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Reducing Stress

First, know that there will be stress while planning your wedding.  Brides and Grooms will usually experience different types of stress.  A bride will usually feel the pressure from planning all of the details for the wedding while the groom will be more concerned about money.  There are also issues that will cause both the bride and groom to have stress.  The most common source of stress for a couple comes from their families.  Family members may try to influence you, and you may feel pressure to try to satisfy everyone.  There are so many people involved that it would be impossible to make everyone happy.  Don't try to accommodate every person, instead set realistic expectations.

Don't expect a perfect day, expect a wonderful day.  It will be a day full of surprises; some of them good, some of them not so good.  If you are expecting perfection then you are setting yourself up for unnecessary stress.  Most of the things that go wrong at a wedding are not noticed by any of the guests, so don't stress over them.  If you feel anxious or nervous about specific elements of your wedding day, such as receipting your vows or your first dance, visualize those events running smoothly.  Do this as much as you need to, it really will help you on your wedding day.

When stressful issues do arise remember to think about and respond rather than simply reacting to them.  One of the best ways to reduce stress is exercise.  If you feel like things are getting to crazy, just stop for a while and go for a walk or bike ride.  You will come back refreshed and ready to take on the challenges that may have seemed impossible earlier.  You will have a lot to do as the big day gets closer.  Don't be afraid to ask for help. Family and friends are always exited to get involved and help.  Don't try to do everything yourself. 

Couples may find that they are arguing more than usual.  This is completely normal because you are spending so much more time planning than on your relationship and romance.  Pay attention to each others stress level. If one of you is reaching your limit, take a break and do something you both enjoy together.

If I haven't scared you into running off and eloping, the best advice I can give you to avoid as much stress as possible is hire experienced full time professionals for you wedding.  We are all ready to help in any way that we can.  Professionals working together can take a lot of the pressure off of you.  Knowing that your photographer or caterer is just a phone call away to answer your questions and ease your concerns will make you feel soooo much better than having to wait hours or even days to have your call returned.