My wedding is next week and the nerves are creeping up! Any tips?

Nerves mean you care. Trust in yourself and your partner. You have chosen each other because you love and care for each other. You have perfect love, underneath everything else. That will shine on the day above all else. You have made choices in your planning and designing of your wedding, but your guests won't know what these are. If something goes wrong, they won't even know! They are there to love and support you and celebrate your union, and that is however it is, on the day. Remember to breathe, and enjoy the day - for so much time spent planning, it goes so fast!

Find a calm celebrant! I often find that planning for "worst case" moments stops some of that worry. There will always be nerves but knowing that you have a plan for the what ifs is really important. Talk to your celebrant about what you are worried about. Most of it is possible, little of it is probable. And... take.... big.... breaths.... 

Your wedding day is one of the most anticipated days in your life.  There is a great deal of planning and expense involved and you naturally want everything to go perfectly.

When speaking to my wedding couple prior to their wedding I remind them of the facts.

- The ceremony goes by quickly so its really important to stay present in the moment.

-I remind both bride and groom on the day to remeber to breathe in and out and this will encourage them to be calm.

- I also remind them that if something does not go according to plan that its OK.  Things going wrong during the ceremony can break the ice a little bit, especially if a child is involved in the wedding party and they do something that was not expected, its OK, it can be a happy and funny distraction.

- When my bride and groom initially come to the alter or arbour, I take a minute prior to starting the ceremony to make sure they take a breath and remember these tips and remind them to stay connected to this time and place.  

You've planned everything in detail, right down to the colour of your toenails. So now is the time to put all that aside and indulge in a massage. Perhaps even relaxing drinks with some close friends. All those things that you're worrying about are beyond your control. If you accept that not everything will be perfect, you'll find you won't have a panic attack should something not meet your expectation.

This is absolutely warranted as to how you are feeling and if it makes you feel any better, I also felt like this on the lead up to my wedding. Just try to remember that regardless of all the little inconveniences, at the end of the day you are marrying your forever lover and you get to spend the rest of your life together. Sometimes this can be forgotten through all the smaller details. 

Hayley Hart x 

You may be married by now and I am sure it all went beautifully and huge congratulations.  If you are still to be married, all the family and guests at the wedding are there because they love you.  It is a day when everyone wants the best for you and are there to support you no matter if things aren't completely perfect and can laugh with you if there is a hiccup.  Big events aren't Hollywood - they are filled with real love and come together to celebrate you and your fiancé.   One of the significant calming features is when you do your rehearsal with your celebrant.  This gives you the opportunity to walk through the elements of part of your big day and know that you can be in that space on your wedding day and all will be ok.  Good luck and big hugs.

Hi, Yes, nerves are the mortal enemy of Brides and Grooms, sometimes one , sometimes both, best to think about the best things of your day and not the things that might go wrong. Its the best day of your lives, enjoy and have fun, there has never been a wedding where everything is perfect

100%, but let me tell you no one will notice, everyone will be emersed and enjoying the day along side you.

Ahhh, nerves are normal, and most couples experience this. Focus on what you know is good, remind yourself of the joy, the reason why you love this person and share this with your partner. Wonder how they're feeling?

I suggest practising a good quick breathing exercise. I know, you're too stressed to do that.

It doesn't take long and it's a perfect thing to do while you're getting ready for the walk-in or doing vows listening to your partner and knowing it's your turn next, and actually you're about to self-combust.

I always suggest the 4-2-6 technique to my couples. 

Breathe in for 4 seconds, hold for 2, and exhale for 6.

You can practice this daily, anywhere, anytime.

It slows down your heart rate, calms down tension and is a great simple technique.

Ruminations are also normal, this breathing technique helps with this too as you're focusing on your breathing, not the weather that is beyond your control.

You'll be great. 

Have fun, and try to just go with the flow.