How to Calm Your Prewedding Nerves

And actually enjoy it

You’ve picked the dress, sent the invites, maybe even bribed a few people into RSVPing on time, and now, here you are. Your wedding is days away, and no matter how excited you are, your brain won’t stop buzzing.

We get it. After months (maybe even years) of planning, the pressure to make your wedding “the best day ever” is real, and a little exhausting. So how do you slow down enough to be present, joyful, and actually relaxed when the big day arrives?

Here’s your guide to winding down, tuning in, and giving your nervous system a second to breathe before walking down the aisle. Because the calm before the vows? You deserve that.

Step 1: Protect your week like your peace depends on it (because it does)

The week before your wedding is not the time to run errands, take on extra work shifts, or say “yes” to every well-meaning invite. This is your time to set boundaries and be a little selfish.

What this looks like:

• Blocking off your calendar. Set OOO emails if you need to, turn on “Do Not Disturb,” and keep your schedule light and intentional.
• Saying no to unnecessary obligations. You don’t need to go to your third cousin’s welcome dinner if you’re feeling drained. It’s okay to opt out.
• Letting someone else handle the details. Delegate everything that doesn’t require your specific input, vendor check-ins, final payments, table number confirmations. If someone has offered help, this is the time to say “yes.”

Your brain and body will thank you.

Step 2: Do something not wedding related

On of the best way to calm your prewedding nerves is to do something that isn’t at all related to your wedding. It’s easy to get tunnel vision in the days leading up to your wedding. You’re thinking about guest lists, weather apps, backup plans, timelines… and before you know it, you forget there’s a whole world outside of wedding planning.

So take a break from thinking about it.

Ideas to help you unplug:

• Go for a walk or hike without your phone.
• Watch your favorite comfort show (you know the one).
• Grab lunch with a friend who won’t ask about wedding plans.
• Take a pottery or dance class.
• Read a book just for fun.

Stepping away helps reset your nervous system and remind you: you’re a person getting married, not a wedding machine.

Step 3: Create a mini morning ritual

When the big day finally arrives, it can feel like stepping into a whirlwind. But carving out even 15 minutes to breathe and ground yourself can change everything.

Try this on your wedding morning:

• Step 1: Wake up early (earlier than you think). Give yourself more time than you need so nothing feels rushed.
• Step 2: Journal or free-write. Just a few sentences about how you’re feeling, excited, nervous, in love, all of it.
• Step 3: Move your body. Gentle stretching, a short walk, or even dancing around your room can calm nerves.
• Step 4: Stay hydrated and eat something. Seriously. Don’t try to “wait until brunch” if your body needs fuel.

Your wedding day isn’t about jumping straight into hair and makeup. It’s about you. Start it slowly and intentionally.

Step 4: Make a “last week” checklist (but keep it tiny)

You know those little things that tend to fall through the cracks right before the wedding? The emergency kits, the vow books, the snacks for your wedding party?

Don’t leave them swirling around in your brain. Write them down.

A few easy wins to add:

• Pack an overnight bag with your getting-ready outfit, deodorant, makeup remover, comfy shoes, etc.
• Double-check your vows or notes (especially if they’re handwritten!)
• Set aside cash tips for vendors in envelopes.
• Charge your phone and any backup batteries.
• Confirm transportation for yourselves and your wedding party.
• Prep any details you want your photographer to capture (rings, perfume, letters, heirlooms).

Having these on paper = one less thing to spiral about at 3 a.m.

Step 5: Schedule something grounding the night before

You don’t need a rager the night before your wedding to have fun. In fact, your body and brain probably want the opposite. Try ending your evening with something that calms your nervous system and helps you feel safe, excited, and ready.

Ideas for the night before:

• A slow, candlelit bath with a good playlist
• Face masks and matching robes with your wedding party
• A quiet dinner with your partner or best friend
• Reading old texts or letters from your partner (cue the happy tears)
• Guided meditation or breathwork (YouTube has a ton of free ones!)

Think of it like tucking yourself in. You’ve done the hard part. Now you just get to show up.

Step 6: Keep your people close (and your phone far)

Wedding week has a way of pulling everyone in a million directions. Group chats are buzzing, Aunt Linda is texting you about the rehearsal dinner location, and Instagram won’t stop feeding you wedding videos.

Your solution? Pick your inner circle, and stick with them.

Try this:

• Choose 1–2 people to be your go-to communication points. Let them field questions, texts, and logistics.
• Put your phone on Do Not Disturb or Airplane Mode when you’re resting, eating, or getting ready.
• Let your wedding planner or maid of honor be your buffer. That’s what they’re there for.

The fewer distractions you have, the more present you can be.

Step 7: Remind yourself what the day is really about

At the end of the day, a wedding isn’t about perfection. It’s about presence. It’s about promising your forever to your favorite person, surrounded by people who love you. It’s about laughing when something goes off-script, and remembering the small moments more than the big ones.

So when your nerves creep in, or when you catch yourself overthinking the timeline, come back to this.

You don’t have to earn your joy by planning harder. You don’t have to prove anything by being chill. You’re allowed to feel emotional. You’re allowed to be here.

This is the start of your marriage, not just a party. And if you’re able to laugh, breathe, and look your partner in the eye and say “I do”? You’re doing it perfectly.

Bonus: A few Sokol Co. client-favorite ideas for relaxing pre-wedding

Because we’ve seen it all, from barefoot sunrise vows in Yosemite to intimate candlelit dinners in family backyards here are a few real-life ideas we love and recommend to our couples:

• Hire a day-of content creator. So you’re not worried about posting, filming, or documenting anything yourself.
• Do a “first touch” instead of a first look. Hold hands around a corner, exchange letters, and take a moment just for the two of you.
• Record a voice memo on your wedding morning. Talk about how you’re feeling, what you’re excited about, what you want to remember. It’s something you’ll treasure forever.
• Bring a comfort item. One of our brides kept her grandmother’s handkerchief tucked in her dress pocket all day. Another wore fuzzy socks until five minutes before walking down the aisle.
• Have a Plan B you actually love. If your wedding’s outdoors, prep a cozy, rain-friendly backup that still feels beautiful. You’ll feel more calm just knowing it’s there.

TL;DR: You deserve to feel your wedding

Not just rush through it, not just show up looking perfect, but to actually be there. To take a deep breath before walking down the aisle, to laugh with your friends during makeup, to sneak a private kiss during golden hour.

So as your day gets closer, give yourself permission to step back, slow down, and soften into what’s coming.

This isn’t just your wedding day. It’s your wedding life. And it’s going to be really, really good.

Ready to have a chill wedding day?

When we work together, I do more than just take pretty pictures (though I do that too!). But I’m here for you every step of the way! Let’s chat and plan your dreamy (and stress-free) wedding day! Let’s kick those prewedding nerves together.