8 Tips to Get Yourself Wedding Ready

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! Now that you’re engaged, it’s time to start thinking about the infamous wedding to-do list; find the venue, book the DJ, message the photographer and videographer you’ve been following on Pinterest– and that’s just scratching the surface.

Though all of these things are crucial parts of your big day, many brides put their own health and wellbeing to the bottom of that to-do list, leaving them feeling stressed and anxious leading up to their big day.

Take a look at our eight self-care tips to help you feel healthy, confident, and glowing when you walk down that aisle!

1. Eat For Your Health

One of the best things you can do for yourself is to eat mindfully leading up to your wedding day. Since the months leading up to the wedding can be such a busy and stressful time, it’s easy to overeat, forget to eat, or opt for quick, processed meals that lack nutrition. The last thing you need is to feel bloated, uncomfortable, and foggy from poor diet choices. Not to mention that processed foods and foods that contain high levels of dairy, sugar, and sodium can lead to unwanted breakouts and hair loss, especially when coupled with prolonged stress.

To prevent this, make it a priority to plan your meals ahead of time. For example, instead of spending your Sundays wedding planning, use that as your “wedding-free” day to plan and prep your meals for the week ahead.

If you are unsure where to start when it comes to maintaining a healthy diet, consider making a flexible diet program part of your wedding preparation plan. Flexibility is important because you still want to be able to enjoy the days and events leading up to your wedding.

Most importantly, don’t skip meals! You may be trying to lose weight and prevent bloating by waiting until dinner to eat, but eating less will deprive you of the energy you need to manage your day-to-day and everything on your to-do list.

2. Ace Your Smile!

Are you someone who is smile-conscious? If so, what’s preventing you from flashing your biggest smile when you’re feeling happy and overjoyed? There’s no reason to fret or feel ashamed. Many of your smile concerns can be addressed and corrected within the months leading up to your wedding.

If the alignment of your teeth is preventing you from showing the world your smile, there are options out there that can close gaps and shift teeth faster than traditional braces and without the noticeable hardware. You can always see your dentist and ask for guidance and options, but unfortunately, braces are typically not covered under insurance. The bright side is that there are online services that create alignment trays for you remotely without having to frequently visit the dentist PLUS these services are usually significantly cheaper than going through an orthodontist.

If you’re the kind of bride that’s willing to go the extra mile before her wedding, consider teeth whitening before all of your big wedding events. There are several options for teeth whitening, from professional whitening services to cheaper, store-bought solutions. Though this step isn’t necessary, it does provide an extra layer of self-care and pampering to boost your confidence for the big day!

If your smile is something you are really concerned and self-conscious about, be open and honest with your photographer and videographers. They will make sure to capture you in ways you feel good about.

3. Say ‘YES’ To A Trial Run

If balancing the wedding and your day-to-day life has you tempted to skip out on hair and make-up trials, think again! It’s good to trust your stylists, but there are many variables to your wedding-day look that you won’t be sure of until you try it out. For example, the hairstyle you chose may not be compatible with your hair type. In those cases, especially in the humid summer months, many brides realize their Pinterest-worthy ‘do only lasts a couple of hours, leaving them with lifeless locks for the ceremony and pictures.

Many brides are starting to do their makeup trial before their engagement shoot or their bridal shower. This way, you can test out how you feel and how well the look holds up into the day. Plus, you will be able to look back at the pictures and see how your makeup looks in photos. Some brides choose to save money by doing their own makeup, which is an awesome idea if you are well versed in the area. But it’s best to hire someone to do your makeup for you if you only dabble in beauty products here and there, since makeup for camera requires a much different technique than makeup for everyday wear. Do a trial run so you know what to expect and so that you have time to make changes if you notice something is out of place or doesn’t work as you had hoped.

4. Love The Skin You’re In

Second to diet, skin-care is an important aspect of self-care. The state of your skin is directly correlated to your diet, after all! There are several foods that can cause acne if they are not consumed in moderation, for example, dairy, fried foods, sugars, and processed foods.
It’s important to get to know your skin before you just start buying products. Do you have dry, oily or combination skin? Knowing your skin type will help you narrow down your pre-wedding skin-prep needs. Additionally, letting your makeup artist know your skin type ahead of time will help them to choose the best foundation for you.

No matter your skin type, everyone’s skin can benefit from drinking more water. A good rule of thumb for daily water intake is to drink at least a half-ounce of water for each pound you weigh. If you are someone who is very physically active, you may want to consider drinking even more. Water helps to flush the body of toxins and keep hydrated without any processed ingredients or sugars, leaving skin looking healthy and glowing! For an extra skin boost, moisturize daily with a quality moisturizer free of harsh chemicals (even if you have oily skin), and implement skin-healthy vitamins into your daily diet like flax, flaxseed oil, omega-3 oil, and collagen.

5. Avoid Stress

Speaking of healthy skin, prolonged stress can be the leading cause of adult acne, as well as other health issues like weight gain, hair loss, and insomnia. The months leading up to throwing the biggest event of your life are inevitably stressful at some points, but there are plenty of things you can do to prevent stress-related health consequences, like eating well, exercising regularly, and taking time for yourself.

Meditation is also a great way to relieve stress build-up and loosen up when you’re feeling tense. There are plenty of free guided meditation apps in the app store, like Insight Timer, for example, that will help you focus on your breathing and release negative thoughts and energy. Journaling is another really great tool for stress-relief. You can simply journal about your day, vent about the things that are stressing you out, or write about the things you are grateful for.

6. Make Time For You

Though it may seem strange, an important part of wedding planning is making sure to take time for YOU and not feel guilty about it, even if that means asking for help or backing out of plans.

What makes you unwind? For some people who are more on the reserved side, that may look like time alone catching up on your shows or immersing yourself in a hobby that you enjoy. For those who are more extroverted, that may mean getting dolled up for a night on the town with your squad or throwing a get-together at your place.

Wedding planning can easily become about everyone else and what they need from you to prepare for the big day. Don’t feel guilty penciling time into your schedule to turn your phone off for a little while so you can unwind. The missed calls and emails will still be there tomorrow.

7. Exercise

The benefits of regular exercise go beyond weight loss and fitness. Yes, working out will help you tone up and feel more comfortable and confident in your dress, but it’s also a great stress reliever! On top of that, breaking a sweat will help you get better sleep at night, prevent bloat and fatigue by improving digestion, and it will give you more energy and clarity throughout your day!

If the thought of walking into a gym stresses you out, you’re not alone. Take a different approach with your workouts by joining group fitness classes instead. You can go alone, join a friend, or even buddy up with your future spouse. The great thing about fitness classes is that it guides you through a great workout every time. Plus, it’s fun! If you’re not sure what kind of class you’ll like, search Groupon for discounted class trials in your area. From kickboxing, dancing, and yoga to even boot camps, spin class, and kickboxing, you’ll be sure to find something that clicks with you!

8. Emergency Bridal Kit

One of the best things you can do for yourself is to have an emergency bridal kit prepared well in advance. This is often something that gets forgotten about or skimped on because brides think they have time and continuously push it off. An emergency bridal kit should include:

• Gum and mints
• Travel stain remover
• Perfume
• Compact powder
• Your lipstick or lip gloss
• Safety pins
• Bobby pins
• Hair spray
• Hair ties
• Clear elastics
• Sewing needles
• White and black thread
• Your phone
• Phone charger
• Makeup remover
• Mascara
• Extra shoes (flip flops or flats)
• Wet wipes
• Fashion tape (to hold things in place!)

There are plenty of cute and affordable bridal bags or totes to choose from online to make your kit with, that is if you didn’t already get one at your engagement party or bridal shower.