21 Ways to Deal With Wedding Planning Stress

9. Plan your fantasy honeymoon. Get on Pinterest and dream of massages and beaches and romantic dinners for two.

10. Spend some time in nature. There is something about the great outdoors that makes our problems seem small. Being in nature gives us a natural high and with it energy, vitality and perspective. It is instant therapy, fuel for the soul. Live in a big city? Go to the park. 18 degrees outside? Build a snowman. No snow? Get creative.

11. Breathe. When we are tense and stressed out, we tend to breathe quickly and shallowly. So take 2 minutes to sit down, close your eyes and breathe deeply, in and out through the nose. It’s simple and it works.

12. Very slowly nod your head back and forth. And don’t forget to breathe. Feels good doesn’t it?

13. Take 5 minutes before you sleep at night to consciously deactivate.  Lay flat on your back for five minutes and consciously think about relaxing all parts of your body form head to toe. You may realize your shoulders are still tense, or your jaw clenched.  Five minutes on deactivation and relaxation is so important for muscle release.

14. Meditate. If you like how you’re feeling from #11, #12, and #13 and #11, then give meditation a shot. It is hard to pick up because our brains so darn difficult to turn off, but once you are able to find a moment or two of silence, you will appreciate it.

15. Watch Father of the Bride. Get into a fun, lighthearted mood. Any episode of Sex and the City or Modern Family will do as well if you don’t have 2 hours to spare.

16. Keep a journal. Write what you feel, without worry or judgement and write every day. Writing helps give you a new level of clarity and soon you will not be venting or complaining, but brainstorming, questioning and being creative. Writing every day is a wonderful habit to pick up regardless of where you are in life. I recommend a site like 750words.com.

17. Acknowledge that you are stressed out. Once you are feeling overwhelmed, be aware of how you are feeling and ask yourself what emotions you are feeling. The simple act of acknowledgement helps

18. Forums. Human beings need to feel connected and need to know that others are going through the same thing. It’s the “me too” mentality. So go to Yahoo answers, to the forums at WeddingBee or TheKnot and commiserate with other brides who are in the same boat.

19. Delegate. I know, I know, if you want to get something done, do it yourself. Anything that can go wrong will go wrong. Yes, we hear you, but for heaven’s sake, pick a few things (even the smallest of the small) and ask someone else to help out.

20. Go dancing with your fiance. Pick a club, a lounge or anywhere that has a dance floor and get out there – practice your first dance, let loose. And if hubby to be doesn’t like to dance, then replace fiance with girlfriends, or move on to #21.

21. Stay within budget. 5 years from now, no one will remember if you spent the extra $5 per bottle for a better bottle of wine, if you spent $300 or $175 on a makeup artist or if you splurged on the ___ for your invitations. Before you get up-sold on anything, ask yourself the 5 year question. This is especially important as the wedding date draws near because brides tend to go credit card happy.