8 Ways to Care for Your Mental Health While Wedding Planning

Mental health is finally getting the long-overdue spotlight it deserves. In our not-so-distant history, countless mental health conditions were swept under the rug and ignored, which is shocking considering that an estimated one in five U.S. adults is affected, per data from the National Institute of Mental Health. This is why it is so crucial to be open and understanding when it comes to mental health, as one of your loved ones or even your spouse may be suffering in some way, shape, or form.

Caring for mental health while wedding planning is quite important, too. That's why we consulted experts Brenna McGee, Reena B, Patel, and Sam Von Reiche,

While there are a myriad of factors that contribute to and exacerbate mental health conditions, stressful life events, such as planning a wedding, can sometimes be the catalyst, notes McGee. “With all of the external pressures of family and friends, one of the things that can quickly lead to mental health struggles in the process of wedding planning is a loss of sense of self,” she says. “Anxiety of living up to expectations—whether yours or someone else’s—and a simultaneous confusion of what is within your control and what is not, can be overwhelming and feel isolating.”

Body-image issues associated with the overwhelming pressure placed on your wedding day can also play a contributing role in aggravating your mental health. “The pressure for the bride to look perfect can easily kick up pre-existing body image and eating insecurities,” warns Von Reiche. “The old cliché of the bride starving herself before the wedding is very real and very risky.”

To top it all off, your wedding planning to-do list is likely more than you originally bargained for. In fact, so many brides and grooms are caught off guard by just how all-encompassing planning a wedding can truly be—even if you’ve hired an expert team of vendors. “Wanting to be in control and having difficulty allocating duties can lead to a real build-up of pressure that can be quite difficult to manage,” explains Patel.

Caring for your mental health while wedding planning doesn’t have to just be another to-do on your laundry list, but rather a healthy addition to your daily life that relieves stress and emotional burdens. Here, experts share their best-kept secrets for caring for your mental health throughout the wedding planning process and beyond.

Build a Daily Practice of Mindfulness

Meditation comes with countless benefits, including a reduction in stress, alleviation of anxiety and tensions, an increased sense of groundedness, and more. “A daily practice has proven mental and physical health benefits including reduced anxiety and depression symptoms, reduced obsessive thoughts and negative thought cycles, and increased positive affect,” says McGee. While 30-minute guided meditations or 15-minute breathing exercises are surely useful, taking just 5-10 minutes a day to journal, write gratitude lists, or read affirmations can provide many of the same benefits. “Start small and make it yours—it doesn’t have to look like anything specific. Just try to allow yourself some space without self judgment,” McGee adds.

Work On Letting Go of Perfectionistic Ideas

You’re far from alone if your wedding day is something you’ve spent the better part of your life dreaming about. “Many of us know exactly what we want on our special day and have had it all in mind for years and even decades. However, perfectionism can set us up for disappointment and many negative feelings,” says Sofia Robirosa MBA, LMFT, CAP, a South Florida licensed marital and family therapist and author of the book, The Business of Marriage. Instead, she recommends focusing on enjoying the process and creating a planning environment that won’t burn you out and lead to unhappiness in any way. “People will remember your wedding day more if they had fun and enjoyed it,” she adds.

Talk to Someone Uninvolved in Wedding Planning 

Whether it’s a friend or a therapist, McGee recommends finding an outlet outside of wedding planning where you can release some of your excitement, concerns, anxieties, and hopes to an unbiased party. “Whatever you’re feeling at any given time is valid and you should be allowed to share this with someone unattached to your wedding day,” she says. “If you are struggling, find a therapist who can help you explore and realign planning with your own values so that you are able to make decisions that authentically reflect you.”

Do Activities With Your Partner Other Than Plan

With so much to get done before your wedding day, it’s no surprise if you feel like planning is all you and your partner do and talk about. But this doesn’t have to—and shouldn’t—be the case, according to McGee. “At the core of the excitement of planning a wedding is your connection to someone with whom you want to build a life,” she says. She recommends setting aside some time to foster the romance and connection that is so integral to your future marriage. “If you are struggling with feelings of isolation or loneliness in the process, share them with your partner,” she says. “Let them in and allow them to help support your emotional wellbeing.”

Practice Deep Breathing

Deep breathing, which comes right from the diaphragm, resets the all-important amygdala from its fight-or-flight stress response, explains Dr. Von Reiche, and has been linked to a reduction in anxiety and depression. He recommends taking 5-10 complete cycles of deep, calming breaths at least once a day and at moments when you feel extra stressed. Try breathing for a count of five seconds in, holding it for five, and letting it out for at least five. “If you are doing this correctly, it definitely feels like you have just taken a mild tranquilizer without the drowsiness,” he says.

Unplug For At Least 30 Minutes a Day

If you find yourself scrolling through your social-media feeds for far longer than you’d care to admit, you’re certainly in good company. However, Dr. Patel points out that doing so can create an environment clouded by unnecessary pressure and unrealistic expectations. She recommends disconnecting from both electronic devices and social media, especially bridal platforms, for at least 30 minutes a day. “Taking time to unplug and disconnect from the constant stream of emails and alerts will allow you to interact with people in front of you,” she says.

Recite Positive Affirmations

Research, including one 2013 study published in PLoS One, has linked self-affirmation with improvements in an individual’s ability to problem solve in a stressful situation. If you’re not familiar with affirmations, they are short, powerful statements that are often positive and self-encouraging. They can be anything from “I am calm, focused and present,” to “every day I feel more and more relaxed about planning my wedding.” Dr. Von Reiche explains,“These sentences are what you want to feel, stated in the present tense.” He recommends reciting these out loud twice daily or even recording them so you can easily play back and repeat them, which makes it much easier to fit it into your day.

Sneak in Physical Movement

Whether or not exercise is part of your regular routine, wedding planning can feel so all-encompassing that you have little-to-no time for anything else. However, fitting in movement is essential for mental health. In fact, research published in Frontiers in Pharmacology has even shown physical exercise to be as effective at aiding in mental-health conditions such as depression as antidepressants. “All you need is 20 minutes of some kind of cardio as many days of the week as you can fit in, and you will find that coping with the planning process and everyday life is much easier,” says Dr. Von Reiche.