You've bought the perfect dress, made the favors, sent out your invitations, and found a florist, but somewhere along the way, you seem to have lost your sanity. Some of the signs of pre-wedding stress include stomach aches, difficulty sleeping, headaches, moodiness or irritability, and just that general anxious feeling we all know. Maybe you feel overwhelmed with all the preparations or maybe you are worried about the big life change that's approaching. No matter what's stressing you out, it's important for you to slow down and relax.

A relaxed bride is radiant (and rare). In ten years, your wedding guests may not remember what you served for dinner, but they will remember how calm and beautiful you looked. As the center of attention, when you are relaxed, it helps to put everyone else at ease. Beyond that, relaxing for your wedding lets you truly enjoy it.

It's no surprise that many brides experienced increased levels of stress in the months and weeks leading up to the big day. After all, you've dreamt about this day since you were four years old, and you want it to be perfect. Add to that the money worries associated with most weddings, the pressures from parents and future in-laws, the long list of decisions you need to make, and the realization that you are going to be a wife. Even the most level-headed person in the world is bound to lose it just a little bit when faced with all of that.

Regain Control
Start out your de-stressing process by regaining control of the stressor. When you take an active role in a difficult situation, you feel empowered. To regain control, you first need to figure out what's stressing you out. When you feel yourself getting anxious, try to identify what you are thinking about at the time. When a situation makes you upset, make a mental note to work through it when you have a chance.

One of the most common wedding stressors is just the sheer number of decisions and details that need your attention. Even if you use a wedding planner, a lot of brides really want to be personally involved in wedding decisions. Between writing the vows, making the seating chart, choosing the stationary, and so many other decisions, you may be running yourself ragged. If you're feeling overwhelmed, get organized. Make a list of things that need to be done, and then break it down by month. When you think about everything you need to do, it's easy to get overwhelmed. However, when you look at the much shorter list

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