Feeling overwhelmed? You’re not alone! Most brides-to-be experience moments of stress, anxiety, or turmoil while going through the wedding planning process.
On one hand, dealing with everything from difficult family issues to frustrating vendors is good training for marriage. You’ll handle much greater challenges in the years to come. On the other, this is supposed to be a happy time. Really and truly. Your wedding is an occasion to celebrate, and the preceding months shouldn’t be miserable.
When you’re feeling the strain, try these five things to lift your spirits and get back on track.
Set Boundaries
Is your stress coming from people? From simply planning a massive event? Are you struggling to make decisions? First off, set boundaries. Don’t let other people invade your emotional space or call you every single day with questions. Kindly but firmly take control of your timeline. Avoid planning the wedding every night, and do not let it consume all your free time. Unless you’re a born multitasker, it’s ok to take this one step at a time. Learn to let go of things that, in the grand scheme, don’t really matter.
Get Help
Many brides choose to hire a wedding coordinator. If you’d rather not or can’t afford it, learn to love delegating! Yes, this is your wedding, but that doesn’t mean you have to be responsible for everything. Appoint tasks to your mother, mother-in-law, maid of honor, siblings, and close friends. Ask your fiancée to take over challenges that you’re struggling with. You can still have the final say or weigh in on decisions without having to follow through on every little thing.
Move & Breathe
Top stress relievers are exercise and meditation. Stay active and take care of your body. Work out regularly, eat healthy foods, get enough sleep, and drink plenty of water. Avoid burnout by keeping in good physical shape, and rejuvenate your mind with meditation or calming music. Spend time in nature. Stop and think about the important things, and remember that your life will continue after the wedding. It is one day in your entire marriage.
Indulge Yourself
Sometimes, you just need chocolate. Or lots of ice cream. Or your favorite pizza. Not to say that your healthy diet/exercise regimen should get tossed out the window (in fact, junk foods can make stress hormones like cortisol worse), but an occasional night of guilty pleasure isn’t the worst thing in the world. Watch your favorite tv show or read something non-wedding related. Get your head in a good place, so you can jump back into the swing of things tomorrow.
Celebrate Your Partner
Keep in mind the whole point of this wedding is to celebrate your relationship. Marriage is a serious commitment, but that doesn’t mean you have to act serious every second of every day. Take time out and enjoy being in love. Have fun and laugh! Go on dates. Remember the wonderful things about your partner that made you want to get married, in the first place. Once you focus on what truly matters, you’ll find the other stuff just isn’t that big of a deal.
If you’re experiencing problems that go beyond the “regular” stresses of planning a wedding, identify the issues and figure out how to solve them. Pre-marital counseling could help. Or maybe a large wedding simply isn’t for you at all, and a more intimate ceremony (or elopement) is a better fit.
Want to learn more about how to manage pre-wedding stress? Check out these great resources:
http://www.veryerin.com/how-to-reduce-stress-while-wedding-planning/
