5 ways to cut wedding stress in half

Your wedding day is meant to be one of the happiest days of your life, but let’s be real: The lead-up can feel anything but relaxing. Between guest lists, budgets, suppliers, family opinions, and the hundreds of little details demanding your attention, stress has a way of creeping in.

The good news? It doesn’t have to be this way. While you can’t control every hiccup (nor should you try), you can shift your mindset and reset your nervous system so the planning process – and the big day itself – feels calmer, lighter and more joyful.

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We spoke to our resident mindfulness guide, Bec Crozier (who also runs The Modern Meditator). She’ll be leading a live stress-management session at Unveiled Melbourne this September. But to give you a head start, here are five of her best techniques you can start practising now to cut your wedding stress in half.

The 30-second reset

Stress hormones spike quickly when things are overwhelming. The trick is knowing how to bring them down just as fast. One of the simplest tools you have is always with you — your breath. In less than a minute, a few intentional sighs can calm your body, clear your mind, and give you space to take the next step with ease.

Try this:

• Breathe in — sigh out (long and slow with an audible out-breath)
• Breathe in — sigh out (drop the shoulders, relax the arms)
• Breathe in — sigh out (unclench your jaw… and smile)That’s it. This 30-second breathwork technique will relax your body and signal your nervous system — we’re safe. We can stand down.

That’s it. This 30-second breathwork technique will relax your body and signal your nervous system — we’re safe. We can stand down.

Keep perspective

In the thick of planning, even the smallest hiccup can feel enormous. Taking a step back and remembering that your wedding is, above all else, about love (not logistics) helps soften the edges of stress. A simple question to ask yourself is: “Will this still matter in a year?”

Another common stressor? Other people’s opinions. Friends, family — even your partner — may carry their own hopes, worries, or expectations about your day. This can easily tip into tension or conflict if left unchecked.

The balancing act is real: on one hand, you’ll want to protect decisions that belong just to the two of you. On the other, it helps to recognise that your well-meaning people are also having their own experience of your wedding. They might be anxious about things going wrong, or concerned about how much time or money their involvement will require.

When you pause to see the situation from their perspective, compassion naturally follows. Boundaries can remain in place, but the relationships that matter most stay intact.

Try this:

When you feel yourself bracing against someone’s opinion, pause and silently ask:

• What might they be worried about right now?
• If I were in their shoes, how would I feel?

Then, take one slow breath before responding. Often, that tiny pause is all it takes to answer clearly rather than defensively.

Name it to tame it

“I’m stressed” often masks something more specific. Are you stressed because a supplier hasn’t replied? That’s frustration. Because your dream date is booked out? That’s sadness. Because you want everything perfect? That’s shame, telling you, things aren’t good enough. Naming your emotions gives you just enough distance to soothe yourself and choose your next step with clarity.

Try this:

When stress arises, recognise what might be the real emotion underneath. See how it feels to say to yourself:

• This is a moment of sadness
• This is a moment of disappointment
• This is a moment of irritation

Focus on the sensations in your body while the emotion is present, and eventually, watch as it passes. No emotion, no matter how intense, lasts forever.

Don’t go it alone

You don’t have to carry the entire load yourself. Yet so many couples feel like they have to do it all — spreadsheets, budgets, RSVPs, styling, vendor chasing — and it becomes exhausting. Trying to micro-manage every moving part of a wedding is one of the fastest ways to burn out.

Instead, remind yourself that this is a shared celebration. Delegate tasks, lean on your wedding party, and communicate openly with your partner about what matters most. Maybe your maid of honour is brilliant at organising people, or your sibling loves creating playlists. Let them help. Even giving someone one small responsibility, like following up with a vendor or picking up décor items, lightens your load.

Try this:

Make a “wedding jobs” list with three columns:

1. Things only you can do
2. Things you can share with your partner
3. Things you can hand over to friends or family

You’ll be surprised at how many tasks fall into the last two columns.

Also, recognise that “your wedding” contains the magic word: “our”. This doesn’t need to be a solo project. Sharing the responsibility doesn’t just lower stress; it gives your loved ones a chance to feel truly part of your day.

Stay present for the moments that matter

Lastly, so many couples look back and say their wedding went by in a blur. The secret to slowing it down isn’t by doing less — it’s by being more present.

One way to do this is with the practice of “mental snapshots.” These are micro moments where you deliberately stop, look around, and lock a moment into memory. It might be during the ceremony when your partner first sees you, the laughter at the speeches, or the quiet seconds together before entering the reception.

Try this:

Practise taking a mental snapshot of everyday moments: your partner making you coffee, your parents giving advice, your friends laughing with you during planning. On the day, set the intention to pause three times (or more!) and take a mental photo. Notice what you see, hear, and feel, and imagine filing it away in your memory.

These little pauses create anchors you can return to long after the wedding. Instead of a blur, your day becomes a collection of vivid, joy-filled memories you’ll carry forever.

✨ Want more tools like these? Join Bec’s live mindfulness session at Unveiled Melbourne this September and learn practical techniques to reset, refocus, and enjoy the journey.