6 top self care tips

to ensure that you stop feeling overwhelmed and you arrive at your wedding day looking and feeling great

Wedding planning is most definitely a rollercoaster of emotions, so it is important to take time to look after yourself and practise some self-care in the run up to the big day.

The planning stages can make you feel excited, anxious, happy, nervous, stressed, joyful, the list of emotions goes on and on. Fear not! You are not alone in feeling like this. We all put ourselves under so much pressure to ensure our wedding is the best day/weekend imaginable. We worry about forgetting something important, how our guests will react, what other people will think and about their opinions. Then there are worries about budgets, and family politics, ensuring nothing is forgotten and that EVERYONE will experience the best wedding ever. Not to mention doing all of this whilst juggling work and a social life.

There’s A LOT to think about and looking after yourself tends to get forgotten. Well, I am here to tell you that it needs to go at the top of your priority list, not just for your mental wellbeing, but also so that you can enjoy your wedding looking & feeling your best!

No. 1 – Sleep

Sleep is one of the most important pillars of health but is often the one that gets cut first. Ensuring you have sleep as a top priority will help reduce your stress levels as well as raising your energy levels. It aids digestion and will help with both focus & creativity. Sleep will give your body the chance to rest and repair, it will improve the condition of your skin and enable rejuvenation. It really is a wonder treatment! Try to get 8 hours a night for maximum effect.

No. 2 – Delegate

Trust your suppliers. Book amazing people that will deliver your vision and then trust them to do their job. Delegate a specific task such as ‘the flowers’, ‘the cake’ or ‘evening entertainment’ to a specific supplier and then leave them to take care of it all for you.

You could consider a wedding planner if you would like someone to co-ordinate all the different aspects of your day for you. This could be a game changer.

– You don’t need to do everything yourself, and neither should you!

The morning of your wedding you should be excited, getting ready and enjoying the final preparations. You should not be worrying about whether or not your suppliers have arrived, if your cake is in one piece or that your tables have been set up as per your plan. To avoid these worries you should delegate the final wedding admin and on the day set up to a coordinator. Some couples choose to delegate to friends or family, but this can just put the worry on to them, so that they are not enjoying the day. At Berkeley Castle you have a “Pippa” who will take care of everything leaving you completely stress free.

No. 3 – Breathwork and Meditation

There are so many benefits to meditation including reducing anxiety, improving focus, increasing mental wellbeing, boosting confidence & reducing stress to name but a few. By taking some time to meditate I promise you will feel calmer and more able to face any challenges in a positive way.

However, meditation doesn’t have to be sitting cross legged, chanting “Om”, you could read a book (not a wedding one though, try something inspirational or a beautiful escape), I’m currently reading a fabulous book called Rachel’s Butterflies – all about the 3 incredible women and their friendship. You could listen to music, go for a walk, do some yoga, journal, or just simply sit in a comfy chair quietly.

No. 4 – Timeout

Make time to do something you enjoy, other than wedding planning. Take some time with your partner to enjoy each other’s company and make your relationship, a priority.

Go on a regular date night, play a sport, go for a hike or watch a movie. Do whatever you enjoy doing together as a couple, and make sure you schedule it in as a ‘non-negotiable’.

No. 5 – Don’t Forget to Drink

Keeping yourself well hydrated, is the simplest and easiest way to boost your energy levels.

There are other bonuses too, such as positively affecting your brain power, improvement in skin’s tone & texture, and dark circles under your eyes can be reduced. You will be positively radiant for your wedding day.

No. 6 – Switch Off

After your wedding day, you will be on a complete high, but you will also be emotionally and physically spent.

So, after you have said your goodbyes to friends and family, the morning (or day) after the night before, switch off those phones, tablets, and PCs, step away from Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest, and just relax with each other.

The time spent planning should be an enjoyable one, not one that overwhelms or takes over your life. Remember to take some time for you!