We all know how stressful planning a wedding can be, making wedding planning burnout a very real possibility. Whether you’re trying not to pull out your hair as wedding costs skyrocket or you’re obsessing over every little detail to ensure that everything goes the way you’ve pictured it, feeling overwhelmed is guaranteed to happen if you’re not careful.
Thankfully, this isn’t something new and there are endless resources to help the modern bridal couple looking to keep costs and anxiety low.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when attempting to avoid wedding planning burnout:
Don’t rush
This may not always be possible but last-minute wedding planning is not fun for anyone, especially the soon-to-be bride and groom. While there’s nothing wrong with wanting to hop, skip, and jump right into the part where you say “I do,” making sure that you have enough time to plan your dream wedding is always advised as this will give you a spacious timeline to ensure things are handled well and that the process is smooth.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help
The number one reason for wedding planning burning is not asking for help. While it’s not always easy to ask for help, it is a necessary practice if you’re looking to keep your bridal party or the partner you’re set to marry, make sure you delegate tasks to ensure everything on your list is ticked off and that you’re not Atlas attempting to carry the world on your shoulders.
Be normal!
It’s so easy to get wrapped up in planning that you may forget why you’re actually getting married – love. A great way to keep your mental health in tip-top shape is by making sure that you get out and spend some quality time with each other. Plan an epic date night with your partner with a strict “no wedding talk rule,” this will allow you to keep some sense of normality.
Have some fun
Can wedding planning be fun? Well, you’ll need to find out. A big reason for something being incredibly stressful is because it’s just not bringing you the joy you need, so why not endeavour to pull out the fun card? For example, if you’re deciding what you should serve at your wedding, why not turn it into an adventure by setting it up as a “culinary tour” that could also double as a date night?
Technology is your friend
There are countless wedding apps that are ready to lend a helping hand as you attempt to navigate the minefield that is wedding planning. Whether you’re looking to make your life easier by setting up a wedding website and forgoing physical invitations or looking for a nifty app to help you sort out your budget, there’s something for everyone in need.
Feature Image: Olguin Photography
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After nearly two years of staying indoors and not enjoying the wonders of travel, heading to your favourite destination to get married is back on the table!
While many brides and grooms are grabbing their passports and jetting off to tropical destinations such as Mauritius and Bali, there are a few out there that prefer a different climate.
Luxury travel company Red Savannah recently launched an incredible package for winter-loving bridal couples looking to say “I do” in the remote destination of Antarctica.
The price tag? A cool R4 million!
Yup, we’re living in a post-pandemic world and weddings appear to be that expensive.
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The hefty price tag includes return flights from South Africa to Antarctica, accommodations for the soon-to-be newlyweds and the wedding party, beverages, food and activities. The big day will start with a breakfast on ice, followed by the cake-cutting ceremony and champagne in the snow lounge.
While you may think that R4 million may be more than enough to accommodate a whole host of guests, a maximum of 12 wedding guests are allowed to watch you step into newlywed bliss.
Guests will have the opportunity to enjoy a white dessert party – yum!
Additional costs are the “wedding gift registry” which will be a pledge of $1000 (R16 600) per person. This will be used for conservation efforts in Antarctica.
If you’re interested, you’ll be happy to know that there is one flight that leaves Cape Town and will take five hours to arrive at the icy destination.
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You’ve gathered all the necessary ingredients for the perfect proposal: a gorgeous engagement ring, a heart-tugging engagement speech, but oh, how to pop the question in a way that will make her heart flutter?
Going down on one knee and asking your soulmate to marry you is a stressful affair, and if all that stress has you feeling overwhelmed and confused about your perfect wedding proposal, try a few of these engagement ideas on for size.
Make sure to add your own personal and creative twist:
Loud and proud, for everyone to see:
These are for those brave souls out there who don’t care a hoot about who is watching!
Have a caricaturist at your side
It’s the stuff rom-coms are made of! There are a number of caricaturists and artists in South Africa that will make the perfect accomplice to your wedding proposal. Hire them on the day and have them sketch the words: “Will you marry me?” And voila!
A favourite landmark
This doesn’t have to be everyone’s favourite landmark, but just you and your soon-to-be betrothed. It can be anything from a mountain, fountain, hotel to shopping mall, as long as it’s a place that’s special to both of you!
Keep it close to home
Who needs to be amongst people? If you and your future bride are both homebodies, here are home wedding proposals.
Re-create your first date
This can be both out and about or at home – you decide. However, nothing is more romantic than re-enacting your first date before creating a beautiful new memory by popping the question.
A custom jigsaw puzzle
This is the perfect proposal idea if you both love board games or it’s a rainy day. Make sure to get a custom-made jigsaw puzzle with your picture and the words: “Will you marry me?” If you’ve completed the puzzle enough that you can clearly see your picture and the words, it’s time to go down on one knee.
Embrace Mother Nature
If you love the great outdoors then check out a few of these ideas.
Hot Air Balloon
There’s nothing like letting your love soar to new heights, and popping the question while doing just that is a fantastic idea! Well, as long as a fear of heights is not on the table.
Message in a bottle
If you’re looking for a unique beach proposal, then why not add a cute little message to a bottle? Write a heartwarming poem or letter on a piece of parchment and add it to the bottle with cork before burying it in a designated spot under the sand. Don’t forget them to find the bottle, but make sure you have the ring ready to go!
Adorable proposal ideas
You’re looking for fun. You’re looking for excitement. You’re looking for unique, here are a few ideas:
Escape Room
Escape rooms are all the rage right now, so why not add your own wedding proposal spin on things? Contact your favourite escape and try and work on a way that will allow you to incorporate your wedding proposal into the adventure of trying to escape the room!
Gift Delivery
You were looking for cute? Why not get a box that’s tall enough for you (a refrigerator box is a great start) and add a little note for your soon-to-be fiance that may allude to what’s really inside the box.
Feature Image: Adventure for Love
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Modern couples are increasingly looking for new ways to add a little “spice” in the bedroom, but it may not be in the way you think.
Couples choosing to sleep apart has become a rather common practice with studies backing the growing trend and according to sleep scientists, 1 in 4 couples are opting to sleep in separate beds.
While more and more couples are enjoying the covers all to themselves, there’s still a certain level of stigma attached to this choice, however, it’s nothing new. The wealthy have been doing it for decades and you only need to pop on an episode of Netflix’s The Crown and check out the sleeping arrangements of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip to find examples of this.
One newlywed couple recently went viral for sharing their out-of-the-ordinary sleeping arrangements. Hailing from the United Kingdom, Nelly and Andrew Grecian claim that sleeping separately has benefitted their relationship as they often feel refreshed and revitalised when they wake up in the morning.
But while some couples are reaping the benefits, just what does science have to say about it?
When sleep is measured objectively, people will actually sleep worse with a partner. This makes sense when you consider that having a partner who snores is basically a recipe for a disruptive night’s rest. However, when asked whether you’d prefer to sleep with your partner in the same bed, you’d likely answer “yes.”
According to scientists, this suggests that our social brain prioritises a need for closeness and security at night, even when traded in for a good night’s rest. However, no matter your sleeping preferences, couples need to prioritise sleep when it comes to their relationship.
A rather interesting study found that when the sleep and relationship quality of heterosexual couples were analysed, it found that when male subjects slept worse, they often reported their relationship quality suffered the next day. In contrast to this, on days when female subjects were not happy about their relationship, both her sleep and her husband’s sleep suffered that night.
Wendy M. Troxel PhD, a senior behavioural and social scientist and the woman behind “How to sleep like your relationship depends on it,” reiterates this. But what’s her conclusion on the matter?
There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to couples and their sleeping strategies, but couples will need to learn the art of prioritising sleep for the betterment of their relationship and lives. After all, sleep occupies around one-third of our lives with research indicating that when you’re well-rested, you’re a better communicator, happier, more empathetic, and more attractive.
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