The months leading up to your wedding are some of the most exciting times of your life! From being on cloud nine after the proposal to looking at venues hand-in-hand with your partner to everything in between, wedding planning is certainly a magic moment in time!
Unfortunately, with that excitement often comes a lot of stress triggered by everything that needs to be done. Plus, with society’s high expectations of an Insta-worthy wedding, it’s hard not to compare your wedding with all the ones you see on social media.
No matter what, every bride deserves to feel her absolute happiest, healthiest, and most confident on her wedding day and in the months leading up to it. Below, we’ve compiled some tips to help you radiate natural beauty and happiness as you walk down the aisle!
Get organized and plan ahead
Every bride is different. Some find their dress within weeks of getting engaged, others wait a couple of years after popping the question before they even set a date. No matter which type of bride you are, starting your planning as early as possible will save you from all sorts of stress. Even if you don’t have a date set quite yet, you can always get a head start on your guest list and reach out to third-party vendors to get an idea of pricing so you can calculate how much you should begin budgeting and saving.
Though planning ahead is great, staying organized is key. If you’re a bride that likes planners and notebooks, keeping a wedding binder may be what works best for you! Or, if you’re the type of bride that uses her phone’s calendar and reminders to keep her life together, consider setting up a Google Drive folder for all of your wedding planning. The plus side with keeping all of your wedding planning in your Google Drive is that it is easily shareable with your fiance, maid of honor, and other key players in your wedding planning.
Don’t fall for extreme diets or workout plans
Along with Pinterest-perfect wedding venues and decorations comes the unrealistic notion that you have to be a size two before saying “I do.” After getting engaged, many brides rush to start crash diets with lots of cardio out of shame and embarrassment of their own bodies instead of realizing that self-love, fun fitness, and flexible but sustainable nutrition is an option.
Despite what society has led you to believe about your physical appearance, there is no need to start doing cardio until you pass out, starve yourself, or get on the scale every day. Feeling beautiful on your wedding day starts with being intentional with your thoughts instead of letting subconscious voices control your attitude and how you view yourself.
However, there is nothing wrong with using your upcoming wedding as motivation to adopt a healthy new lifestyle that will be sustainable long after your big day. You’re committing yourself to someone for a lifetime, after all, and could potentially be starting a family soon if you choose to, so you’ll want to be as healthy as you can for them. If you’re interested in leading a healthier life, start by following a guided nutrition plan that allows flexibility and provides the support of a community so you don’t have to feel like you’re starting this new way of life on your own. Be open and honest with your soon-to-be-spouse about your fears, goals, successes, and setbacks on this journey. The extra love and support will encourage you to keep going until you make these healthy changes a daily habit. You may even inspire them to join you on this journey towards a healthier, happier life!
Take breaks
Trying to balance work and life while planning the biggest party of your life is a delicate dance. It’s tempting to want to spend every free moment crossing off to-do list items, responding to emails, or scrolling Pinterest for ideas, but it’s important to be conscious of when you need to step away and relax — even if only for a couple of hours. The last thing you want is to feel burnt out on your wedding day or any of the events that lead up to it. Go for a long walk, book a massage, read, binge a series, or simply take a nap!
One of the best things you can do for yourself is to make sleep a priority. Getting a full night’s rest will not only keep you alert, motivated, and positive, but it will also help you feel better physically by lowering stress, clarifying skin, and reducing bloat and inflammation. Consider taking a melatonin vitamin a half hour before you’d like to go to bed if the added stress of wedding planning is making it difficult for you to fall asleep.
Ask for help
Sometimes it truly feels like there are some tasks that are just easier to tackle on your own. You have a specific plan and vision for your wedding day, and you’re excited to see those dreams manifest. But, as the old adage goes, it is okay to ask for help when you’re overwhelmed.
Consider delegating small tasks to your parents and bridesmaids, like packaging all the favors, packing the emergency bridal kit, planning the rehearsal dinner, picking up dry cleaning, or sending out inquiry emails to your favorite vendors.
Be flexible
Sometimes, your vision won’t play out exactly as you imagined while wedding planning. With so many vendors, decorations, and moving parts, you are bound to encounter roadblocks in one way or another. No matter what happens, it is important to remember that the willingness to be flexible and remain positive will be the determining factor between whether or not you enjoy your wedding day as a glowing, happy bride.
Finding gratitude for the things you do have will help to keep you grounded through the rollercoaster of wedding planning. Throughout the process, don’t forget to keep your eyes on the prize (your soon-to-be-spouse) and remember your why. At the end of the day, you’re planning a wedding to celebrate the beautiful love you’ve found in your partner and to share that celebration with all your closest friends and family. The rest is just a bonus!
Take care of yourself
You are absolutely beautiful and worthy of feeling like a confident, happy bride exactly as you are in this moment — don’t you convince yourself otherwise! A little intentional self-care, however, will only help you fill your cup and build your confidence because we all feel a little better when we make the effort to really pamper and take care of ourselves. You (yes, you) deserve it!
Self-care is about relishing in the positive feelings that come from truly taking care of yourself. You can do things like get your hair cut and colored, schedule regular manicures and pedicures, maintain your waxings, book a massage, or even get your teeth whitened. Other acts of self-care can be as normal and routine as flossing every night, washing your face before you go to bed, taking vitamins that support healthy hair, skin, and nails, and using a quality SPF on your face before you walk out the door.
In the months leading up to your wedding, think about your current self-care routine and ask yourself what you can change or add to truly feel your best on the inside and out. That way when the day comes, you’ll be the healthiest, happiest bride you could possibly be!