We do…NOT want you to be a hot ball of stress on your wedding day!

So we’ve asked Haley Burkhead, a newlywed bride, to share her tips on how to handle it all, while enjoying yourself in the process. Read on for her field tested advice and tips, and share some of yours in the comments below.

 

 

Deciding to smash two entirely different worlds together and become husband + wife can be pretty exciting. There is all the romance, and tears, and DIY Pinterest-inspired objects to ooh and ahh over. This is a time where an indecisive mind comes close to exploding and revelations of making Pinterest the Maid of Honor relieves stress.

Remember, your wedding should be fun!

Below are some stress-free wedding tips from my former crazy bride-to-be self to your present crazy bride-to-be self, or simply for those that hope to be a crazy bride or groom-to-be in the future:

 

1. WRITING YOUR OWN VOWS IS PERSONAL

And if you do, make sure everyone around you is Kleenex-ready. My sniffles almost turned into a form of ugly crying as my guy started reading his well thought out vows. I embarrassed myself. Although this isn't a stress-free tip, I believe that making the ceremony more personal in this way is beyond worth the stress behind it.

 

2. IT IS ACTUALLY OKAY TO LAUGH DURING THE CEREMONY

Although a wedding ceremony is very serious, it doesn't have to be so business-like. As we were pouring our sand into the sand jar, we realized immediately that there was more sand going on the floor than there was actually making it inside the jar. Everyone followed our lead as soon as we started giggling. All of the unspoken tension in the air quickly evaporated while a crowd of people were crying-laughing at our attempt to unify our lives.

 

3. MONEY GETS TIGHT AND VIDEOGRAPHY IS EXPENSIVE

 Unfortunately, most brides have to adhere to a budget of some sort, and some budgets will not allow hiring a videographer for your special day. Even if the budget says no, grab a nice camera, give it to a family friend, and tell them to video the ceremony. You will want this video forever.

 

4. INDOORS VERSUS OUTDOORS

Weather is tricky. Some brides fantasize about getting married at sunset on the mountain, setting their date with crossed fingers a year in advance. When the day comes, so does sunset. Nothing ruins her big day. As for others, the indoor "plan B" option is hurriedly decided on the day before because the weather man announced the dreaded news. I steered clear of depending on the words of a weather man by choosing to get married in a grand ballroom in the downtown area of our city. I refused to give rain a chance to ruin my well thought out table decorations or humidity turning my hair into a lion's mane.

 

 

5. HAVING FUN TENDS TO LOWER STRESS LEVELS

I am a Type A, anxiety-prone, person generally but I made a conscious decision to let go at my wedding. With this decision, I chose not to worry about the flower being crooked on table #5 or the fact that we did not know how to interlock arms as we were drinking after the cake was cut. We decided, as a couple, to laugh at everything that went wrong instead of freaking out. Relaxing at your own wedding is good for the soul, especially a wound up one like mine.

 

 

6. DJ'S ARE FUN AND YOU SHOULD HAVE ONE

They tend to turn a regular space at your venue into a party zone, and it is the best thing ever. It was so convenient to hand our DJ a list of all the songs I wanted, and for everything to turn perfectly during the ceremony! 

 

 

Thanks for the advice Haley; we wish you and Creed many happy years ahead!

 

We met Haley when she reviewed our Ely series in maple. She has a fantastic blog where she shares the contents of her closet along with a few of her thoughts on fashion over at www.stylishmuse.com. She has more posts and pictures from her lovely wedding to share, you should head over and check them out!

Till next time!

Love,

-The JORD Team