5 Tips for Making Your Wedding Day Stress Free

Written by Marisa Cadorin,
Event Manager, InterContinental Milwaukee

We all know that planning a wedding can be stressful. As Event Manger for the InterContinental Milwaukee, I see the stress our couples endure first hand. While there are so many details to consider leading up to your wedding, your big day should be as enjoyable and memorable as possible. Here are five tips for making your wedding day stress free.

Plan, plan, plan! There is nothing worse than overly stressing for your big day. Even if you do like planning, the entire process can be very overwhelming! And if planning isn’t your cup of tea, well, it can be pretty daunting. It’s important to create a list of wants versus needs months out so you can see and remember what is most important to each of you. Stick to a budget and create a checklist for important deadlines, like vendor payments, menu counts, and any additional special touches. Most importantly, have fun along the way! While it may sound cheesy, try not to let the small details ruin the fun. Remember that above all the reason you are getting married is because you love each other and want to spend the rest of your lives together. As they say, your wedding is just a day, but marriage lasts a lifetime!
Try not to leave anything drastic for the last minute. The week before the wedding is for pampering yourself! (And for making sure your checklist is crossed off.) This is the time when your final headcount is usually due, and when your seating chart should be finalized. When you make your wedding checklist, be sure to leave the last week open for some good, old fashioned R&R. Book a massage, binge watch your favorite Netflix show with your honey, and make sure you feel like a real human being again – not a robot about to overheat with steam.
Sit back and relax. I know, easier said than done. However, try your very best to leave everything to your trusted professionals at this point. You’ve planned long enough for your big day, so trust in yourself! You should be able to look back on your wedding day and think about the rush of excitement, laughs, beauty, and love the two of you felt. Enjoy getting ready, and above all, remember to eat! Have a bridesmaid stash a few granola bars in her purse for snaking later, too. You want to be blushing with love – not because you’re fantasizing about a cheeseburger at the altar.
Make a day-of list and delegate tasks ahead of time. Do not save this for the last minute. Your family, wedding party, and vendors who are helping out with day-of tasks should know their assignments at least the week of the wedding, if not before. Day-of tasks include things like set up, coordinating family for photos, tipping the vendors, bustling your wedding gown, taking home the flowers, and so on.
Hire a wedding coordinator. As event managers, we are there to oversee your wedding day and alleviate any surprises. We’ll discuss a timeline with you in advance to finalize vendor drop-off times and reception events. You don’t want Uncle Bob throwing in a surprise 12-minute speech while the food gets cold. But if it does happen, your wedding coordinator will be right there to catch your nervous look and update the Chefs. As event managers, it’s our job to anticipate any issues and make sure the event runs flawlessly.

I also like to add a few extra touches to make the day as special as possible for my couples. One of my favorite moments on a wedding day is sneaking the couple in for a “first look” of the reception space. Not only does this allow them to see the room beautifully decorated for the first time, but it’s also the perfect moment for them to share together, and a bit of quiet away from the wedding hustle and bustle. Another special touch is putting together a plate of hors d’oeuvres during cocktail hour and placing it at their seat so they can take a minute to enjoy the food they spent so much time picking out. Many couples are so busy greeting their guests that they forget to eat at all!

It’s important for us to help our couples stop and enjoy the little moments that they may otherwise miss. Above all, your wedding day is about the love the two of you share, so take a deep breath and enjoy!

[blockquote]Written by Marisa Cadorin,
Event Manager, InterContinental Milwaukee

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