5 Ways to Reduce Stress while Planning your Wedding
It’s no secret that planning your wedding is a stressful time of life. I hope you can find these tips helpful in your planning process to reduce stress and to keep you excited about the day you get to marry the love of your life!
Keep a master to-do list with tasks broken down into small actions. Studies show that crossing things off of a list helps you to feel more productive, so those small steps towards your goal feel more satisfying! For example, instead of writing on your list “Order Invitations” and then “Send Invitations” consider making the list like this:
Invitations
Choose invite style
Design invitations
Place order for invitations
Create address spreadsheet for all guests while waiting for invitations to arrive
Purchase stamps
Address all response envelopes
Place stamps on response envelopes
Fill all invitation envelopes
Address all invitations envelopes
Seal and stamp each invitation
Mail invitations
While this may look more overwhelming at first, these small steps help you keep track of where you are in the process of each major task on your list. Being able to cross items off will help you see the progress you are making towards your goal with what would otherwise seem like small tasks.
Keep a journal of your feelings. When stress creeps in from family, pressure, or just life in general, writing down those feelings can help you process them in a healthy way. It sometimes helps to look back afterwards and see how you got through a tough situation and compare that to where you are.
Be sure to communicate your frustrations! Whether it be with your vendors, wedding party, or family members, clearing the air ahead of time may allow you to fully enjoy your wedding day when it comes around. Of course, every situation is unique and you know yourself best! If voicing your stress or concerns to your parents (for example) before your wedding day will raise more problems, try confiding in your closest friends, soon to be spouse, or a trusted vendor instead. If there is anything that can be done to help you through this process, I want to be of assistance and I’m sure your loved ones feel the same way. If you need help keeping certain family members distanced during the cocktail hour or you are having a problem figuring out some logistics for your wedding day, I would love to help you brainstorm a solution! And if you are frustrated that I am doing or not doing anything in you planning process, please let me know as soon as those feelings creep in!
Do what is best for you and your fiancé! This can be a hard one to hold onto. Especially if you have parents that like be involved. You are creating a life with this person that you love and, in many ways your wedding day is the start of your story together. It will the be the two of you together, navigating life 3 years from now and 30 years from now. Make time during the planning process to check in with one another and make sure that the direction of your wedding planning works for you both. If something comes up that is a source of stress, talk about it and make changes if need be. Don’t worry about if it is what is best for your future in-laws or your own siblings or if your opinionated aunt is going to say something. If you feel strongly that making certain decisions will help reduce stress on your wedding day, you are entitled to do that!
Date each other! Throughout your engagement and your marriage, it is so important to continue to show your spouse that you love them. While planing your wedding may seem like sign enough, dating your fiancé (and later spouse) can be a great way to remind him “I love you.” Wedding planning can easily begin to take over your relationship; be sure to prioritize one another every step of the way!
Bonus- I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you this, but eating well and exercise truly are surefire mood boosters! Wether it is making one good food choice every day to help you reach your goal of reducing stress (pack apples and nuts for your snacks or start every morning with a healthy breakfast) or getting out for a brisk 20-minute walk each day, these small acts really will help reduce stress in this stressful time of life!
