To Do and Not to do - Night Before Wedding

There are lots of jokes and volumes written about the "wedding day," but not much has been said or written about the day before your wedding. As important as all the preparation you and your family and friends have engaged in for months before your wedding day, the night before your special day needs some extra special attention as well. Here are some do's and don't that will help get you ready for the main event.

As much as water and lots of it can be your friend, alcohol can be your enemy. Keep your alcohol consumption to a limit the night before your wedding and hydrate your body with lots of water. Your skin will look brighter and your body will feel better.

Try your very hardest to arrange that the evening and night before your wedding have no "to-do's." It's difficult to arrange a "do-nothing" evening and night, but if you can, it will be a wonderful gift for yourself.

With the days and months of organization and planning coming to an end, you owe yourself the opportunity to relax. There probably is no better way to that than to spend time with those people with whom you can kick off your shoes (literally or figuratively) and relax. Whether your choice of company is your parents, your bridesmaids or your fiancé, you know who the folks are who are "de-stressors," as apposed to those well-meaning people, whose presence tends to raise your blood pressure. This is a wonderful time to tell jokes, recount memories, tell stories and share dreams.

You have reached the last minute countdown and religiously practiced a fitness program to get you looking and feeling the best you can be. The night before your wedding day, your body will appreciate an extra dose of energy for the day ahead. Stay away from any foods that might give you heartburn, indigestion or gas. Those foods vary with each individual, so follow your knowledge of your own body, particularly on the night before your wedding. You'll be energized and get a good night's sleep.

Sleep is one of nature's best ways to revitalize and relax. Getting a full night's sleep, in a quiet comfortable surrounding, is your way of helping Mother Nature to help you. You may feel the urge to splurge the night before your wedding, staying up late with friends and family. You may even be coerced to do so, by the nice people who want to begin your celebration early. It's up to you to stand firm and hit the sack early. They will understand if you excuse yourself.

Make yourself some private space and spend your quiet time alone relaxing in any ways that feel good to you . . . a long warm bath, perhaps enhanced by soothing, fragrant candle light or aromatherapy, soft music, gentle stretching exercises and meditation are just a few of your choices. When you are relaxed, try visualization . . . "walk" your mind through your wedding day and picture it going absolutely flawlessly. That will give you a positive mind set and put you in the right frame of mind. Put yourself to sleep with a warm cup of milk and a good, calming book. It can be difficult to wind down after a rehearsal dinner, but it's so very important for your well-being.

Follow these simple guidelines and you should be ready to celebrate your wedding day with as much energy, vitality and comfort as possible.

By Judy Lewis, Web Mistress

Phone:(845) 336-4705

E-mail: judy@hudsonvalleyweddings.com

Website:www.hudsonvalleyweddings.com