Avoiding Wedding Stress
Article by: Aubrey Hanson
When I was in high school babysat at a wedding for a family friend with some other girls my age. The wedding was large so people were running everywhere working to get every detail in order before the service. As everyone was getting seated the bride walked by. She was seconds away from the ceremony and her big moment. Instead of being rushed and hurried she stopped. She called each of us by name and told us how much of a help it was to her guests to have us watching the kids during the wedding. She was a picture of poise and class to me at that moment. It wasn’t because of her gorgeous dress or perfect bridal makeup, but because she seemed to be solid and at peace. That peaceful state of mind allowed her to be elegant and not simply beautiful.
While there are many things in your wedding to prepare for, planning ways to deal with the inevitable stress can be just as important as your cake’s icing flavor. Here are some stress relieving tips to help you be a poised and perfect bride.
1) Plan for rest.
You’re a human not a robot, and despite that inconvenience, humans need rest. Make sure you have some gap time between your preparations, so you won’t be completely drained of energy before the wedding even begins. Having some strategically placed wiggle room can even help if something runs longer than you expect.
2) Breathe.
Deep breathing techniques can help you lower your heart rate and relax the muscles throughout your body. You can do this by taking a few deep breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth. It can even help to mentally count each one if you find your mind wandering back to wedding details.
3) Grab a snack.
When you’re hungry your blood sugar drops and you’re much more prone to symptoms of anxiety. Your body is scared that you’re starving, and it sends signals to your brain to freak out. It’s easy to forget to eat on your wedding day and it’s also surprisingly difficult to find time to eat during the reception. Be sure to take the time before the ceremony to get something to eat. You’ll be a lot less anxious and you can enjoy the wedding and the time with your guests instead of daydreaming about the food (and cake) you’ve been looking forward to eating.
4) Get some perspective.
This one is by far the most important. It is so easy to get caught up in trying to make every detail the way you want it and to worry when something is not ideal. This is especially true if you’re a perfectionist. When you find yourself starting to worry about something, take a second to get perspective on it all.
When issues come up ask yourself, “Will my guests notice this?” or “Will I remember this problem a year from now?”. Most of the time the answer to either question will be “No”.
It is also helpful to remember that even if the cake falls over, the flower girl trips, or the best man makes the most cringe-worthy toast, at the end of the day you will still be married and off to start a new chapter of your life with your lucky husband. Also, remember that your peace of mind is worth more than accomplishing perfection.
On your wedding day, stressful situations are practically unavoidable. Simply planning a few ways to deal with stress, whether it’s these ideas or some of your own can make a huge difference in how you respond to issues. Keeping your composure in the midst of difficulty is a special kind of beauty. Everyone involved in your wedding will appreciate and admire you for it and you’ll enjoy the day so much more too!