Let’s be real. While weddings are joyful events, planning and executing them can be stressful. It’s normal to feel a little frazzled (or a lot frazzled), and if you do, you’re not alone! Today’s blog will focus on wedding self-care ideas for you and yours!

During Wedding Planning

• Be prepared: Getting organized can help a lot. Check out our wedding planning guide and wedding checklist to get you started.
• Set realistic goals: One of the best ways to combat stress is to practice realistic goal-setting! Break bigger goals up into smaller pieces of achievable tasks, then complete them one by one as you build on the bigger goal. Consider the SMART approach – setting specific, measurable, assignable, realistic, and timed goals.
• Be wary of procrastination: We all have an internal procrastinator, and kicking something down the road every once in a while is normal! But completing a looming task (like by setting deadlines or having accountability buddies!) can help you feel accomplished, motivated, and less stressed. Try it right now – pick anything on any list, wedding or not, complete it, and feel the pressure lift!
• Ask for help! You definitely don’t have to do it all on your own. Ask the help of your partner, best friend(s), or a helpful family member, or consider hiring a professional coordinator.
• Get enough sleep: Sleep and stress are – you guessed it – directly related. Stress can disrupt sleep and lack of sleep can exacerbate stress. Ugh. Getting enough sleep and improving your sleep hygiene can be a big help!
• Exercise is a stress-buster: Exercise helps moderate stress-levels! This doesn’t mean you have to spend two hours at the gym or become a marathon runner. Consider working on exercise you already enjoy – maybe a brisk walk after dinner or a session of in-home yoga.
• Consider mindful practices: Practices that increase mindfulness, like meditation, can assist in moderating stress. You can start small or try guided meditations, and can do them almost anywhere!
• Other great stress-busting ideas: Hanging out with friends, venting to a trusted confidante, getting a massage, walking in nature, snuggling your pets, and cuddling with the love of your life – just to name a few 🙂

On Your Wedding Day

Wedding self-care isn’t only about the planning process! Self-care is important on your wedding day too.

• Bachelor/Bachelorette Parties: We know it’s tradition to party the night before your wedding. We’re not here to rain on your parade, but maybe consider planning your party two nights before or even earlier to allow you and your favorite people time to recover!
• Sleep: The night before, it might not be easy if you’re in a different bed, with different people, or just plain super excited! Try enhancing what sleep you do get by planning a reasonable bedtime, listening to relaxing music or nature sounds, doing guided sleep relaxations, using tools like earplugs or eye masks, or whatever helps you sleep!
• Morning-of: Consider going for a quick walk or jog, doing some yoga, or meditation to help you relax the morning of your big day.
• Plan breaks: Plan in breaks and buffer time in your day-of wedding timeline – that way you don’t feel rushed or cramped for time.
• Stay hydrated: Sip that water! Avoiding sugary drinks or tons of caffeine and alcohol before the party can help keep you hydrated. If you are popping the champagne early, cheers! Just remember to keep a water bottle handy 🙂
• Keep fed: You might be so busy and excited you forget to eat or don’t have much of an appetite. Make sure to keep some snacks available so you can avoid low blood sugar and the hangries! You can even designate a friend or family member to remind you to get those delicious noms in during the fun.
• Meeting specific needs: Pack a day-of bag with all the supplies you might need. Consider your own personal needs too – favorite food? Stress-relief fidget toy? Medication? Make sure it’s packed!

At the end of the night, you probably won’t be thinking about the stress you vanquished. So give yourself a pat on the back right now – wedding planning is a big task with one of the greatest rewards!

We hope this blog was helpful to you! Feel free to comment below with your own stress and self-care techniques – we’d love to hear from you 🙂