When it comes to your wedding day, feeling calm, confident and completely yourself shouldn’t be a luxury, it should be the default. But, for so many couples, nerves, pressure and the weight of expectation start creeping in long before the big day arrives. If you’ve found yourself worrying about awkward traditions, stiff formalities or just not feeling like you in the spotlight, you’re not alone. Today on Polka Dot Wisdom, celebrant Amy Watson shares tried and tested tips and gentle reminders on how to avoid feeling anxious on your wedding day. No forced smiles or stiff first dances required!
Photography: Jack Jones | Florist: The Fabled Florette | Celebrant: Amy Watson
Are you losing sleep over the thought of looking awkward on your wedding day? Or have you been to a wedding and the couple just seemed so uncomfortable it hurt, yet you couldn’t look away?
As an experienced Sydney wedding celebrant I have seen my fair share of wedding anxiety, nervous fiancé’s and those unexpected moments of discomfort that make everybody cringe. These are just some of the most common concerns couples have in the lead up to their day. But, stress less! There are some easy tweaks you can make in the planning process and on the day, that will iron out the awks and leave you feeling as present, comfortable and in the moment as humanly possible.
By the way, enjoy these beautiful photographs of Kat and Pat’s day at The Grounds captured perfectly by Jack Jones. Two self confessed awkward people, who ditched some traditions and held onto others, but making them completely their own. The result was pure, authentic magic!
Photography: Jack Jones | Florist: The Fabled Florette | Celebrant: Amy Watson
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- Don’t do anything that makes you feel weird.
Now that may seem obvious, but when it comes to weddings, the tradition of it all can fast become suffocating and strange. There are so many out of the ordinary things people do at weddings, just because they feel like they have to.
Let’s talk about “the kiss” for example. Does the thought of smooching once you are declared married totally freak you out? News flash, you don’t have to do it. Nor do you have to walk down an aisle, exchange personal vows, do a first dance, or cut a cake and awkwardly link arms whilst drinking champagne when you actually hate the stuff.
There are many lovers out there who adore these kinds of traditions, but for some, it just feels weird, so ditch it!
Fist bump instead of kiss, or advise your celebrant to jump straight into congratulating you after declaring you married, to avoid that awkward moment.
Ditch the cake if you don’t want it, don’t cut it or just rub it all over each other’s faces if that’s more your vibe. You should not do anything at your wedding that feels weird. It’s really as simple as that.
Being introduced into your reception is another example. Some people love it, they choreograph dances, they twirl, they twerk, but that is never going to be everyone’s cup of tequila. Instead just enter with your guests and be seated at the same time. Your emcee can still introduce you and your squad from their seats and it’s still a great vibe, minus the dying the on the inside.
Photography: Jack Jones | Florist: The Fabled Florette | Celebrant: Amy Watson | Venue: The Grounds
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- Flip tradition the bird
A lot of the moments at a wedding that make us feel weird are due to the traditions themselves. Tradition is just peer pressure from dead people after all, and something tells me they won’t notice if you ditch it.
For many people in the lead up to the ceremony, spending the whole day away from each other is utterly traumatic, especially if they are feeling anxious or nervous as it is. This is a tradition you can definitely kick to the curb. Spend the day together, get ready in the same house, meet each other on the stairs in your get up and boom, magical, stress free moment made!
Walking down the aisle is another tradition that can definitely be flipped on its head. Arrive together, enter together, enter on your own. Ditch the aisle all together and have a bevy with your guests before gathering everyone together for kick off.
These are the starting gates of your marriage adventure, so design it in a way that will make your heart explode from happiness, not anxiousness.
Photography: Jack Jones | Florist: The Fabled Florette | Celebrant: Amy Watson | Venue: The Grounds
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- Create an experience that feels authentic
The whole purpose of a wedding is to bring your favourite people together to celebrate you and your relationship. You. Not them. You. Therefore, it should be an authentic representation of who you are as people, a celebration of your quirks, your personalities and your love.
Play the music you love, serve the food you eat, wear the shoes and outfit you feel comfortable and amazing in. When you are truly present, standing firmly in your own shoes, you’re not giving those awkward moments a chance to creep in.
Photography: Jack Jones | Florist: The Fabled Florette | Celebrant: Amy Watson | Venue: The Grounds
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- Flag your anxieties
Please do not suffer in silence! This is not only a recipe for an awkward disaster, it’s the opposite of how you should feel on one of the most exciting days of your life. Tell your vendors what you’re worried about, ether in advance or on the day as it’s happening. There will likely be ways they can change things up and design their processes around you to reduce that fear or unease.
If you don’t want posed photos or photos with your estranged parent, please make that known so they can take that stress away. And of course, be sure to talk openly with your partner about these things too, so that everyone is on the same page and you can support each other in all the right ways.
Photography: Jack Jones | Florist: The Fabled Florette | Celebrant: Amy Watson | Venue: The Grounds
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- Pick the right people
Now this final point is so important!
Trust is absolutely key in feeling fab on your wedding day. You need to surround yourself with vendors who really listen, take the time to understand you as people, your vision and your insecurities. You need to be honest and open with them, to feel comfortable and have a laugh when that awkward ice needs breaking, and just surrender to the experience knowing you are in the best possible hands.
How to know if you’re picking winning wedding vendors? Meet with them before booking to check that you vibe, ask them questions not only about their service but about themselves as humans. Ask around for recommendations too and stalk their reviews. This is always the best way to see how they made others feel on their big day.
At the end of the day, you’ll be married to your perfect person! What’s there to stress about?!
Photography: Jack Jones | Florist: The Fabled Florette | Celebrant: Amy Watson | Venue: The Grounds
About the author: Amy is a Sydney based celebrant and MC who has been telling love stories, starting parties and making marriages happen for ten years. She believes the celebration starts with your ceremony and your marriage moment should be an authentic reflection of you as people. All the laughter, all the feels and good vibes guaranteed.
A big thank you to Amy Watson for sharing her thoughtful advice and refreshing perspective on navigating wedding day nerves. The insights are a much-needed reminder that your celebration should feel natural, joyful, and true to you. We hope these tips help you feel more confident, relaxed, and ready to embrace your day – awkward-free!
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