10 Secrets to a Successful Stress-Free Wedding
December 30, 2010
Your wedding is supposed to be the most important day in a your life, and yet for many, just getting there in one piece is harder than fitting stilettos on an elephant. Why is it so difficult? The biggest problem is stress and how the interplay of all the different participants at your wedding adds or subtract from that stress. Here are some wedding ideas to have a truly successful and happy wedding.
Scientists use the term HOMEOSTASIS (homeo = the same; stasis = standing) to define the physiological limits within which the body functions efficiently and comfortably. Stress disturbs homeostasis by creating a state of imbalance. The Lord knows how easily some people can cause us imbalance. Well, the secret of all of this is that, if we know how difficult it is to change ourselves, we must then take for granted that we are not going to be able to change others, especially between now and the wedding date. So what can we do to make or create STASISHOMEO “the ability to maintain the same mental condition we enjoy now on the day of your wedding” (LOL)?
The all time stress-o-meter gives the following scores to different stress events in our lives:
Event Stress Score
Death of spouse 100
Divorce 73
Marital separation 65
Jail term 63
Death of a close relative 63
Personal injury or illness 53
Marriage / partnership commitment 50
Loss of job 47
Retirement 45
Illness in family 44
Sexual problems 39
Childbirth 39
Change in finances 38
Death of a close friend 37
Change of job 36
Taking out a mortgage or loan 31
Mortgage foreclosure 30
Increased responsibilities 29
Offspring leaves home 29
Fight with in-laws 29
I don’t know girls, but I think that a fight with the boss rates right up there with marriage.
The first thing we must do is to be able to recognize stress in others and ourselves. Stress management involves four main tasks:
ü Recognize and understand the signs of stress.
ü Identify and understand the sources of stress.
ü Learn to manage controllable sources of stress.
ü Learn to support yourself and cope with stress reactions to situations beyond your control.
Signs of Stress
Over-stress reactions include a wide range of symptoms: stomach aches, headaches, sleep problems, poor concentration, moodiness, irritability, and racing thoughts. It’s important to recognize that these are all signs of stress overload, probably not signs of a more serious condition.
Now that you know all this good stuff, does it help? No! We need some tools and strategies to help you have a Successful Wedding.
A great stress reducer is getting in shape for the wedding.
Let’s face it; you are going to have a second full time job. Planning and organizing a wedding is a time-consuming and energy zapping experience, not to mention the marathon parties, the family get togethers, and all that glorious shopping. Don’t forget, all the marathon parties, food, drinks, cake, drinks, dinners. Did I mention drinks? This sends your body and nervous system for a loop.
What’s the best thing to do? Go for a walk. That’s right, a nice calm, stress relieving, pound reducing walk. Or if you are so inclined, go to the gym and work out. Aspiring brides and grooms who want to get fit for their perfect day are latching onto a fitness trend where gyms, personal trainers and spas all promise weight loss, toning and a healthy glow in “bridal boot camps.” The more energy you use, the more stress you rid yourself of (and it helps to tone your legs and build your cardiovascular system so that you can dance all night long at your reception!)
It is also very important to be eating right and taking time to rest both of which can vastly improve energy levels. Start drinking more water instead of caffeine and sugar-loaded liquids. Reduce salt intake. Caffeine, sugar and salt, cause chemical reactions to your nervous system by making you jumpy, nervous and high-strung, so make sure you watch your consumption of these items. Salt, or sodium, also helps your body retain water, causing that bloating, puffed-up feeling.
Secondly, couples have to realize they shouldn’t expect “perfection”. Expect a “terrific” day and set reasonable expectations.
This actually is considered the number one stress factor – desperately seeking perfection. You must remember what your main goal is, and that is to get married to the one you love the most in the entire world. Setting expectations that are too high will create stress and lead to frustration, and then more stress.
There will be stress, you can count on it. Why? Because there are not only a lot of decisions to be made but also many details to be worked out, and others may want, or try to influence you. Such pressure is not bad or wrong; it just requires that you and your fiancé be aware of what is really happening. Try to respond to issues and avoid reacting to things. It will make a big difference.
Remember, things will go wrong; you are dealing with people and lots of variables. Don’t sweat the small stuff; the key is that if something does go wrong only you will know about it. The best way to make sure that things don’t go wrong is to plan carefully, track faithfully, and confirm diligently.
The week before the wedding call all your vendors and check the date, time and location with them to verify the correct details. Give a list of their phone numbers to someone in case any of them don’t show up on the day.
Picture your wedding the way you want it, visualize all of your details clearly in your mind, and stay focused on what you want.
Couples are constantly re-defining weddings. They seem to place more importance on their wedding being a celebration of individual love than on fussiness, formalities or old-fashioned, outdated etiquette. They are celebrating who they are, right now.
Remember, if you fail to dream, you will live your nightmare, so figure out what it is you want and go for it. With this mental image, you can list down all the details, and one by one, when you have either completed them or delegated them to someone you trust to make sure that they get done the way you want them to be done, you can check them off. Having this list is a huge stress buster and it helps you sleep at night. Another secret for a good night’s sleep is to have a notebook beside your bed, and every time you wake up thinking that there is something you think you missed, write it down.
Often simplicity in a wedding ceremony is much more beautiful than having too much. This helps keep stress levels down as well. You can also create a great wedding website at www.22wed.com where you can keep everybody informed about what is happening and that will help keep you focused.
Time is always another stressful factor.
Another great stress reducer and wedding success maker is time management. Couples who begin planning early and pace themselves should be able to avoid last minute chaos. The old saying, “An hour late and a dollar short” could never be more applicable than for a wedding. Give yourself as much time as possible to dream about your wedding, write down all your goals (things you need to do), budget for each area, and give yourself time for a breather. Below you will find a basic wedding planner with guidelines as to what you might need to do and when it would be appropriate to get done.
Speaking of a breather, while planning your wedding you may have found that it has essentially taken over your life. You need to reclaim your life, even if it is only for a day or for a few hours, and take some time to yourself. Make time to connect with your partner and spend positive time together.
What is it you used to do before all of this planning? Do you like to read? Do you enjoy gardening? How about going for walks? Whatever it is that you may have let slip or sacrificed for the greater good, you need to take that time to yourself and your loved one and enjoy the relaxation that comes with doing something that you enjoy.
Learning to delegate is vital, especially the day of the wedding. Put someone else in charge of paying the vendors, moving the guest book from the ceremony to the reception site, double-checking with the caterers, or any other small task. Read through your list and assign everything! Hey, it’s your day – enjoy it!!!
Relationships themselves, between the bride and groom, can be stressful and can become even more stressful prior to the marriage.
Back on the stress-o-meter, we see that getting married in itself is a very stressful change in a person’s life. When we further add to that: late nights, changes in eating habits, changes in drinking habits, fear of all kinds (failure, things going wrong, anxiety attacks, tripping down the aisle, etc), we see that things can get out of perspective with the one we love.
As the old song says, “You always hurt the one you Love”, and there are other relationships other than the one with your fiancé’: those between the bride and her family, her sisters, her bridesmaids, the groom and his friends and family. The “relationships” I’m speaking of, are everywhere and not limited to the relationship between the bride and groom.
Take some time to reconnect with your closest friends. Try not to talk
Wedding Favor Ideas for Themed Weddings
December 29, 2010
Wedding Favor Ideas for Themed Weddings
There are numerous wedding favor ideas for those with themed weddings. Whether you choose a beach theme, an all white theme, or an Asian theme the options you have for wedding favors are almost limitless.
There are many resources that offer wedding favor ideas and wedding supplies, such as bridal sites like americanbridal.com, which offers everything from wedding favors to wedding gifts and everything in between. Here are some popular wedding favor ideas for common themed weddings that may come in handy when deciding which wedding favors to purchase, how they might match your theme, and where you might find them.
Candle wedding favors
Candle Wedding favors are popular because they go with any themed wedding. They come in so many colors, styles and sizes that they are in high demand as easy, appreciated wedding favors. They are usually less expensive than many other wedding favor options, and this also increases their demand.
Wine wedding favors
Wine wedding favors are always an excellent ides, ad work well with most themed weddings. They work for other seasons and themes as well, and may range from personalized corkscrews to charms, small goblets, coasters, bottle stoppers, and more.
Edible wedding favors
Edible wedding favors can be some of the most fun because they go with any wedding theme and come in such varieties as chocolate bars, small coffee bags, truffles, candies, mints, honey, and numerous other edible wedding favors. They can all be personalized with custom wrappers or boxes with the bride and groom’s names, wedding, date, thanks, etc.
Practical wedding favors
Ideal for any wedding, practical wedding favors usually entail something that the guests can take home and use after the wedding and the reception. They are excellent for wedding themes in all categories. This includes everything from bottle stoppers and corkscrews to elegant little coffee scoopers and miniature bath salts and soaps. Personalized wedding favors
Beach wedding favors
Beach wedding favors include many options, from candle sets in blue, sand, and white, and beach themed coasters to shell trinkets and polished, engraved rocks or mints. You can personalize most wedding favor ideas for beach themed weddings, and there are many wedding sites that cater especially to those with beach themed weddings.
Asian wedding favors
Asian wedding favors come in all the options above and more. Incense, Asian brocade wallets and coin purses, special gourmet fortune cookies, his & hers chopsticks, place card holders, and mints are only a few wedding favor ideas for Asian themed weddings. They can all be personalized by the bride and groom.
Pink wedding favors
If you have a pink or white themed wedding, pink wedding favors are available in many options, from potpourri and candles to personalized luggage tags and small French soaps. They are appropriate for any wedding theme that allows for pink colors.
Flower and garden favors
Flower and garden favors are great for any themed wedding, but are ideal for both spring and summer. They can include anything from vases and floral candles to flower seeds, bookmarks, and custom place holders.