How to Have A Stress Free Wedding Day
By Philadelphia Engagement and Wedding Photographer, Ashley Griffin Photography
Despite popular belief, yes, it is possible to eliminate stress on your wedding day! You may be thinking “easier said than done” well I’m here to tell you it’s totally possible to have a low stress wedding day! It's no secret that things can go awry on wedding days, that's just life! What I've noticed in the industry over the years is that us strong independent women (and men!) need to learn to ask for help. We spend days, weeks, months and sometimes years planning our weddings. Our mind is so consumed with creating the most perfect day and doing it all that the littlest offset can seem way worse than it actually is. Luckily the professionals of the wedding and events world are here to help you! Interested in finding out how? Keep on reading…
DELEGATE DUTIES AND TASKS. There’s a reason you have a bridal party. Make sure you’re using them! Large or small, they are your support system and play an important role in your wedding and that is to help you. You can’t possibly do it all yourself! Delegate tasks to your friends and family members so that you can relax and enjoy your day. You would be surprised how much people actually want to help you and be involved in your wedding day. Assign tasks to family members, bridesmaids and anyone willing to help. You'll feel so much less stressed and have way less on your to-do list!
TRUST YOUR VENDORS. Just like your bridesmaids, there’s a reason you chose your vendors. You have had conversations with us, seen our work, heard our references. You picked us for a reason and that's because we are experts in our fields! Pick vendors you trust to bring your wedding vision to life and trust them to do it! Seriously, we've got your back. As a photographer, I make it known that my style and approach is clear to my couples and that I'm the right person to not only bring their photo visions to life, but also make sure they have a good time doing it.
MAKE A TIMELINE. Don't wait until the last minute to make your day of timeline. Make your draft and go over it with your photographer, your caterer, your DJ, whoever else needs to see it and stick to it as best you can. If we're all on the same page it's sure to be smooth sailing! Now, there’s always a chance for hiccups on weddings days so make sure you leave a little extra time between formalities. My biggest tip here is leaving more than 5 minutes for actually getting dressed. Chances are it's been a while since you picked up your dress and put it on. It takes a while and sometimes requires help. I always suggest leaving at least 30 minutes for "getting dressed". Additionally, having a designated person to help keep things on track is a great way to avoid falling too far behind schedule, especially if you don't have a wedding planner/coordinator.
TAKE A BREATH It’s important to remember that this day is about you and your partner, so don’t let the little things stress you out. Things are going to go a little sideways and you will be the only one to notice. Now that in no way shape or form means that your stress or feeling of being upset about it is invalid. Just remember to ask for help, trust your vendors, stick to your timeline the best you can and take a deep breath and enjoy every moment because it goes by so fast!
Photography: Ashley Griffin Photography
Videography: Trio Productions, LLC
Dress: L'fay Bridal
Florist: Brambles FLorist
DJ: Legacy Events
Saxophonist: Matthew Richards
Entertainers: Freedom Dabke Group