Feeling wedding day stress? This may help…
Unless you’re completely detached from society, wedding day stress hits everyone at some level. People get prescription medication just to tame it down. Some drink heavily. Some begin to wonder whether it’s even a good idea to get married! There are even bridal coaches who can sit with you and help you get a grip on your day. Several of the brides that I’m currently working with will send me an email or text with this phrase, “I’m sorry I haven’t gotten back to you sooner, but wedding planning is crazy!!” This post was designed to help you alleviate some of the wedding day stress with a list of 5 things you can do to avoid it or at least keep it to a minimum and healthy amount. Let’s dive in…
1. Get smart. If you haven’t done so already, it would be my advice to start a “Wedding Folder” somewhere on your computer or smartphone. This is where you dump all of your random ideas that you get while waiting in line for espresso at Starbucks. There are several programs/apps that can help. I use Evernote. This amazing program links your devices together with lists, documents, and photos-all in real time. I use this app on my iPhone to get ideas out quickly, because a lot of times I don’t have the time to really put it into a full, complete idea. You can make a quick note and check into it later without having to give it too much thought at the moment. Later in the day, or even over the weekend when you have some free time, you are then able to go over all of your quick thoughts and put them together into more full ideas. You can then be more organized, which is the goal here.
2. Relax. Take time out for just yourself. Yoga and meditation are relaxing and beneficial ways to keep the wedding day stress to a level that is manageable. Being from the midwest (and a product of the 80’s) yoga and meditation was not welcome in my circles. After opening my mind and understanding the benefits of both, I’ve come to realize the disregard I had for something so beautiful, and I now practice both. In most cities there are yoga studios around every corner as well as places online to practice in your own living room. Here is a great article on the benefits of regular yoga practice. If these aren’t your thing, go for a walk on a regular basis. If you can get up just a bit earlier, go outside and take a stroll even for just fifteen minutes. You’ll be surprised at what a little fresh air can do.
3. Get some face time. A lot of people have been in your shoes. Get in touch with people over espressos who have been recently married and start asking questions. They also put a lot of time and effort into their wedding day and it would be good to hear their stories and experiences. It would be a good idea to listen what they wished they had done differently or better and take notes. Chances are good that they will be able to give you advice that you hadn’t thought of yet. This would also be a great time to visit with your future mother-in-law and get to know her better and what she may have for advice. She would probably be thrilled.
4. Get a grip. It would be in your best interests, and the interests of all those involved, if you could understand fully what you’re up against and not “over do it”. By this I mean that you can overplan, overdecorate, overspend, and basically “overdo” the whole event so that it no longer represents who you are. If you are a simple girl who loves minimalism, your day should speak for you in ways that are simple, memorable, and elegant. Let your day represent you well. In the photography world this translates to having a shot that people know is yours, even without any caption or watermark stating so. It is the epitome of photography to have a recognizable style.
5. Be social. In our uber-connected world, we have so many ways to gather and keep information. Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, Vine, Google Plus, and Tumblr are just a few ways to get immersed into the wedding industry. The favorite of today’s bride is, without a doubt, Pinterest. Here is my modest collection of pins and boards. This is a fantastic way to keep photos of elements of other’s wedding day in one place so you can later reference them for your use. Remember, the goal of having a Pinterest page is to stay organized and keep pins of what you would like to incorporate into your day. It is far too easy to pin too much and not have a handle on what will work for your budget, guests, and day. Being organized and ready is why you re-pin. Keep specific boards of things like flowers, cakes, dresses, and decorations. That way, when you are visiting with your vendors and they need ideas of what you would like, you can pull up some pictures of things you like. They are then able to better understand you and your tastes so they can create something more tailored to you. It would be my advice, and the advice of many (many) other photographers, that you only use Pinterest for ideas, and not come with a stack of photos to duplicate on your day. This is only imitation and duplication. You want your day to be memorable for being original and wonderful. It’s great to show a photographer your preferences and what you like about certain shots, just be careful to use them as ideas and not for exact replication. Your day is yours, make it yours!
Wedding day stress is nearly inevitable. You can, however, own it and make the best of it by simplifying and getting organized. It is without a doubt, the most exciting and wonderful day you’ve had yet. Make the most of it by being ready. Most importantly, ENJOY IT! Your life together will be wonderful, and it will be wonderful whether or not your day goes exactly as planned.
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I FEEL AS THOUGH THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO COULD BENEFIT. (thanks!)
