Less Stress, More Peace

In case you haven't heard or told yourself lately, your wedding is going to be beautiful & everything is going to be more than ok.

It would be wrong of me to start my first contribution to the blogging world in any other way than to speak life & peace into what will be one of the most exciting & intimate days of of your life.

Also....Wedding planning, and all this entails, can be incredibly stressful. You're a partner, employee or boss, daughter, sister, caregiver & maybe a mom! That's a LOT to balance, friend! And do you know what will be AWESOME? Planning this pivotal, magical day, with your health, peace & energy at "full tank", to enjoy the BEST moments with your partner for life. SO. Let's explore how to plan this momentous occasion while keeping our peace of mind in tact. Below are research-backed tips to apply to your life while you both knock out your wedding plans. Shall we?

1. Hire a Wedding Day-Of Coordinator or Planner. I triple-dog-dare you to keep reading---> I REALLY debated on not including this tip, so as not to come off sales-man like. Afterall, I am a Wedding Coordinator. BUT I wouldn't be serving you if I didn't share that hiring a planner that resonates with your vision & meets your budget can help you: keep your brain from turning into scrambled eggs, preserve your relationship with your future spouse & family members (who might actually be able to enjoy the wedding more than help run it) & even save you some cash! Contracting help is a HUGE step in avoiding the massive stress that accompanies 84% of brides on their Wedding day.

   
   

   Here's why it helps:

Depending on the type of help you contract, a planner comes with a wide variety of experience in wedding operations, saving you hours of research, trial & error.

• They come equipped with preferred vendors, saving you hours of "running around", trying to find & book your ideal vendors. Your coordinator can procure vendors that align with your style, budget & vibe you're working toward, to help achieve your dream Wedding.

• When booking vendors that your planner works with often, the odds of you being taken advantage of by a company that either doesn't deliver, or worse, doesn't actually exist, decreases significantly.

• Your time & health are priceless. Hiring help for any part of your planning preserves your energy & saves you time!

2. Make a list & prioritize it- As our excitement AND to-do list begins to build, its no wonder anxiety can set in. Listing out the top Wedding needs & then numbering them in order from 1 to last (15? 5 billion?<--- hopefully not!) allows us to get a firm grasp on which tasks need our attention now, which items we don't care about, & which ones we can put a pin in for later. (Bonus points for asking your spouse to number the list with you, it can be EYE OPENING!). Lastly, DON'T FORGET THIS STEP: examine the items you chose as your MOST important & of those, move your time sensitive priorities to the top of your list to get done. Accomplishing these tasks will support achieving the Wedding you're dreaming of by making sure they're locked in & done (don't wait until 3 months before your Wedding to book your MUST-HAVE caterer!) & will give you a sense of accomplishment. This very much mimics the Eisenhower Matrix.

   
   
   
   

   Here's how it helps: According to this article, the simple act of creating a list to get tasks done relieves anxiety. Additionally, accomplishing tasks on our list releases dopamine, as it engages & satisfies certain parts of our brain operating in instant pleasure. Making our lists & checking them off is like medicine to our Wedding filled minds!

   
   

3. Designate time for Wedding planning- Blocking out your time for specific tasks allows you to give yourself a chance to circle back to it when you're ready, protecting you from feeling overwhelmed & distracted. Rooted in the idea of time blocking, scheduling time to explore Wedding ideas or conquer needed planning tasks allows you to focus specifically on Wedding needs. Add it to your calendar, set aside any other work or distractions, & freely let your Wedding brain take over!

How it helps: research shows that 70% of working adults who do not organize their time feel out of control. Setting aside specific time for tasks decreased distractions & increases our productivity. Speaking from personal experience, setting aside time to be fully present in the things I enjoy most FAR exceeds feeling angry that "I don't have time to do the things I love", or feeling overwhelmed that there are too many things to do in general.

Ok guys & gals, HOMEWORK TIME! If you can relate to trying to keep your head above water, or you think your "friend" might benefit from feeling validated & encouraged, put it into practice or SHARE IT! My heart & brand is to UPLIFT & encourage you to focus on the things that matter most to us- whether that be enjoying our Wedding day or event, or simply trying to keep your peace while journeying through as season of your life. I hope you feel empowered!

Have de-stressing tips to share? Drop them below!

Cheers!~Brea

Need Wedding & Event Planning assistance? Reach out! www.centerpieceplanning.com