5 Tips for a Stress-Less Wedding

I have been a writer for as long as my memory serves me. I’ve always found it rather difficult to audibly express thoughts and emotions, so I write. Having been diagnosed with anxiety and depression at an early age, it has served as one of many coping mechanisms that have carried me through life in some of the most stressful times I’ve needed it most. For some, the upcoming wedding season may be just that.

From dresses to design, menus to invitations, unsolicited advice, planners and parents and long-distant cousins expecting a spot in your budget, wedding planning can quickly go from excitement to dread. 

According to the National Association of Mental Illness (NAMI), 1 in 5 adults will experience some form of mental health struggle. Despite the rising prevalence of mental illness in society, particularly over the last couple of years thanks to the stress of the global COVID-19 pandemic, we are only recently reaching a point where it is becoming far less taboo to openly discuss. Wedding planning has a notorious reputation as a cause of significant stress on couples and their families. Willing to be open with your future spouse about your mental health is crucial for not only your overall well-being, but a healthy relationship and marriage is built on a solid foundation of trust and honesty.

Caring for your mental health while wedding planning is an important step towards relieving yourself of successfully beginning your new life together, and so I’d like to share five tips to help you maneuver any obstacles on your way down the aisle:

Prioritize

Living in the Age of Social Media, we are constantly inundated with the perceived best, newest, and hottest trends from fashion to food, and weddings are no exception. Type “wedding ideas” into the Pinterest search tab, and thousands of pretty pictures will pop up reflecting your perfect fairy tale nuptials. Unless you were born with the purse strings of a Kardashian, chances are you won’t be able to afford every last dreamy detail. Start by making a list and figuring out what’s most important to you on your wedding day (aside from getting hitched to your best friend, of course). When you look back in 10 years, what are you going to care about most? If it doesn’t bring you peace of mind, leave it behind. 

Meditate

Okay, you don’t have to actually meditate, but find an activity or something else that helps you re-center, focus, and relax. It could be a special Spotify playlist, a walk in the park, re-reading a favorite comfort book, taking a bubble bath or a cool shower, or simply doing absolutely nothing in a hammock. According to Walden University, even just 30 minutes of moderate exercise has been shown to reduce stress and aid in better sleep, which in turn helps reduce depression and anxiety. Find what fits to release those endorphins. 

Hydrate

I know you’re probably sick of hearing it, but you need to drink more water! No, coffee and soda do not count. Repeat after me: w-a-t-e-r, otherwise known as H2O. According to Active.com, dehydration leads to higher levels of cortisol (the stress hormone). Staying well hydrated reduces those cortisol levels (along with bloating), thus allowing you to more calmly tackle your mother’s insistence on roses over orchids for the 3rd time this week. 

Declutter

Get ready to make like Marie Kondo and de-clutter: your mind, your home, your social circle if need be. Put away that laundry you’ve been staring at for 3 weeks, throw away the junk mail that’s been piling up on the counter, and for the love of God, clean out the fridge of those leftovers that have been growing a science experiment for the last month. You know what I’m talking about. Unsupportive friends raining on your wedding planning ideas? Debbie downer throwing a fit you’ve opted for a child-free event? Bye, Felicia – you don’t have time for any of that mess. Decluttering your life will quite literally bring you more peace of mind. 

Set Boundaries

This one is probably the most difficult to put into action. Setting boundaries in any way – with our friends, family, coworkers, even ourselves – is much easier said than done, but it’s an absolute must for a stress-less wedding (and life). Remember, this is you and your partner’s wedding. Yes, your family is important, and there is nothing wrong with wanting their opinions and finding ways to honor them if you wish, but ultimately this day is about the two of you and no one else. You don’t owe anyone an invitation, a plus-one, a spot in the bridal party, nothing. You do owe it to yourself and your relationship to set those boundaries that keep toxicity out of your life, even if others don’t agree. If it’s hurting your mental health, it needs to be addressed sooner rather than later. 

Let me be clear: I am not a doctor.

I don’t pretend to be, and I won’t say that these tips are going to be 100% effective for everyone, nor will they magically cure anyone of a more serious mental health condition. These are only some of the strategies I use in my everyday life as someone who’s been living with mental illness for almost 20 years, and someone who successfully planned a stress-free wedding of my own using these same tactics.

The most important thing I hope you remember is this: admitting you’re struggling mentally is nothing to be ashamed of, and if you’ve been implementing some or all of these tips into your life and still find you’re not where you’d like to be, please seek the help of a mental health professional. You are worthy of a beautiful wedding day, a thriving start to your marriage, and a peaceful mind. 

Best wishes to you and your partner. I hope you’re blessed with a lifetime of happiness together!

Megan Sabljakovic, Author

Megan is a freelance writer based in Texas. Aside from writing, she’s also a big animal lover and has become passionate about helping reptiles, particularly snakes. She has many of her own and now does snake education & relocation through Lone Star Snakes. Click here to learn more!