There’s no doubt about it — wedding planning can be stressful! From unexpected changes to tightening budgets, it’s not all cake tastings and wedding showers. While you may not be able to avoid the wedding stress, there are ways you can cope with the frustration and get back to the joy of planning your happily ever after. 

STOP and Take a Moment

S.T.O.P. is a stress management process that helps you cool down and reflect on the situation at hand. No matter what has you overwhelmed, try these four steps to help you relax and work through your stress rationally. 

1. Stop what you’re doing and give yourself a mental break for a few minutes. Just focus on clearing your mind and settling into the moment. 

2. Take a breath and focus on deep breathing exercises to help ground yourself and soothe your mind. 

3. Observe what you’re thinking, how you’re feeling, and your physical responses to these things. Are you angry or sad? Are you flushed or is your heart racing? Write down how you feel. 

4. Proceed to meet any needs you may have. Take a walk to release some energy, meditate to relax, or call a friend to talk through things. Prioritize whatever you need to complete the stress cycle and let it go. 

Write What You’re Thankful For

Gratitude practice is known to improve emotional and mental well-being, and it’s a great way to maintain positive energy. Plan to map your gratitude at least weekly, and feel free to write a few thankful thoughts anytime you could use a mood boost. Your gratitude doesn’t have to be strictly wedding related, either.

Give Your Brain a Break

Sometimes you just need to focus on something else for a while, and coloring is the perfect way to do just that! Coloring and doodling are known to help you relax, while also giving you something to work on that won’t overwhelm you. You can use these coloring pages to get started or enjoy drawing your own doodles for some extra creativity. 

Talk Yourself Through It

It can be easy to feel negative when you’re stressed, so talk kindly to yourself to help stabilize how you’re feeling. Positive and neutral self-talk can help you manage your emotions through the power of words. Simple reminders like “this is only temporary” and “I’m loved” can do more for your mood than you realize. Print out these phrases and write your own favorite quotes for when you need them most.

Wedding planning isn’t always a walk in the park, but rest assured that you will walk down the aisle to say “I do” to the rest of your life. No matter what life throws at you, you have the tools to manage your stress and emotions positively.