By Shalini Wickramatilake
Throughout the year preceding my wedding, I was often asked “are you stressing out?” Friends were often surprised to hear “no,” as it’s almost an expectation these days for brides to be frazzled, nervous, and burnt out. Here are some things to keep in mind for anyone who is planning their big day:
1) Pick vendors with whom you would be friends. Of course, this is a working relationship, and you hire your florist, caterer, DJ, photographer, and officiant because you want them to collaboratively give you the best wedding possible. However, I was fortunate to have a group of vendors who were incredibly fun to be around, and that made the pre-wedding meetings as well as the big day even more enjoyable. This is supposed to be an exciting time; surround yourself with fun people to make finishing your to-do list seem like less of a chore.
2) Stick to your routine and practice self-care. It’s easy to get so wrapped up in wedding planning that your routine goes out the window. However, it’s incredibly important to stick you your usual work schedule, social activities, personal care, and hobbies. Sleep, exercise, and eat regularly and enough to assure that you feel well in the months leading up to the wedding. Sticking to your routine will also help you fight the post-wedding blues. I was hit with a wave of boredom after the wedding, as my agenda was suddenly sparse, but I was grateful that I had stuck to my usual routine through my engagement, as it helped me ease back into “normal” life.
3) Skip the silly stuff. I didn’t have a bachelorette party, give gifts to my bridesmaids, or allow anyone to request The Chicken Dance at the reception. If there are weird or overly commercialized traditions that you don’t believe in or approve of, don’t do them! This wedding is about you and your partner; pretend you’ve never been to a wedding before or seen a rom-com at the movies, and envision a completely personalized way to celebrate your love. While that vision might not be completely feasible, let your own ideas guide the process.
4) Remember why you’re getting married. Again, this is about you and the love of your life. You chose to have a wedding because you want others to witness the commitment you will make to each other. That’s ultimately all it’s about- the people you care about being there to watch you start an exciting new adventure. There is no right or wrong way of doing that. Remember to enjoy your engagement, and know that no matter how grandiose or small, expensive or DIY, your wedding day will be filled with love, laughter, and memorable moments. There really is little reason to stress, because at the end of the day, you will have married the one, and there is nothing more perfect than that.
