Almost every single newlywed couple we speak with shares the same thing with us: “The day just flies by!”. They’re not wrong. After spending months – or even years – planning the perfect wedding day, it all goes by in a flash. But there is something you can do about it! There are ways you can be fully present on your wedding day. Take a look at our list…
Episode breakdown
1. Add wiggle room to your timeline
When creating your wedding day timeline, be sure to factor in wiggle room. You don’t want to be rushing from one activity to the next! If you think something will take 10 minutes, add an extra 5 or 10 minutes to that. What you really want is some breathing room.
When the timeline gets shuffled around, often the first thing out the window is the couple’s portrait photos. And that means less time together just the two of you!
Related: How To Plan Your Wedding Morning Timeline
2. Be OK with showing emotions
Listen up: it’s ok to cry. Don’t make it your goal not to cry or show emotions. Just allow yourself to go with the flow! Emotions are beautiful and you should embrace them.
If you’re worried about messing up your makeup, schedule in time to have a touchup. Don’t let something silly like that hold you back from feeling your emotions!
3. Get ready together
This may be a little untraditional, but it could be a game changer for you! Somewhere down the line somebody decided that it’s bad luck for the couple to see each other on the day and this rule just stuck. But it doesn’t have to. There’s something so special about all the moments you enjoy together alone (and why shouldn’t that include getting ready together?).
It’s not for everyone, but it’s worth considering!
4. Have a first look
If getting ready together isn’t your thing, how about a first look? A moment like this will ensure that you have quality time together at the beginning of your day. There really are no rules for what you have to do, so do it your way!
5. Share private vows
Your private vows could be a part of your first look or something that you do together at any point in the day. Carve out 10 – 15 minutes before or after your ceremony, where you can share private vows, with nobody else listening.
We’ve heard so many couples share similar advice and it works!
6. Enjoy your meal together
We’re willing to bet that you selected your meal because it looked pretty tasty to you! So don’t waste it. So many couples say the day flew by so quickly that they didn’t even have time to eat. Well, don’t be that couple.
Make sure you are sitting together and enjoying your meal. The last thing you want is to be hangry at your own wedding.
7. Sneak out for time alone
At some point during the reception, sneak out with your partner and have some alone time. Go for a little walk, get more photos taken, have a little slow dance, literally whatever you want to do!
Bonus tips
- Hire a wedding planner – seriously! They’ll take the pressure off, so you can focus on what really matters: your new marriage.
- Wear a special perfume or cologne on your Big Day. The smells will bring back all the beautiful memories for years to come.
- Put your phone away. You won’t need it! Your photographers will be taking photos all day and everyone you could possibly be texting will be in the room with you.
- Wear comfortable shoes.