Planning your wedding day can be one of the most stressful events of your life, so is only natural that on the big day you might be feeling a little (or a lot) of pressure. You are often so focused on making the day perfect, that you forget what your wedding is really all about. There seems to be a lot of strategies out there for dealing with pre wedding stress, but what should you be doing on the actual day?

Leah’s top wedding day tips to keep you Zen will make sure you enjoy your day, and don’t overload with stress!

Yoga Poses

The tensing and relaxing of your muscles that yoga postures encourage are stress releasers allowing you to be in tune with your body and how it is working. The team at Bridal Musings took a look at a beautiful and calming wedding day yoga session. Envisioned by a creative group of photographers and planners, this idea will have you feeling relaxed and ready to take on the day. A yoga session with your bridal party can get the day started with deep breathing and stretching, relaxing and preparing you to manage your wedding stress.

Drink Water

Don’t let yourself become dehydrated. Headaches and dizziness is a sign that you are not getting enough water. Because a high stress situation can induce a headache, reduce your chances by staying well hydrated. A lack of water can also leave your skin looking dry; don’t compromise your months of hard work to look your best by skimping on the water. Dehydration can increase your body’s cortisol levels, which is the hormone released by your adrenal glands, often referred to as the “stress hormone”. Stressful situations can also dehydrate you further because your heart rate is increased.

Wedding day stress can cause a never ending circle of stress. First you get dehydrated because you are stressed, and then you are stressed because you are dehydrated. Leah recommends you always keep a bottle of water on hand. Make sure you pack yourself a straw to avoid accidental spills those beautiful wedding dresses.

Eat Snacks

No one wants to risk getting hangry; that horrible state in which you are angry because you are hungry. To stay calm and relaxed, make sure you eat something healthy on the big day. Have a snack on hand like blueberries or some dark chocolate. Blueberries have been found to have properties that help to increase a certain type of white blood cell. Apparently that helps to boost your immunity and fight of stress.

Dark chocolate can be included as an indulgent part of getting ready for the day. Share something with your bridal party like dark chocolate hearts. The properties of dark chocolate can help to reduce your stress hormones and releases a sense of euphoria when eaten. Thus boosting your mood, and keeping you on track for the day.

Follow a Schedule

Planning is the key you can’t be too organized. The time on your special day is certain to fly by, so create a schedule to keep your time management on track. Have a rough guide for your guests, but create a detailed timeline for your wedding party, so you know hour to hour where people need to be. A carefully scheduled timeline should allow for little hiccups. Ensuring there is enough time to have everything ready.

Delegate Tasks

Even if you are planning your own wedding, make sure you put someone else in charge on the day. Feeling like you need to do everything yourself can be extremely stressful and overwhelming. Try sending out something like this contact list.

This will encourage people to take their problems to someone who can better help them. Rather than you dealing with every guest and vendor problem yourself. Have a look on etsy or try your hand at making your own.

Wedding day tips to Prepare Strategies

Unfortunately no matter how well you plan, prepare and schedule there will inevitably be something that goes awry on the day. Have someone to talk to, a calming thought, or small task ready in place if and when something goes wrong. Effective stress strategies will help to control your emotions and take your mind off the problem.

Practice Mindfulness

Remember what the day is about, it is about you and your partner, and it should be something that you remember for the rest of your life. So many couples find that their wedding day goes by in a blur and they can’t recall many of the finer details. Practicing mindfulness will help you to be present in the moment. Switch on your ‘being mode’ which will help you relax.

Taking a moment to pause and not immediately react to something will avoid your “doing mode” which is the body’s stress response. Mindfulness is about knowing yourself and being in tune with your feelings, the better you know your thoughts, the more control you have over your stress.

Fresh Air

The next wedding day tips are Breathing in fresh outside air can help to increase the amount of oxygen to the brain, clearing the mind and allowing you to think better. Increased oxygen and exposure to the sun’s vitamin D can increase the amount of serotonin your body produces. Serotonin is well known to regulate anxiety, allowing you to manage your stress levels.

Express Gratitude

Studies have shown that expressing gratitude can help to change your brain’s thought patterns and keep your attitude positive. Smiling and encouraging good thoughts and feelings will help you combat stress when you are genuinely thankful for your special day. This is one of my best wedding day tips. Consciously think of the things that you are grateful for like your friends and family, marrying your partner.