Planning a wedding and getting married should be the happiest time of your life, right?

Well, yes, and no!

Let’s face it - planning a large event like a wedding can be STRESSFUL! And not just the wedding itself, but everything that goes with it. It’s easy for that stress to cause anxiety and depression.

You’re not alone if you feel this way! Keep reading for suggestions on how to deal with depression.

Reasons for Wedding Planning Stress

• Budget: Finances can be stressful no matter what phase of life you are in. But weddings tend to bring out even more stress, because multiple parties may have a financial interest in the decision-making process.

• Family Tension: As you plan your wedding, you’ll feed the urge to make everyone happy. Whether it’s wearing your mom’s veil, inviting your future in-laws’ business associates to the wedding, or even compromising with family and religious traditions, there are issues that can create tension.

• Time Management: There’s a lot to get done when it comes to planning a wedding. Add in a full-time job or school schedule, time with friends and family, and other activities you enjoy, and you can find yourself stretched thin. (This is a great area for a wedding planner to help you with! We can help your prioritize your wedding tasks, and take many of them off your plate!)

• Major Life Changes: You and your fiance are learning to interact on a whole new level as an engaged couple. You’re merging families, lifestyles, homes - and that can be stressful!

• Everything Has To Be “Perfect”: Especially in today’s social-media-focused world, we can fall into the trap of thinking our lives are supposed to be “perfect.” And weddings are not exempt from this. Everyone expects blog- and Pinterest-worthy photos full of cute ideas and gorgeous dresses and beautiful people. But we live in the real world, where not everything goes as planned 100% of the time.

How To Combat Depression

• Exercise: There’s a good chance that exercise may get pushed to the bottom of your to-do list with so many other “important” things to do. But remember to take care of your body! Low intensity workouts are shown to improve your brain function, which in turn can help relieve symptoms of depression.

• Eat Healthy Foods: With all the running around you have to do, juggling work/school and wedding appointments, eating right may no be a priority. It’s easy to pop into a fast food restaurant on your way to a meeting, but it’s not the best choice. Take time to plan ahead for meals to stay on track with healthy choices.

• Take A Break: Step away from Pinterest! Yes, we said it. Make time for non-wedding activities you enjoy. Head to the beach, watch a movie, participate in a book club or group Bible study - anything to change your focus. It’s even a great idea to plan a short vacation with your fiance a few weeks before the big day to relax and reconnect.

• Ask For Help: Don’t try to do it all alone! It’s common, especially for brides, to handle all the wedding decisions on their own. Enlist the help of your fiance, after all the wedding is for both of you! Hiring a wedding planner or coordinator will also help alleviate some of your stress.

• Reach Out To A Professional: Your friends and family and fiance may be the cause of your stress, so you might need someone else to talk to. Check out online counseling services like TalkSpace, or speak with a local therapist or clergy member. They won’t judge you for feeling anxious or depressed, or treat you like a failure. Don’t keep it all bottled up inside!