10 Tips for a Stress-free Wedding

Stress ruins relationships, and its certainly no secret that a wedding can be stressful – more so for women, than for men. Keep it in perspective; it is only ONE day of you life, regardless of how special it is.

So many women put extraordinary effort into trying to make the wedding the perfect day. Why? Because most women have this fairytale picture, that they have held in their minds (for years), on how they want this day to be. This is perfectly fine, as most women want to be a princess for a day – and this is exactly how they look.

Before I was an author, I was a wedding singer for five years, and sang at loads of weddings. I never saw any Bridezillas, and everyones wedding seemed so perfect.

But so many women put so much pressure on themselves, for months and months, to have the perfect wedding. Some women have even died, trying to achieve this (one woman over-tanned herself). And life, like a wedding day, and just like a marriage, is NOT perfect in every moment.

So how can brides to be put less emphasis on controlling every second of €˜The Wedding Day, and a little more emphasis on being rested, and prepared, for the first day of their marriage.

I am a romantic, yet I only had a very affordable wedding, small reception (in the local footy hall), and my night could not have been more perfect. Sure, I had my hic-hups, like the makeup artist accidentally giving me a blood nose – not what you want on your wedding day.

So, now looking back on the past 19 years of wedded bliss, if I had to give advice on how to enjoy YOUR almost perfect Wedding day to the fullest, this what I recommend:

1. Ensure that everything important is delegated on the day, so you can focus on being a princess.

2. Let your bridesmaids know that while you want them looking gorgeous, they should love you enough to accept that they are your €˜slaves; for the day’ If you need help with your tiara, they need to be there with a click of the fingers – its your day.

3. Ensure you get a relaxing night the night before. Have a massage, or at the very least, have a bubble bath, and relax.

4. Ensure that all your photos are captured by a professional, for you to cherish forevermore.

5. Abstain from bedroom activities with your groom to be, to keep it extra exciting and alive. You want to ensure you have the enthusiasm and energy to start your married life of with a wedding night passionate encounter in full swing – so many brides wear themselves out, to the point they start their marriage off with, €˜not tonight, much to the dismay of their partner.

6. The best way to remain calm is to say to yourself, €˜No matter what happens today, I will be married to that one I adore, from this day forth. This thought helped me remain calm, and filled me with joy. I did not look at my wedding day as just a day, but the event, though which, I would be able to marry my childhood sweetheart. I was so excited, just to be able to wake up with him, morning after morning, after the wedding day.

7. Enjoy every moment, as it will go so fast. Whatever you are doing, for every second of your wedding day, focus on that moment. The day will be filled with special moments, which will all too fast, end.

8. Have a good supply of food in your hotel. On your wedding day, if you are like most brides, you will be starving by the end of the day, so ensure the hotel is well stocked.

9. Keep the expenses within a reasonable budget. I have been to weddings at the Hyatt, and weddings in a back yard, and they are all beautiful. You do not need to spend a fortune to have a wonderful wedding, and a lasting marriage. When I was married in 1991, we spent approximately $800, in our local hall, cheap catering co,. and hired seats and tables. Its not about the wedding, in the end of the day, it is about the start of a new, exciting relationship, with the person you adore. You may need the money to put a deposit on a house, go on a honeymoon or buy new furniture. We cut out honeymoon short, as we couldnt wait to get home to our new house, unpack all our wedding gifts, and play newlyweds.

10. Even if you are shy, this is your day to shine. Have your hair done, make-up, and ensure you are well rested and taken care of. Some people feel uncomfortable being under the spotlight, but enjoy your day. Being a bride, is like being a celebrity – all eyes are on you. So ensure you are rested, cared for, and relish every moment. A wedding is an event, which most people enjoy; a marriage is a special relationship, where your love can change, deepen and grow. If you have a strategy, like Honeymooners Forever: Twelve Step Marriage Survival Guide, you will still wake up, so excited to be married (like I did this morning), just like I do now … 19 years later.

10 Tips for a Stress-free Wedding by Phoebe Hutchison www.honeymoonersforever.com.au

Photo courtesy Victor Bezrukov