If you are searching forhow to have a stress-free wedding morning, or feeling overwhelmed about how to actually enjoy the start of your big day, my wedding planning tips and advice that I'm sharing here is for you.
The morning of your wedding is a notoriously stressful time! You are having your hair and makeup done, trying to get dressed and put on that gorgeous wedding dress. Meanwhile, you have friends and family that you probably haven't seen in a while all stopping by and wanting to chat.
Oh and you are getting married and making a huge commitment! All of those months and months of wedding planning are leading up to what is about to happen and the wedding day stress is mounting!
As a bridal heirloom designer at The Garter Girl, with more than 20 years of experience helping thousands of brides, I have seen it all when it comes to wedding day stress. From makeup delays and misplaced accessories to last-minute schedule confusion, the morning of your wedding can quickly go from exciting to exhausting.
But it does not have to be that way.
The good news is, with a little intention and planning, you can create a calm, organized, and meaningful wedding morning experience that allows you to soak in the joy and step into your day feeling like the bride you’ve always dreamed of being.
Below, I’m sharingpractical wedding morning advice for brides. I'm talkingsimple things that make a big difference when it comes to your mindset, your energy, and your ability to enjoy every moment of your wedding day.
Photo Credit: Renee Hollingshead Photography
What is a bride to do? Is it possible to be relaxed and stress free on your wedding day? I am here to tell you that the morning of your wedding doesn't have to be crazy and complicated. If you plan ahead and take some time before your wedding to get yourself organized, you can have a drama free wedding morning.
Your wedding morning is not just a few hours of hair and makeup. It is the emotional launch point for the entire day.
This is when everything begins to feel real. You are surrounded by your closest people. You are putting on your wedding dress. Your photographer and videographer are capturing behind-the-scenes moments you’ll look back on forever. Your planner is hopefully running around answering all the questions and taking care of any drama so you aren't bothered with it.
The morning matters. And it matters because how you start, sets you up for an unforgettable rest of the wedding day where you're relaxed and enjoying every morning.
But here’s what most brides are not told:
If you don’t intentionally plan and organize your wedding morning, stress will show up uninvited. The beauty appointments may run behind. You may forget to eat. You might lose track of time. And instead of feeling excited, you’ll be stuck trying to manage logistics.
Let’s fix that before it starts.
Here are four things that every bride can do to help themselves and avoid the stress that will undoubtedly come on the morning of their wedding.
One of my best tips for having a stress free wedding morning is to hire - no, invest - in a wedding planner. I mentioned it above and it's worth repeating: You need someone who is on your side answering questions, putting out fires and handling all the drama that will inevitably go on on your wedding day.
I'm not talking about the person who works at your wedding venue or your catering company and I'm not talking about your friend or your favorite cousin who is really responsible.
I'm talking about booking an actual wedding planner, even it is just for the day of your wedding, who can execute all of those months of planning that you did.
At some point, you'll have to enjoy the day and a wedding planner can take over and let you relax! Having someone on your side whose only job it is to make your wedding run smoothly will be worth every penny.
A wedding planner is there for you and will be able to take care of all of the last minute stressors that will come up so that you can truly enjoy your wedding day.
Have you given any thought to the types of wedding morning photos that you know you'd like to have? Well before your wedding, take a few minutes (or hours!) looking around on Pinterest or wedding blogs for examples of photos that past brides have taken on the morning of your wedding.
Make sure that your photographer knows about the types of images that you'd like to have and then start gathering the items that you'll need. The earlier the better so that you can be assured to get the accessories that you want.
Do you want a photo of you and your bridesmaids in those beautiful robes? Or how about a photo of you putting on your wedding garter with your maid of honor helping you? What about all of your wedding accessories, like your shoes, garter, earrings, engagement ring in a box, weddings invitations all laid out nice and gorgeous? It takes time to gather the pieces together to make those pre-wedding images so beautiful, so start early and keep your photographer and videographer in the loop.
With all the craziness of getting ready for your wedding and friends and family buzzing around trying to help you, it can be hard to get a meal in. Not to mention, you are probably so nervous that eating seems like the last thing on your mind!
It is also tempting to have a glass (or two!) of champagne on wedding morning. We've all heard the horror stories of drinking on an empty stomach!
I'm here to tell you that the bride must stay full and focused on her wedding day. In the morning, before your wedding is the best time to get nourished and stay hydrated.
Once your wedding ceremony and then reception starts, it will be even harder to get a bite to eat or a sip of water!
This is it, your wedding day is there! There isn't anything you can do now to change anything, so this is the time where you let all the stress of planning your wedding go!
You've made all the planning decisions and now it is time to trust your wedding vendors to execute your wedding vision. You have to let them do their jobs now!
Most married couples encourage brides to take moments throughout the wedding day and soak it all in because it really does go so fast.
That wedding day presence of mind starts first thing in the morning. Let go of all the wedding stress as early as you can on the morning of your wedding, so that you can truly enjoy your day!
A stress-free wedding morning is not about perfection. It is about preparation.
The best mornings are the ones that feel smooth and thoughtful. You are surrounded by people who love you. You have everything you need within reach. You feel ready to step into the day with confidence.
This can be your reality, but it starts with a plan. And I'm not talking about thinking about it the night before. Most wedding morning planning starts in the weeks and months leading up to your big day.
Think about who you want with you, what you're going to want to be doing (and not doing!), and most importantly, how you want to feel.
If you want a done-for-you guide to help you stay calm, focused, and organized, I created Wedding Morning Magic just for you.
It’s a digital bridal morning planner designed to take the guesswork out of getting ready. From detailed checklists and timelines to vendor tips, packing guides, and calming rituals, Wedding Morning Magic gives you the structure and peace of mind you need.
You’ll feel clear on what needs to happen and confident in how you’ve prepared. Best of all, you’ll be able to focus on what really matters—enjoying every unforgettable moment.
Explore Wedding Morning Magic and take the stress out of your big day.
I hope that was helpful and you are all prepped for an amazing, stress-free wedding morning!
Remember, I love hand making wedding garters! I'd love to work with you to design an heirloom that you'll love forever! You can find a garter in my shop or email me at info@thegartergirl.com for a custom garter design.