Planning a Wedding When the World Is on Fire

Mental Health Edition

Listen guys. I haven’t had the energy or the desire to update this blog in over a month, and for that I am sorry. I like to present as my most honest self to you all, and sometimes I can’t muster up the happy-go-lucky energy to pretend that the thing I love isn’t impacted by the current state of the world.

And then I think about you, and the pressure you must be under. There are all kinds of pressures to have a viral wedding, but the price of everything has skyrocketed. The internet is trying to convince you that love doesn’t even exist. You? You’re trying to hold onto your happiness. You have a wedding coming up. You’re trying to make a special event feel special, even if the sky feels like it’s falling. You deserve your moment. You deserve to be unburdened by doomscrolling and holding your breath for the next disaster. I’m no wedding planner, but I’d like to offer you what I do have. Here are my tips for handling stress while planning your wedding in difficult times.

Self Care

When I say self-care, I don’t mean going to the spa every week or meditating if that is not your thing.
I mean :

• Go for walks as much as you can

• Spend time with your future spouse cooking or making new memories.

• Log off as much as possible

• Set your expectations based on your own desires

The thing about happiness is that it can come in little packages. Instead of worrying about creating the perfect centerpieces or the perfect wedding hashtag, see what you can let go of and do so. After all, the photos and the videos are all that lasts long anyway. Be aware of how much of yourself you’re giving to this process.

Brush Up On Your Coping Skills

Whether or not you’re in therapy, everyone could use some coping skills. Here are two of my favorites

• Progressive Muscle Relaxation

  • In those overwhelming moments, it can be hard to remember to unclench your jaw. Go with it and try a YouTube video on progressive muscle relaxation. This is a technique that uses your ability to clench and release different muscle groups in order to alleviate tension. I like this one because you could do it anywhere without anyone taking notice.

• Yoga Nidra

  • Have you ever wanted to feel like you took a nap but only had 5 minutes? Yoga Nidra might be for you. This is a mindfulness technique that’s also available all over YouTube that could give you some non-sleep rest. It might feel weird, but it works.

Keep Your Eye on the Prize

Having a wedding is a process that can take over a year of planning and careful preparation. At the end of the day though, this day is about you and your love. Please do not lose sight of that. When the sky is falling, you’re going to want someone to keep you grounded. Focus on the love, the vows, the moment you see your spouse for the last time as your fiancé/fiancée. Hold onto it, because everything else is just decoration.