I watch America’s Funniest Home Videos to see the animal and wedding clips. By the time the show is over, I am in hysterics over the videos – usually the video montage sections. In almost every wedding video montage is a clip of someone fainting at the altar. The truth is that no  matter how funny the videos are –  fainting at weddings is embarrassing and can actually be dangerous. So, what causes all of this fainting and why is it almost always at weddings?

 

Standing – The most common reason for fainting during weddings is that people tend to stand with their knees locked. When you lock your knees it cuts off blood flow from your lower limbs back to your heart. If the blood has trouble getting back up to your brain, you’re in danger of passing out. Keep your knees loose and shift your weight occasionally, especially if you start to feel some numbness.Fainting is one quick way for the body to get blood back to the heart and brain.

 

HEAT-  Another reason is the temperature of your surroundings.  Do they tend to have the heat turned up to blasting? Does the air-conditioning constantly break down? Find out if there will be a staff member on hand the day of your wedding so any adjustments can be made.

 

Dehydration – Heat and alcohol don’t make  standing upright for periods of time very easy. Have plenty of water ( and maybe some Gatorade) in the dressing area and limit your alcohol intake to one glass of champagne, for a pre-wedding toast! Also provide a light healthy snack for your attendants so that they can nibble on something tasty and easy to eat like bananas or nectarines to keep their electrolytes balanced.  No Red Bull or energy drinks, no espresso and limit the caffeine-  they may work short term but you don’t know when they will wear off and its not worth the risk.

 

Gown – Hard to believe that the gown of your dreams ould cause you to pass out. But, if you are packed into your wedding gown tighter than a holiday ham it could seriously  restrict your air passages. There is a reason that what we know as a chaise lounge used to be called a fainting sofa, women would pass out frequently from their corsets being too tight. Keep that in mind.

 

Last but not least, try not to worry about every single detail since anxiety and stress are a fainting spell waiting to happen.

 

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago