As a team at French Wedding Style, we’ve focused on being a light in dark times and providing oodles of wedding inspiration for you. We’ve discussed the impact of Coronavirus on your wedding day, and today we’ve invited back our resident all things beauty expert Carey Hawkins to talk about bridal self love during Covid-19.
Carey: As we enter our 6th week of lockdown here in France, we have now entered a new kind of ‘normal’ for our day to day lives.
For my lovely brides for 2020, there is no kind of normal. Just lots of questions, changing information and why is this is happening to me?
Planning a wedding is stressful enough without the idea that you now might have to change your date (or have done so) and the idea of your ‘perfect’ wedding might change.
So how do you keep your glow, energy, and sanity now?
Focus firstly on the things that you have control over and can change. Acceptance is a powerful tool during the wedding planning process (and especially now) So speak to your suppliers/planners in France. For June/July weddings hang in there and wait for Government announcements in the coming weeks. Do not get caught up in speculation and gossip on wedding forums. Keep focusing on your wedding date if it is later in the year but be ready to accept that plans will change and be as flexible as you can.
Take some time out for you. I have talked many times about ‘self-care’ for brides but never has the word been used so frequently in the media now. Most brides will have a beauty countdown or exercise plan. You might now have longer to do this. What a fantastic opportunity to up your skincare regimen, look after your hair (at home of course), drink more water, and get outside to exercise daily. But also, don’t put pressure on yourself. If you do nothing else in the day taking a few moments to focus on the breath. Whenever you are overwhelmed close your eyes and breath in and fill your tummy for a count of four. Hold the air in for two counts and breath out for four. Keep going until you feel your breathing is under control and you feel calmer. Also designate a day a week as a wedding free zone. Check-in with your partner, have a nice meal, and watch a box set together – no wedding chat allowed!
Make sleep a priority. Easier said than done when you have just watched the latest news. Keep a routine. Go to bed at the same time every evening and get up the same time every day. No electrical equipment in the
bedroom e.g. TVs or phones. Use an eye mask if it is light in your room and earplugs for noise. Lastly, keep a notepad by your bed. Before dozing off write down anything that is in your head or is worrying you. This helps to calm the brain and be ready for sleep.
Most importantly please remember that you are not alone in this journey. As a wedding supplier, all that I want to do is work with you and do the job I love.
Stay well, keep planning, keep smiling and take each day as it comes.
When that big day does arrive – what a celebration it will be.
