For more than 70 years, thousands of brides have traveled to Kleinfeld Bridal in New York City to find their wedding day looks. From the moment you walk through the doors, you’ll feel the magic of Kleinfeld. Not only does Kleinfeld have 30,000 square feet filled with the largest selection of wedding dresses in the world, it also has the greatest professional staff of over 200 employees who are dedicated to finding and perfecting your bridal look.
Photo Credit: Jose Villa
We can all agree that wedding planning is full of excitement—whether you’re saying “yes!” to your dream wedding dress, touring dreamy venues, finding the perfect guest accommodations, picking out your wedding bands, or choosing flower arrangements. But with the magic can come stress along the way, and with that, you need to make sure you’re taking time for you. We spoke to Sophia Malkotsis, founder of nyc yoga | sophia and creator of A Course in Self L*ve, all about how to take more time for yourself and release unwanted wedding planning stress.
“You’re embarking on a beautiful phase of your life and there’s so much to do. With that, though, comes busy days and lots of stress. Even if it’s a “good” stress, it’s still stress, which triggers a chemical fight or flight response,” says Sophia. “When we endure this feeling for an extended period of time––like the exciting months of planning a wedding––it can do some real damage if we don’t set enough time for ourselves to just be,” Check out the below list of grounding practices she’s curated just for you to help release the jitters and chill out before your wedding day, below.
Quality time.
These days, it can feel like no time at all has passed, yet time rushes by quickly, Sophia says. “In the months, weeks, or days leading up to your wedding, intentionally set time to connect with your partner; without technology or any distractions,” she suggests. “Hone in on the beauty of this connection and embrace the love that ignited your journey together.”
Release the urge to control.
You might find, like most brides, that you get caught up making sure every detail of your wedding is perfect, and worrying that things won’t work out the way they planned. “I’m a firm believer in the ‘everything always works out’ saying,” Sophia says. “And even a simple mantra can make a big difference in our daily outlook,” she suggests. Looking for a way to feel more positive, release worry and let go of some control? “Here’s one I love to do with my clients to feel positive, centered, and supported.
Find a comfortable seat or lay down in a quiet space with energy that makes you feel safe. Start to inhale through your nose. Watch your breath enter your nostrils, going down into your lungs, and fill up your belly. Now begin to exhale, noticing your breath move from your stomach up to your lungs, into your throat, and out of your nose or mouth. Repeat this mantra three times in your head: ‘I am supported, I am worthy to receive, I am loved,” while breathing slowly and deeply. Focus on these words until you embody them from the inside out.”
Enjoy mindful movement and exercise.
“Get out of your head and into your body,” Sophia says. Here at Kleinfeld, we always want you to feel and look like the best version of yourself on your wedding day, but exercising and moving your body shouldn’t feel like a chore through the process. “Moving our bodies is an act of self-love in one of the purest forms,” explains Sophia. Move your body with her in this mindful flow, here.
Come back to the present moment.
“Set aside at least 10 to 30 minutes every single day for you,” says Sophia. “The goal is to set aside the planners, running lists in your head, and get into the ‘this is me-time’ mood,” Learn more here.
Do (more) yoga.
“During a yoga class or when we flow on our own, we shut down the constant thoughts running through our headspace by focusing on how our bodies feel, and the quality of our breath,” she explains. “We subconsciously release any stress that has been stored in several areas in our body (like our hips, neck, shoulders, low back etc.) by moving and stretching in this way,” Learn more about the benefits of yoga here.
Find a quiet space and meditate.
“Not only does meditation calm the parasympathetic nervous system, but it also allows us to visualize and attract our most desirable manifestations,” says Sophia. “When we embody self-love from the inside out, we create the highest vibrational frequency, making us super attractors for our wildest dreams (a.k.a having the perfect wedding)!” she laughs. Read more on meditation here.
Express gratitude.
“Now more than ever, it’s so important to focus on what we already have,” recommends Sophia. How can you express gratitude? Create a mental note or physical list of at least three things you are grateful for each morning or evening. “Really connecting to the feeling of gratitude while thinking of these very specific people, objects, or circumstances in your life is key to maintaining a positive perspective,”
Love these tips? Read our ideas + advice section for more.
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