Ensuring a Stress-free Walk Down the Aisle

Most people will always remember their wedding day. Not only that, but your wedding day is something that generations of your family will pass down — whether it’s through government records, newspaper clippings, or family photos. It should be special, unique, and memorable. It should be a day of joy and love: a day your family and friends can come together to celebrate the future of the happy couple in front of them.

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It can, however, be overwhelming to ensure everything goes perfectly on the day of your wedding. There are so many decisions that will need to be made before the big day — from choosing the perfect venue to selecting the right flowers. If you have a big wedding, you also have to worry about accommodating a large guest list as well. To circumvent this stress, many couples have been opting for eloping or hosting a micro-wedding. However, there are ways to reduce wedding planning stress — whether you have a big or small wedding — that will ensure a stress-free walk down the aisle.

1. Watch What You Eat

When many people are stressed, they crave sugar, dopamine-inducing foods, and carbohydrates. It is said that sugar turns down the response to stress in the brain. However, added sugar can make anxiety much worse, which can be a real nightmare if you are planning a wedding, which is already a stressful activity that produces anxiety.

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Avoid these foods and drinks known to cause stress:

• Desserts and candy: Cakes, cookies, pies, and cookies have a ton of added sugar and they can cause your blood sugar to rise and crash quickly.
• Soda and other sugary drinks: Despite being a drink, sodas can have as much, if not more sugar than certain sugary drinks. As mentioned this can raise your blood sugar, which can increase anxiety.
• Gluten: Recent studies have suggested that consuming gluten — proteins that are found in cereal grains — may lead to mood disorders in some people.
• Alcohol: It may seem like a drink could calm your nerves. However, alcohol can mess up your serotonin levels as well as negatively affect sleep and hydration.

Instead, you may want to opt for fresh fruits and vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains because they can help to prevent mood swings by stabilizing blood sugar. This kind of diet can also help promote a healthy gut microbiome, which has been linked to improved mental health outcomes.

2. Lower Your Work Stress

Work is always stressful. However, if you also have the stress of planning a wedding, it may become too much to manage. In this instance, you need to find ways to lower your stress at work, including:

• Be comfortable with more comfortable work clothes, or work from home one to two times a week.
• Utilize lists and agendas to make sure you aren’t trying to do too much.
• Take regular breaks to walk around and clear your mind or simply just to stretch your legs.
• Work on your communication with co-workers and supervisors to avoid conflict.

Managing stress at work is always important. However, it’s especially important when you are also doing something with the potential to cause a lot of stress, like planning a wedding.

3. Get Enough Sleep

Lack of sleep can make you feel more irritable, anxious, and stressed out. Make sure you get enough sleep each night to help you feel rested and refreshed. This can also help you focus on your wedding planning tasks and make better decisions. Here are a few suggestions that will help you get better sleep:

• Only use your bed for sleep. When you get into your bed, it will send a signal to your brain that it’s time to sleep.
• Do something relaxing before bed like reading, taking a bath, or listening to soothing music.
• For an hour or two before bed, avoid phones, tablets, computers, or other screens. The blue light can mess with your circadian rhythm, causing you to stay up late.

Source: www.psychologytoday.com

4. Make Time for Self-care

You may think you have to spend every waking moment dedicated to wedding planning outside of your working hours, but doing so will only make the task harder, and will eventually take a toll on your mind and body. Instead, find ways to relax your mind and body through self-care. Most of the time, this means making self-care habitual, but when you’re planning a wedding, this can be difficult. However, even finding 15 minutes to fit in a small breathing, meditation, or yoga routine can do wonders for your mental health. The more you prioritize your mind and body in this way,  the more you’ll be more energized to tackle some of the mentally draining aspects of a wedding-planning day.

5. Hire a Wedding Planner

If you’re still feeling overwhelmed by wedding planning stress, consider hiring a wedding planner. A professional wedding planner can help you navigate the planning process and take care of all the details — from hiring a band to finding the right caterers to planning the decorations. This can help reduce stress and ensure that your wedding day runs smoothly.

6. Plan a Stress-free Honeymoon

Your wedding-planning stress can go into overdrive if you are obsessing over creating the perfect honeymoon. However, your honeymoon should be a time to unwind and relax after the big day. It should be a time you and your new spouse can really connect.

Plan a stress-free honeymoon that allows you to enjoy each other’s company. Try to disconnect from technology: put up your phones or computers. Tell your jobs, families, and friends you will be unavailable. Choose a destination that is beautiful and serene, such as an exotic beach or a secluded cabin in the mountains.

Wedding planning stress is a common experience for both grooms and brides. However, by taking steps to care for your mind and body, you can reduce stress levels and ensure a stress-free walk down the aisle.