5 Tips to Slow Down + Enjoy Your Wedding Day

Between getting ready, managing vendors, and greeting family members, weddings often pass by in a sparkly blur of hugs and cake. There are a million wedding tips out there about picking a venue, how to DIY your decor, or finding the perfect dress… But what about when it comes to actually enjoying the day you plan for so long??

At the end of your wedding day, I want you to feel full of gratitude and love. Not overwhelmed with stress, confusion, and missed moments!

You know what they say: “Your wedding day goes by in the blink of an eye.” That’s why I’m giving you 5 wedding day tips on how to slow down + enjoy it!

1. Intentionally Plan Alone Time With Your Partner

When you plan out your wedding day timeline, set aside at least 20-30 minutes to spend alone with your partner. This will help you remember what the day is about! Nothing calms the nerves like quality time with your best friend.

You can reflect on the day thus far, talk about what you’re looking forward to, and sneak in a quick kiss (or five). 

Here are some spots where you can include some alone time in your wedding day timeline!

During your first look

After the tears and pictures of the first look are over, I’ll peace out to give you two some space. Enjoy the anticipation together and reallyyy check them out in their bomb wedding outfit!

After the ceremony

Now that you’ve officially sealed the deal, sign that marriage license and sneak away for a little while – I won’t judge you if you need some time to hide from your family & friends while they mingle. 

During dinner

Kill two birds with one stone: this ensures you actually get to eat AND that you two get to be alone for a little bit. Plus nobody is worried about where you two are – they’re too busy eating!

On the car ride from ceremony to reception

If you happen to have two separate ceremony & reception venues, use the car ride to be alone for a while! 

Last dance at the end of the reception

This is one of the sweetest wedding tips! At the end of your reception, you can have your guests all walk out to leave you two alone. Then, you guys can get one last dance in to process your beautiful day together! After you’re finished, then you can head out the doors for your exit. 

2. Plan Your Wedding Day Timeline

Plan a timeline with your planner, coordinator, and/or photographer ahead of time. Talk to the pros to see how much time you’re allotting for different parts of your day! My biggest wedding day tip: build in purposeful flex time in case anything runs late (which it inevitably will – trust me on that one).

Going into the day with a well-planned-out timeline will take some stress off. This way, you’ll know that it’s okay if things have to be adjusted along the way. That’s what makes your wedding day uniquely yours!

On your wedding day, I don’t want my couples to feel rushed or confused. I never want you to feel like you’re running late or behind on your schedule! When your vendors, family, & wedding party know your timeline ahead of time, they can ensure that they’ll be everywhere on time. You don’t need to listen to your Aunt Karen pressuring you to be on schedule – I promise.

With the peace of mind that comes with a planned-out wedding day timeline, you can slow down and enjoy your day. You know you have enough time for everything, so there’s no need to rush!

3. Write Your Vows or Letters In Advance 

Speaking of things to do before your wedding day… PLEASE don’t write your vows or your letters to each other the morning of your wedding!

Another wedding day tip: don’t do anything the day of your wedding if it’s not actually getting married.

Finish your letters or your vows to each other before the wedding day. Finishing anything on your to-do list the day of your wedding is a great way to ensure you won’t be able to slow down + enjoy the moment. And with the pressure of writing something emotional and significant, it will be difficult to feel relaxed during your getting ready time.

4. Focus on Being Present, not on What Everything Looks Like

Your wedding day is full of details you never want to forget. Here’s some wedding advice on soaking in the moment!

After spending months or years planning every detail about the day, it’s easy to get caught up in the aesthetics of it all. Don’t worry if that one centerpiece is off-center, or if a bouquet gets slightly wilted. When you’re taking photos, focus less on capturing Pinterest-worthy poses, and more about the joy of having your best friends surrounding you!

You could have your officiant prompt you guys to look at the audience at the beginning of your ceremony. That’s probably the only time you’ll ever have your entire support system in the same place.

Another time to remind yourself to look around: during dinner! While you sit at your sweetheart table or head table, look around and watch how everyone is mingling and enjoying themselves. You planned this day and everyone is having the time of their lives! 

5. Remember What the Day is About

At the end of the day, no matter what happens, you’ll be married to your person. That is such a special occasion! Your partner deserves your attention and love on your wedding day. And you deserve to enjoy it wholeheartedly, no matter the distractions. 

When you remind yourself that you’re there because of the beautiful commitment you’re making to your partner, it’s easier to slow down and enjoy the day. You fell in love and chose each other for a reason, and that’s worth celebrating!
The pros can give you alllll the wedding advice in the world, but none of that matters if you forget what the day is about. Look your person in the eyes, give them a smooch, and get excited to start your life together.