Wedding Week Survival - Looking After Numero Uno

"Worry is a waste of time. It doesn’t change anything. All it does is steal your joy and keeps you busy doing nothing. "

You get engaged, tell Mum and Dad and all your friends, set the date and then sit back basking in the glow of the impending fairytale that will be your wedding. Fast forward a few months to a week before the big day and you’re hyperventilating into a paper bag, panicking over some small and most likely inconsequential detail that will end up sorting itself out anyway.
Us chaps have quite an easy ride when it comes to weddings. I seem to remember that on my wedding day the toughest decision I had to make was what tie I should wear. As a photographer however, I’m lucky enough to get a glimpse behind the curtain of what it’s like to be a Bride on her wedding day and there’s a lot more going on, believe me. The emotions can range from being Jeff "The Dude" Bridges Big Lebowski super-chilled one minute to Jack Nicholson in The Shining the next and back again in the time it takes to drink a glass of champagne. 
How you spend that final week before your wedding will set the tone for the day and, over time, I’ve picked up a few hints and tips that might help ease the stress of that final wedding week. They might all be rubbish or completely obvious but if there’s just one there that actually helps you get through the week then all the better. So, in no particular order, here goes…
 

• ​OK, this is easier said than done but try and have all your wedmin (wedding admin) done the week before so that those precious final days are stress free. 

• Break in your wedding shoes – walk around the house in them and even put some tunes on and have a dance! Your feet will thank you on the day. ​

• Take good care of yourself by eating healthy, balanced meals. ​

• If you do feel the stress building, take time out to do something “normal”.  Strictly no wedding talk allowed! ​

• As soon as you’ve finished work, put that out-of-office on and don't give it a second thought. 

• Book a massage or spa afternoon, it will probably be the best money you ever spend. 

• Create a wedding-week Spotify playlist with lots of happy, positive and uplifting tunes. Listen to on repeat.

• Put together a wedding day emergency kit that includes safety pins, band-aids (that’s American for plasters), aspirin, mints and a needle and thread - preferably that matches the colour of your dress. Add anything else you think may be of use. Give this to your most responsible bridesmaid.

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• If you have a specific shot list make sure your photographer has it. Make sure you’ve assigned a responsible Usher, one with a loud voice, to assist in gathering family members together so that everything runs as smoothly and as quickly as possible. 

• ​Get a good night’s sleep as being rested will give you a healthy glow and give you energy. The earlier you go to bed, the better. In fact, try and get an early night every night in the week running up to the day. ​​

• Have a lavender bath before bedtime on your last night.

• Drink plenty of water throughout the week, it’s important to stay hydrated*.  

• Don’t overthink everything, the best moments come from those that are unplanned.

• Just breathe.

 
 
*A friend of mine is a nutritionist and she swears by the following green smoothie that helps cleanse the body and clear the skin. Give it a try the night before, it takes 2 mins!
 

• ½ cucumber
• ½ avocado
• ½ banana
• A handful of fresh mint
• 500ml almond milk
• Chuck in a blender/nutri bullet
• Drink
• Feel awesome!

I'm taking bookings for 2018 so if you have any queries about your wedding day or would like to chat about your wedding photography then don't hesitate to get in touch!