Stress-Free Wedding Day

botley hill barn wedding confetti exit with lots of petals

Stress-Free Wedding Day Recipe

aka practical tips to ensure a relaxed and smooth experience on your wedding day!

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1. DELEGATE

I cannot emphasize the importance of this task enough! Your bridesmaids, groomsmen, and family are there to support you. On your wedding day, things may get a bit chaotic. But this is your day to focus on one thing only: getting married and enjoying each moment. You should not be the one worrying about details like organizing taxis, handling emergencies, or directing guests to their hotel, parking, or the venue. Though it’s easy to assume that people will naturally jump in to help, without clear roles, it can quickly become overwhelming. Nominate a trusted person to direct any queries to, hand over your phone, and ease any last-minute panic. This will take the pressure off you, allowing you the freedom to be fully present and savour each special moment.

Make a plan and a checklist of tasks to take care of, then delegate them to your wedding party. One person could look after your bouquet (it might get left behind in the rush!), another could help manage your dress and veil as you walk and arrange it when you arrive at the altar. Ask someone to carry your purse with essentials like makeup for touch-ups (be sure to have a sample or lipstick in the same shade as your professional makeup), tissues, hygiene products, deodorant, mini hairspray, etc.

Assign someone to coordinate and usher guests throughout the day and for group photos. Your best man and groomsmen aren’t just there to poke fun during speeches—give each a clear role. Make sure they know how and where to step in. For example, if it rains, they can hand out umbrellas or protect you with them, and they can also be a point of contact for information like the location of restrooms, exits, and taxi numbers.

Consider hiring an ‘on-the-day’ wedding coordinator or helper if you have many suppliers; they can be invaluable for managing everything and freeing you from any stress or constant supervision! If this isn’t an option, ask someone from your family or wedding party to be the main contact for suppliers.

Share the timeline with key people and ask for help to make the schedule run smoothly.

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2. PREPARE

Hang your dress/outfit and remove any packaging the night before. Bring a steamer or check if the hotel supplies one – as before, delegate this task to a helper.

Prepare your accessories, shoes, underwear, makeup, a small purse with essentials for the day, including tissues, a small sewing kit, plasters, small scissors (e.g. to cut off labels) and your favourite perfume so they’re ready to use the next day. Don’t forget to carefully remove any labels, including those on the soles of your shoes.

Do you need help getting the dress or outfit on? If it’s a complicated design, does your helper know how to tie or close it correctly? If you’re unsure, ask the bridal shop for guidance and practice beforehand (the same goes for ‘body taping’ if you plan to use it—lift your arms, sit down, move around, and ensure it stays in place as needed). Don’t forget to try on the dress or outfit with your chosen underwear to make sure everything fits well.

Do you know who goes first for makeup and hair? Make a list with your HMU artist, so there’s no confusion, and you’re not the last one! If you need to have rollers in, go first, then get your makeup done while your hair is setting. Aim to finish this step 45 minutes to 1 hour before leaving for the ceremony. This allows time to get dressed, do touch-ups like lipstick and adjusting the veil, and have some photos taken—set aside at least 15 minutes for bridal portraits.

Prepare an easy-to-remove top, like a button-up shirt or robe, not to spoil your freshly done hair and make up.

two grooms putting bow tie

Are your suit and shirt pressed, or do they need touch-ups? Check if you have an iron or steamer in your room, and if you’d rather not risk doing it yourself, arrange for someone to help on the day. It’s also a good idea to have a spare shirt on hand. To avoid accidental stains, consider shaving a little earlier in the day—stress can make hands unsteady, and small cuts might reopen when tying your tie or adjusting your collar, which could lead to a stained shirt, the last thing you need to worry about. It happens!

Do you know how to tie a tie, bow tie, or cravat? If not, practice beforehand (there are great tutorials on YouTube!). A spare tie or bow tie is worth having on hand, as these straps can be delicate.

Many men find this step surprisingly stressful. What seems simple can quickly become challenging without a bit of practice!

Boutonnières – the buttonhole florals usually come with a pin, but no instructions! Do check with the florist how the boutonnières should be pinned. Alternatively, there is lots of advice online. Generally, you should position it over the buttonhole of the left lapel, and pin it from the back.

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3. GET A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP

A comfortable bed and an early bedtime will help you get a good night’s sleep before your big day. Feeling anxious or worried? Try lavender oil, meditation or relaxation music, and earplugs. Treat yourself to a long bath—the day ahead is long, and you’ll want plenty of energy for the evening fun!

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4. DO NOT FORGET TO EAT

It’s common to feel little hunger, but make sure to have a good, filling breakfast. It will be a long time before you sit down for the meal, and a lot will happen in the meantime. You’ll need the energy! Porridge, bananas, and protein snacks are excellent sources of fuel.

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5. YOUR SQUAD

Are you an introvert or a social butterfly? Consider how many people will be present during your preparations and who you’ll want around. Surround yourself with those who will be helpful and supportive. Remember, you’ll also have a few additional professionals (Makeup Artist, Hair Stylist, Photographer, Videographer), so the room can fill up quickly. If you have any errands, supervision tasks, or last-minute decoration duties, make sure you know exactly what needs to be done, when, and by what time, so you can stay on track and finish getting ready on schedule. And delegate as much as possible before the day!

bride getting ready

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6. PLAY MUSIC AND HAVE FUN

Prepare a playlist of your favourite pick-me-up or calming songs. Make sure to have fun with your friends and family—it will help calm any tension or anxiety you may have and get you in the mood for the best party of your life. Don’t forget to bring a portable speaker, if needed, and get a bottle of bubbly if you’d like to make a toast with your squad!

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7. TIMELINE AND EXTRA TIME

Aim to finish getting ready at least 30 minutes before you need to leave for the ceremony. This is also the perfect moment for us to capture some stunning pre-wedding portraits. It also provides a buffer in case things run late. Your family and bridesmaids/groomsmen should be ready ahead of you.

If you’re planning to hand over any gifts, do a first look, have a reveal with your father or mother, or take family photos, be sure to add more time. Let us know in advance to plan accordingly.

The final 30 minutes can often feel chaotic. Ask your family and friends to be ready earlier and give you space during the last 15-30 minutes to catch your breath, soak in the feeling of getting married to the love of your life, calm your nerves, and compose yourself. Consider asking your helpers to tidy up and clear away any clutter after preparations, ensuring we have a clean, beautiful space for photos and that you have a relaxing area to return to after the wedding.

Lastly, please ask your hair and makeup professionals to finish and pack up before that time (ask your wedding party to help so the room is clear). You should only need a quick touch-up of lipstick or powder before you go. If you’re okay with content creation and that’s part of what your professionals are doing, please be mindful of the time and ask them to start their work earlier. Unfortunately, this trend (TikToks/Reels) seems to take over preparations and leaves little time for professional photography.

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8. TRAVEL

Check travel conditions ahead of the day and plan accordingly, factoring in typical traffic for that time of day—Saturday traffic is often heavier than on weekdays. Pre-book taxis (black cabs in Central London are ideal as they can use bus lanes to avoid delays). If you plan to hail a taxi on the day, refer to point 1 above and delegate this task to someone else. Be careful with companies that do not guarantee the service e.g. bookings depend on the availability of drivers on the day (AL/Uber/Bolt). Mini cabs may be more reliable.

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9. FLOWERS

Take your flowers (or, as mentioned in point 1, delegate this task) out of the water around 30 minutes before departure time and wrap the stems in paper towels to dry. You don’t want any wet patches on your or your bridesmaids’ dresses. If you plan to carry your bouquet in front of you for the entrance, keep your hands at belly-button level and your elbows slightly away from your body. When we feel tense, we tend to “hide” behind the flowers and lift them too high up, so this will help you remember to hold them confidently. Who will pin the boutonnières in the morning? Refer to the point above for this as well.

wedding flowers

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10. SHOES

Break in your shoes before the wedding and practice walking in them if you’re not used to this type of footwear. It’s also a good idea to have some emergency plasters on hand or spare shoes for later!

In case of bad weather, bring spare shoes to ensure the weather doesn’t spoil your wedding photos (and don’t forget giant umbrellas!). Heel protectors are also a great idea if your venue has a garden with gravel or muddy ground. Note that there are different sizes of heel protectors for various types of heels.

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FINALLY – RELAX and ENJOY – you are getting married!

Not everything may go according to plan, and that’s okay! Don’t stress over the small stuff; your guests likely won’t notice. They are there to witness your declaration of love and celebrate with you, so put a smile on your face and enjoy being with your family and friends.


 
bridesmaids in orange and red dresses waiving bouquets and groomsmen in navy suits

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