Don’t be a bride who gets stressed out

STOP for a second and think about this: it’s a day you’ve dreamed of for as long as you can remember; the big day is finally here and everything is going to be perfect. Now, just imagine you’ve stressed yourself out to the point where the entire gloss and meaning of the day passes you by. Not nice, is it? For some brides, hitting the “off ” button is a difficult transition on the day when they are meant to be happy and relaxed, and instead they are a bundle of nerves and tension. Don’t fall into this trap.

Follow the tips below and have a wonderful day:

• It sounded like a good idea at the time, but giving your purse to your Matron of Honour to take care of was not such a good idea after all. The photographer is putting the pressure on you to go outside to catch the beautiful sunset and your girl is gone for a stroll with your bag – and your lipstick. Wear it around your neck if you have to, but carry your own purse. You can always hide it under yours skirt during the photo session. • At the cocktail reception, do not mingle with your guests with a glass of red wine in your hand. Yes, it could happen to you and no amount of salt or soda water is going to ease your trouble here. Stick to drinks of the white variety and wait until you are seated at dinner to enjoy the vino. • Keep track of wedding cards. Now this is where the Honorary Matron can definitely help. As the blushing bride, you will be constantly distracted by well-wishers, so made a plan in advance with your sidekick. Ask her to discreetly take them from you and keep them all safely in one place for you to open later. • If your wedding reception is being held in a different hotel to where you will be sleeping, make sure that there is a designated room as your retreat throughout the day. It doesn’t have to be fancy, but no bride should have to queue for the toilet alongside her guests, nor should she have to do a repair job on her mascara in front of everyone. • Don’t listen to any hints or huffy remarks from guests about the seating arrangements. You know that you agonized over the dinner plan, so silently congratulate yourself for inviting them at all and give your most dazzling smile before high-tailing it to the other end of the room. • Don’t be afraid to delegate. If your friend needs a lift to buy another pair of tights, it’s not up to you to stress over it. If the band calls to say that they’ll be half an hour late, get your bossy sister on the case. All you should be doing is having a good time. • It’s just a fact of life that the bride is the centre point of all wedding celebrations, but in the whirl of excitement, don’t forget to spend some time with your new hubby or to steal a kiss or two. Men are usually less bothered about the minor details of the day, so if you’re stressed, take time out and have a laugh at the bar with your fella. • Hotel staff are seasoned wedding professionals, so work on the assumption that you are in good hands. However, little things can go wrong sometimes, in which case you have two options: You can turn into Bridezilla and upset yourself, or you can resolve the matter with the minimum of hassle and move on. No one is out to ruin your day and the staff is human too. • Manage your expectations. If sunshine is forecast but rain is the reality, don’t take it to heart. Let’s face it – the band and the bar are indoors so how much fine weather is needed to make a wedding enjoyable? And if some guests refuse to hit the floor despite the top class band you’ve hired, there’s not a lot you can do about it. Your only responsibility is to yourself, so decide what’s important to you and then let the rest go. • Enjoy your special day. Before you know it, it will be all over so don’t waste your time stressing. Tune in to the spontaneous moments and let them surprise and delight you. It’s what precious memories are made of.