Relationship Stress
Most of your energy is focused on your relationship with your fiancé. This is as it should be, so yay for that! Wedding planning distracts many people from the important task of preparing for lifelong partnership. Yes, you’re throwing the biggest celebration of your life, but you’re also about to commit yourself to marriage. You, my friend, have your priorities straight.
Being on the same page, communicating well, compromising, and feeling connected is important to you. When these things aren’t happening, you can feel really bad. Here’s the good news: you are engaged and preparing for marriage! There is no better time to flex your relationship muscle and learn new skills for communication, for navigating conflict, for increasing intimacy, and becoming best friends.
Recommendations for You:
Dedicate time every week to check in with your partner. During this time, make space for each of you to share how you’re feeling in the relationship and in life, and welcome hard feelings. Don’t try to problem-solve here! Just listen and validate.
Learn how to fight well. Conflict in a relationship is inevitable; it’s how well you fight that determines how you’ll be able to bounce back.
Schedule couples counseling. It’s a powerful tool for increasing communication, navigating difficult conversations, and learning more about each other. Read about our services here!
Tools for You:
The Intentional Nearlywed Relationship workshop: Communicating your emotions & Needs to your fiancé
In this short and sweet digital mini-course, you’ll learn how to communicate your emotional needs and make requests of your fiancé with confidence and clarity. In the time it takes to watch an episode of Bridgerton, you’ll learn how to have hard, easy-to-avoid relationship conversations, be heard by your fiance, get what you need from your relationship, become your own best advocate, and increase emotional intimacy with your soon-to-be spouse.
The Mindful Nearlywed | An Emotional Resilience Guide + Workbook
The Mindful Nearlywed is a free 20-page resource that will guide you through four common struggles during the engagement journey, with actionable journal prompts for self-reflection and emotional resiliency.
The Mindful Nearlywed explores:
Common myths about getting engaged and planning a wedding
Confusing emotions that arise during the engagement and wedding process
Why family members are having a difficult time or acting out
How wedding planning can strengthen your relationship with your partner
How family boundaries realign during this period