8 tips if you’re super nervous about being in the spotlight on your wedding day

Everyone knows that the bride and groom are most definitely the stars of the show on a wedding weekend! Arguably, the bride even more-so than the groom. After all, that gorgeous dress you’re going to be wearing is a show-stopper, right??

From the rehearsal dinner up until the very last moment when you exit your reception, you have lots of eyes on you! For some people, that makes you want to go hide in a corner. For others, you’re already dancing because you.cannot.wait to be the center of attention and PAR-TAY it up!

It doesn’t have to be as scary as you might think! Just remember, the people who will be in your wedding party and at your wedding LOVE you! And they are there to celebrate you and your fiancé becoming one! And if they’re anything like me, they’re obviously also very much there for the CAKE! 🙂

Whether you are more reserved or an absolute attention-lover, I think these tips will be helpful for you to consider before your big day!

Here are 8 tips to help calm your wedding spotlight nerves:

 

1. Do an engagement session before the wedding so that you have some practice with being the center of attention.

An engagement session not only gives you gorgeous photos to display at your reception, but it will also help you gain confidence. Being in front of the camera with all the attention on you will help you get used to being looked at by tons of people. Plus then you won’t have wedding day anxiety about not knowing your photographer because hopefully you’ll already feel comfortable with her/him!

 

2. Think about doing a first look to calm your nerves.

I always explain that my most favorite part of our wedding day was our first look. I was SO nervous beforeseeing Mitchel. Once we saw each other, we were able to be emotional without having to hold back, and then we were both so much more laid back than had we waited for the aisle reveal! No worries ladies, if you want the initial shock of you walking down the aisle to your groom, just know, Mitchel still sobbed when I walked down the aisle, even though he had already seen me, but we were both WAY less nervous for the ceremony. The shock of seeing all the people staring at me somehow seemed less intense, too.

 

3. Plan a relaxing morning with your girls

Plan enough time to get ready with your girls. I’m talking your favorite jams and snacks while getting your hair and makeup done by pros, while sipping on your mimosa. Allow plenty of time for hair and makeup so that your morning is actually fun and relaxing so that you aren’t stressing about what’s to come. ENJOY the chill-time while you can!

 

4. Get ready at the wedding venue (or very close by) if possible so you don’t have to stress about getting to the venue on time.

We all know traffic is a bummer, but on your wedding day?? It’s even more panic-inducing. If you are able to get ready at your venue in a bridal suite, that takes the pressure off! Everyone is already there (on time), which is one less thing for you to have to stress about! Also, since you’re there, you may even be able to take time to walk over to the ceremony spot hours before anyone arrives to check it out and become familiar before it fills with people. My bridesmaids and I walked from the area we got ready in, to the ceremony spot to see it all decorated before anyone was there, and that made me so much more at ease that seeing it for the first time when I was walking down the aisle.

 

5. Keep your eyes on your groom on your walk down the aisle.

This might be my favorite tip. Keep your eyes on your groom as you walk down the aisle. Don’t worry about the others! For me, not making eye contact with the crowd was helpful because then I didn’t even notice all the eyes staring at me!

 

6. Avoid lots of caffeine and alcohol in the hours leading up to your walk down the aisle.

This was crucial for me! Caffeine tends to make me jittery and alcohol can make you sick or nauseous, so I avoided both, with the exception of one small cup of coffee in the morning and one tiny mimosa several hours before my walk down the aisle.

 

7. Choose to surround yourself with a wedding party that won’t stress you out.

If this means a smaller wedding party, so be it! If you know you have a friend or relative that will do more harm than good when it comes to your nerves, it’s okay to not have them around you before the ceremony! It’s your day, so that’s your call to make!

 

8. Take a moment to pause.

Or several moments throughout the day to just stop. I suggest to try to remember at least once every hour to take a breath, pause, and be intentional to take it all in and remember the small moments throughout your day.

 

 

I hope these tips are helpful and at least starts to get you thinking about how to calm your nerves on your big day! Everyone is different, so you may have other ideas! If you do, let me know! I’d love to have them for future brides of mine to help calm their wedding day jitters, too!

Another favorite of mine to help ease anxiety for engagement sessions is my free Engagement Session Style Guide! Click to download my tips for a seamless engagement session!