Wedding days can be stressful. In fact, we’ve all heard stories. It doesn’t have to be that way, though. There are things that can be done to ease the stress and enjoy one of the happiest days of your life. So put your feet up for a moment and listen to our advice on how to create a low-stress wedding day timeline.

Plan ahead

First things first, try to get as much done in advance as you can, as soon as you can. Make lists, check items off, whatever you need to get it all done.

Also, make a plan for the wedding day, including everyone involved that will help make things run smoothly. What is everyone’s job? How long will photos, hair/makeup take?

Note the time of the ceremony and reception and backtrack from there. When do you want to take wedding photos? If it’s in between the ceremony and reception, make sure there will be enough time for that.

Send group emails to the wedding party, planners, close family, and anyone else who might need to know, including all the information about the day. Make sure everyone know what’s happening, what they need with them, where they need to be, at what time, etc. Also, make sure everyone has appropriate contact information (like cell numbers) to keep in touch.

Allow extra time

For each task of the day (getting ready, taking photos, travel time), pad in a little extra time at each place to ensure that everything gets done the way it should and nothing feels rushed. Sometimes things get behind anyway, but padding extra time into things like hair appointments and photos will help give a little more breathing room so the day doesn’t get too off schedule.

Assign tasks

It’s impossible for the couple to take care of every single detail on the wedding day. Ahead of time, delegate tasks to different people in the wedding party, family or close friends. Really think about this, because these can be items that you wouldn’t even think about until you’re confronted with them on the big day.

Who will make sure the wedding gifts get from point A to their final destination? Who will make sure the wedding party leaves the church or venue clean and without leaving anything behind? Things like that. This should be taken care of so that the couple doesn’t even have to think about it on the wedding day.

Have a backup plan

You can’t plan for everything that might possibly go wrong, nor should you. But break down the details of the day and see what might need a backup plan.

What if it rains when you’re supposed to take photos outdoors? Choose an indoor location to have at the ready. What if there’s a wardrobe mishap within the wedding party? Have some pins, tape, or whatever else might be needed available to fix clothing in a pinch. You get the idea.

Bring the munchies

The wedding day can usually be awfully long, from the time you wake up, get ready, take photos, to the ceremony and then the reception. It’s a long day, so it’s a good idea to build in some time to grab a quite bite to eat and make sure to drink water to stay hydrated. It seems simple, but it’s also important.

Whether you carve out some time for the wedding party to enjoy a quick meal, or have a buffet of munchies and appetizers at the hotel or venue to grab-and-go throughout the day, it will be helpful to have a snack plan.

Hazeltine National Golf Club is a private golf club located in Chaska, Minn., about 30 minutes southwest of downtown Minneapolis. The club opened in 1962 with a mission to build and maintain a golf course suitable for the conduct of national championships. Hazeltine is one of only two courses in the United States to have hosted the U.S. Open, PGA Championship, U.S. Senior Open, U.S. Women’s Open, U.S. Amateur, and Ryder Cup. Hazeltine’s meeting and event space, golf shop and specified services in the learning center are open to the public. More information about becoming a member at Hazeltine is available at www.hazeltinenational.com.