Wedding Stress-Saving Tips

Planning the perfect wedding can be a stressful time for even the most cool-as-a-cucumber bride. Between seating arrangements, guest lists, bridesmaid attire, color theme decisions, and finding THE dress, sometimes you can forget to take a moment to breathe!  You deserve a "Wedding Time Out"; a period of time where you don't even crack that planning folder or worry about a single detail of your big day.  After all, you should pat yourself on the back- you have already finalized the best decision of the day by picking your perfect groom!

Here are a few suggestions for your "Wedding Time Out" that will help restore peace of mind during this busy time:

Take up yoga



After just one class, expect to feel less stressed and more relaxed. Some yoga styles enable meditation to quiet the constant "mind chatter" that often can cause stress. Other yoga styles depend on deep breathing techniques to focus the mind on the breath. When this happens, the mind calms.  If you're trying to hold a difficult pose and center your breathing, it's a safe bet to say you're not going to worry about any issues with seating Aunt Gertrude next to Aunt Esther!!!

Have a Girls' Night Out



Sometimes the best way to de-stress is to LAUGH!  Grab a group of girlfriends and plan a night where you can share laughs and take a break from all of the planning.  Inviting bridesmaids is fine, but remember, all wedding talk is OFF LIMITS! :)  And remember, if getting dressed to the nines and going to a swanky club isn't your thing, there are plenty of other fun ways to unwind with your ladies.

Some ideas include:

• Dinner at your favorite restaurant
• Trying a new wine or cocktail lounge in your area
• Catching that "Chick Flick" you've been dying to see
• Taking a painting class together (especially the ones that involve a glass of wine!)
• Having a grown up "pajama party": invite your friends over in their sweats to lounge around, eat dessert, and catch up on girl talk
• Host a "favorite" gift exchange: have each guest bring 5 of something they are loving at the moment (you can set the price limit beforehand), draw numbers, and each get a chance to pick 5 other gifts to bring home!  Some ideas for gifts: bottles of wine, Starbucks gift cards, favorite nail polish, hair accessories, note cards, etc.  The sky's the limit!!!

Indulge in a Spa Day

Whether you crave a good facial, a fantastic pedicure, or even a full massage it's always good to take a time out and spoil yourself!  Wedding day preparation does NOT count- this is just a random day to sit back, relax, and feel the stress melt away.  Reader tip: if you're a pedicure girl like me, OPI's "Cajun Shrimp" is a surefire bet to make you smile!

Take Time to Reconnect

I hear from grooms time and time again how they feel like they "lose" their fiancee to wedding planning!  Spend some time one on one without a single mention of your big day... a simple picnic, spontaneous day trip, watching a sunset, going to a movie, or even just a night of dinner and TV at home where you don't log into Pinterest!  

Double Date FUN

Grab another couple and go out and do something FUN like a night of bowling, a hilarious game night, try a cooking class, or a show or concert is a great way to lighten the mood and take your mind off of the big day.  Not only are you spending time with your guy, but also making time for friends you may not otherwise during your busy planning!

I hope that you've been able to think of a few fun ways to take your "Wedding Time Out" to reduce some of your stress, laugh, and remember that you're marrying the man of your dreams!