• It’s important to continue taking care of yourself during stressful times – like wedding planning! You have a lot on your plate right now as a bride or bride-to-be, so Sandy and the team are here to remind you to take it easy! Here are some tips to keep in mind as the big day gets closer:

1. Get plenty of sleep.

We all despise hearing it, but the truth is that you can’t make sound decisions when you’re tired or overtired. If you’re having trouble getting to sleep, it’s a good idea to get up and go back to bed to try again later. Other great tips include: stay away from screens at least an hour before bed, avoid caffeine as it interrupts natural sleep cycles, and start a regular bedtime routine that signals to your body, “It’s sleep time now.”

2. Stay hydrated.

Half of us love water and the other half went all 4 years of high school and/or college without ever thinking about the substance. It is important to our kidneys, heart, and the rest of our body, though, and staying hydrated can help rid your body of fatigue, fight off illness, and cut out other unhealthy stuff (like caffeine). Keeping a reusable water bottle, using a hand-written water tracker, or using an app are all great ways to track and increase your water consumption.

3. Exercise – walk away – get some fresh air.

We all hate to hear this one too. Honestly, a brisk walk would do during your wedding planning process just because the main goal here is to get outside, breathe fresh air, and come back to your work with fresh eyes. Exercise releases endorphins and other brain chemicals that, over time, uplift your spirit and lead to better habits, too. This is THE BIGGEST thing that will help you bypass planning frustrations. If you stick to it, you might even find that you get grouchy or sluggish without stretching your legs a little on a regular basis.

4. Have fun with your planning!

Every now and again, experiment with a design or idea that’s just made for you. Build a bouquet or sketch a dress or play with an invitation creator that makes you smile, regardless of whether that design fits in with your color scheme, whether your mom will approve, or whether the design will ever see the light of day. Hey, make a My Little Pony-inspired rainbow of colors and strawberry sprinkles, or make a virtual bouquet of nothing but black flowers and dark greenery. Whatever makes your heart content – do it. Reward yourself for all the hard work you’ve done on the serious details of the wedding.

5. Focus on your sweetheart – they’re what matters the most!

No matter what you do as far as design, guest lists, table arrangements, and music choices, they will still be there at the end of the aisle, after all. The end goal is to get married, no matter the chaos that ensues in between.