In the run-up to your wedding, you’ve been focusing on specific tasks – choosing a dress, booking the reception, styling your bridesmaids, posting invitations and dealing with RSVPs.

Ticking off items on your check-list is the way to ensure all goes smoothly on your Big day. But for many brides, fear can start to take over from excitement as the to-do list dwindles and the wedding date approaches.

Common fears include:

Being the centre of attention

Having a ‘wardrobe malfunction’

Stammering over the wedding vows

Bursting into tears

Tripping up as you walk down the aisle

When you’re unused to being the star of the show, it’s understandable that you’ll feel self-conscious, but there are ways to conquer your wedding terrors.

‘Fear and excitement are hard to distinguish between but fear is usually accompanied by a feeling of dread which is not something you want to feel on, or before, your wedding day,’ says Marisa Peer, author of Ultimate Confidence (£10.99, Little Brown).

Addressing your worries in advance is the best way to overcome them. Marisa advises, ‘Tell yourself you’re excited – not afraid – and when you start to feel anxious, put things in perspective by asking yourself, “How will this affect me 10 years from now?” That should remind you that you only want good memories from your wedding day, so it’s pointless wasting time on negative thoughts.’

Some worries you can easily address in advance:

If you’re planning to make a speech, write and practise it until you are happy with what you want to say.

Afraid you might trip up as you walk down the aisle? Take time to wear in your new wedding shoes so you are comfortable with the height of your heels, and score the soles so that they are less slippery.

Worried your dress won’t fit properly? Take your diet seriously – sign up to a free My Special K plan if you’re trying to lose weight before the Big day. Feeling happy with your shape gives you an instant bridal confidence boost.

More advice from Marisa: ‘If you’re still finding it hard, consciously change the images and words that come into your head when you’re thinking about your wedding. Swap every negative image or word for a positive. For example, if you’re worried what you’ll look like, picture yourself looking fantastic and chant the worlds, ‘lovely, radiant, happy,’ in your head like a mantra.’

On the day: If you’re worried about walking down the aisle, try one of these fail-safe techniques:

Focus and smile – if you fix your gaze on one point ahead of you and smile, telling yourself that you’re fine, you will be. Gazing around and making eye contact with all your guests will only unnerve you, so don’t do it.

Chat to your dad, or whoever is giving you away – when athletes are competing in an important competition or playing an important match, they often pretend it’s just a warm-up or they’re just playing their coach. Do the same; pretend you’re just taking a walk with your father.

Hum – no one will hear you, but humming along to your processional music or even a different song that you love will soon calm you. Our brains associate humming with positive, happy feelings so trick your brain into relaxing by doing something you only normally do when you’re relaxed.

Above all, remember to think positive: if you fill your head with positive thoughts, there will be no room for the negative to enter.

Feel positive by getting in shape for your wedding day: visit My My Special K for ideas and advice about making the most of your body.

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