Planning a wedding can be a stressful time—vendors have to be booked, the dress needs to be altered, people are taking too long to RSVP, etc. After months of planning and organizing, the last thing you want is to be too stressed to enjoy your own wedding. Here are some tips on how to have a stress-free wedding day:

Give yourself extra time to get ready.

You should have a detailed wedding day timeline for you and your wedding party to help things go smoothly, but don’t rush getting ready. Give yourself more time than you typically need—this way, you can relax and spend time with your bridesmaids, and then you have some wiggle room if there’s an issue with any of the dress or hair details.

Have something for your guests to do.

It’s normal to worry about your guests and if they’re having a good time, but the day isn’t about them—it’s about you and your partner. If you’re taking photos between the ceremony and reception, have a cocktail hour complete with simple games that can be played at their tables. This way you don’t feel quite as rushed to get photos done.

Assign tasks to the wedding party and family/friends.

Things like decorating the venue, running reception games, and cleaning up afterward can be delegated to the members of your wedding party and to close family and friends. Knowing who is taking care of what, even something like taking your bags from one location to the another, will help you relax.

Have a back-up weather plan.

It’s a good idea to choose a venue that has an indoor option in case it rains on your wedding day. You’ll want to make sure everyone can fit inside, including the entertainment—especially a live band. No matter what, don’t let the weather ruin your wedding day. You can still have a beautiful ceremony and reception indoors!

Bring a small kit with essential “just in case” items.

Let someone in your party keep hold of a small bag that includes band aids, bobby pins, needle and thread, scissors, stain remover, pain reliever, etc. If someone gets a tear in their dress or your hair starts falling apart, you’ll have the peace of mind knowing it can get taken care of right away.

Accept that something may go wrong.

It’s nearly impossible for everything to go exactly right on your wedding day, so just know that it’s okay if something goes wrong. Any logistical issues can be taken care of by venue staff, and you’ll have your closest friends and family around to help out. Just do your best to enjoy your special day.

Take the stress out of your wedding day by having your ceremony or reception at Stillwater Event Center. Our in-house caterer and staff are on hand to make sure things run smoothly!