How to stay calm during your wedding preparations

The past few months can be summarized in one word: marathon. After being treated for my migraine and being on medication for a while, I made it an attempt to enjoy my few, remaining months of single life. I went out as often as I could, vacationing all over the country, and spent quality time with family and friends, all the while trying to maintain sanity amidst the ambience of wedding preparations. Many thoughts raced through my mind: Should we have a wedding, or should we travel instead? Do we have the budget to do both? If we were to have a wedding, was it going to be a small or big one? Who should we invite? Where's the venue? Where should we travel? 

     It was definitely difficult trying to stay sane in the middle of all of this, but we did make the decision in due course: we were going to have a wedding after all, and the budget, venue, and timing were all well-thought of. Amongst all this aura of preparations and running around, I did find a way to stay sound, though. 

     Below are some steps you can follow if you're wedding's on the way and you want to stay as calm as possible:

1- Know your budget. That's the key step. Knowing your budget will allow you to select the theme of the wedding, the venue, the number of guests you'll be inviting, whether you'll need the assistance of a wedding planner or not, and other details.

2- Keep a paper and a pen with you - a very basic, yet crucial step. Trust me, you'll keep recalling things you'll want to get or do frequently, so it's actually wise to want to contain those ideas in one place. 

3- Choose the date wisely. Know which day/date the two of you would be most comfortable getting married on, or a date that means a lot to both of you, and keep that in mind.

4- Research different venues on the internet and visit various places as often as you can to broaden your repertoire of wedding venues, themes, and ideas. Are you looking for an outdoor location, perhaps by a swimming pool or in the mountains, or would you prefer a ballroom, or an indoor location? Again, that might depend on your budget.

5- Consider your wedding theme wisely. Take advice from your family members and friends, and discuss with your partner. Save some photos on your phone, and keep your options open. 

6- Reserve a date after you find a place you desire and that suits your budget. Make sure it's a few months away so you can have time to prepare. 

7- Know what you want for a wedding dress. Do you want something tailored just for you, or do you want to rent a ready-made dress? Do you fancy ball gowns, or do you prefer a mermaid style? Keep in mind the place of the wedding, too, as it will affect your choice of a wedding dress. For example, a ball gown with a long train will need a huge, outdoor location. Also consider your figure and what would look best on you. 

8- Save some pictures of hair and makeup looks. That way, you can eliminate what you don't like later, and narrow down your options so that you can then be able to choose the style that suits your personality and dress most.

9- Book an appointment at the salon (or spa, if you want) ahead of time, so they can give you the extra care that you need on your big day.

10- Choose the other wedding features diligently. Now that you've booked the salon appointment and reserved the place and date of the wedding, you can consider the other things. Do you want fireworks? What kind of flowers do you want displayed? What colors will be predominant? What kind of cake do you want? What songs would you like played, and which song are you (bride and groom) going to dance to? Will there be a buffet? What will be included for dinner? And the list goes on...

     Now that you've got the essentials all covered up, don't forget to take good care of your skin during the months before your wedding. If you haven't already started a skincare routine, you will need to start. Daily cleansers, moisturizers, and creams that suit your skin type are must-haves. Also, weekly facial masks will help maintain your glow. 

    Don't forget to drink lots of water, get plenty of sleep as much as you can, maintain a healthy diet, and exercise often during those months. Those things are essential on other days, too, but will specifically benefit you on your wedding day. 

     Most importantly, don't forget to enjoy your time on that special day of yours. Don't fret over mistakes that are inevitable. Just focus on having a good time with your partner and the people you love, and go rock it!