The Wedding Stress Mantra
No, not her. But isn't that bouquet gorgeous? (courtesy of Studio EMP)
True story: It’s a beautiful Saturday morning. My first stop is my bride’s house…where everything is in a complete panic. Bridesmaids and family members are missing, so hair and makeup is going to finish late. My girl is still in curlers, and I’m following her around the house as she finds her place cards, her table numbers, etc. so I can take them to the reception site. I’m the only one who’s not freaking out, because I know that it’s all going to be fine. She will find her cake cutter and her Maid of Honor will show up and we will get to the church on time. Everything is all set and just waiting for her to arrive. But what concerned me the most is when she says to me, “This is not what I thought my wedding day would be like. This isn’t what I wanted, or how I wanted to feel at all.”
Well, yeah.
Look, you’re going to get stressed out. There is going to come a point, and probably not just on your wedding day, when you’re not sure if you can make it, you’re not sure that you can handle it, it isn’t going how you’d planned, and there you are, in curlers, hyperventilating because 150 pairs of eyes are going to be staring at you in a few weeks/days/minutes. And you just. Can’t. DEAL.
But here’s the thing. You HAVE been dealing. This whole time. You got through finding your venue, got through cutting the guest list, found bridesmaid dresses, took two weekends to assemble your invitations, and you’re still sane. Why would you think that would change? And the day is here. So, I’m going to tell you the same thing that I told her:
“I know that things are going a little nuts right now, but in a few hours, you’re going to be married. In a few hour after that, you’ll be eating a really great meal that you picked out, and dancing and laughing with your friends, and having a fantastic time. This is going to be a really cool day. Watch for it.”
Feel free to repeat that in your head, as many times as you need to. And, seriously, look for it. Look for yourself having a really good time. Enjoy the fact that all the people that you dig are in one room, and that doesn’t happen very often. You worked really hard for this. And you made it. Enjoy.
And at the end of the night, after I spent some time grinning at the sight of her on the dance floor, usually with a cocktail in her hand, she slid over and hugged me. “You were right,” she said. “This was amazing!”
I know I’m right. This is why they pay me the big bucks. 
So, what happened to make you reach your stress limit? And when was the moment that you realized that it was all going to turn out okay? Because it is, you know. Share below.
See you at the end of the aisle,
My story.
I should have known better being in the catering Biz for 20+ yrs, that planning a wedding in 4 short months with my crazy fighting Irish family was a bad Idea….everything that could go wrong went wrong..but what changed everything for me..
The moment.. My husband called me the morning of our wedding, to remind me how everyone was coming there for US. he said, They were probably getting dressed and excited for us, maybe picking out their cards with a perfect wedding Bliss message. I began to think of all the weddings I attended and how Happy I was for the couples. Before he hung up, he said, Lets give them a great day ! So we did ! I made sure we all loved every moment !
Despite the stress leading up to (and oftentimes on the actual day of) the wedding, keeping the bigger picture in mind is always important! Great advice.
Despite the stress leading up to (and oftentimes on the actual day of) the wedding, keeping the bigger picture in mind is always important! Great advice.
Ha, I felt fine … until my hair and makeup took an hour and a half longer than I expected. But it was still a blast.
Ha, I felt fine … until my hair and makeup took an hour and a half longer than I expected. But it was still a blast.
Me? Obsessed with Delicate Raymond's necklace? you bet.
michellehipps at gmail dot com
I haven't tried, since my wedding is next year. Not that long, but I assume that whenever what happen I will still be under control.
This actually made me tear up. SO true, there's always that love and good will at a wedding, you just have to focus on it. Your husband is awesome, but you already know that.