April 9, 2022
How can one of the happiest days of your life also be one of the most stressful?
Getting married takes a lot of prep work and this can lead to being super stressed out when you’re hoping everything will come out perfect. Here’s the good news: your wedding day WILL be perfect no matter what. The bad news? You MIGHT get stressed in the weeks leading up to it. And that’s a perfectly normal part of the process.
Here are a few of Bill Hansen’s tips to scare away pre-wedding day nerves, and get back into a mindset that will help you enjoy your Big Day and the days before it.
1. Envision Your Big Day.
You have to change your mindset. Go with your soon-to-be spouse to a quiet place. Bring a notepad and pen. Now close your eyes and make a mental movie of what you want your wedding day to look like. Picture the atmosphere, your family and friends and the joy everyone exudes around you. Write down feelings and emotions that will enfold that day.
Be sure to include a mental picture of getting ready, the ceremony, cocktail hour and the reception, and don’t forget to pump yourself up for the wedding night. Imagine the feelings running through your body, and put them down on paper. Now manifest those ideas and thoughts and feelings into reality. If you prepare your mind to expect greatness, you will receive greatness. Concerns and worries are normal, but do your best to keep negative feelings at bay.
2. Trust Your Loved Ones (And the Wedding Experts!)
Don’t be afraid to delegate some wedding tasks to loved ones around you to take the pressure off. But more importantly, we strongly recommend hiring an event planner, a day-of coordinator and/or trusted wedding vendors to take care of the major elements of your wedding day. Trust their expertise, knowledge and you’re guaranteed to enjoy your big day with family and friends.
3. Schedule “Me Time”
The week before your wedding, schedule in a spa day with a close friend to massage out those wedding planning kinks. Fit in a yoga class or stretch sessions to recenter your mind and body to the present. Sit on the back porch and enjoy the sunset with your favorite drink at the end of day. Self care before the big day is so important! Which leads us to our next tip….
4. Stay Healthy!
Sometimes stress and nerves can weaken the immune system. Drink water. Take your vitamins. Eat nutritious foods before your wedding. Go for walks, runs or sweat it out at the gym. Your body will thank you! The last thing you want is to catch a cold just before your wedding
Not to mention, a lot of brides get so busy and stressed, they forget to eat. On your wedding day, your caterer should have a designated person to make sure you eat all those delicious offerings you selected at your tasting for your guests – cocktails included!
5. Talk It Out.
Now is the time to have your BFF on speed dial, and have a good vent sesh. Sometimes we just need to get those worrying thoughts off our chest and out in the open so we can move towards feeling better. If you are feeling stressed out or frustrated, ask a bestie or family member to be that person you can call that will listen and empathize, but most importantly, will help you calm down. Let them be a place where you can clear out all the negative talk and replace it with some good positive thinking. Your feelings are real feelings and need validation.
6. Crush That Anxiety.
One of the best ways to get rid of anxiety and calm your nerves is to use breathing techniques. Try the 4-7-8 breathing technique, also known as “relaxing breath”, where you inhale air, blowing up your belly like a balloon for 4 seconds, hold it in for 7 seconds, and exhale out through your mouth by making your lips like a pinhole opening for the air to slide slowly through. By focusing on your breathing it refocuses your mind off of whatever is panicking you. Try this a couple times as a stress reliever. Another great way to de-stress is to dance it out. Get up out of your chair and wiggle, shake and stretch yourself into a better mood.
7. Be Present.
The last thing you want is to feel as though your wedding day went by as a blur. When that big day comes, remind yourself to take it ALL in. Be present with yourself and loved ones. Engage all five of your senses throughout the day. As you get ready, listen to your loved ones’ excitement as they gush over decor or the way you look. Touch and feel the fabric of your wedding dress and how it feels against your body. Smell the fragrance in the flowers in your bouquet or in the decor around your wedding venue.
Look around at your family and friends and take in how much fun they are having celebrating you and your new husband. And of course, don’t forget to take in that special moment either during the vows or first dance where you just relish in the fact that the person you love the most is now yours for a lifetime.
Featured photo courtesy of Lara Rios Photography