Keeping calm

Plan on having five things go wrong. That way, if one does, you can say to yourself, "Well, there's one down!" instead of, "Oh my God, this is a disaster!" About 99% of the things that can go wrong at a wedding are just going to be funny stories a few years from now, so you may as well roll with the punches now. (The other 1% are things like your partner not showing up, but if that happens, keeping calm will be the least of the issues.)

I got married a couple weeks ago and one thing I wish I’d done was designate someone as my point person on the day of my wedding to handle last minute things. As it was, literally five minutes before my ceremony I still had people asking me questions about what to do with something or where to put something else, which did not help my nerves at all! Give yourself some alone time right before the ceremony, even just five minutes to just chill by yourself. I also get really nervous in front of people even those that I know and love, so my husband and I faced the officiant for the ceremony, except for when we exchanged rings. I was still nervous but this helped me so much.

Congratulations Wedding/Anniversary twin!

Only 17 days to go!

If you do take something to keep you calm make sure you test it before. You never know how your system is going to take it and I recommend not mixing any medication with alcohol. You never know the reaction you might have.
My best suggestion to stay calm is to have it all ready. I’m not a last minute person and when things are not done or ready I get stress. This was not the case on my wedding day. I enjoyed each moment without giving much thought to what was coming next. Breakfast with the girls, then make up and hair, enjoying the moment and the activity I was doing. I was very calm more than I expected and even the girls. Yet I had it all ready. My bag with all the details for photographer, all the presents, his bag was also ready and pack. The coordinator was taking care of set up and decor. I was just the bride so I was very calm. Find what stress you or what make sure you anxious and have that done or tackle before hand.

I think the biggest thing is to remember the reason for the day. You're there to get married to the one you love. When something happens, take a breath and remind yourself that you and your intended are the focus; picture your intended or look at a picture of them. Decor not working out and other considerations we brides usually stress over are secondary if you keep focused on the real reason for the day.

I tried to take the whole planning process with the mantra “you can’t control anyone else, just you” this helped a lot not letting things get under my skin (like someone bringing their kid to the ceremony when we were very clear it was child free, and one of my bridesmaids literally just walking off at random times and generally not being where she needed to be when). Also, I got this advice in acting school but I think it applies to weddings and it did help me a lot on the day: you do all the work, the research the planning but then on the day you just have to let it go. Things might not look exactly how you want, or happen when and how they are supposed to but that’s ok! You will have done everything you can to organise your perfect day, but then when your day starts, just let it go. Enjoy the ride! I have a list of little nit picky things about my day that I was annoyed or unhappy with, but you know what? When anyone asks me how it was I say it was perfect. Perfect to how I planned it, no, but it was an amazing day filled with so much love I couldn’t have asked for better.

I love all of your advice ladies! It's really helping! I've taken screenshots of all of the comments cause I want to read and re-read them. Thanks so much!

The things that helped me were remembering that something will go wrong and it will be ok. Likely you will be the only one to know if something isn’t perfect. And I had one of my friends (not in the wedding) be my point person that day. If anyone had a question they went to her and she dealt with it. If it was something she didn’t know or wasn’t comfortable making the decision then she would come to me but she was a life saver. And then I spent the morning with my mom and my daughter relaxing and getting ready. I was surprised how calm I was because up until then I had been a mess. Good luck.

FH said he read somewhere to calm yourself down is to pose like a superhero for 5 min before you do whatever it is that makes you anxious lol. I don't know it it works or not but I will be trying it along with one glass of champagne before I walk down the aisle.