How you can support a bridezilla

Most of us have encountered a stressed-out bride at some point in our lives – some of us may even have been one ourselves! As a bridesmaid, groom, friend or family member of a bride, it can be difficult when the bride’s stress and emotions take over. But there are ways to help manage the situation and provide support before things escalate. Here are five tips for dealing with a bridezilla.

1. Set boundaries

Weddings can be stressful for everyone, with the level of stress often dependent on your level of involvement. A great way to prevent any issues is to set boundaries with the bride beforehand. A face-to-face meeting – either online or in person – is preferable, so nothing gets misinterpreted.

At an appropriate time take her aside and calmly tell her that you love her and will do everything in your power to make her day perfect. Ensure you are both clear and agree on your role and the expectations. Setting these boundaries at the start leaves no room for misinterpretation, and a good friend will respect and understand you are doing your best to ensure her big day runs smoothly.

2. Show empathy

Nobody understands the monumental pressure of organising a wedding until you’ve been through it yourself. This goes double for brides and grooms trying to navigate the challenges of a post-COVID wedding.

According to The Choosi Cost of Love Report 2021, more than half of couples (56.7%) say they have a sense of ‘missing out’ by having their wedding or honeymoon plans impacted. And more than a third (36.1%) say COVID-19 has increased the stress and anxiety around their wedding. That’s not even broaching the subject of finances – Australians think the average cost of a wedding has ballooned by an additional $5,000 compared to weddings in 2018.

So put yourself in the bride’s shoes. She and her partner are likely dealing with anxiety about years of COVID restrictions, plus the uncertainty of wedding dates due to the pandemic and the growing cost of putting together their big day.

3. Take a step back

It’s not always an easy thing to do in the heat of the moment, but putting some distance between you and a difficult situation can provide some much needed perspective. When you’re stressed, your heart rate increases, your blood pressure goes through the roof and adrenaline floods your bloodstream, making it extremely difficult to make calm, sensible decisions.

For atomic-level calm, try mindfulness or meditation. When you meditate, science has proven that you’re actually changing your mood. Oxytocin and serotonin are released, and your heart rate and blood pressure lowers, which can help give you some clarity in almost any situation.

Apps like Calm and Headspace offer timed meditations that can help you move from stressed to stress-free in anywhere from five to 30 minutes.

4. Try to de-stress

When the bride is stressed, it often means the entire wedding party is stressed! If you are feeling overwhelmed in your role of supporting the bride, it can be valuable to take some time out to collect your thoughts.

Go out for dinner at your favourite restaurant, book a massage or even plan a weekend away for you and the bride – if she can afford the time away from wedding planning, it could be a much needed excuse to get away from everything and gain some perspective in regards to her big day.

There are many beautiful locations for potential staycations right on our doorstep, and a weekend away for you and the bride doesn’t have to break the budget.

5. Tell the bride how you feel

Sometimes it all gets too much and things reach breaking point. One thing piles on top of another and before you know it, you’re feeling overwhelmed – how are you ever going to be able to show up to this wedding with a smile on your face?

When things escalate to this level, the best thing you can do might be to just come right out and tell the bride how you’re feeling. She may not realise that her wedding planning has also placed a heavy weight on your shoulders, and it can be good to be upfront, honest and get things out in the open so you can both move forward in a more positive way.

When the big day is over, the bride likely will be appreciative that you were respectful enough to come to her during such a stressful time, and will see that you just want to make sure she has the best day possible.

Open communication and mutual respect

Dealing with a stressed-out bride can be difficult, but it can help to understand that they’re under a lot of pressure and the emotions and overwhelming stress of the day may sometimes get the better of them. Always keep the lines of communication open and maintain mutual respect between all parties, and everything should work out well in the end.

With a wedding being one of the biggest days of many people’s lives, it’s the perfect time to make sure you and your loved ones are financially secure against the unexpected with life insurance. Compare a range of policies with Choosi today.