Don’t be a bridezilla! If you just got engaged or know somebody who has been popped the questions, then this is a must read article. Join Bridgette and her “5 Fantastic Life Hacks to Enjoy Your Engagement”.
So you’re engaged. Congratulations! Or, it’s about darn time or it’s so nice of you to forward this to an engaged friend! It’s a slippery slope from saying “Yes” to taking the perfect engagement photo and veering right into bridezilla territory. Here are some tips to avoid the curse of bridezilla so you don’t alienate friends, family or your betrothed, and so you can actually enjoy your engagement:
Start Your Shopping in a Low-Pressure Environment
It’s easy to become a bad bride when you’re caught up in the big machine of the wedding industry. Instead of being oversold on the latest trends, start your research and shopping by visiting quality retailers who won’t pressure you. If you want to look at wedding bands, for example, department stores like Macy’s carry quality engagement and wedding rings and have informed salespeople. Likewise, avoid the big flashy bridal store until you’ve got a solid idea of the type of dress you want, what quality looks like, and what a reasonable cost for the item and alterations will be.
Think Past the Wedding
Why are you getting married? To have a wedding or to be married? If your entire relationship becomes about your wedding ceremony and your reception, you might find yourself without much of a relationship once the wedding is over. If you’re finding yourself making everything about the wedding, schedule a regular (weekly, monthly or every few days) meeting with your fiance and work through an agenda. By setting the expectation that you will be discussing and deciding on planning items, you can both be prepared and avoid the wedding planning blues.
Decide What You Will–and Won’t–Share
There are certain times in life (marriages, pregnancy, etc) when people think it’s totally appropriate to get all up in your business and give you unsolicited advice that may not even apply to you. You know what you should do for your traditional church ceremony? Pagan rituals!! Ummm, okay. These advice dealers will work without prompting but they feed on information. Decide with your partner what you want to keep private and stick to it. Identify the friends or family who are likely to overdo it and be especially careful around them.
Make a Mission Statement
What do you want your wedding to be all about? Traditional values? A fairy tale ending? A big, stress-free informal party? When you’re overwhelmed with budgets, choices, advice and obstacles look at your mission statement and let your gut guide you.
Learn to Let Go
Don’t try to do it all yourself. If you’re DIY-ing invitations, flowers, centerpieces, clothing and programs right up until the big day, not only will you never get it all done, you’ll be completely stressed out. Stress, as everyone knows, is terrible for you. For a friendly reminder of how bad stress is, go online via the Mayo Clinic to review its common effects. Decide what wedding planning elements are crucial, what is optional and what you can let go of altogether. Then, be willing to delegate the optional tasks and don’t micro-manage your helpers to death.
Identity Magazine is all about empowering women to get all A’s in the game of life — Accept. Appreciate. Achieve.TM Every contributor and expert answer the Identity 5 questions in keeping with our theme. As a team, we hope to inspire and motivate ourselves and inspire you to get all A’s.
What have you accepted in your life that took time, physically or mentally?
The importance of patience and quality of quantity in life. Good things come to those who wait.
What do you appreciate about yourself and within your life?
I appreciate my ability to be flexible, even during stressful times.
What is one of your most rewarding achievements in life? What goals do you still have?
What goals do you still have? Finishing college and being able to do so, with little student loan debt.
What is your not-so-perfect way? What imperfections and quirks create your Identity?
I laugh, loud!
How would you complete the phrase “I Love My…?”
I love my home and contributing to projects that involve creativity and love 🙂
