Keep the Romance As You Wedding Plan

Guest Post by Tonya Williams

It’s the day that many women dream of as little girls. The day she will spritz her favorite perfume just before she exits the bridal suite in the dress she has been dreaming of since childhood. The day where those heavy wooden doors swing open, the guests stand in honor of her presence, and she sees her special someone at the end of the aisle. As the first note is struck in time with her first step on the path to marriage, and after the ceremony ends while the reception is underway, she will dance amongst flower petals under the dim romantic lighting, in the arms of the one she loves.

That is the day that many brides dream of, however, getting to that day will take detailed planning, organization, and money. In the midst of all that, the romance of a relationship can get lost. So, let’s talk about getting the wedding planning done while keeping the romance alive.

As a Pure Romance Consultant, I have helped many brides navigate the insanity of wedding planning and keeping the relationship hot. Here are the top tips that brides need to be reminded of and what they have found most beneficial.

Communication:

Most couples know that an important key to happiness is to have open communication and dialogue. There will be times that a bride and her partner will become stressed with all the details. Notice your body’s signals to that stress, and communicate how you are feeling. In a moment of stress, does your body temperature rise? Do your cheeks get flushed? Do you begin to feel agitated and unable to sit still? Do your armpits sweat? These, and many others, can be physical signals that your body is telling you that it’s time to take a time-out. In addition, it is important to set up a time to talk about what is causing stress to one, or both partners, once the emotion has subsided. A bride should always remember, while she may be doing a vast majority of the planning, her partner may find wedding planning stressful in their own way. Can we say seating arrangements and unresolved family drama?

Quality Time:

Brides confide in me that wedding planning feels like it has taken over their relationship. In thinking about this big milestone in their lives, they expect perfection, and in finding/planning it, they think about it constantly. It’s okay to check out from wedding planning and spend time with your significant other, enjoying what makes you great together. Treat your time together like there is no one and nothing in the world but you! That means, forgetting about the flowers, hairstyles, seating arrangements, food styles, or music; not even the song for your first dance together as a married couple, which I know is important. Nothing! If there is one other tip for quality time it’s turn off your phone. It is inevitable that there will be a call or text to the bride dealing with wedding plans, but you can return those calls or texts after your quality time.

Mindfulness:

During private consultations, brides confide in me how surprised they are to find out how much the wedding means to their soon-to-be-spouse. Not only does this big day mean a lot to them, but so does being involved in key decisions (see #1 communication.) Another way to practice mindfulness is to be aware of how much time a bride is utilizing for wedding planning. This can lead to the significant other feeling neglected. Couple that with everyday life, like work or kids, and it can mean less quality time.

Romance:

Now that we have covered all the ways to keep wedding planning from taking over your life, let’s get back to what got you two love birds together in the first place, romance. When life and wedding planning start to take your world by storm, take some time to get to the good stuff. Slow dance in the middle of your living room to your song.  Take the time to cuddle on the couch while watching a movie, bonus, rom-coms not required. Go out for that candlelit dinner. Let your significant other open your door, pull out your chair, and let the chivalry happen. Make sure you are holding hands often while you walk about your errands. Kiss under the stars if you must. The point is, for as much as you want your wedding day to be perfect, it won’t be. There will be a blunder or two. In that moment, it’s the couple who have committed to the tips that easily laugh it off.  Being able to laugh together, now that’s the perfect start to the rest of your life!