How to keep stress at bay

With a little laughter and an emergency kit!

Vicki Martin from Sapphire Weddings tells us how to keep the stress of the day at bay:
(Click here to visit page)

When meeting and doing the pre planning with a bride and groom, a great wedding planner should get to know a couple very well and learn why and how the couples stress. Also, ask how to best avoid having them stress on the day; a bride who needs to know all is running smoothly – be sure to always keep in constant SMS contact, telling her that each step of the day is completed. If a couple needs to see that everything is running smoothly, try to get the venue or the bulk of the venue set up so they can see it before making their way down to their respective getting ready rooms at the wedding venue.

Brides are confident in who they are about to marry, but stress more about what is going to happen during the ceremony and reception - that all will be as perfect as in their dreams.

Go through a detailed logistical plan of where and how everything is going to run on the big day, from collecting of the decor, confirming the vendors, how the bridal party is getting to and from the venue, including confirmation of small details such as the pen for signing the register, and how certain main events of the wedding will run for instance cutting of the cake.

Furthermore, ensure all the important people such as the DJ, photographer, videographer and MC all have a detailed timeline for the running of the day, including peoples phone numbers just in case, and any added notes of importance.

The golden rule: Have a DETAILED plan of how the day in all its complexity will run from start to finish, it keeps that stress away and helps us to deal with the stress of unforeseen emergencies like a bridesmaid with a broken strappy high heel, flower girl falling into a Jacuzzi just before going down the aisle, blowing up 3 hair driers to get the dress dry before the bridal party could walk down the aisle, a best man who thought the ceremony started at 16H00 and not 15H30 and he had the ring and pageboy.

Top tips to avoid emergencies on the day:

• Hire a wedding co-ordinator.
• Warn the bride and groom not to eat foods that will make them bloat or disagree
  with them three days prior to the wedding e.g.: eggs, baked beans, onions, cabbage etc.
• To make sure they have any allergy medicine they may need close at hand on the day.
• Strongly advise them when going into the sun to play golf or just for a braai to wear
  strong sun block and sombreros to avoid weird tans.
• Sandpaper the bottom of new pretty high heels to avoid going head over heels in the
  aisle on a slate floor.
• Practice with her father and her big dress walking down the aisle to avoid her father
  stepping on the dress and causing the bride to face plant. It’s very embarrassing on the
  wedding video.
• Ask the bride to bring casual shoes for when photographer asks her to go bundu bashing
  for that perfect photo. Thus avoiding damaging those lovely white shoes.
• If the bride is wearing slip on high heels, buy white material elastic waistband to slip over
  her foot and shoe just before the first dance to avoid losing a shoe during the seriously
  coordinated dance routines.
• HAVE A BACKUP PLAN FOR EVERTHING!!

Emergency kit for brides:

• A small standard emergency medical kit. For cuts, bites, bruises and runny tummies.
• Double sided tape for a wardrobe malfunction.
• White chalk for any mishaps to the perfect white wedding dress, so they can be drawn over.
• Super glue and celotape for any shoe emergencies.
• Plasters for blisters caused by too much dancing in those pretty white shoes.
• Safety pins for any clothing emergency, extremely good when the hook up for the train of your dress breaks.
• Headache tablets in case of hangover next morning.

From a Wedding Planner to a Marriage Officer…

Jean Keys, a Life coach and Marriage Officer explains how to keep the stress levels at their lowest on the big day.
(Click here to visit page)

Handling the stress of the bride and guests:

• Always make sure to be at the venue earlier than expected - to have a little chat with the groom
  and their parents – it makes them to feel comfortable.
• Use humour or get the groom to tell his bride how wonderful she looks and visa versa.
• Get them to turn around and face the guests to make everyone present a part of it.
• Make use of symbolism – e.g. they hold a jar with a candle in it, the groom lights the candle, and
  this takes their mind off their surroundings and the candle becomes their focus.

For the speaking of the vows:

They hold hands and I tie the knot – while they are saying their vows to each other, their focus is on the ribbon – and of course the rings – it is amazing but these things help to relax the couple during the ceremony and of course the guests love it because there is interaction.

Preparing them for the day:

• Before the wedding, ask this question: “What do you want?”
• This is such an important day and dream for the bridal couple; get them to verbalize their picture –
  remind them to relax and enjoy the moment; as it goes by so quickly.
• Encourage them to have a hot drink before leaving for the wedding - somehow it calms the nerves.
• It is so important that she and her groom have the wedding they would like – not to please parents
  or friends. A day will come when discussing the wedding and it lead to the subject of “was that what we
  really wanted”
• Make sure you have your picture before discussing it with others and write it down.
• Keep it simple – they are the best.

All of these great tips will definitely guarantee that you enjoy a stress free and flawless wedding as well as reception! Remember: Enjoy the day and slow down to take everything in – the day really goes by so quickly!

How to keep stress at bay | Wedding Articles