How to Avoid Wedding Week Burnout: Tips for South Asian Brides & Grooms
Written by: Disha Patel
If there’s one thing I wasn’t fully prepared for during my own wedding week, it was the pure exhaustion. South Asian weddings aren’t just one day—they’re a marathon of celebrations, early mornings, late nights, and lots of emotions. By day three, we were running on chai and adrenaline. If you’re a bride or groom prepping for your big week, here are my best real-world tips to avoid wedding week burnout and actually enjoy it all.
1. Build a Buffer Day Before the Festivities Begin
No, you don’t need to be running last-minute errands the day before your mehndi.
I planned a full day of nothing before our events started—and it saved me. No meetings, no decor checks, no fittings. Just me, my partner, and some deep breaths.
What to do on your buffer day:
• Hydrate and sleep
• Get a massage or facial
• Double-check your emergency kit & outfits
• Spend intentional time with your partner
✨ Tip: If you’re flying in from another city, try to arrive 2-3 days before events start to fully acclimate.
2. Lean on Your Team (Don’t Be the Logistics Person)
💡 Delegate, delegate, delegate.
The week of your wedding is NOT the time to be chasing down your decorator or confirming your baraat transport. I assigned specific people in my bridal party to handle vendor calls, guest questions, and setup coordination.
Delegate things like:
• Vendor arrival calls
• Transportation schedules
• DIY setup (welcome table, favors, etc.)
• Ceremony timeline management
✨ Tip: Hand over a finalized “run-of-show” document to your wedding party ahead of time so they know what’s happening without bothering you!
3. Pace Yourself Across Multi-Day Events
💡 South Asian weddings = multiple celebrations. Save your energy.
For our wedding, we spaced out events so we didn’t go from mehndi straight into a sangeet the next morning.
Energy-saving strategies:
• Shorter, more intimate pre-events: Keep the mehndi or haldi casual and low-key.
• Limit alcohol at early events: Save the party vibes for sangeet or reception night.
• Block off personal downtime: Between events, schedule 1-2 hour breaks where you can nap or decompress.
✨ Tip: Protect your mornings—don’t book hair/makeup earlier than needed!
4. Nourish Your Body (Even If You're Not Hungry)
💡 You’ll be busy, but you can’t run on empty.
I skipped breakfast one morning and crashed halfway through my ceremony—never again!
Simple habits that helped me:
• Start the day with water + electrolytes
• Pack granola bars, fruit, or trail mix in your bridal suite
• Make sure someone brings actual meals to your getting-ready space
• Sip herbal teas or coconut water between events
✨ Tip: Assign a bridesmaid/groomsman to check in with you about hydration & food.
5. Protect Your Mindset: Stay Present
💡 It’s easy to get swept up in the chaos—don’t let it steal your joy.
I found that small grounding rituals helped me actually enjoy the moment instead of just surviving it.
What worked for me:
• 5-minute morning meditation (before hair & makeup starts)
• Journaling a quick gratitude list during breakfast
• Taking 3 deep breaths before walking into each event
• Making time to look around the room and take it all in
✨ Tip: Share this intention with your partner so you both remind each other to slow down and stay present.
Your wedding week should feel like a celebration, not a survival mission. Trust me, slowing down and taking care of yourself will make every ritual, dance, and hug feel 10x more magical.
💡 Need vendors who help make your wedding week smooth instead of stressful? Check out Plan My Desi Wedding.
