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Your Day, Your Spa Full service Day Spa and Makeup Boutique Book a custom package for your bridal party 40 Main Street South, Georgetown, Ontario 905-877-1500 or toll free 1-866-477-SPAA or visit our web site at www.thespaonmain.ca Special pullout section Wednesday, February 20, 2008 8 Pages www.independentfreepress.com Select the right wine for your wedding Page 5 Remember to eat right before the big day Page 3 BRIDES 2008 Halton Hills Community Newspaper You have so many things to do before your wedding day that you cant imagine getting everything done. Everyone has their own stories, good and bad, of what they did and maybe you should consider doing this, that or the other for your wedding. You are getting stressed out, which doesnt make you happy in what should be a happy time. You need to realize that planning a wedding can be stressful and be prepared to deal with that fact. Dont fall into the trap of thinking that everything will go perfectly. This will only add to your stress when things dont. Focus on what you have to work with, not on what you dont have. Everyone will have their own ideas about your wed- ding, but keep in mind you cant please everyone. You and your spouse-to-be are the only ones you need to please because it is your wedding. In order to deal with stress, you need to recognize it. Symptoms include headaches, moodiness, poor concentra- tion, stomachaches, problems sleeping, racing thoughts and irritability. Should these symptoms persist or get worse, they could indicate a more serious condition, so pay atten- tion to what your body is telling you. After you have acknowledged you are feeling stressed, there are a few things you can do to cope with it: Space out deadlines and set them far enough ahead to allow for problems. Dont let everything go until the last minute. Delegate responsibilities to people you trust. Check in with them occasionally but let them handle things. Set boundaries and be assertive. If others are interfering too much or taking up too much of your time, let them know how you feel without being too aggressive. Dont take everything so seriously. Try to laugh when things go wrong. Spend time with your spouse-to-be. Discuss everything and make sure the wedding plans are going the way you both want them to. Get enough sleep, eat right and exercise. Avoid outside stimulators like alcohol, drugs, caffeine, nicotine and sugar. Take a breather when necessary. When feeling stressed, practice some relaxation or meditation exercises or go for a walk. Dont be afraid to talk to others about how you are feeling. Pamper yourself. Go to the movies, read a book, take a bubble bath or spend a day at the spa. Keep your activities in check. Its only natural for oth- ers to be excited for you and want to get together to cele- brate but dont overextend yourself with too many social obligations. With so much emphasis put on the wedding, it can be easy to forget that the event is just the beginning of your marriage. If your wedding isnt perfect, its not the end of the world. In fact it, it might make it more memorable, so go with the flow. By Ronda Addy CHILL!Memo tobrides: