Vow to Stress Less: Wedding Day Tips from Brides

Designate a Fireman

Even if the entire planning process is smooth sailing, there can always be a glitch at the last minute. "I had decided early on that I would not get stressed about my wedding," says Corri Lewellen from Jefferson City, Missouri. "I made it until two days before when the bakery called to say they couldn't make the cake I had ordered and paid for. I stayed calm, picked a different style, and moved on. The morning of my wedding, the bakery called my cell phone to tell me they wouldn't be able to deliver the cake to the reception site. I was upset but hate confrontation, so I found someone with a van who could go pick it up. Problem solved? Not in the least. Just before I am getting ready to walk down the aisle (literally), the delivery guy I just hired calls to say the bakery won't release the cake to him because he doesn't have a receipt. Now completely distressed, my mom grabbed the phone, had a heated discussion with the bakery, and handled the situation."

"Looking back, I wish I had designated someone to handle those calls and put out those fires. If you don't have a wedding coordinator, assign your mom, maid of honor, or someone else who can calmly and firmly handle last-minute flare-ups."