Page 104 - Wedding Essentials & Essential groom Issue 8

Beating Post If you are experiencing PND just think that things

could be worse; you could find yourself in Britney
Spears’ shoes waking up to your very own Las Vegas
Wedding wedding hell and filing for a quickie annulment before
brunch the next day!

It’s not all doom and gloom though, there are a few
things to keep in mind to ensure you (and your mar-
Blues riage) don’t crash and burn:
SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE: Now that you’re mar-
ried it means you have valuable experience in tying the
knot. This knowledge and experience could be shared
with engaged friends, family and colleagues – sharing
your knowledge will also give you purpose. Be careful
though not to highjack the moment.

GET BUSY: Use the time to pack away your wedding
gifts, send out your thank-you cards, put a wedding
scrap book together and get your home in order.
PERSONAL SPACE: Do your own thing. It’s vital that
you still have “me” time and don’t get too caught up in
being a couple all of the time. Life is about balance so
spend time with your girlfriends and let him have his
days on the golf course.
INTIMACY: Whilst having your own space is import-
ant it’s also imperative that you spend special time
together; romantic dinners and walks along the beach
will keep the passion alive. If you’re feeling down then
tell each other so you can share the load.
GET ON YOUR BIKE! Replace wedding dress fittings
with yoga or other physical exercise. It’s important to
replace those adrenalin filled pre-wedding days with
healthy routines. Better still add exercise you can do
together to your routine - like tandem cycling.

LOWER YOUR EXPECTATIONS: It’s a fact that
your expectations increase once you’re married; she’ll
expect him to help out round the house and he’ll expect
It’s not that surprising after months of wedding prepa- to be waited on hand-and-foot. You’ll both need to be
rations and planning followed by a magical reception aware of this – the rings on your fingers don’t give you
and an utterly romantic honeymoon, you experience the rite to nag, moan and boss each other about.
feelings of disappointment, disillusion and even
depression. In psychology circles this is referred to as SEEK HELP: Overcome your feelings of guilt and
‘post nuptial depression’ or PND and it’s very common don’t be scared to seek help from a therapist. Alterna-
for the bride, and even the groom, to feel depressed tively, an encouraging pep talk from your best friend or
once the honeymoon’s over. Women tend to invest a respected family member could just do the trick.
more emotionally in their weddings so it’s not surpris-
ing that one in 10 brides experiences PND at various BOOK A HOLIDAY: As soon as you return from
levels, lasting a few days or even years if untreated. honeymoon book another holiday together so you have
Reality checks in with a bang and you realise there is no something to look forward to. The purse strings might
“happily ever after”. be tight but an inexpensive long weekend away will
keep you determined.
Adrenalin has kept you going for months prior and
during your wedding, so it’s not surprising that the Lastly, remember that the secret to a successful mar-
mental baggage manifests physically as well, inevitably riage is compromise, and we’re not condoning being
leading to all sorts of illness, aches and pains. Other submissive but rather honesty and making decisions
issues like a drop in your libido and weight gain can together, for the betterment of both of you… through
also compound this depression. better or worse keep at it!

104 | Wedding Essentials