Essential Advice for Your Wedding Day

You've been engaged for months, you've made it through planning the ceremony, the attire, the reception, the honeymoon, and you haven't killed each other yet. The worst is over. When you wake up on the morning of your wedding day, your only job is to go along for the ride, enjoy every moment and make some memories. Read on for essential advice for your wedding day.

Both of you have been waiting and planning for a long time in order to make this day go off without a hitch. Just be aware that things NEVER go as planned, so expect the unexpected and don't get too worked up about it. It is the unexpected events that make the best stories for years to come. Relax, and have a good time. This is your day to celebrate your blissful union.

For her:

The day of the wedding is often more stressful for the bride than any of the planning process has been. Start your morning off with a relaxing bubble bath or a massage at the spa. You deserve to start this hectic day as cool and relaxed as you possibly can be. Do it alone if you need some private time (since you will be surrounded by people ogling and vying for your attention for the remainder of the day), or if you are nervous and need to chat, invite the bridesmaids along for some pre-wedding pampering.

Have all appointments made ahead of time, and allow plenty of time for hair-dos, make-up, manicures, etc. Have a close friend who is not part of the wedding party act as your gopher for the day. If you get a run in your pantyhose, they'll be on call to run to the store. If your florist is running late, they are in charge of calling the company. This will keep you removed from most of the stressful situations, and keep you moving on schedule. Don't forget to give your friend a gift for helping you through any wedding day glitches! Arrive at the church with plenty of time to spare. Remember, you MIGHT tear up a bit, so have plenty of tissues handy as to not smear that gorgeous make-up.

Spend the last few minutes before the wedding starts with your bridesmaids. Do some deep breathing if you're nervous, and think about how long you have been awaiting this precious day.

For him:

It is perfectly normal for the groom to wake up a bit jittery on the morning of his wedding. The best way to handle the stress of this day is to make sure you have all your responsibilities completed ahead of time so you can spend this day in a stress-free zone. Things to double check the preceding week include travel plans for the honeymoon, transportation from church to reception and reception to airport, cost of anyone you will be paying on the actual wedding day (and remember to have plenty of extra cash for tipping- EVERYONE involved expects to be tipped at least 15%).

Sleep in. Having plenty of rest is important before the hours of socializing you'll be doing today. When you get up, a long jog or a trip to the gym is often just what you'll need to work off some of those anxious feelings. Allow plenty of time to get ready and arrive early at the church.

Spend some time horsing around with your groomsmen. Take some deep breaths, and wait for your beautiful bride

Keith Kingston is a professional web publisher who offers advice on cheap wedding stationery such as invitations, place cards, thank you cards and order of service booklets