I love offering advice to my brides so when I get a few ladies asking the same question, I know it’s time for a blog post on the topic! I’m often asked, “How can I reduce stress on the actual wedding day??” Oh girls, I FEEL YOU! There is already enough stress throughout the wedding planning process, so today I’m sharing 5 ways you can reduce that stress on the best day of your life! Kara & Michael were a prime example of a stress-free couple on their wedding day, they were so happy and soaked each other up all day! Read below for my tips 🙂

1. Hire a wedding planner

If hiring a wedding planner is out of your budget, consider hiring a day-of coordinator! It’s a great idea to have someone who is not a family member or friend (and someone who does this professionally), run the logistics of your special day. Your enjoyment of your wedding is their #1 priority! They will correspond with all the vendors, make sure the timeline runs smoothly and combat any battles that try to come your way.

2. Have a well-thought-out timeline

I advise you to seek help from your wedding planner and photographer when planning your timeline! We work weddings every weekend so we know how long things typically last. From the start of the day until your exit, you’ll want to have a play-by-play of when and where things will happen. Plan in some buffer time as well, especially in the ‘getting ready’ part of the day!

3. Minimize the number of locations

If your ceremony and reception are in the same location/vicinity, that’s GREAT! If not, that’s fine too! But do yourself a favor and minimize the number of places you and your bridal party will need to travel to. Can your bridal party get ready at the ceremony location or very close to it? Think about the time it will take to move so many people from place to place and adjust accordingly 🙂

4. Complete a Wedding Day Questionnaire ahead of time (for your photographer!)

I send my brides a detailed questionnaire over a month before the wedding! It is SO helpful for me to understand the logistics and vision for your big day! I ask about any special moments planned, your other vendors, your family portraits list, etc. I’ve heard from my brides that it’s also helpful for them as well (lots of realizations happening haha)!

5. Soak it all in, together

Your wedding day will fly by so be sure that you and your sweetheart remember to soak it all in and bask in your bliss! YOU’RE MARRIED!! Enjoy your meal together, dance together, enjoy your cake together. Let any stress or potential distractions roll off of you and celebrate the first day of the rest of your lives, together.

I hope this helps you reduce stress on your special day! If you want to chat more about your wedding and my photography experience, feel free to contact me!

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To view recent engagement sessions, click HERE.

To view recent weddings, click HERE.