The Bride's Guide Blog

 Posted by Grace Bonney, of Design*Sponge

As I write this I am imagining "The Final Countdown" by Europe in my head. Our wedding is two days away, and I can't believe how quickly the year and two months of our engagement have gone.

I remember how exciting it was to get engaged—I was walking around like I was on a cloud for months. I remember thinking "Pfff... We'll plan this thing in like two months, no biggie," and then realizing how much more there was to it than just finding food and making an iPod mix. (Note: To everyone who told me the planning was tough and I shrugged it off, you were right.)

So as I take some final moments to reflect on where we've been and where we're going, I thought I'd share my final countdown day and some tips I've learned from others on how to stay cool, calm, and happy before the wedding.

The Nitty Gritty

I'm the type of person who likes to busy myself with small tasks to keep my cool, so I've lined up a bunch of practical things I can do pre-wedding to help me stay calm and relaxed and healthy.

1. Drink four of these (with lemon and cucumber slices). I'm trying to stay super hydrated to fend off breakouts and stay cool. It's much warmer down here and it never hurt anyone to stay hydrated and keep their skin dewy.

2. Keep my skin clear with Philosophy's micro-peel system. I'm sort of a nut about my skin, so I've been using this religiously for the past three months as part of my "clear wedding skin" arsenal. I got a facial last week, so this week it's about maintaining and avoiding any last minute eruptions. If I feel anything brewing between now and Saturday I use this to keep it at bay.

3. Walk at least 40 minutes, twice a day. I'm not a workout person so, I figured I would try to get myself to walk around town early in the morning and late in the afternoon as a good way to clear my head and get a little bit of exercise.

4. Make a list each morning of small tasks to finish (confirm manicure appointments, check on bridal party's flights, etc.) that I can check off during the day. Lists and checking things off of them make me feel calm and organized.

The Important Things

1. Spending time with my family: I'm an only child, and my family has always been the most important thing to me. I really want to take these last two days and spend it with them, rather than stressing out about wedding details. They know who I am and have always been the best at keeping me grounded and feeling good about things.

2. Getting a little time alone with Aaron each day: We're going to be up to our ears in family and friends (which is great!), so I want to take a few moments out of each day to step away, take a walk, or sit and chat with Aaron so we don't get lost in the wedding madness.

3. Soaking it all in: Everyone's right when they say it goes by quickly, so I want to be sure to breathe, laugh, smile, and remember every moment of our time in Savannah. I know that sounds a little like one of those inspirational posters—sorry.

4. Take time out to appreciate our wedding party: These are our closest friends and family, and I'm looking forward to our rehearsal dinner where we can spend some time together and just have fun. (I also can't wait to wear my new dress).

5. Blowing off steam at Pinkie Masters: Yes, drinks at our favorite dive bar is "important". We're going to meet anyone in town for a drink here pre-wedding, and I can't wait to kick back and relax a bit. Maybe dance, maybe have a drink (but not more than one—I don't want to be puffy the next day) and just exhale deeply and let all the butterflies out.

Last but not least, the most important, and traditional, thing, happening before the big day is the night I'll spend with my friends, and apart from Aaron. We're both fans of the idea of not seeing each other until we hit the aisle, so I'm excited for those last fun hours of singledom with my family, my girls (and Bryan!).

I'm signing off now to soak up this special time down South. Thank you to everyone who's helped me along the way, joined me in conversation here, and shared your tips, advice, and thoughts on weddings and marriage in general. Your advice and support has been priceless.

And thank you to everyone at MS Weddings (especially Shira who put up with me this whole time) for their help and support—it's been so much easier having a friendly team of talented women helping me along the way.

See you in a few weeks, as a happily married woman.

Love, Grace.

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Posted by guestblogger on April 23, 2009 in Event Planning, Guest Blogger, Real Weddings