Your wedding day is going to absolutely fly by. People warn you, you nod politely. And then the day comes, you blink, and it's over.
But there are ways to slow it down, keep it real, be prepared for anything, and make sure that you actually enjoy every moment.
Schedule time to breathe it all in.
I know this sounds strange, but you'll thank yourself later. Once you have your timeline (and have included buffer time for everything in that, too!) Add time in the run-sheet, set silent alarms or ask a member of the wedding party to have silent alarms set for every hour of the wedding that goes by, to remind you to take a minute to just take it all in, whatever that means for you. Consider scheduling time after the ceremony for you and your spouse to slip away for 5-10 minutes, just the two of you, away from everyone else. To jump with joy, hug each other, appreciate the day, maybe take some selfies or update your relationship status on socials - what ever helps you to enjoy the moment. And schedule just a minute or two each hour after that - whether it's a reminder to take a deep breath and look around to notice the little things like the way your dress moves or the sounds floating through the air, or actually stepping away for another moment that's just you and your new spouse or even your best friend - these are the moments that you will remember in 20 years.
Feed yourselves first
Chances are you'll be too nervous and excited to eat much before the ceremony, but you'd be surprised how quickly those hunger pangs can show up once the ceremony is over, and how quickly that can sour the mood through the festivities. Schedule time to feed yourselves - whether that's having prepared emergency snacks, planning some sneaky take-out for the wedding party only; find a way to eat before you greet. Remember to stay hydrated too! It will greatly improve your mood, the day, and give you some time to be mindful and take it all in before the party takes off.
The Survival Kit
Choose someone in your wedding party to be in charge of the survival kit with wedding essentials. Check here for a list of items to include in your wedding day survival kit. You will look back and be SO grateful to have planned for the moments as well as the big milestone, so that you can focus on and remember how the magic of the day really felt, not thinking about how your hair kept falling out and no-one had anything on hand to fix it.
Stay true to you.
Whether it's a private first dance before anyone else is around, skipping the bouquet toss, or changing in to sneakers for the reception, make sure there is at least something in your day that is completely yours, that will keep you grounded and remind you to live in the moment. Keep traditions that are meaningful to you, but don't be afraid to veer away if it doesn't feel right. Ultimately, the day is about the two of you, not everybody else, as much as it might feel that way when planning.
Roll with the punches.
Things will go wrong, and none of it will matter later. Almost nothing that you think matters on the day will actually matter years later, and no one else will notice small things that go wrong because they didn't know your vision in the first place. The things you think will bother you in the lead up will become quirks of the day that you reminisce and laugh about. When things inevitably go wrong, keep moving forward, don't worry too much and above all, have fun at the party that you've spent months or years planning!
Oh, and wiggle your toes if you get overly nervous.
