You know what’s super stressful? Planning a wedding!

As any married couple will tell you, the lead up to a wedding will most likely test you in ways you have yet to imagine (don’t worry, the pay off is totally worth it!). Luckily, there are several ways to take this unique and special time in your life from stressful and relationship-testing, to joyous and bond-strengthening. The key? Taking enough time between wedding and engagement to plan your wedding, celebrate with your buds, and most of all: enjoy the special time of being engaged with your special someone!

This is a paid post in partnership with my lovely friends over at Weddingstar – we hope you love these ideas, and we’ve also got some great products linked in here to treat you, your fiancé, and your wedding party to some goodies to go with them!

Here are our top tips for practicing health and wellness in the lead up to the big day:

1. SPEND TIME IN NATURE

There is nothing quite like fresh air and natural scenery to get those endorphins going. Did you know one of the most bond-inducing activities to do with someone you love is to try new things? Even as simple as trying out a new hiking trail, or taking a picnic to a beach or park you don’t frequent often. Pro tip – choose places neither of you have been to increase the bonding factor.

Here is some of my favourite Weddingstar gear to take with me in the great outdoors!

2. PRACTICE YOGA WITH YOUR S/O AND WEDDING PARTY

This is a wonderful way to connect with your S/O in the run up to your wedding, and also perfect for enjoying downtime with your gang before the big day. Treat your wedding party to a custom mat with their name on it and watch them feel extra special and appreciated! You don’t have to be serious yogi’s either – a good stretch session can work just as well as a full yoga practice for your mental well-being.

Check out Weddingstar’s yoga mat collection – I personally love the ‘Lotus’ embroidered mat the most!

3. HYDRATE, HYDRATE, HYDRATE

With water, of course! Any wedding planner will tell you, the number one thing most newlyweds forget to do the day of? Eat or drink anything! Get those good habits in place in the weeks leading up to your nuptials, to make sure everyone is feeling hydrated and happy the day of (trust us, you’ll need all the extra moisture you can get once those happy tears start flowing!).

Treat the whole wedding party to personalized bottles to suit every personality:

4. PLAN YOUR HONEYMOON (OR ‘MINI-MOON’!)

If you and your partner are starting to feel the exhaustion of planning your nuptials, get that honeymoon plan in place! If you aren’t able to do a full honeymoon in a tropical locale, why not plan a weekend mini-moon to a nearby destination instead? The anticipation of a well-deserved getaway is a serious mood-booster, even more so when you get to look forward to it with the one you love by your side.

Weddingstar has dozens of travel items in stock, from makeup bags and carry-ons to luggage tags and passport covers.

5. EXERCISE TOGETHER IN WAYS YOU ENJOY

Whether we like it or not, exercise works wonders for the mind, body and soul! Finding time to sweat it out in ways you enjoy before the big day will have you feeling mentally and physically prepared and ready for the most important walk you’ll ever take. Invite your partner and wedding party to partake in your activities! As we said before, trying new things with your loved ones is great for bonding.

Of course, it’s important to remember that crash dieting and/or excessive exercise is never a good idea, especially not when you’ve got a wedding to plan and tensions may be running high. Exercise should always be done for fun and to make you feel good inside and out, never to punish yourself or try to force your clothing size down.

Grab yourself and your gang some matching tees personalized with your names to make working out even more fun!

And treat your partner to a new gym bag and water bottle as well!

6. SUPPORT EACH OTHER IN GIVING UP BAD-FOR-YOU VICES

Vices and bad habits – we all have ’em. If you want to start married life off on a high note, one of the healthiest things we can suggest is giving up those things that are truly bad for you physically and mentally. Some of the more obvious ones? Smoking cigarettes, excessive alcohol intake and/or binge-drinking, and biting your nails to the quick. Some of the not so obvious ones? Saying ‘yes’ to things that don’t serve you, leaning into negativity, and allowing people to treat you badly. Let go of any of these crutches that you can. You deserve to live a beautiful, long and happy life with your chosen person. We love that for you!

7. MAKE EATING WELL A PRIORITY AND COOK TOGETHER

And we don’t mean dieting. As we mentioned before, crash diets never stick, and often leave you feeling worse than before you began. Make an effort to include more whole foods into your diet, practice intuitive eating, and most of all, enjoy your food! Remember: your wedding dress/outfit is meant to fit you, not the other way around.

Treat yourself to a new charcuterie board from Weddingstar, and load it up with fresh fare to serve up on your next date or friends’s night in.

While you’re at it, pick out some tumblers for your wedding party and get your green juice and Vitamin C smoothies on!

8. CREATE A SLEEP ROUTINE (BONUS: GO TO SLEEP AT THE SAME TIME AS YOUR PARTNER)

One thing any engaged couple can attest to – sleep becomes harder and harder to come by in the weeks, and then days, leading up to the wedding. 2am seems to come faster and faster as you hustle to finish all of those DIY’s! Remember to make time for rest, and better yet, start a bedtime routine together. Sleeping next to a loved one is known to release oxytocin, a hormone that relieves stress. This can also increase feelings of love, happiness and even help you live longer!

Cute jammies help, too.

9. COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR PARTNER AND MAKE TIME FOR ROMANCE AND INTIMACY

The most important tip on this list! Take the time to learn yours and your spouse’s love languages. Talk about the things you want for your future together, and make sure everyone is on the same page. Making the commitment to wed is a big one, and taking the time now to discuss what you both want for your marriage and life together is not only smart, but will also have you feeling confident and assured that your partner is the one for you when you walk down the aisle.

Weddingstar has just the activity for you and your S/O to do together before the wedding: the Love Letter Wedding Ceremony Wine Box Set!

This beautiful box set comes with a gorgeous walnut veneered, velvet lined box with space for its two accompanying wine glasses, a wine bottle of your choosing, and even 2 compartments to store wedding mementos in. Enclosed in the pocket of the lid is a timeless love letter set with envelopes and stationery for you to write letters to each other, to lock and store in a safe space. One day after many years of wedded bliss, unlock the box together and revisit this magical time in your lives.

There is another popular way to feel closer and increase your intimacy… but I’ll let you fill in the blanks on that one!

10. MAKE TIME FOR YOURSELVES AS INDIVIDUALS

This is an important one. If you and/or your spouse begin to get cold feet and feel the need for space… grant it to each other. Stress, and the pressure of planning a ‘picture perfect day’ can be a lot for anyone, even those that are fully committed and deeply in love. Give each other grace, and make time for your individual interests if you need it. It doesn’t mean you don’t love each other, it simply means that you are both whole human beings on your own, with your own thoughts and interests. And that makes you even better together.

11. ASK FOR HELP IF YOU NEED IT

If the stress of the wedding is truly too much, and these tips don’t help you to feel harmonious in the run up to the big day… don’t be afraid to ask for help. Tell your spouse how you’re feeling, and if your anxiety is too much for you to take on day-to-day life, speak with a professional. Allow them to guide you back to being your best self. You deserve it!

We hope these tips and ideas have inspired you to add more peaceful moments to your life before your wedding and beyond! Have fun perusing the entire Weddingstar site for wellness goodies to treat you and your wedding party to, and please enjoy 10% off using the exclusive code JAMIE10. There is so much to love with Weddingstar, and I know you will find so many lifestyle and wedding treats to make your life more beautiful!

xo, Jamie

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