Chill Vibes Only: How to Keep Calm on Your Wedding Day

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Keep your cool and enjoy your celebration of love with expert tips from a pro wedding photographer who specializes in laid-back wedding day vibes.

Start with An Activity You Love

Before you dive into wedding day preparations, do something that brings you joy, something familiar that helps you feel centered. It could be a quiet cup of your favorite coffee, a peaceful walk outside, or even a few moments of meditation. Doing something you love in the morning will not only ground you, but it’ll also set a beautiful memory for the day ahead that you can look back on when everything feels like it's moving a mile a minute. A little moment of calm before BIG excitement can help you stay present and grounded as the day unfolds.

Plan, But Stay Flexible

Having a well-thought-out plan is essential, but it’s just as important to stay flexible when things inevitably don’t go as planned. Professional wedding photographer Lindsay Hartmann of Double N Media is an expert at helping couples have a relaxed and fun wedding day experience as she captures their authentic love story. She swears by placing “cushions” in the day’s timeline to account for minor delays or last-minute changes required by unexpected weather. “Building in padding to your timeline gives you time to adjust if something runs long,” she notes.

For example, Lindsay often schedules 30 minutes for first look shots, but they typically don’t take that long. Having a little extra time also allows for flexibility and a bit of spontaneity, while keeping you cool and collected.

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‍Lean on the Professionals (They’ve Got Your Back)

Remember, you hired professionals for a reason. They know what they’re doing! The best thing you can do is trust your wedding planner, photographer, and other vendors to handle the logistics while you focus on enjoying the day.

Lindsay emphasizes this point: “The biggest thing is trust. Trust the right people to do the job, and they’ll coordinate to support you every moment.”

Major players on your dream vendor team, like the wedding planner and photographer, will meet ahead of time to make sure they’re on the same page about your wants and needs. Often, the planner and photographer will be in constant communication on the big day to make sure that members of the wedding party are ready to have their picture taken at the appointed time.

When you let your team manage the details, you can be present and enjoy the celebration.

On the big day, hand your phone over to a trusted friend or family member. Let them answer vendor questions and take care of logistics. Your job, according to Lindsay, is to have fun, dance, and soak up the feeling of being surrounded by those you love.

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Pre-Order Your Memories

Every couple has unique relationships, and your wedding day is a chance to celebrate those bonds. Is your mom your rock? Is your best friend the one who’s been with you through thick and thin? Knowing who’s important to you and making space for those meaningful connections can help you stay grounded and focused.

“Ask yourself: Who are the people you want closest to you on your wedding day?” says Lindsay. "Is there a special moment you want to share with your family? Or to dance with your favorite people to your favorite song?"

Some couples are all about the ceremony and the intricate traditions and ways they are involving family and friends, Lindsay notes. And they will want carefully choregraphed plans and lots of images of the vows, if that is permitted. Other couples’ want a quick ceremony, and their goal is to get to party as quickly as possible.

By reflecting on what’s most important to you, you can prioritize the moments that matter most, whether it’s a quiet moment with your parents, creating a unity moment during the ceremony, or participating in a dance off with your wedding party. And when you let your vendor team know about those key people and wished-for moments, they can help make them happen and capture those memories in the making.

Let Go of the Little Things

Weddings are full of little details and some minor things may not go as planned. But here’s the secret: that’s okay.

Take Lindsay’s advice: “You’ve hired professionals to make sure everything goes as planned, so trust them to handle it. And remember, the moments that matter most are the ones that come naturally.” 

She’s helped couples handle unexpected situations with ease, like a wedding at Ponce City Market where the timeline was so tight it could have been a stressor. But because she had padded the timeline and got them laughing and relaxed, she got some of her favorite wedding couple shots, including the groom being tossed in the air by his groomsmen! Staying relaxed and focused on what mattered allowed their excitement and personalities to shine through.

It's About the Present, Not the Gifts

On your wedding day, it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the day, but don’t forget to take a moment for yourself. Step back, breathe, and savor the day’s magic.

Lindsay recommends using the "firsts" - first look, first moments as a newly married couple, first dance -- not just for the photos, but as a private moment in which to connect and remember that it all really comes down to the two of you. Asking your venue or planner to set aside a couple of drinks and a few appetizers in a private room after the ceremony for the two of you to enjoy together is a great way to get a few moments alone right after the ceremony. 

When you’re feeling overwhelmed, pause and take in your surroundings. Remember why you’re here: to marry the love of your life surrounded by the people who mean the most to you. Those are the moments you’ll cherish forever. And no matter what happens on the big day, you’ll have accomplished what you set out to do: Get Married!!!

How to Chill Out

At the end of the day, being a chill wedding couple is all about trusting the process, letting go of unnecessary stress, and focusing on the things that matter most: love, laughter, and the people who make your life beautiful. By planning ahead, trusting your vendors, and embracing the unpredictability of the day, your wedding experience can be fun, relaxed, and full of joy that you’ll see reflected in your wedding album.

Your wedding dream team can help you relax and stay in the moment! Come find them at the next Atlanta Wedding Extravaganza or in our directory.

Credit: All images by Double N Media

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