Don’t Hold Back: Embracing Emotion and Staying Grounded on Your Wedding Day
No matter how organised or laid-back you are, emotions run high on your wedding day. You’ve spent months planning, dreaming, and anticipating this moment, so it’s completely natural to feel a flood of emotions when it finally arrives.
The first and most important thing? Embrace it.
Don’t try to stop the emotions. You won’t be able to, and that’s okay. Tears, laughter, shaky hands – it’s all part of what makes the day real and unforgettable.
Here are some gentle ways to help you stay calm, grounded, and present in the lead-up to and on your wedding day.
Find Your Calming Activities
Ask yourself: what makes me feel calm?
For me, it’s yoga, cuddling my dogs, and swimming in the ocean. For you, it might be exercise, meditation, a creative hobby, or simply spending time outdoors.
Once you know what helps you feel most at ease, do more of that – regularly, from now until the wedding.
If you’re not sure what works best for you yet, experiment with a few different things and notice what helps your mind and body slow down.
Journal Your Thoughts and Fears
Writing things down can make them feel far less overwhelming.
Try this: make a list of all the parts of your wedding day that make you feel nervous – walking down the aisle, saying your vows, being centre of attention, your first dance, anything at all. Then, for each one, ask yourself two questions:
What’s the likelihood of this actually happening?
If it did happen, would it really matter?
Here are some examples:
Falling over walking down the aisle? Very unlikely. And if it did happen, everyone there loves you. They’ll help you up and cheer you on.
Stumbling over your vows? Happens all the time. No one minds, and most guests don’t even notice.
Crying during vows? Almost guaranteed. It might mean it takes a minute or two longer to get them out. And honestly, it’s beautiful.
The more you explore these scenarios, the more you’ll realise that nothing truly “going wrong” can take away from the meaning of your day.
Practice Sitting with Discomfort
When you feel that nervous energy or emotion bubbling up, try not to push it away.
Instead, take a moment to sit with it. Notice the feeling, name it (for example, “I’m feeling nervous” or “I’m feeling emotional”), and let it be there without trying to fix it.
The more you do this, the less power those feelings have over you. You’re training your body to recognise the feeling and move through it rather than fight it.
Rehearse – Mentally and Physically
Start your mental rehearsal now. Close your eyes and picture your day from beginning to end.
Imagine yourself walking down the aisle with confidence, saying your vows clearly, smiling at your guests, and feeling completely in the moment.
At first, you might accidentally picture your fears. That’s normal. With practice, your mind will start to focus on how you want the day to unfold.
And you may wish to have a physical rehearsal before the wedding, where you’ll get to walk through each part and feel even more at ease.
Use Breathing Techniques to Stay Grounded
Your breath is one of the simplest and most powerful tools to help you stay calm.
Here are two easy techniques you can use:
Big Exhale: Take a deep breath in, then exhale with a big, audible sigh. The exhale is what calms your nervous system.
Box Breathing: Inhale for 4 counts, hold for 4, exhale for 4, hold for 4. Repeat five times. Try this in the car on the way to the ceremony or as you take those first steps down the aisle.
Two more quick tips:
Press your tongue to the roof of your mouth if you feel tears rising. It helps your body regulate emotion.
Better out than in. If you feel emotional, let it out. Cry, laugh, breathe, then regroup and carry on. Holding it in only makes it harder.
Final Thoughts
Take what resonates with you and leave what doesn’t.
Remember, emotions are not the enemy – they’re proof that what’s happening matters.
If you can focus on being present rather than perfect, you’ll experience your wedding day exactly as it’s meant to be: raw, real, and filled with love.
And of course, if you ever need to talk it through or want extra tips, I’m always here.