How to Cut Down on Stress for Your Wedding Day

If you're in the process of planning a wedding then you're probably finding out it's one of the most stressful things you've ever done. There are an infinite number of miniscule details that must be in order to ensure everything is perfect. However, no wedding is perfect. Something will go wrong, and it's important for you to stay level headed on your wedding day. Remember, it's one of the most important days of your life and if the flowers don't look the way you pictured them then don't stress over it. What really matters is that you're happy and enjoying the moment. With that said, here are just a few precautions you can take to cut down on stress for your wedding day:

Planning for extra guests.

You never can anticipate how many people are going to attend the reception. In many cases, the attendance is considerably less than you anticipated, while in some instances there are more people that show up. There's nothing worse for a bride or groom having to scramble around to find sufficient seating for friends or family members. Take a careful look at how many people sent an RSVP, and order an additional five percent worth of food and beverages in case there is an unplanned arrival. Also, talk with your caterer to be sure they have extra seating and tables you can set up in the event that more people need to be added.

Verify plans with your vendors.

In the days leading up to your wedding, I suggest calling all of your vendors just to make sure they have everything scheduled accordingly. I say this because my wife and I happened to call the videographer two days before our wedding and it turns out that he had failed to mark our wedding on the calendar. Fortunately, he was still able to come in and do the wedding, but let this be a lesson. I would be sure that all of the contracts you sign with the vendors are in writing and specify exactly what you'd like for them to do so that you'll have a course of action if they don't set things up properly. When you talk with the vendor have them read back the specifics of your order. Give the vendor great directions and a list of contact numbers in the event they have a question.

Get tuxedos early.

I say this because at my brother's wedding four months ago there was a mix up with the tuxedo orders. We waited until the day of the wedding to pick them up, and as we're changing before the wedding we all realized that my middle brother had a different style tuxedo. Since we were all coming from out of town and had to phone in our orders, this was the first time we actually saw the tuxedos and realized the mistake. We ended up having to ask a close friend to run to the shop thirty minutes before the ceremony and correct the mistake. My advice is to not wait until the last second to pick them up. In fact, pick them up a few days early so you can try them on, verify that the size and styles are right, and give the shop plenty of time in case they need to fix something.

Get the bridal party on the same page.

It's safe to say that the bridal party has the most amount of stress during the wedding. They have to get their hair done, nails painted, and fit into the dress. They also have bridal luncheons and other activities the day of the wedding. If you are the bride to be, then you don't want a hundred phone calls asking about where the hair and makeup is going to be done or questions on directions to the bridal luncheon. A few days before the wedding, e-mail or mail your bridal party a copy of a tentative timeline for the wedding day. Everyone will be on the same page and there will be no questions.

Don't set yourself up for failure.

When you're envisioning your wedding ceremony you're probably thinking of everything being perfect and running smoothly. However, with the addition of young children and pets, it can quickly turn into a disorganized disaster. Minimize the amount of children you have in the wedding party. Having too many children can lead to an awkward situation with crying, throwing tantrums, and refusing to walk down the aisle. Also, I highly recommend not including your favorite pet in the ceremony. This is common and, if unpracticed, can be a disaster. Make your wedding day stress-free by carefully selecting your wedding party.

Have a friend run the show.

If you didn't have the budget to hire a wedding coordinator then I highly suggest appointing a friend, someone that's not involved in the wedding party, to be hands on with the wedding day activities. This includes delegating tasks and telling everyone where they need to be. The friend should also be responsible for paying vendors, calling caterers, photographers and musicians, and any other task that is important.

Your friend should also bring backup supplies for the bride. Because this friend is not in the wedding party and they're not worrying about getting ready themselves, they have the time to think clearly and take all of the bride's needs into consideration. The friend should pack extra panty hose, Kleenex, headache medication, spot removers, a sewing kit, and other items that are related to the bride and wedding dress. Oh and don't forget the Altoids for that first kiss!

Those are just a few ways to take out the stress on your wedding day. Having a full proof plan can dramatically cut down on the amount of problems that arise on the big day!