From facial treatments to uninhibited screaming.
Welcome all brides! If you are here, I imagine you have reached the phase of wedding planning where you are googling all the checklists, timelines and tasks that need to get done leading up to your big day. First of all congratulations, this is a very exciting time! If I’m being honest, some of these lists will straight up overwhelm you. You can get lost in the planning process and end up in a worm hole trying to create a checklist tailored to you. In this blog post, I won’t be focussing on the traditional “to-dos” for the logistic planning, but instead I’ll be focussing on some ways you can prioritize your self care and wellbeing during the planning process.
This blog is all about practicing self-care, we believe it is a vital part of anyone’s routine. Though it is especially crucial while planning your wedding. I wanted to create a self care based guide like this, because during the planning process I wish I had discovered a resource like this. So keep on reading to find out some ways you can keep yourself grounded during this whirlwind of a time.
What I did in the months leading up to the wedding:
I set boundaries around when I did anything wedding related.
After first getting engaged, it is SO easy to get wrapped up into constantly scrolling Pinterest for ideas, or even falling into black holes on the internet. I would end up spending so much time on my phone or laptop but wouldn’t actually accomplish anything. Ever heard of task switching and how detrimental that can be? Yea, I can speak to this. It was brutal! I eventually started making proper to do lists and when I needed to search something on Google or Pinterest, I would actually set timers to help me stay focused.
Sometimes while planning, other topics or ideas will come to mind and you may feel the need to switch topics and jump to the next task. A great solution for that, is to keep a pen and paper next to you and jot down those thoughts versus constantly switching to another task. This helped keep my mind clear and focused when working on one specific task. This is actually a great tip for every day life, because constantly task switching increases your stress hormones. Picture it like your computer, too many tabs causes it to slow down and run less efficiently. We’re pretty similar. 😉
I started implementing supplements and greens to feel my best.
Vitamins and nutrients are vital every day, but during wedding season that extra bit of nutrition is always a good idea. I started taking AG1 daily. AG1 is a product I had always wanted to try, I saw it advertised all over Instagram and Youtube and figured why not give it a try in the months leading up to the wedding. AG1 powder contains 75 vitamins, minerals, whole-food sourced superfoods, probiotics, and adaptogens meant to promote optimal health for its users. I drank this mostly every day and added their Vitamin D3 + K2 liquid drops. I really enjoy AG1 and am still using it daily.
What I did in the weeks leading up to the wedding:
I created a Self Care September Daily Checklist
This list wasn’t created with the intention of the month being perfect. Instead, it was about reminding myself to do the daily habits that help make me feel my best. This was a 4 week habit challenge I created for myself starting about 5 weeks out from my wedding. I figured it was a good time to stay focused on my healthy habits since the wedding planning was ramping up and the date was creeping in fast.
I created this list based on the habits that make me feel good! You can change this to what works best for your life. But having a place to check in with daily was very helpful during a busy, stressful month of wrapping up wedding planning.
I made sure to take extra care of my skin daily
Overall I didn’t change very much about my skincare routine. Prioritizing a consistent skincare routine was already important to me. In addition to my usual skincare, I invested in monthly facials leading up to the wedding. I also incorporated more facial ice rolling, eye masks and used my Gua Sha more, all habits that complemented my routine that I already had set in place.
If you’re interested in learning more about our skincare routines and tips, check out our Winter & Summer Skincare Routine blogs.
I screamed at the top of my lungs!
Yes, I’m being serious this is a point! Screaming definitely wasn’t something I planned as part of my pre-wedding self-care routine… But one night, in a fit of wedding rage, I just remember without much thought, I let out one loud scream! I’ll admit – it felt great! Looking back, I couldn’t even tell you what I was upset about, which says just about everything there is to say about the emotional rollercoaster of what planning a wedding can feel like!
What I did in the days leading up to the wedding:
Swapped out intensity for calmness
I mean this overall, I tried to eliminate any intensity in my life and swapped it out for calm. Easier said than done, you can’t always control other people’s actions or intentions. But I was able to control my own routine. I swapped weightlifting for yoga, higher intensity cardio for walking and added in a daily stretching routine. These little changes helped keep my nervous system regulated and didn’t put too much stress on my body overall.
Mentally released the stress of planning
At a certain point, you just need to release the stress and expectations and accept that the day will play out how it’s going to play out. Holding onto every single detail and obsessing over it, will not benefit you. You’ll have done everything you can do, and now you release. I understand that’s easier said than done, but it will be a game changer as to how you feel on the day!
I hope this post was helpful and put some wedding planning into perspective. There is no one way to go about planning and preparing for your wedding day. It will likely be stressful, but undoubtedly magical and full of so much love, that’s just the nature of them! There are many ways to prepare, and not one way is the correct answer. I hope you enjoyed this month’s blog post, and I’d love to know, what did you do or are doing to prepare for your wedding day?!
xo
Meg
