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Getting married soon? Nervous about the big day? Having jitters already? Learn how to beat the pre-wedding and wedding jitters. Overcome Wedding Planning Stress Syndrome, a term coated by former bride and wedding photographer assistant Victoria Carrington so that you will look and feel your best on your big day!

I was once a bride and I am now the assistant to Sam Carrington, my husband, owner of Sam Carrington Photography specializing in wedding photography. I have combined my experience with my continuing observation of brides and brides-to-be to coin the term Wedding Planning Stress Syndrome. Every bride knows that there is nothing more nerve-wracking than planning a huge event, especially one that will change your life forever (hopefully). How can you be aware of and overcoming wedding jitters? The stress of a wedding comes from many sources and the first step to conquering a case of nerves is to recognize the causes of the stress. Stress and anxiety due to a wedding comes from:

– Planning- so many decisions to be made-how will you make the right choices? Choosing photographers, caterers, avenues, florists, dress shops and cakes can be a daunting task, especially as most of us in this generation were not taught to entertain. How exactly do you know how to choose the right vendors? Various articles may point you in different directions. Each friend you talk to has a different horror story. The stress begins here.

-Perfection-everyone knows that your wedding day should be perfect right? That is not an easy ideal to live up to in any circumstance. Although we intellectually know that nothing can be perfect, our hearts still want the fairy tale wedding in which every little thing is perfect. Thinking about a break in the desired perfection can lead to waking up in a cold sweat many nights before the wedding.

-Plying-so much of wedding preparation guarantees pleas a myriad of others, some of what may have opposing tastes and requests. At this delicate time of your relationship with your intended life mate, you must pay careful attention to his needs and the needs of his family. But what about your family and their wishes? And where exactly do your needs fit in here? Perhaps now but it will be very stressful for you to figure this out.

-Position-some of the main stress of wedding planning may have to with determining your new role within your new family-to-be and sometimes even with your family of origin. You may need to jockey between your divorced parents or his, step-parents or even between your beau and his parents. The tension can wear you out and make you feel stressed. You may need to be a peacemaker or an umpire. In worst case scenarios, you may need to have block punches from being thrown.

You may be saying to yourself Yeah, all that stress stuff is true but I am too stressed to do anything about it. Anyways, a little stress can not be that bad can it?

Could I really have Wedding Planning Stress Syndrome?

The answer is-yes, stress can be very bad for you, your health, your relationships and extremely for your enjoyment of your wedding day. The harmful effects of stress are well-known and they impact on your life as you are planning your wedding. Stress causes you to:

-not think as clearly as you should at times. You have a lot of major decisions to make and thinking clearly will be in your best interest. Being able to come up with a brilliant solution to a thorny planning problem will make you look good to your future family too.

-not feeling as good as you should. Physically, stress will wear you down. It will make you feel more tired yet it may make you not rest or sleep well at night. Stress can cause muscle aches, headaches and stomach aches. It can exacerbate pre-existing health problems at a time when you need to feel your best and get a lot done. Importantly, stress can also cause your body to be less resistant to germs and diseases as your immune functions get compromised. You certainly do not want to be sick on your big day!

-Not cultivate relationships like you need to. In this delicate time of navigating what will be the most important relationships of your life, you need to keep a clear head and be able to relate well to others, even those you may not like or with what you may not have much in common. Stress can keep you so wounded up that you do not trust anyone. You do not want that to occur.

You no doubt by now get the point that stress is bad. So what is a bride-to-be to do? First of all, I advise that you relax. How do you do that you ask? If you knew how to do that you would not be reading this article you say?

Well, our next step is to give you some tips on how to keep the stress level down before your big day.

Stress Busters to Help You Overcome Wedding Planning Stress Syndrome

-breathe. I mean it, really breathe. Through your long, busy and stress-filled days breathe and remember to breathe deeply and slowly. Taking a deep breath can be an immediate stress reliever. Just remember to breathe slowly. If you breathe too deeply and quickly you could get dizzy and feel faint. We do not want that to happen as you are engrossed in observing the intricacies of wedding cake decorating, for instance.

-brush up on your etiquette. A little please and thank you will build your patience and your character and help you to stop rushing around.

-Pray or meditate. For me prayer is the thing that works. Focusing on the Creator of all things for even a few minutes will make your problems, issues and concerns seem much smaller. Make this a regular habit and increase your quiet prayer time if you find yourself getting more stressed. Reading books about spirituality and similar topics, including the Bible, will also help you to stay focused on what is most important in this life.

-Stay connected to those you care about. It is easy to neglect our relationships when we get busy. Remember to still spend quality time with your groom-to-be after you are finished discussing wedding plans. Get to know your future in-laws better as you are working with them on wedding planning. Keep meeting with your girlfriends and do not feel that you need to discuss the wedding all the time. In other words, do not forget that the world does not revolve around you and your wedding and remember to take interest in what is going on in the lives of others.

-Take care of your physical health. Eat right and drink plenty of water. Get enough sleep each and every night and do not vary your sleeping and waking times too much. Get plenty of exercise, fresh air and sunshine.

-Pamper your body. Use luxurious lotions, fragrant bubble baths and tinted candles to create a relaxing environment for your body to de-stress. Get a massage, pedicure and / or manicure. Just taking a few moments out of a busy week or month on a regular difference can greatly reduce your stress level and help you even or even avoid Wedding Planning Stress Syndrome.

-Read a great book, go to a movie or even watch (mindless) TV if you must. Just find a way to lose yourself for a few minutes or hours (preferably using methods that are legal and not addicting).

-Speaking of addicting, it is probably best to avoid the serious stuff. I have seen one too too many brides who seemed to be a little tanked up even before the ceremony and I tell you that it does not make for the best photos. If you start using say, alcohol for stress relief and treatment of Wedding Planning Stress Syndrome, you may come to rely on it for your wedding day and beyond. Save yourself some grief and drink sparkling Italian water instead.

-Most of all keep your perspective and have fun. Your wedding is meant to be a once-in-a-lifetime event, a time of joy to be cherished and remembered forever. Make up your mind that you are going to enjoy the journey as much as you enjoy the destination of the big day. Yes, things may not go exactly as you plan. Count on that and let it go. Yes, some people may drive you crazy. But your wedding day will last in your memory as the greatest day in your life. Choose to be happy!

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Source by Victoria Carrington