How to Handle Wedding Day Anxiety and Actually Enjoy Your Wedding

So your big day is approaching, and the stress of all the wedding planning has started to give way to nervousness about the actual wedding day. Well, you're not alone - worrying about whether everything will go smoothly is enough to give even the coolest of cucumbers a dose of the wedding day jitters, never mind actually walking down the aisle in front of a bunch of people and declaring your undying love for your partner!

Whether you're an anxious person or this is a first for you, a bit of anxiety is a perfectly normal part of the wedding journey. Though an entirely stress-free wedding might be a bit of a reach, we're here to hold your hand and walk you through some straightforward ways to ease your wedding anxiety and, heck, even enjoy your wedding day!

Manage wedding day anxiety with relaxation techniques

When you've been so intensely focused on planning your wedding, you might feel like your brain won't switch off. Like countless couples, in the lead up to your wedding day, you might find yourself awake at 3 am, running through to-do lists or even just ruminating over emails or conversations you've had with suppliers - and whilst this is all completely normal, it's pretty inconvenient. After all, we all know just how important sleep is for good mental health!

They say prevention is better than a cure, and wedding day anxiety is no exception to this rule! Making time every day to practice deep breathing, yoga nidra or meditation in the days and weeks before your wedding will help prime your nervous system and give you a quick way to de-stress in the moment.

Identify your stressors, and delegate tasks

Although you may generally be feeling anxious about getting married, there are also likely to be some tasks which are causing you undue stress. What are the things that are keeping you awake at night? Which specific aspects of the wedding are you feeling overwhelmed by? Make a list of the things that are stressing you out the most, and see whether you can delegate them to a member of your support system - be that your wedding planner, partner or a member of the wedding party.

If it's social anxiety you're struggling with in the days leading up to the wedding, then remember, this is your celebration and it's supposed to be fun - if the thought of a first dance is making you anxious, then why not invite everyone onto the dance floor? If you're feeling nervous about public speaking, then ditch the speeches in favour of a slideshow or quiz.

Address tricky family dynamics

From divorced parents to feuding family members, don't underestimate the emotional weight of a dysfunctional family when it comes to wedding planning - the fear of an argument erupting after a few glasses of bubbly is enough to give anyone anxiety! You know your family, but the best advice we can give is to have a frank talk with all parties before the wedding to set some boundaries and reassure them, you can help negate this with an awesome seating plan. If the situation is particularly volatile, consider assigning a couple of trusted friends to keep an eye on things so that you can relax and enjoy yourself!

Get a good night's sleep before your wedding

We know it's easier said than done, but indulging in a bit of self-care and sleeping well the night before your wedding is a surefire way to reduce anxiety on the day. If you're feeling a bit anxious, it might be tempting to soothe your nerves with a drink or two, and though alcohol might help you get to sleep initially, you're more likely to be wakeful and have a fuzzy head in the morning. Getting to bed nice and early, and having a bath or a shower around an hour before bed can help you to drift off more easily.

If sleep just isn't happening, then don't stress - there are other ways to make sure you get enough rest before the big day! Studies have shown that doing yoga nidra (a type of yogic sleep practice) induces a similar state of deep relaxation and can be almost as good as sleep - and you never know, once your headphones are on and you're deeply relaxed, you might just drift off!

Don't forget to eat breakfast

Your wedding day is going to be an active one - you'll be on your feet for most of the day, and with meal timings being different to usual, you're going to need to make sure you're well-fueled. In short, this isn't the day to skip breakfast, no matter how nervous you're feeling!

The effects of low blood sugar or dehydration can make the physical symptoms of anxiety worse, so kick off your wedding day with a balanced and nutrient-dense breakfast full of protein and good fats, and before the ceremony, follow it up with a snack to see you through to the drinks reception. Keeping yourself hydrated throughout the day with electrolytes is another great way of keeping the wedding nerves at bay.

Let go and enjoy your big day

It's natural to care deeply that everything is perfect for your wedding, but your special day is going to be a whole lot more enjoyable if you can take a few deep breaths and accept that it's highly unlikely that every little thing will go to plan. The truth is that minor hiccups are quickly forgotten, and major ones will probably be a funny story you'll tell to your kids one day - going in with this kind of attitude will make for a much less stressful experience on the day!

Remember, your wedding is about so much more than decor, flowers, and little details. It's about celebrating you and your partner, your love story, and this new life chapter you're embarking on. If you feel those nervous feelings creeping in, then just remind yourself of this, and try to stay present - inhale slowly and take a moment to notice the smiles on family members' faces, the joy and the beauty in the room. You've got this!