Without a doubt, one of the most exciting times in your life is when you are planning your wedding. Trust us; we know this better than anyone! The best part of our job is when we first meet a couple who are so in love and anxious for their wedding day. And, then it happens…the deadlines, the over-thinking, the nonstop “suggestions” from family and friends, the frantic flipping through bridal magazines, the stress and suddenly, the most exciting time in your life has turned into the craziest!
Whew. Let it out. BREATHE.
It doesn’t have to be that way. Trust us on this, too.
Here are 5 important tips for you and your fiancé in stay in great mental and physical shape while planning your wedding.
While you may be thinking about everything from the venue to the wedding favors, you can take comfort that you don’t have to make all the decisions at once. When we work with our brides, we establish a timeline for decisions to be made and set the pace for what will come next. Having a wedding planner to guide you, a list or organized wedding system will ease the mental strain of “What am I missing? What’s next?” Cross items off your list as the decisions are made then move on to the next task.
Take Time Out for Friends & Family
It’s very easy to get caught up in the details of your wedding. Many brides slip into the trap of “the wedding” consuming all of their conversations until weeks go by and they realize they’ve talked about nothing else… with anyone.
The great risk of falling into the wedding whirlwind is it will cease to be fun and begin to feel more like a task. Staying involved in all the activities and friendships that bring happiness to your life will keep you mentally grounded.
Schedule Wedding Meetings
In order to avoid the pitfall of wedding planning dominating your every thought and conversation, a few brides told us they set up specific days and times to discuss the wedding with their fiancé and family. It was off-limits to talk about it any other time. Not only did this balance all aspects of their life, but it helped them to know that they didn’t need to think about making another decision until the next meeting time.
Extend the scheduled meeting times to yourself, as well. If you love to look through wedding sites and magazines, give yourself two days out of the week to indulge so, you don’t become obsessive. Yes, we know…
Exercise Does the Body, Mind and Soul Good!
If you and your fiancé both want to lose weight before the wedding, choose a diet and exercise plan that works with your schedule. Set realistic goals within the time frame of your wedding or you will end up adding a layer of stress instead of decreasing it! Not only will you and your fiancé look great on your big day, but working together towards a common goal is a great relationship building experience.
Whether you have a goal to lose weight or not, exercise is still a great way to take control of the pre-wedding stress. Being active can boost your happy endorphins and distract you from your concerns.
Realize You Are Planning a Wedding AND Getting Married
While there are many decisions to make and conversations to be had about the wedding, nothing is more important during your engagement than discussing life after the wedding. Don’t lose site of the most important part of the wedding process – the marriage itself. We highly recommend and give all of our couples, the book The Conscious Bride by Sheryl Paul. It is an excellent resource for preparing couples for the emotional changes that take place as you plan your wedding.
Remember, we are always here to help!
