
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