Planning a wedding is more or less metaphorically similar to running a marathon. In a marathon, you maintain a consistent pace so that you aren’t too tired, too soon. You build up your endurance over time, working on being able to keep your pace for not only longer periods of time but also longer distances. While the physical act of running is something you have to train for, there is mental tenacity important for running a marathon too. You need to be able to push through discomfort for the long-term goal: the finish line. 

Planning a wedding is so similar.  Eerily so. However, if you haven’t run or trained for a marathon, there’s no reason you can train for this one. The “Stress Express” has many open seats for brides planning their upcoming wedding, so keep calm and plan accordingly.

Manage your stress level. There’s almost nothing worse than being stressed out to a point of frustration and tears. Although it’s likely to happen at some point during the planning process, it helps to make sure you are doing a good job of taking care of yourself. Getting enough sleep, enough food and water, and exercise will genuinely help your mental state as you wade through the murky waters of dress styles, colors, table settings, and more. 

Don’t sweat the small stuff. This is naturally easier to say than it is to do. Almost every bride worries about the details prior to the wedding day, but if you ask her afterwards, she’ll probably tell you that there was no reason for the worry. It’s almost as if it’s easier to worry about the small things than it is to picture your big day going smoothly. By worrying about the small stuff, you take yourself away from being present in the moment and enjoying putting together your wedding day. 

Discuss what matters most. Having a list of things that are the most important to you regarding your wedding and your wedding day will help you keep calm and carry on as you plan it all out during your engagement. Do you want to have a first look with your future-husband as well as your fur babies? You might need to think about different things to support the most important parts of your wedding, such as a dog sitter in this particular instance. Find out what matters most to you by making a hard list, and don’t hesitate to involve your spouse-to-be. 

Stick together. In sickness and in health, right? Those vows probably ring true once they’re on paper and the ring is on your finger, but it’s more important now, during the planning process than ever to stick together with your future spouse. This will also help your stress level from rising to an insurmountable place. 

Remember the long term. Even though you might hate your future Mother-in-Law’s taste in decor, it’s worthwhile to hear her out if you’re in a place in your relationship with her where you’d like to be close. The long term game, here, matters a lot even if it feels like family members or anyone in your social circle is meddling with your plans. 

Know your boundaries. A runner might be very well versed in what is hard for them or what they need in order to accomplish their goals. Many brides-to-be find themselves inundated with friends wanting to help or offer advice, parental input, and otherwise. Know your boundaries so you end up pleasing yourself and your future spouse, not everyone else. Remember, it’s your day.

Don’t stress the dress. This may or may not seem silly, but don’t stress about finding the perfect wedding dress. Much like the concept of soulmates, there’s more than one perfect dress out there. From the variety of popular styles to the almost endless number of dress designers, there’s bound to be something you’ll fall in love with almost as much as your future husband. 

Keep calm and carry on. Your wedding day will be here before you know it.