When I got engaged back at the beginning of 2019, I could not wait for the wedding planning to begin. I remember watching so many movies and television shows where the bride-to-be would be so ecstatic during the entire process and seemed to not have a care in the world. Everything always turned out perfect in the end. So when this point in my life arrived, I assumed I would have the same experience.
Little did I know that my anxiety would ruin a lot of the "fun" I was supposed to be having planning my wedding.
Wedding planning is super stressful. If you dreamed about your wedding since you were a little girl like I did, you have this certain vision in your head of how the day is presumed to go. Everything needed to be flawless, which in turn, put a lot of unnecessary pressure on me. I was working out 6 days a week because I felt like my body wasn't good enough, I was worried my bridesmaids hated the color of the dresses I picked for them or nervous that they would not all get along. I even panicked about the decorations because I was afraid they weren't romantic/rustic enough for the theme!
I admit I may have cried more than smiled during the whole fiasco. It was so bad that at one point, I had to go to the doctor because I was getting these burning sensations in my body whenever I was overwhelmed. My body was telling me that I needed to slow down.
Once my wedding day finally arrived, I think that was the most calm I ever felt through the whole process. Just like the movies and television shows I watched, the day turned out perfect. In my eyes, nothing went wrong. I was not thinking about the flowers, the decorations, the bridesmaid dresses, or how I looked in my gown. All I could think about that day was how much I loved Cody and how I got to finally call him my husband. It was about me, him, and our love for one another. That's it.
For all of you who have yet to walk down the aisle, this is my chance to share with you a few pre-wedding tips:
Take time for yourself
Make sure you schedule some time for yourself each week to unwind. Schedule a facial or listen to your favorite podcast while going for a walk.
2. Meditate
Meditation has proven to reduce stress and anxiety levels in the body. I know it can be difficult to do at first, but once you get the hang of it, it will change your life for the better! Some of my favorite meditation apps are Headspace and Calm.
3. Get some sleep!
Looking back, leading up to the wedding I probably got at most 4 hours of sleep a night. Not good. Now more than ever you need to get your daily dose of 7-8 hours of sleep. Don't stay up binging your favorite show till midnight. Trust me, you'll regret it. If you have difficulty sleeping, I suggest taking melatonin or magnesium (many of us are deficient in this vitamin, I would speak with your doctor to check your levels before you try this method). If you've been meaning to upgrade your pillow, now is the time to do it!
4. Exercise
As I mentioned, pre-wedding, I worked out 6 days a week. I loved working out but then started to hate it because of how much pressure I was putting on myself. Let me tell you. You're going to look beautiful that day, trust me. No one will notice if you didn't lose that final 5 pounds. However, exercise does give off endorphins that give off a euphoric effect. Try working out every other day. You can start small with a 30-minute walk and then gradually work your way to jogging. My favorite app to get you acclimated to running is Couch to 5k.
5. Eating habits
When you're stressed, I know how tempting it can be to grab that donut in the morning instead of some oatmeal, but your body will thank you for it. Eating highly processed foods will make you feel sluggish and completely zap all the energy you have. Try to eat as many fruits and vegetables as you can. For a snack, I like eating carrots and hummus. For dinner, I loved making fish in my air fryer. If you would like the recipe, let me know. It's delicious!
*Credit to PrettyPearBride.com for helping me guide my thoughts!
If you have any wedding questions, I'm happy to assist! Drop me a comment below.
Comentários