How to Manage the Wedding Planning Stress

Do you wake up in the middle of the night worrying about what needs done? Do you have panic or anxiety attacks because there is so much left to do?

First, take a nice deep breath. Now, if you haven't already done so, write down a list of what you have yet to do and how long you have to get it done. If this stresses you out more, go online to TheKnot.com. You enter your wedding date and they can give you a timeline of what to do and how soon you should start looking.

Second, if you haven't already done so, make a wedding binder. Find templates online (I used RussellandHazel.com) and make a binder where you can keep EVERYTHING wedding related sorted. Having a wedding binder has been a life save too me. You can go an buy one but I preferred to make my own that way I got the pages I wanted and not the ones I didn't. Also, I could get extra pages if need be.

Third, go get a massage. I know they can be expensive, but you need time for you where you are not thinking about the wedding and what needs to be done. You need to get some relaxation in. Even if you can't afford a massage, go get your nails done. Do something for you.

Stressing over the wedding can take away from what it is supposed to be, FUN! Your wedding planning should be fun and exciting not a burden.

Take a deep breath and take some time for yourself.

How to Deal with an Annoying Bridesmaid

We've all seen it, time and time again. The bride who wants to scream because one of her bridesmaids is driving her insane. Bridesmaids are there to help the bride with whatever she need taken care of for the wedding. You usually only trust your closest friends and relatives with this task. But sometimes that friend or relative turns into your worst nightmare!

We shall start off with a little story. I was a bridesmaid for a good friend of mine. She calls me one day and starts ranting and raving about her maid of honor. My friend (the bride) needed her maid of honor's help, and not only was the maid of honor not helping, but she was pushing the subject of not WANTING to help. Does this sound familiar? Does it come close to what you or a friend are dealing with?

Now, the bigger issue is how (as the bride) do you deal with someone that you are so close to, and yet they are making your wedding process miserable for you. 

Step 1) Go over in your head which battles you want to fight and which to let go. Fighting with her over the type of candy that is at the candy bar at the reception is not as big as fighting with her to show up for the rehearsal. Yes, they can both be very important things to you, but would you rather blow up at her over the wrong color candy? 

Step 2) CALMLY tell her how you feel. I know this is easier said than done. But if you raise your voice and get harsh tones with her she will take to the defensive and then you are going to get nowhere. Speak to her clearly and don't back down if she tries to push. This is your wedding, not her's.

Step 3) If Step 2 has seemed to make the problem worse, or if you couldn't control the tension between you two, look at it at another angle. If you were in her shoes, would you think you have too much on your plate? Would you be uncomfortable doing the task she is asking of you? Remember they are there to help you, not SERVE you.

Step 4) If nothing is seeming to work, you may have to do what you have been not wanting to do at all. Cut her from the bridal party. You are already stressed enough with planning a wedding, do you really need her drama adding to it? I don't think so! It is hard to ask or tell someone that you don't want them in your wedding anymore but doing so, in the end, may make you both sign a breath of relief. 

Keep in mind, you are the bride not their boss. And ALWAYS think about the task you are asking of your bridesmaid before actually asking her. She may feel obligated to say yes, but it may not be something she is comfortable doing (like hiding your wedding dress in her closet. She doesn't want you mad at her if something happens to the dress).

So fellow brides, the moral of this story is before you assign a bridesmaid task, think like a bridesmaid and not the bride!

Good night and happy planning!

To Veil or Not to Veil, that is the question

Ah the never ending bridal question, should I wear a veil or not?

Well, ultimately that decision is up to you. But if you want to know a little secret that may help you decide here it is;

Don't make a decision until you've tried one on.

That's right, as simple an answer as that is, listen to it.

I thought I didn't want a veil. Actually I thought having one would make me look like a giant cupcake of tool and taffeta. I also had this irrational fear that I was going to get wrapped up in it and not be able to kiss my groom. But, after I had found my dress and the bridal consultant put a veil in my hair, I knew.

But know this, you do not have to have a veil to feel like a bride. It is all about you, your fiance and you joining together.

Just remember stay true to you and your style and the veil argument will solve itself. The same goes for finding that perfect dress (but that is another topic for another post).

Good night fellow brides!


Also, ladies/gents feel free to talk to me about any topics you think I should touch on or that your want to know more about. I can do my best to address it and perhaps even make it a topic for another post :-)

Welcome! Now sit back and get ready for some FUN!

Welcome to the first blog post of Almost At Wedded Bliss! Yay!! (bells and whistles are going off!). To the fellow brides who are reading this, Congratulations on your Engagement! And no matter what anyone tells you, it is NEVER too early to start planning.

Look at me for example, I was engaged and a week later I had bought my dress. (Excessive I know, but I was excited! Can you blame me!?)

Now, the first order of business for YOU is go out and buy a bridal magazine! Get excited, you're the bride, you are allowed. Look carefully through the magazine (more than once), envision what you want for a wedding. And imagine what kind of dress you want to wear.

If you want an elegant affair, a circus wedding, an elopement on a beach, do whatever it is YOU and your FIANCE want. Just keep that in mind when you are planning, that you can take other people's opinions but it is your decision.

But, even though it is your decision, don't turn into Bride-zilla. Save your sanity and that of your family and friends by keeping the "MINE" beast under control.

Now, this blog will touch all wedding subjects including but not limiting to the following;

• Budget
• How to say "No"
• Dress, shoes, accessories, all bride essentials
• Destination Wedding
• Honeymoon options
• Stress and how to control it
• All the FUN wedding stuff
• And MUCH, MUCH MORE! 

Keep in mind that I myself am a bride (June 14, 2014 woot woot!), so I am no expert. But I am taking my experiences as a planning bride and a bridesmaid to a few friends and combining what I've learned to help you get on your way to planning your perfect wedding and honeymoon without ripping your hair out!

Now, go look at magazine and start planning!