Who wants the pressure of stress on their wedding day? Absolutely no one, of course, but let’s be realistic, many couples experience high levels of anxiety and feel extremely overwhelmed on their big day. This is not what you pictured when you dreamed of getting married, am I right? Your wedding is supposed to be one of the happiest days of your life. This is the reason that so many couples experience tension. Their expectations tend to be much higher as they attempt to achieve the perfect wedding. Choosing the right venue is the first step to ensure your wedding day will be happy and blissful. When searching for the perfect location, you want to consider if the venue provides all-inclusive services such as an onsite wedding coordinator, set up and clean up support, in-house catering options, and onsite lodging accommodations. All you have to do is arrive and remember to breathe, smile, and enjoy your wedding day. 

The Preston Barn provides only the best services and accommodations to help alleviate wedding day jitters. Let us worry about all the small details such as setting up the reception area and breaking it down once the festivities have concluded. Our staff will ensure your day is flawless while you attend to your priorities, family, and guests. The beautiful rustic barn venue and the Old Drovers Inn are yours for the entire weekend. You can find more information about our Upstate NY weddings here.

On the day you say, “I do,” it’s normal to have various emotions. No one can say exactly how you are going to react, everyone is different in how they express themselves. Your normal personality might be relaxed and level-headed but on your wedding day, the pressure from planning for months and wanting everything to go smoothly may begin to take a toll. In our experience, we can tell you, that sometimes things will occur that are unexpected but you have to focus on the most important part… you are marrying your best friend, life partner, and soulmate. The breathtaking experience of all-embracing love brings multiple emotions including a lot of happy tears. To help ease the normal tensions of planning your wedding and having your day be everything you imagined, here are a few ideas we would like to share. 

Preparing ahead of time: 

When arranging an event both small and large, not many couples consider organizing a strategy to help alleviate stress. This is very important because you want to be as ready as possible for those typical jounces on your day. Having a master plan in place will help calm your nerves, which is just as important as sending out wedding invitations. You don’t want anxiety and apprehension showing up unexpectedly like an uninvited guest. 

There are numerous intricate details that go into planning a wedding, such as choosing your venue, vendors, decorations, guest list, invitations, seating arrangements, food selections, accommodations, the wedding rehearsal, etc. It is very easy to overlook things, such as making sure you plan time to take a break, be mindful, eat, etc. in your wedding day timeline. For more tips on the nitty-gritty of stress-free wedding planning, visit this other blog post.

No need to worry for our couples. The Preston Barn has years of experience and a fully trained staff to tend to your many needs. Our professionalism will let you keep your focus on what’s really important, making memories and having the best day of your life. Before your wedding day, you can ask a close friend or family member to be your “life coach,” to be there for you if needed. Having a designated person to assist and remind you that everything will be marvelous, will greatly improve your overall happiness. 

The Wedding Day: 

Plan to give yourself time in the morning to focus on your well-being. Start the morning with a light nutritious breakfast that will give you energy throughout the day. Set aside a half hour or just a few minutes to breathe, take it all in, take a walk, or maybe listen to a guided meditation session. Anything that will clear your mind and help your body to relax. Also, taking slow deep breaths is one of the best ways to decrease stress and anxiety levels. 

Once you feel ready to start the day, join your wedding party to begin your pre-wedding itinerary. This might include getting your hair styled or make-up applied to make you look your best. If you want to have a stress-free wedding, we highly recommend hiring a hair and makeup artist for your memorable day. No matter what you are feeling, the last thing you want to worry about is making sure your hair and makeup turn out how you envisioned. This also gives you an hour, if not more, to just sit and relax while your photographer takes gorgeous getting-ready photographs. 

Once you are dressed, your hair is finished, and your make-up is complete, it’s time to walk down the aisle. Make sure your life coach is there with you to help ensure every detail of your attire is in place. Remember those breathing techniques that you did during your morning routine, this is the perfect time to take a few deep breaths. Don’t worry about all eyes on you, just focus on your spouse standing at the front of the aisle. This is the moment you have been waiting for, everything has fallen into place and the love of your life is only a few steps away, ready to start your new life journey together. 

Additional Tips:

• Hire PROFESSIONALS! We’ve seen it all here. Professional hair and makeup, professional PLANNERS, professional officiant, professional DJ entertainment, professional photographers, etc. cannot be replaced by Uncle Joe with the nice camera or cousin Mike who DJs at a club sometimes! Trust us when we say this will only add to your stress.

• Plan time after the ceremony to relax for a least a few minutes. Spend a few moments together, sign the marriage license, get a drink/food, whatever you need to decompress and get ready for the rest of the wedding day! Don’t forget to stay hydrated and eat. We personally like to lead our couples (and their wedding party if wanted) to a private toast with their preferred drinks and all of the cocktail hour food! There are no horror stories of couples missing out on the cocktail hour goodness here! If your wedding is elsewhere, check with your caterer about making this happen for you.

• Do a first look. We are big fans of this. Most couples do it but if you’re on the fence, you can read about the pros and cons here. Not only does it save you a whole lot of time for photos and you can enjoy cocktail hour even more, but it will also help you to get out those pre-ceremony jitters about seeing each other for the first time and it is a beautiful semi-private moment you’ll cherish forever.

The Preston Barn’s goal is for couples to focus on treasuring their wedding. This is why we are a full-service wedding venue offering beautiful and relaxing lodging accommodations as well as personalized service that will leave you feeling at peace throughout the entire day (the days leading up to it!). Let us take all of your anxiety and worry away by helping you plan your one-of-a-kind Upstate New York wedding. Contact us for more information and a tour!