Weddingbee Blog

Yeah, yeah, wedding planning is fun, but let’s not fake it—it’s stressful too. There are a million (some might argue a gazillion) details to iron out and sometimes (a lot of the time) it breeds bridezillas! I’m not gonna lie either, I’ve had my bridezilla moments. Already. I don’t think that’s because I’m a crazypsychomeanselfish bride though, it’s sometimes because I’m stressed.

Don’t worry. This is a mini whine. I’m not stressed all the time. Somehow in my 25 years of life I’ve learned the very basic, very useful, and always-works trick to handling the stress of a million details: RUN.

No! Not run away! Just run. Work out. Do some cardio. Break a sweat. Lift some weights. Just run. It helps me tremendously. And the moment I think I don’t have time to go to the gym is the moment before I lose it.

This last year I started running races, too, which helps a lot.

It keeps me running daily when I know a race is approaching. I know this isn’t for everybody, but I love it. Let’s just say I aspire to the running glories like Mrs. Trail Mix who defeated the Boston Marathon (Woooow!! You are the sh*t!! I’m definitely not there yet. The most I’ve run is 10 miles, but hey, it was still 10 miles!!). I followed her to that race and read her Cheesy Marathon Wedding Metaphors after. It was nice to know I wasn’t the only bride running to the wedding.

Here’s a picture of me before my first 5k:

Here’s me after:

Do you see the euphoria?

The excitement?

The joy?

That’s a stress-free smile, folks. Greatest moment ever…next to finishing the 10 miler.

So what’s the point of saying all this? I think it’s important for us brides to bow out of the planning process for a few minutes and relieve our stress. What stress, you say?

Here is how my morning looks when I get to work (all before noon):

• coffee + breakfast
• working
• emailing with our planner
• gchat with Mr. B about the emails with our planner
• working
• Weddingbee post prep
• working
• emailing prospective/current vendors
• gchat with Mr. B emails about vendors
• working
• emailing our invitation designer + printer
• gchat with Mr. B about the weekend
• working

I’m not joking when I say that some days my fingers hurt from all the typing.

I get so caught up in the emails and lists and tasks and inspiration and blogs and—sigh—I have to step back. No matter what is going on with work or wedding planning, I get up from my desk and leave the office at noon and take an hour for myself at the gym.

At the gym, I give my mind a break from the wedding and from work. I get to think about my body, my personal fitness goals, and my health. It’s my time and my place. And it never fails, I’m refreshed and ready to divee into it all when I get back.

P.S. - I’m looking at emails and gchatting on my cell while walking to and from the gym. That’s how pressed I am, and that’s how hard it is to let go! I’d probably bring my phone with me on the treadmill if they weren’t prohibited!

I know everyone can’t go to the gym at lunch like I do, but do you work out at all? Does it help you deal with wedding-related stress? What’s your release?