When you’re in the process of planning your wedding, you may notice that while you are feeling happy, you are also feeling stressed. So of course you are also adding “relieve wedding stress” to your to-do list.
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Wait, what? Happy AND stressed? How is that possible? You are getting married to the love of your life, which is the root of your happiness. Don’t be alarmed if you find yourself asking “How can I feel stress when this is a special time?” Guess what – you have the wedding jitters! (And I don’t mean that you are second guessing whether or not to get married, or that you’re getting cold feet. Not at all).
This type of wedding jitters is not unusual, and is a normal reaction. With all of the details and decisions you are making (and still need to make), it is understandable that you are also feeling stress.
To relieve your stress or at least manage it, it’s very important that you do the following: Determine the cause of the stress, then find a way to combat it.
Top 4 Wedding Stress Causes and Ways to Relieve Wedding Stress
1. Money Worries
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It’s no secret that weddings cost a lot. And your wedding is quite likely to be the largest expense that you have had in your life thus far. So, of course you’re going to have concerns about money, either in the form of “where are we going to get all the money to pay for this?” and “it’s costing how much?”.
What to do about it:
If money issues are causing you stress, take the time as a couple to determine and reaffirm your top wedding priorities. Sit down with your partner and review the items of most importance to both of you.
Make a list of all the things that you will have in your wedding – the music, the cake, the flowers, and rank them by order of importance. Have your partner do the same. Then look at both lists and note the top 3-5 items on each list. These are the items that are most important to both of you, and on which you are less likely to want to compromise.
Now review and adjust your budget. You “borrow” from items of low priority to keep your budget in balance. For example, if you have your heart set on a particular gown but flowers are low on the list, you can help pay for your gown by saving money on flowers.
2. Friends/Family Causing Issues
Friends and family members want the best for you. They have their thoughts and opinions on how they think a wedding should be. That’s okay. But when they start offering up unsolicited advice, and telling you what you “have” to do, or talking negatively about the wedding choices you have made or are considering, then that’s not okay. And it is causing undue stress on you and your partner.
What to do about it:
If the stress you feel is coming from family – yours or his or both, be clear about the source and then deal with it. Be honest about your feelings. Talk out the issues with your parents, friends, and whoever else is involved. Be gracious but firm about expressing your views and concerns. Do not “stuff” the feelings or try to ignore them, or you may end up hurting the relationship you have with that person.
3. Overwhelmed By Everything You Need To-Do
There’s a lot involved when planning a wedding. You’ve got so much to decide – from the venue, to the food, to entertainment, to decorations, to beverages, to beverages, to who it invite . . .and that’s just scratching the surface.
What to do about it:
There are two things to do to relieve wedding stress caused by that seemingly unending wedding planning to-do list.
1) Share the responsibilities. Hire a wedding planner, enlist your groom, ask parents to take over specific jobs. If friends or family members offer help, take them up on it.
2) Set up an organizational system. Get yourself a wedding planning book and be faithful about entering plans as they are made. Be aware of workable schedules that are suggested.
4. Health Issues/Lack of Sleep
When you take on a task as large as planning your wedding, it can be too easy to let your health and self-care slip. You’re eating a lot of fast food because there’s “no time to stop to eat a healthy meal.” You find you’re not sleeping well because of all the wedding stuff on your mind.
What to do about it:
Get enough sleep, take care of your health, and eat well. Well, yeah, but how???
Sign up for a sleep app, and use it every night. There are a lot to choose from, including Sleep Easy, Headspace, and Calm. I personally use Headspace.*
*(I am not affiliated with any of these apps, nor do I receive any type of commission from them).
Get a gym membership and use it, even a couple times a week, and exercise away the stress. Exercise is a proven method to release endorphins, the brain’s feel-good neurotransmitters, as well as increasing levels of serotonin and dopamine.
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Eating well is easier than it seems. There are tons of recipes that require just a few fresh ingredients and many take only 15-20 minutes to prepare.
Feeling wedding stress is normal. Thankfully finding a way to relieve wedding stress doesn’t have to be difficult. When it all seems too much, go in and talk with your wedding planner/coordinator. They can help you put it all in perspective and remind you of what is really important in this wedding you are planning. Don’t have a planner? Many offer hourly consultations, which may be just what you need.
Hearts, Joy, Love!
Jean
Author of “Wedding Invitations, RSVPs, and More! Oh My!” and “From ‘I Will’ to ‘I Do’”
Have questions about your wedding plans? Contact me today at [email protected] or by phone or text at 937-581-3647!
