Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither was your wedding! With most engagements lasting at least 12 months, there is quite a long lead time before your special day. In order to remain positive throughout the weeks leading up to your wedding, it is important to focus on the good. It is easier said than done when it comes to not stressing during your engagement. Your wedding is one of the most important days of your life after all. The truth is something will go wrong during your engagement (hello COVID-19), but in the end, your wedding will be the most perfect day possible. You will be surrounded by loved ones who fully support you and your fiancé as you begin your new life together.
To practice a positive mindset on your special day, you have to put in the work in the months leading up to it. When you feel at your best in your mind, body, and soul, then all your fears will subside.
When your wedding is 12 months away, it is time to start implementing these better wellness habits.
12 Months Out:
When you are 365 days away from your wedding, it is time to focus on developing the simple lifestyle habits that will make you feel your best in the long run. Begin by getting at least 7 hours of sleep a night. After waking up refreshed, start your day by drinking water. Try to drink at least 64 oz of water a day and you will be glowing from the inside out. Drinking plenty of water can contribute to healthy weight loss, and this is a fantastic metabolic boost you can do before you begin dress shopping. 12 months out is also the time to start exercising 3-4 days a week if you don’t already do so. These can be low impact workouts, such as long walks or hiking with a friend, but it’s time to start moving!
If possible, treat yourself to a quarterly facial before your big day. Weddings are expensive, so if pampering yourself at the salon is out of the budget, then there are plenty of at-home facial options you can work into your skincare routine. It’s best to test out any new skincare products early on so you do not experience allergic reactions close to your wedding day.
9 Months Out:
Take everything you have done over the last 3 months and bring it up a notch. Be more consistent with your workouts and start to focus on eating whole healthy foods. The food you eat will contribute to your energy levels, so this is the time to go sugar-free and eliminate processed foods. Yes, say goodbye to fast food and frozen fried foods. In addition to making these healthier food choices, start to curb your alcohol intake if going through a few bottles of wine a week is normal. We don’t think you should deprive yourself completely, just be more cautious of all the sugar you are putting in your body and limit yourself to say 4 glasses of wine or champagne per week instead of 12. Next, continue with a quarterly facial or begin at home exfoliations. Treat yourself to a new face or body scrub and start dry brushing. Dry brushing will help with lymphatic drainage and eliminate toxins from your body.
Now the realness of your wedding is probably kicking in as you likely have your wedding dress and vendors all booked at this point. To keep yourself grounded and remain calm, you may want to add in a brief meditation practice for just 5 minutes a day.
6 Months Out:
6 months may seem far away but trust us, it will go by quickly! Amp up your workouts to 5 days a week and keep drinking lots of water to account for the water loss you experience during those sweaty workouts. In terms of diet, focus on eating lean proteins with fresh vegetables and complex carbs. Start adding in some supplements for a beauty boost from the inside out. Collagen, biotin, and vitamin B12 will help your hair, skin, nails, and mood. Continue to decompress with a daily guided meditation and express gratitude for all that is going right during your engagement.
3 Months Out:
Okay brides, we hope your workouts are doing wonders for your body! However, we get that sometimes you can get stuck in a rut and there is no difference on the scale. This is the time to add in more weight-bearing exercises to help define and tone your muscles. You want to feel your best at your final dress fitting, so when you’re not breaking a sweat try to relax. Treat yourself to a massage or begin implementing long soothing baths into your weekly routine. This should help you sleep better and give you more energy in the times you need it most. For your beauty regimen, it’s best to keep up with a quarterly facial or at-home spa treatments. You can also do wonders for your body by switching from coffee to green tea. You should begin eating and drinking more greens as much as possible, and add a collagen protein mix into your morning smoothie or green juice.
1 Month Out:
The last month is here and we are sure the nerves are hitting you big time. Hopefully, weaning off coffee is keeping your jitters under control. As you start the final 4-week countdown, treat yourself to a final facial and massage. It’s your wedding month and you should feel like a queen! Begin your days with cucumber or lemon water to give you all the self-care feels! Be consistent with your workouts and sleep schedule. Your diet is extremely important this month, so start laying off any alcohol until your wedding events kick in. This will help reduce bloating in your face and midsection. To further help with reducing inflammation, you may want to use an ice roller on your face and neck for a few minutes each day.
In the week leading up to your wedding day, you should treat yourself to a manicure and pedicure. If you love a good spray tan, then we recommend opting for one 1-2 days before your wedding. The spray tan will help to contour and define your muscles, while also hiding any imperfections. If you're not used to spray tans, then we recommend testing them out 3-6 months out. Take it easy on your workouts in the last few days; you’ve put in the work all year long and deserve a well-earned break. With the endorphins and serotonin levels on a high from the excitement of your wedding festivities, it is time to enjoy the day itself and your honeymoon to come!
Say hi and let us know how many months you have left until your wedding day in the comments below!
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