Bridal stress is temporary, yet connected to much deeper planning issues and wedding challenges that can drive any bride and groom crazy, according to Psychiatrist Najwa Sedeeq. “Stress is a common factor that all brides-to-be may experience, particularly over the little details like money or planning, or they might simply feel overwhelmed. While brides can't eliminate all of the stress inherent in wedding planning, brides should reduce their stress and focus on the big picture,” she said.

A bride should always ask herself if something is really important or if it would even affect her wedding before immediately breaking down, said Sedeeq. “Sometimes brides make a big deal out of nothing, when they should be using their heads instead of their tears,” she said. “I advise them to think twice before reacting to something that might not even be worth it. A lady should always control her temper. Screaming, yelling and crying do not make a pretty sight,” she added.

Trying to keep up with social and personal expectations is one of the biggest causes of wedding stress. “A bride is always trying to put forward her own ideas for the perfect wedding, follow the rules and listen to her family’s and friend’s ideas all at the same time. This can definitely be a stressful task,” said Dr. Sedeeq. “One of the best ways to fight this particular stress is to realize that no wedding will satisfy every guest, and neither will it follow every rule,” she added. 

Sedeeq shares some tips that help to reduce pre-wedding stress:

1) Stay healthy and don’t neglect yourself: A bride should maintain a healthy diet and eat properly, she should also do some exercise and aerobics. When a bride is angry or stressed she should think of doing yoga or taking a long walk; it helps ease her mind and get rid of bad energy.

2) Make sure that you get enough sleep. It helps to ease stress and all of the health problems that can result from too many life pressures.

3) A bride should not do everything by herself; she should delegate some responsibilities to trustworthy people around her. She can also consult with them and give them the chance to share some ideas for the wedding preparation. Doing this will help her to relieve stress.

4) A bride should take the opportunity to pamper herself. She should get a massage, take a bubble bath or even listen to her favorite music. This can be seen as a small vacation that helps her get away from the wedding stress. 

5) A bride should be content and laugh. I recommend for a bride to chat with her married friends about funny things that happened at their weddings. This way she can laugh more easily at the humorous things that happen at her own.

6) Consider premarital counseling: Most brides forget about their relationships when preparing for the wedding, it would be a good idea to just sit down and prepare for the marriage, not just the wedding.

7) Approach wedding planning with a sound mind and realistic expectations. Try to keep a realistic vision for your big day and be prepared for setbacks and disappointments.

A bride should always keep in mind that there will be things that are beyond her control, according to Sedeeq. “Accidents happen. If your cake fell down, or your makeup got messed up, or even if the caterer prepared chicken instead of fish, you can’t control it but you can control your temper and stress,” she said. “Do not unleash your inner demon over things that cannot be fixed. Hope for the best, but be prepared for the worst. Once it's all said and done, you'll realize how little these small setbacks mattered,” she added.