Editor’s Note: This article was written by Susan Moran, President and Owner of That’s It! Wedding Concepts, a Central Pennsylvania–based wedding planning and design company. Susan brings more than 40 years of experience to the wedding industry and I am honored to welcome her as a Firefly Brides guest writer, sharing expert insight for couples planning weddings throughout Central PA and beyond.
Let the excitement begin! You’re engaged and the date is set for your wedding, your “Best Day Ever!” Total bliss… right? Yet suddenly, everyone is asking you how stressed you are.
Whaaat?
Let’s take a good look at this. In today’s internet- and tech-driven world, sadly, “bride” and “stress” have become synonymous, and nothing should be further from the truth. With a thoughtful reset, I can help you put stress in its oh-so-proper place: GONE!
Try approaching this once-in-a-lifetime moment from three perspectives: managing wedding-planning details, dealing with key relationships, and nurturing yourself.
Managing the Planning Process
Take an assessment of your support team and the role you want them to play throughout the planning process. If you prefer professional assistance, hire a wedding designer-planner, like TIWC, to guide you and be your advocate from start to finish.
Embrace delegating. Trust those who are by your side and allow them to soar.
With anything and everything regarding the many decisions you’ll be making for your wedding, always, always, always trust your gut feeling. Whether it’s hiring and securing your venue and vendor team, selecting your color palette, or choosing your wedding gown (the list goes on), listen carefully to what your intuition is telling you and go with it.
Navigating Relationships
In all weddings, interaction with those closest to you is an enormously important component.
First and foremost is staying connected with your fiancé. With all the hubbub and momentum afoot, take time for date nights and continue to share quality time with one another. Enjoy going through the planning process together. After all, your wedding is about both of you.
With family and friends, emotions can and do run high. Sometimes they even overflow. Be aware that the people in your inner circle have a unique emotional stake in your wedding, and this is often at the heart of issues or conflicts that arise.
Focusing on two things will be invaluable:
- Keep your expectations of everyone realistic. Sometimes even lowering expectations is necessary.
- Realize that most often, people are doing their best, even if it doesn't always seem that way.
Regardless, remember this: no one and nothing has the right to steal your joy. Ever.
Nurturing YOU
Now on to you.
Remain in touch with yourself. Allowing yourself to fully feel all of your feelings is a powerful way to gauge what’s going on inside. Honor and acknowledge all your emotions. They are what make you beautifully human.
As needed, detach and indulge in pampering yourself. Spa treatments, meditation, yoga, aromatherapy, retail therapy, a leisurely bubble bath, or reading a good book—whatever makes you feel centered, content, and confident.
Be present every step of the way and enjoy the journey. As it approaches, look at your wedding day as the beginning of a new and wonderful chapter. It truly will be the first day of the rest of your life.
Take time to savor each and every priceless and precious, sweet and special moment. Enjoy watching all the unique and exquisite details come together for your wedding vision. Find joy in the faces of the special people in your life, and look ahead to seeing the smile on your groom’s face as you walk down the aisle toward him.
Celebrate the incredible YOU that you are.
Stress? What stress?! You’ve got this!
A Quick Recep for Your Convenience
Physical
- Get plenty of good sleep
- Stay hydrated
- Eat a nourishing, well-balanced diet
- Avoid new prescription medications
- Avoid new cosmetics and skincare treatments
Emotional
- Stay in touch with yourself
- Stay in touch with each other
- Keep things in a positive perspective. There is always an answer to every question and a solution to every problem
- Give yourself grace and kindness. This is an emotional journey
- Give others grace and kindness. Even when they're irritating, they are likely doing their best.
- Focus on the fact that you found each other and that you are marrying your best friend
- Surround yourself with those you love and those who love you
The Two Biggies
- Always honor and listen to you guy feeling
- No one, nobody, and nothing anyone does or says has the privilege of stealing your JOY
Want even more wedding planning tips? Don't miss all of Susan Moran's expert advice on the blog!
