Elle’s Bridal Diary: The Final Countdown

It’s the Final Countdown – Cue the dramatic music, drum rolls and fireworks. The last week before the wedding is bound to be filled with euphoria on the highest levels. Just as the engagement has flown by, so will this last week. This is your time to sit back, breathe, take it all in and enjoy.

By this time all the details would be finalized, logistics sorted, rentals confirmed and paid for and best of all… excitement will start building for everyone involved.

I have trawled the internet for checklists and countdowns and “advice” on how to handle the last week leading up to your big day. I find that no checklist applies to each wedding and you have to draw a list that suits you and what you’re doing. However, I find that some themes for the final week applies across the board:

Rest

It’s been a manic few months spent researching, shopping, creating, calculating and plotting. Now is the time to rest and relax. Take some time to be alone, journal, take a walk or do something that you enjoy doing by yourself. You are about to start a new journey that will have you share your life, your world with another person. Take this time to just be. Give your heart and mind some rest. It is vital that you are refreshed before your big day and also before you start this new chapter.

Forget

Now this might be a little strange, but I am going to advise you to forget. Forget for a moment about all the drama, the disappointments, the hassles and the admin you’ve had to deal with over the last few months. Forget about the troubles and the headaches and the fights. This is the build up to the biggest and best day of your life; you do not want to miss out on the exhilaration and joy. Never again will you have a build up like this one and you want to make the most of it.

Celebrate

Take the time to have a party, not a literal party with 20 people, dinner and dancing, but small celebrations with those nearest and dearest celebrating this special time. Whether it’s a sunset picnic with your girlfriends, a moonlight walk with your fiancé, tea party with your parents or something as simple as dressing up to work.

This is the time of your life and it is up to you to embrace every last minute.

Read more from Elle as she plans her wedding in our Bride to Be section.