Surviving Wedding Season
Tips For Saving The Sanity Of The Bride, Groom & All Involved
Wedding season is upon us! For the bride and groom, this is said to be one of the happiest days of their lives. If this happens to be you, then you’ve likely been looking forward to the big day for months. It is not unusual, however, if part of you can’t wait for the day to finally come and another part of you can’t wait for it to be over. This is because a wedding is not just an exciting and momentous event, but it can also be stressful and anxiety producing.
For the guests, while they may be excited to celebrate the union of their oldest and dearest of friends, there may also be some feelings of dread. Let’s face it, between gifts, outfits, bachelor/bachelorette parties, and travel costs, weddings can be both a financial and emotional drain. The important thing to never forget is the reason you are attending this wedding – to celebrate the union of two people you care about. Regardless of what role you are playing, the best strategy is to try to make the most of it.
Here are a few tips and strategies that may come in handy when you are the one getting married, a member of the bridal party, or simply a guest attending a wedding.
The (Soon-To-Be) Newlyweds
- Focus on each other — After all, this is what the wedding is all about! Remember that while there is a lot of planning to do and guests to consider, the wedding is the introduction to the marriage and the marriage is truly the most important thing.
- Take time to breath — Don’t let the day escape you.
- Remember the wedding has guests to attend to but the honeymoon is all yours — While your focus should be on your soon to be wife/husband, there are also people that have traveled a long way to see you on your special day. Be sure to dedicate some time to saying hello and thanking them for coming. Don’t worry though, you have the honeymoon and a whole lifetime together to look forward to.
The Guests
- Don’t stress too much about the gift — We all know how expensive a wedding gift can be and how much stress there is about getting the perfect gift. The best advice is to not over-think it! The registry is a great place to look, but it is perfectly acceptable to go off the registry as well. Additionally, many couples are signing up for services now that allow you to help them pay for their honeymoon. You are able to put in as much money as you would like, which is a great gift with endless memories that can fit any budget.
- Be the best guest you can be, within reason — Especially when you are attending the wedding of a close friend, you want to do everything you can to make their day special, but don’t over commit. Do what you can, if you can. If you can’t, don’t fret!
Overall, it is important to remember to enjoy yourself, no matter what role you are playing. If the table linens are not the exact shade that you wanted or if the bridesmaids shoes don’t all match, just focus on the things that actually matter. At the end of the day – whether you are the bride, the groom, or a guest – a wedding is truly meant to be a celebration, so put your worries aside and most importantly… don’t forget to celebrate!
References: Washington Post
About Dr. Kelly Mothner
To learn more about the services I offer click here. My office is centrally located in Hermosa Beach, California and I provide therapy and counseling services for children, teens, adults and couples in Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, El Segundo, Torrance and all over the South Bay area. Please feel free to contact me!