Ten Tips for a relaxing walk down the aisle

by Denise Georgiou-Newell, WPICC - WeDDings Jubilee

It's so easy to get tied up with wedding plans, that you completely forget about yourself. Following is a list of ten tips to ensuring a stress free journey down the aisle.

1. If you have not made the important investment of hiring a wedding planner, do yourself a huge favour and hire a day-of or month-of coordinator to help wrap up any last minute details, including payment and gratuity distribution, creating an itinerary, confirming your vendors and managing your wedding day. This will leave you with the time you need to de-stress before your big day and will allow you to be free to celebrate your wedding, not work it.

2. Arrange a date for you and your soon-to-be life partner, where you do not talk 'weddings'. Instead, enjoy just spending good, valuable, time together.

Try this: Pack an overnight bag and go to the bus (or train) terminal and pick a place to go to (nearby) that you've never been and explore it. Being spontaneous really takes a load off your shoulders.


3. Get yourself a few Reiki sessions. Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It's a great way to get centered and re-focused.

4. Start writing a journal (or a blog). Write about how you and the 'love of your life' met and fell in love. Write things like: what you love about them; why you said 'yes'; how you were proposed to etc. This not only reminds you of the true importance of your day and your vows, but also serves as a great keepsake to share with any future children or refer to on your special anniversaries.

5. Arrange a day with your Mom, Sister, Aunt and/or Grandmother and head to the spa. Get pampered while reminiscing about life growing up. Getting married is your right of passage and important bonding time with the women that were your greatest influences.

6. Ask for help. Put your wedding party to good use. Have them do some of trivial tasks like picking up the guest book, creating your seating cards, table numbers etc.

7. Join a Gym, Yoga or fitness class. This will provide allow you to let all your frustration out while getting in shape. We all know fitness is the top way to relieve stress. It allows you to focus on your breathing which oxygenates the blood. In turn that ‘wakes up’ the brain, relaxing muscles and quieting the mind.

8. Take a walk every day. Before you call it a night or fist thing in the morning, clear your mind by taking a short brisk walk.

9. Listen to your favorite CD; read your fave magazine (non-wedding); or read a good book. It's so easy to 'unknowingly' trade in the things you love for planning your wedding. Make it a point to focus on one of your hobbies at least once everyday.

10. Have a girl's night out. Perhaps a comedy club, dance club or Karaoke. It is known that laughter, dancing and singing are some of the most natural stress relievers.