If you’re anything like me, you want to sleep well before your wedding. Not just the night before your wedding, but in the days and weeks leading up to it.
And, if you’re anything like me, you have good reason to be concerned that you won’t sleep well before your wedding. Often, when I have a big event coming up, sleep issues ensure. It might be that I have trouble falling asleep. Or, staying asleep. It could be that I wake up super early and can’t go back to sleep. None of it is ideal when you’re trying to look and feel your best.
The great news is that there are things you can do to sleep well before your wedding. Things that aren’t that complicated. All you need to do is be intentional, and put in the effort. The payoff can be huge, too. We all know that sleep makes us feel great, and it helps us appear rested. Getting enough rest ahead of your wedding can mean that your skin, eyes, and overall appearance glow. Who wouldn’t want that?
15 Tips To Sleep Well Before Your Wedding
This post is going to lay out fifteen tips to help you sleep well before your wedding. Remember, I’m not a doctor. I’m no expert. I’m just a person who has trouble sleeping and wants to share common sense advice on helping others. If you feel that you have a serious sleep issue, seek professional help. However, if you have some basic sleep needs, you’re in the right place.
Let’s get into it!
1. LIMIT ALCOHOL TO SLEEP WELL BEFORE YOUR WEDDING
People, this is my number one recommendation. For some, it may be difficult to do. For others, no brainer.
If you want to sleep well before your wedding, limit the amount of alcohol you drink.
I don’t know about you, but alcohol really messes with me. It makes me feel very hot. I get dehydrated, and sometimes I feel sick to my stomach or get headaches. I’m not even talking about when I drink a lot of alcohol. I often feel the negative effects after just a drink or two.
Even if you want to celebrate and “go hard”, beware of your alcohol intake before your wedding. Pace yourself, alternate water with alcoholic beverages, and try to avoid it as much as possible.
2. STOP DRINKING LIQUIDS AT LEAST AN HOUR BEFORE BEDTIME
Alright, I know I’ve recommended hydrating before your wedding, and now I’m sharing some nuances with that recommendation.
Beverages make us have to pee, right? And though we all want to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate, there gets to be a limit. For some of us, getting up in the middle of the night can be a real sleep inhibitor. Not only is it annoying to feel the pressure, but you have to deal with re-situating yourself once you’re done with your business. It’s best to plan on no drinks, at all, at least an hour before bedtime.
3. DON’T EAT UNUSUAL FOODS OR FOODS THAT WILL CAUSE DISCOMFORT
While we’re in the realm of what not to ingest before bedtime, let’s talk about food.
When you eat dinner the evening before your wedding, beware of what you consume. Try to avoid any foods that you know will upset your stomach, or make you feel uncomfortable. Not only are stomach issues unpleasant, but they can keep you awake. If you’re unsure about a certain food, stick to the foods you know you can handle.
4. DON’T SCROLL FOR AT LEAST AN HOUR BEFORE BEDTIME
Oh boy, it might be a rough hour before bedtime, right?
Scrolling on your phone is one of the worst things you can do if you want to sleep well. The bright light, right in front of your face, is one thing your brain does not need right before it’s ready to rest. Plus, you never know what you’ll see when you scroll. Social media is filled with all sorts of distractions, and some can be quite disturbing.
While it can be tempting to scroll the night before your wedding, reading any well wishing messages and looking at how your Insta posts are doing – don’t. Put that phone down at a reasonable time and check it later (during the day).
5. TAKE SOME TIME TO REST YOUR MIND BEFORE BEDTIME
Okay, so if we’re not scrolling before bed, and we’re not drinking anything, what are we doing?
I recommend relaxing.
I know that this can be tricky the night before your wedding. You may be staying in a new place. You may be sharing a room with friends or family. Heck, I didn’t even have my own bed the night before my wedding. It can be tempting to stay up late and party if others are going for it. However, resist that urge. Be intentional about resting before you sleep.
Some examples of what I mean? How about you try reading? Or meditating? You could write, or spend some time in silence. If that doesn’t work for you, listen to a relaxing audiobook or podcast. Do something that is soothing for your mind and soul.
6. USE AN EYEMASK OR BLOCK ALL LIGHT IN YOUR ROOM
Light is the worst when you’re trying to sleep.
I don’t know about you, but I like a dark room. And, if I’m in a new environment, lights seem to be all over the place. Random lights from clocks, smoke detectors, and windows. It can be quite distracting when you’re trying to go to sleep.
If you can’t block all the light the night before your wedding, try an eye mask. Now, don’t just go get one and wear it for the first time before your wedding. Break it in. Make sure you like it. Eye masks come in all sizes and textures. They are not a one size fits all. If you want to sleep well before your wedding, and ensure that your ears aren’t sore from an ill-fitting mask, try it ahead of time.
7. HAVE EARPLUGS HANDY TO SLEEP WELL BEFORE YOUR WEDDING
Just like we should block out light the night before our wedding, we should block out noise, too.
If you’re in a new space noise can creep up. If you’re sleeping with others, they can make noises, too. I was kept awake the night before my wedding because *someone* was snoring too loudly. It wasn’t ideal. You may be in a space where others are being loud, partying, or just being rude. Earplugs can definitely help with that.
Now, I like the cheap kind. The ones that you can twist into a tiny ball and let expand in your ears. You may be into a different type. As long as they work for you, they work for you. The point is that the ear plugs are comfortable enough for you to rest, while still stopping noise from bugging you.
8. TELL OTHERS THAT YOU NEED TO GET YOUR REST
Some people just don’t get it. I mean it. And, by some people, I’m talking about our families and friends. So, you may need to spell it out for them, if you’re staying together ahead of your wedding. Tell others that you want to sleep well before your wedding. And, tell them what they need to do to help you achieve that.
It may be as simple as putting a stop time to any music. Or, having them commit to going to bed early as well. Whatever it is, talk about it early in the day or evening so everyone can have a game plan for helping you sleep.
9. SLEEP IN A BED, ALONE
One thing that kept me up the night before my wedding was sleeping in bed next to someone I’m not used to. As I mentioned earlier, I didn’t sleep in a bed to myself the night before my wedding. I ended up sharing, and it wasn’t ideal.
If at all possible, sleep in your own bed the night before your wedding. Now, if you are sleeping next to your partner, and you’re used to sharing a bed with them, this tip doesn’t necessarily apply. I’m referring to sleeping next to someone you’re not used to sleeping next to. You may end up tossing and turning, or vice versa, making it harder for you to rest. And, of course, there’s the space and noise issue.
10. TAKE A SHOWER BEFORE BED
Showers can be very relaxing. If you’re not already planning on it, take a shower before you go to bed, the night before your wedding.
Not only will the shower make you feel fresh and clean, but the warm water can be very soothing. It will help your muscles relax, and make you feel calm. Plus, showers tend to be a private affair. It will allow you a bit of peace and quiet before all the commotion the next day. A shower can be a great “reset” as you ease into bed and rest.
11. KEEP UP YOUR REGULAR BEDTIME ROUTINE
Sleep is very psychological. If there are things that you normally do before bedtime, keep them up the night before your wedding.
For example, you may have a bedtime routine that includes certain elements. You may wash your face, put on lotion, and brush your hair. Perhaps you spend 30 minutes reading before bed. You may journal, do affirmations, or meditate. Whatever it is that you normally do, do that. It will trigger your sleep response as your body is used to being signaled to sleep when you take these actions.
12. HAVE COMFORTABLE PJ’S HANDY
Often we want to wear new clothes around our weddings. You may even have some cute new pajamas to enjoy the night before your wedding.
If you want to sleep well before your wedding, make sure your pajamas are comfortable. They may be too tight, too big, or scratchy. Give them a test run ahead of your wedding, just to make sure they are the right ones for you. And, if you’re used to sleeping in something that isn’t new, maybe go with what you’re used to. Save the new pajamas for the “getting ready” photos the next day. No one will know you didn’t sleep in them.
13. SPRITZ SOME LAVENDER TO SLEEP WELL BEFORE YOUR WEDDING
Did you know that various scents can trigger biological responses from us?
Some people believe that lavender is the ideal scent to sniff before going to bed. It’s calming, it’s relaxing, and if you get into the habit of smelling it before bedtime, it can trigger a sleep response from you. For a simple lavender spritz, you can place some fresh lavender in a spray bottle with water and gently spray it ahead of bedtime. Or, you can place dried lavender in a pouch and sniff that. Some people also use lavender essential oils on their wrists when they want to relax.
14. TAKE CARE OF “LIFE” BEFORE YOUR WEDDING
Stress is a big reason why it’s hard to sleep well before your wedding.
While you can’t really eliminate the stress of actually having a wedding, you can try your best to get rid of any life-related stress before your wedding. What does this look like? Be proactive in the weeks leading up to your wedding. Pay your bills. Take care of paperwork. Cross annoying things off your to-do list. Make appointments. Do whatever you can to get random items off your list. Doing so will help your mind relax as you head towards your wedding day, and therefore help you sleep better.
15. START YOUR BETTER SLEEP REGIMEN LEADING UP TO THE WEDDING
I’m giving you a lot of tips in this post. You may be tempted to try a few of them out the night before your wedding. If so, may I suggest that you start them ahead of your wedding?
In the weeks leading up to your wedding, practice a better sleep regimen. Get used to it. Limit drinking, limit screen time, take a shower, and do all the things you want, but practice. Not only will practice help you see what works for you, but it will start to trigger that psychological response that you need to sleep. The more you practice, the better your body will become with the response.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Friends, I hope this post on how to sleep well before your wedding is helpful. Remember, if something on this list ends up working for you, you can continue it after your wedding. Sleep is one of the best ways we can take care of ourselves, the night before our wedding, and beyond. Happy wedding planning!
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