Feeling a little bit of stress leading up to your wedding day is completely normal. There’s plenty to think about in the months, weeks, and days before your wedding ceremony (not to mention during the ceremony), and you might have a to-do list with endless things on it right now. However, rest assured that having a stress-free wedding day is possible, even with all of the energy, time, and resources that go into the wedding planning process. 

We’ve shot hundreds of weddings and seen couples stay as close to stress-free as possible by following the 10 tips we’ve listed below. 

1. Hire a Professional Wedding Planner

You might hesitate to spend money on a wedding planner, and we hear you. 

However, we’ve seen a wedding planner literally save a couple’s wedding day on many occasions by minimizing stress, helping a couple get some much-needed alone time together, and taking care of any last-minute details.

So, why do we believe a wedding planner is so crucial for a stress-free wedding? 

They’re pros at helping couples reduce their stress, avoid sweating the small stuff, stay on the same page, and worry less before and during the wedding. 

Your planner can help with everything from finding the perfect venue and vendors to making sure your cocktail hour and reception aren’t too long or too short. 

You might even save money by hiring a planner, as their expert advice can help you stick with a budget that works for you and your partner.

2. Book Your Ceremony and Reception Venue Ahead of Time

This is some of the best advice we can give to any couple — make sure you have your wedding venue locked down months before your wedding day. 

Many wedding venues are able and willing to book even two years in advance, which can help you and your partner stay stress-free. 

Booking wedding venues with extra time to spare helps you avoid the letdown of calling up your dream venue and finding out that they’re booked up for the next year. The sooner you get in touch with a wedding venue, the better!

3. Keep Your Wedding Party Drama-Free

One of the best ways to ensure that your wedding day runs smoothly with minimal stress is to choose your bridal party (and guests) wisely. 

You might have friends who you know well and love a lot — but who you also know might not be the most fun to have in your wedding party.

As the bride or groom-to-be, you have the freedom to choose friends and family members who you know will make the big day less stressful rather than more stressful. 

If you have a friend or family member who you know you can count on to be a supportive and responsible bridesmaid, they should be your number one choice. 

We know it can be tricky navigating this aspect of wedding planning without hurting any feelings, but your wedding day is a day to look out for yourself and your partner — even if it means someone you love might not end up being a groomsman or bridesmaid.

4. Book Your Wedding Photographer Far in Advance

Another practical way to have a stress-free wedding is to get your wedding vendors — especially your photographer — booked as far in advance as possible. 

We often get inquiries over a year in advance of a couple’s wedding day, and we love that. Our schedule fills up fast, and booking in advance helps us make sure one of the members of our team is available.

When you reach out to us (or any other wedding photographer), you’ll get a quick answer about availability, which helps you keep the wedding planning process running smoothly. The best way to get your photos taken by a photographer you love is to reach out early!

5. Keep an Emergency Kit on Hand

Breath mints, bobby pins, water bottles, and some non-messy snacks are just a few of the items you need in handy on your wedding day. 

Your wedding planner can hang onto your emergency kit items for you, leaving you with a few less little things to worry about.

6. Don’t Forget To Eat

In the heat of the moment, it’s easy to forget to take a little break and eat something during your wedding. When stress and nervousness hit, grabbing a snack might be the last thing on your mind. That’s why we recommend entrusting a bridesmaid or your planner with some high-calorie (but not messy) snacks. 

In addition to emergency wedding snacks, you’ll need plenty of water on your wedding day as well. Like getting enough to eat, hydrating isn’t always at front-of-mind when you’re taking family photos, greeting guests, and especially during the dance party portion of the reception. 

Your maid of honor or planner can help you make sure you’re getting enough food and water throughout your wedding day. That way, even if you forget, you can count on someone else to have your back.

7. Make Time for Friends and Family

Your wedding day is one of the most beautiful and meaningful days of your life, but it’s also a big deal for your family members and close friends. That’s why we recommend taking a break from the schedule when you can spend some time with the people you love the most.

We’ve shot enough weddings to know that even a moment of downtime with your friends and family can’t always fit into the wedding day schedule. Don’t let yourself feel obligated; just enjoy the company of the people you love in the moments when you can.

A Stress-Free Wedding Is Possible.

A stress-free wedding day might sound nearly impossible to achieve, but we’ve seen it done. 

When couples plan the details of their wedding ahead, get support from professionals, friends, and family, and slow down to have fun and enjoy the little moments, the stress diminishes in a real and tangible way.

We can’t promise a wedding completely free of stress, but we’ve seen these tips make a real difference for couples — we think they’ll help you on your big day, too.