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While planning a wedding can be fun and a great way for the bride and groom to connect, it can also become a huge focus of your spare time, taking the place of other hobbies or relaxing activities. When you're feeling the excitement of all the wedding planning, you don't realize that you might miss it once the big day is over. No more dress fittings or appointments with florists or cake tastings. All of a sudden, the day you have been planning for so long comes, is of course, wonderful, and then goes.
You come back from the honeymoon and suddenly have all this free time on your hands. For many brides, there is actually some grief associated with the end of the wedding planning process and "post-wedding blues" are very real. If you are feeling like something is missing now that you don't have to go to dress fittings or choose place settings, you are not alone. This is actually natural and often happens as we transition through different stages of life. In fact, according to Psychology Today, one in 10 women experience depression during their first year of marriage.
There are some simple steps you can take now to minimize wedding-withdrawal and prepare for your life as a wife:
Start thinking and dreaming of "what's next."
As the wedding day gets closer, start thinking about what your next focus might be. Have you always wanted to run a marathon? Volunteer? Start a blog? Decorate your home with vintage, garage sale finds (but never had the time go to treasure hunting)? Think about the hobbies you left behind when you started wedding planning and see if you can start reserving some time on your schedule for something else that inspires you.
See More: 6 Things You Can't Forget to Do Right After You Get Married
Share how you feel with your husband.
Voice your feelings so you can make goals and plans together. Expressing your vulnerability early in your marriage will help you build a foundation of intimate conversations where you can love and support each other as husband and wife (instead of bride and groom).
Find ways to stay connected to your family of friends.
Now that you no longer need to spend time wedding planning together, you might have to intentionally create other reasons to spend time together. Consider sharing even the simplest activities, need to run errands? Ask a girlfriend if you can do them together.
Maggie Reyes helps newlyweds plan their marriages with the same delight + devotion that they plan their weddings. She is a Life Coach, Writer, and the Founder of ModernMarried.com.