Nervous about being the center of attention!

If you have a lot of nervous energy while speaking, curl your toes in your shoes. It's a good way to fidget discretely.

If you're on the verge of tears, pinch the skin between your thumb and index finger, but make sure to do this early! Once tears well up they have to go somewhere.

When looking at your guests, pick either one person to focus on in the middle-ish of the crowd (someone who makes you calm!), or when in doubt, look at your FS!

I get the same way. I usually have a hard time making eye contact with people when I'm speaking to a crowd - I'm self conscious of that so it makes it worse. I think the difference between this kind of anxiety and normal "public speaking" anxiety for me is that you aren't addressing the crowd - you can focus on FH, the officiant, your wedding party, etc. Anyone that you are going to be interacting with you are probably very comfortable with. Focus on that and not everyone else.

I feel the same. I feel self conscious when I know I'm being stared at. I'm planning on just focusing on FH and trying to zone everyone else out. Thank God our ceremony isle isn't long.

I totally tripped coming down the aisle! Not many people even noticed. Only those who heard me say "you didn't see that" realized what happened. They are so so so in love with the moment they don't notice little details. Don't sweat it. The hardest moment are the few seconds when you are lined up, just before you walk out where your emotions are in high gear, but one step later they all melt away and you are off to meet your love.

Ps, my husband said he was watching me with an eagle eye and never noticed! He was surprised to hear this.

View Quoted Comment You guys are making me feel SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much better lol

Isn't this why people drink a little when they get ready? I mean not enough to be falling down or puking, but a mimosa or three to take the edge off?

I am so worried about saying something wrong at the alter infront of someone. I already talk really fast so I stumble on my words. Good luck and congratulations!

I worry about the same thing. I hate speaking in front of crowds and being the center of attention. I’m sure I’ll have some form of alcohol to calm my nerves before I walk down the aisle.

I'm not a big drinker but I'll probably smoke a bowl before I walk 😂
(sorry in advance if talking about that isn't allowed)

I understand how you feel. My husband and I are are renewing our vows on the 28th of April for our 10th wedding anniversary. We have actually been together for 20 years. My planning of this started off as a small dinner a few friends and close family. It has now turned into a full-fledged wedding at the church I grew up going to and 157 people on my guest list with the reception after the ceremony. I am soooooo excited but soooooooo nervous at the same time. I’m not used to all eyes on me and my husband is a very laid-back. I lost my mother six years ago so just with the planning process the tears have been flowing so I can only imagine that day. My first wedding was very small as I go to a house church right now so we only had about 20 people and some food at my sister’s house afterwards. I attend a church where we have 2 co-pastors so one originally married us and now the other is renewing our vows. Everyone is helping to make my day special as they know that a piece of me will be missing even though she will be there in spirit.

Take deep breathes, count backwards from ten for the nerves.

As for the crying, I'm a big cry baby too and 36 days away from the day. I plan on having a mental focal point. Every time I want to burst out into a blubbering mess of pure joy, I'm going to mentally walk through a recipe. (I bake)

This distracts me from the pressure of being in the spotlight and keeps me from crying so much.

This is just what I do, but you get the idea.

SAME. The couple of times I was a BM i was nervous just standing there. I can't imagine how I'm going to be on our wedding day. Oh well 😂

I also hate being the center of attention. My FH is meeting me 1/2 way down the aisle. He instantly calms me so I will be focusing on him & nothing else until I get to him. I think I'll be ok once I'm with him but I guess I'll find out for sure in May.

I don't worry about being in front of people....that's my job every day. The walk has me the most worried. I cry at television commercials. I'm listening to my procession song every day in hopes that I get immune to it. Also am going to ask my dad to have some jokes ready to tell me before we go down the aisle. LOL

My H and I both don't like attention, at all. So we walked down the aisle together to the altar, so neither of us would have to be alone and nervous (I had no one to walk me down the aisle, he didn't want to stand at the altar waiting for me). We also skipped introductions at the reception. We both felt weird for our first dance, and we both awkwardly froze while cutting our cake because all eyes were on us, again. The best dance we had, and that felt more special to us was our last dance when no one was left.

I dealt with my nerves by remaining calm, and reminding myself to be happy otherwise I would have spiraled ino a panic attack. Lots of positive mantras. Lots of breathing. I only sipped prosecco, bit didn't want to over do it because I felt if I had too much I wouldn't be present.

View Quoted Comment This is my exact plan for the day. Being the center of attention is awful for me; I was internally in panic-mode for pretty much my entire bridal shower. But, mantras/positivity reminders/prosecco are the game plan for the wedding.

I am nervous too! I am not good with all the attention on me and I am not a good public speaker. (that is why I go back and fourth on reading vows.) But I keep thinking about how maybe if I just think it is me and FH standing and just talking to each other maybe I will be fine! But I still have a long time to go!

View Quoted Comment Thank you for this!