Ideas for Surviving the Wedding Preparation - Make Time for Each Other!

So you’re tying the knot. Getting hitched. Taking a trip down the aisle. Congratulations! Let me ask you this: How much time have you spent thinking about your relationship lately? Now you may be saying to yourself, “Of course I am thinking about my relationship! I’m getting MARRIED, aren’t I?” Getting married is, without a doubt, a fabulous way to publicly profess your love and commitment to your partner. Not to mention the fact that you get to get all dressed up, eat fantastic food, spend time with friends and family and generally have a great time. It can be a lot of fun organizing and coordinating all the details of a fancy wedding. I know people who have spent months (even years, actually) getting everything “just so”. And that is great. We just want to offer a very gentle reminder not to get too entirely wrapped up in all the details of planning a wedding so that you lose touch with your soon-to-be spouse.

We are not suggesting you compromise on what your Big Day means to you. Everybody should have their dream wedding in whatever form that takes. But, in all the planning and scheduling and preparing and organizing and decision making, don’t lose sight of what you are truly doing (committing to share you life with another) and why you are doing it (because you love and adore them). If you don’t pay at least some attention to each other and to your relationship, you may end up on your honeymoon saying, “Who are you, again?”

Here are some suggestions to take a breather from all the planning and preparation and maintain that fabulous connection to the one you adore.
o Go on dates where you make it a rule not to talk about the wedding for the duration of the date. These can be as simple as taking a bike ride together, or as elaborate as an incredible meal at a restaurant.

o Take a walk together, just the two of you. Go around your neighbourhood, walk in the park, or take a hike in the woods, whatever. Be sure to hold hands and find out how the other is doing!

o Do something together that is totally new for both of you. Rent scooters, go to a new museum or gallery, go bungee jumping, go to a stock car race, take a road trip to a new town, take a cooking class, go horse riding for the day, or maybe even go on a picnic to a new spot.

o Have a fabulous dinner party with some interesting people; talk as little about the wedding as possible.

o Set a night aside, turn off the TV, turn off the computer, put on some music, light some candles, and give each other a relaxing massage.

o Play a board game together.

o Take someone else’s children to the zoo, or the park, or to an animated movie. Look at the world through children’s eyes together.

o Spend an evening thinking beyond the wedding and set some goals for 5 years down the line. Think of what you would like to do personally and as a couple. Talk about what you can realistically achieve and throw in some “pipe dreams” too. Why not?

o Rent a funny movie you both know well. Make some popcorn and enjoy.

It doesn’t really matter what you do together. What matters is that you don’t forget to spend a little time and effort on maintaining your fabulous connection with your partner. Let them know that they are far more important to you than one day in your life.

Happy Couples, Happy Planet!

posted by Heather and Dan @ 1:43 PM