Weddings are stressful. You want everything to go as planned. There are so many traditional events over the weekend, from the rehearsal, rehearsal dinner, the wedding and reception, a day-after party and the send-off to the honeymoon. And let’s not forget picture-taking, dancing, cutting the cake and so much more. Many couples reminisce that they wish they had slowed down during their wedding to have the time to really enjoy the moment. If you’re in the middle of planning your wedding, reflect on how you can choose to be mindful and avoid being rushed through the activities.

Practice Mindfulness

There’s a lot of talk about self-care around a wedding. Self-care is more than having a spa day or yoga session before the event. Mindfulness is the act of paying attention or being aware of the present moment. Being mindful can help you minimize stress on your wedding day, but you can’t expect to wake up on the day of your event and practice mindfulness if you aren’t familiar with it. Learn to practice mindfulness while you’re planning your wedding. When the day of your nuptials comes, it will be second nature to you.

Plan With Intention

You can’t practice mindfulness on your wedding day without making sure you have time to enjoy the moments. Work with your wedding planner to allot time in your wedding schedule to have breaks where you can center yourself in what is happening around you. Give yourself time to have breakfast and meditate before the whirlwind of activity. When you’re with your bridal party getting ready, gather everyone together to thank them for being involved in your wedding. Practicing gratitude is a key element in mindfulness. Find a few minutes to break away from the crowd with your new partner and take in the moments together. Ask for two songs for your first dance. During the first one, you and your spouse can be alone on the dance floor. Have the DJ invite family to the floor during the second song while you dance with your partner. The first one gets the jitters out. While the family is dancing, you can really enjoy each other.  

Put Aside Traditions That Are Stressful

In traditional weddings, it was considered bad luck for the couple to see each other before the ceremony. This is a custom that dates to the time when weddings were arranged. The couple may not have met. The idea was to keep the groom from backing out of the wedding if he didn’t like how his new bride looked. In modern weddings, there’s no reason to avoid each other on the morning of the wedding. Enjoy each other before your ceremony, and ground yourself without worrying about tradition. Think about all the things you’re doing for your wedding, and prioritize those events that are important. Don’t worry about traditions that aren’t meaningful to you.

Remember Your Priorities

A wedding is about love, family and friends. There will be stressful moments. Stay focused on the big picture, as small details will only upset your day if you let them. Take a deep breath and smile. You don’t have to solve every problem that happens — delegate what you can. Trust that your vendors will find a solution. Choose to be the bigger person and let it go. Maybe everything doesn’t happen as you thought it would. It’s still one of the happiest days of your life because you are marrying the person you love. You have your friends and family with you.

Approach your wedding day with the intention to be present in the moment and enjoy it. Make the day as special as possible and choose to be mindful for your wedding.