when wedding planning sucks
SWEET AND HONEST TRUTHS Babe, you re crushing it!
Welcome beautiful! Hey, Beautiful! You downloaded this free e-book, which means you re probably pretty stressed out about life right now. Hey, that s totally okay. Life can be stressful! It reaches a whole new level when you re planning a wedding. I recently wrapped up wedding plans with my new hubby, and I understand just how nuts things can get. Sometimes it s the little things - they just accumulate without you realizing it until one day you have an explosion of emotions. That s perfectly normal, I promise. It s my goal to provide you with some real talk & encouragement in this e-book. These words come from a place of understanding and compassion, because I ve been there, done that; and if I can make this process a little more enjoyable for you, then I will do whatever I need to! I may not know you personally (yet!), but what I do know is that you re embarking on one of life s greatest adventures with your best friend, and that is some kind of awesome. Whatever life throws you during this time, just remember that you ve got each other and that s all that matters. And, if you ever need to talk about what s stressing you, my inbox is open anytime. xo, Joelle
SWEET AND HONEST TRUTHS Hey,that's a really good idea! You should totally do it!
STRESS RELIEVER I hear pumpkin-smashing is pretty fun. Or plate-throwing. Paintballing. Paint balloon popping. Screaming in your car girl, just get it out. In all practicality, make sure you re getting enough sleep, drinking enough water, and eating 3 meals a day. Exercise is also a huge stress-reliever. Even if you simply go on a walk; as long as you re doing some kind of physical activity each day, you ll think a little clearer and feel a whole lot better.
SWEET AND HONEST TRUTHS What's more important - their opinions or your happily ever after?
STRESS RELIEVER Go on a date. You heard me get your cute little butt s out of the house and get some ice cream. Talk about things other than wedding planning. It might be a little difficult to go the entire conversation without something wedding-related coming up, but just do your best. You ve got this. It s incredibly healthy to continue making time for yourselves during this transition together. So, keep going to movies and hanging out with your friends at the beach on weekends. Those are times to be valued, and they ll also keep you a little more sane.
SWEET AND HONEST TRUTHS Your day will be beautiful, no matter what.
STRESS RELIEVER Write it out! Journaling has been proven to be therapeutic. Whether you create a word doc or use pen & paper, just lay it all out. Be honest & raw. Don t try to beat around the bush. This is just you & your thoughts, no one else. You ll make some new discoveries while you break down your thought processes, and those will reduce your stress levels considerably.
SWEET AND HONEST TRUTHS You two make a good match! Married life is going to look good on you!
ENJOYING THE PROCESS 1. May the games begin! Have a pillow fight or play with Nerf guns around the house. The catch? You can t play until you ve completed X, Y, and Z on your task list. 2. Assign tasks to friends & family to lighten your load. They don t have to be big things; they can be small! Tasks like: someone to pick up your wedding cake if it s not being delivered, a friend who likes design can create your programs, or someone can pick up specified decorations from the store for you. Every little bit helps. 3. Try to space appointments out, if possible. True story, we had every single weekend booked with something, leading up to our wedding day. It. Was. Exhausting. Try not to do that. 4. Focus on the positive. If you find yourself going down a dark hole of negativity, grab a pen & paper and begin listing the things you re thankful for. It s a good way to turn your mood around and a good reminder that there are more important things in life than that one thing that s getting to you right now. 5. Eat some dark chocolate. I m serious! Dark chocolate is proven to be a mood-booster and it s good for your health. It contains the same chemical that your brain creates when you experience falling in love. It literally encourages your brain to release feel-good endorphins. So, yeah. Have some dark chocolate. 6. Cuddle! Another proven way to reduce stress and an action that releases feel-good hormones. It even helps you sleep better. Cuddle away, lovers!
SWEET AND HONEST TRUTHS Remember, it's your wedding, not theirs. It's really okay to say no, I promise.
STRESS RELIEVER Talk to God about it. I m a pretty big advocate for trusting God in all things, and that most definitely includes wedding planning. Hey, I ve been there and I know first-hand how big that rollercoaster can be. One day you re on cloud nine and ridiculously excited about the big steps you re taking together, and that same night you re in tears because someone was disappointed in your decisions. God can take care of all of it, I promise. He ll soothe your worried mind and bring you peace in your soul, relationships, decision-making, and everything in-between. Just knowing He s cheering for you, that He s ready to step in at a moment s notice, and that He always has your back is reassuring. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10
SWEET AND HONEST TRUTHS I'm so incredibly happy for you both!
BONUS Need a little help creating your playlists? I ve got you! PRE-CEREMONY MOOD MUSIC CEREMONY SONGS TO WALK DOWN TO RECEPTION MUSIC