Photo: James Michael Photography
Weddings are joyous occasions, but they also come with a lot of expectations and stressors — from pleasing family and friends to making sure everyone is happy with the seating chart — and perfecting all these little details can quickly start to feel overwhelming for the bride and her mom. Whether this is your first wedding as the proud mother of the bride (or groom!) or if you've done it many times already, there are some tricks you can employ to help you get through the day as stress-free as possible. We tapped holistic wellness coach, Christy LeMire, to share her best relaxation tips for moms.
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1. Write down your feelings.
As a mom, one of the most important things you can learn to do on the wedding day is to let go of things that are not completely in your control, advises LeMire. Easier said than done? "Try journaling your thoughts instead of acting out on them," she advises. "There are a lot of emotions surrounding weddings that can manifest themselves in different ways — and it's easy for any negative emotions to spiral out of control. Write down your feelings if something is stressing you out, and often that can be very therapeutic in itself."
2. Watch what you eat
Certain foods have calming and balancing effects while others can over-stimulate your system and cause you to feel agitated. Leading up to the wedding, and on the day of, avoid having too much caffeine, alcohol, refined sugar, refined salt, and processed foods, says LeMire. Instead, incorporate foods that soothe your body, such as vegetables (especially broccoli, asparagus, spinach and avocados), berries, nuts, herbal teas, oatmeal, wild caught salmon, and whole grains like quinoa and brown rice.
On the day of the wedding, make sure you have a good breakfast, LeMire adds. "You'll be busy talking to and greeting people all day and it might be more difficult to eat, so make sure you're not running on empty."
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3. Start the day with a low impact exercise
Make sure to get some fresh air the morning of the wedding — go for a walk or light jog, or try some stretching or yoga. "Getting a bit of exercise can help to clear the mind, make you feel more energized, and provide some release from any stressors," says LeMire. "Just don't overexert yourself."
4. Practice this breathing relaxation technique
If you start to feel overwhelmed during any part of the day, LeMire recommends this breathing technique, which can help to ground you immediately. "Take one deep breath in through your nose and let all the air out. After that, inhale through the nose for a count of four, hold the breath for a count of seven, and then exhale for eight counts. Repeat that technique four to eight times." This type of breathing will help to calm you during any stressful moments, and done over time, will help to relax your entire nervous system.