{Wedding Wednesday} How to Survive the Holidays as a Bride-to-Be (Guest post)

I'm lucky enough today to welcome back Ali from PunkWife.com to Wedding Wednesday! She's always so full of wonderful bridal tips! Click HERE for her previous Wedding Wednesday post! Ali is the author of The Bitch's Bridal Bible, a fabulous, no nonsense guide to being a bride! 

How to Survive the Holidays as a Bride-to-Be

Heading into the holidays as a bride-to-be is exciting! But let’s be realistic: you’re probably also worried about protecting your budget, avoiding a muffin top, and escaping other stressors (family drama or running around like a crazy person, anyone?) But with some planning ahead, and a little care-taking, you can still indulge this season and keep the stress levels down! Consider the following suggestions on how to survive the holidays as a bride-to-be:  

1.     Gifts. Consider letting family know ahead of time that you will be a little more resourceful this year with gift giving, and that you may even DIY your gifts. Just be sure to stay within you limits of crafts-pertise to avoid any stress. (“They are my special Christmas socks I knitted for you little Mary! You just have to hold them up as you walk for them to work. Merry Christmas!”)

2.     Being cornered. Oh, Aunt Bertha, with your Merlot breath and endless questioning. Want to know why I’m having such a long engagement? Because DO YOU WANT TO PAY FOR MY WEDDING? I understand that the price per head in your day was $8.25, but you should really move that decimal point one spot to the right and then add $100. Now give me some of that wine because hearing myself say it out loud like that made me thirsty. (You’re in close corners with family you see maybe twice a year, so there’s not much you can do to escape this other than pull the string on your Chardonnay chute and deal.)

3.     Food. Consider “pre-gaming” before you attend your holiday party – but put down the eggnog you silly bride, you. The phrase takes on a whole new meaning this year. I’m referring to snacking at home first before heading out the door. Going to a holiday party hungry is the equivalent of going grocery shopping hungry. Everything looks amazing, and you are likely to devour it all. I’m not saying this is a bad thing. However, if you are a conscious bride and think you may beat yourself up later on for splurging, think ahead.

My grandma always says that when you have two parties to attend in one day, consider which one always has the best desserts and go there last. If you have multiple stops to make, this is the one year you probably want to play the reverse card and avoid any temptation. You can make up for it next year. 

4.     Skin, hair, nails. Depending on where you live, the holidays can also bring about a wrecking ball of dryness and brittleness to your skin, hair, and nails – coincidentally, all of the things you wish to look beautiful in time for your wedding. There’s no magic product or quick fix for this; the most effective formula here is the following: Moisturize. Get sleep. Be nice to yourself. And avoid stress as much as possible. Which brings me to #5…

5.     Stress. The last thing you need during wedding season is added stress. Numbers 1-4 contribute to the stress issue, and it can be hard to unwind or maintain your inner Zen amongst all the crazy. It may be finances on your mind, work deadlines, or family drama (times two this year, since you are now a part of your husband’s family, as well.) Carve out some time to decompress and relax yourself as you know how, whether it be practicing yoga, pounding the treadmill, or zoning out on the couch catching up with your DVR. And have fun wherever possible, because isn’t that what this time of year is supposed to be about?

Lastly, as you enjoy all the festivities, remember to make some time to enjoy the holidays with your future hubby. Depending how long your engagement is, it may be the only holiday you get to be a glowing bride-to-be. Make memories. Make traditions. But whatever you do, don’t make yourself crazy.

Author Bio: Alessandra Macaluso is author of "The Bitch's Bridal Bible: The Must-Have, Real- Deal Guide for Brides," available on Amazon and Kindle. A creator at heart, she is an avid writer of screenplays, articles, and business/product reviews. She has contributed to Uptown Magazine, Charlotte Magazine, and Yelp.com, among other publications, and was featured in the New York Times “Life and Style” section for her review of Ulta Beauty. Her original screenplay, “Polar Suburbia”, placed as a semi-finalist in the 2009 Moondance Film Festival. To learn more about Alessandra you can visit her blog at www.punkwife.com or visit her Google Author Profile.

That last line is on the money! Don't make yourself crazy! Thank you Ali for another wonderful post!! You're welcome back ANY time! :)

How is being a bride stressing you out more than normal during this holiday season?

Till next time,

Catherine

If you're a fellow blogger and are interested in guest posting for this series, shoot me an e-mail at CatherinePageWood@gmail.com! Or, even if you're not a blogger and would like to share your wedding story or advice, send me an e-mail! I would LOVE to share your stories!

If you liked this post, be sure to check out the other editions of Wedding Wednesday!

• Getting Started on Wedding Planning
• My Tips for Less Stressful Wedding Planning
• Choosing a Photographer
• How to Survive a Wedding Expo
• Mirror, Mirror - Why Big Mirrors Are a Must!
• Save the Dates - Yay or Nay? 
• Easily Overlooked Details
• The Top 10 Crazy Characters You'll Face During Wedding Planning (and How to Deal With Them)