8 Easy Ways to Prevent Wedding Insanity

Let’s not beat around the bush: planning a wedding is work. With all those decisions and responsibilities, it’s easy to see how some brides and grooms get completely consumed in the minutiae. So how do stressed-out, site-seeing, menu-sampling couples get their eyes back on the ball? By taking a breather from the planning process. Get ready to clear your schedules and forget about picking the bomboniere -the following list of eight stress-breaking activities will help you remove yourselves from nuptial hassles and restore your sanity.

1. Declare a wedding-free weekend.

For a full 48-hour period, pretend you’re the two people you were before you got engaged (and, in the meantime, remind yourselves of why you wanted to get married to each other in the first place). No wedding planning or fighting allowed! No talk of hors d’oeuvres, seating charts, or first dance songs. Hang out, laugh, have fun, and flirt with each other for a change.

2. Have a night out with the girls (or boys).

With all the “togetherness” of being a future bride and groom, remind yourselves you’re individuals too. Book a night out with your respective same-sex posse (again, no wedding talk). Hit the town like a swinging single and stay out past midnight. Take advantage of the fact that your future spouse isn’t around to do something with your friends he or she doesn’t like to do — we’re talking chick flick, steak dinner, manicures. Then entertain each other the next day with tales of your exploits.

3. Go on a fancy date.

Chances are, for the past few months you’ve been scrimping and saving every extra cent to supplement The Budget. If you’ve done well, reward yourselves for your miserly skills by spending a little of that cold hard cash. Book a table at the fanciest restaurant in town and go for the full monty: fine wine, entrée, a delicious main course,  and a decadent dessert. Afterwards go to a fun little bar- just the two of you.

4. Take a drive.

Reserve a weekend afternoon and head for the open road. Check out that little place a couple of suburbs over that you always mean to visit. Or head to the beach. Play road games like Eye-Spy.  Sing along to cheesy songs on the radio. Stumble upon a romantic restaurant for lunch or dinner before heading home.

5. Mastermind a movie marathon.

There’s nothing like a good movie to transport you from reality to fantasy. Turn off your phones and rent a whole slew of films, and spend an evening in, snacking on popcorn and Maltesers. The trick here is to stay away from wedding-theme fare — sorry, this includes Father of the Bride.  Ideally find a comedy that you will both enjoy — laughter, after all, is still the best stress reliever.

6. Get in some game play.

Sometimes a little healthy competition serves to make you closer, right? Challenge your mate to a night of games: Pictionary, Scrabble, backgammon, even good old cards.  Rather venture out? Head for the nearest bowling alley — or look into go-carts, ice-skating, and tennis tournaments for other fun and sporty activities to enjoy a deux.

7. Revert to childhood.

There’s nothing like a good amusement park to get you feeling like a kid again. Wake up extra early to avoid long lines, then get your fill of roller coasters, crazy rides and Ferris wheels. Challenge your future mate to a bumper car race. Fill up on fairy floss, ice-cream and doughnuts. Then spend an hour or so trying to win a supersize stuffed animal to take home as a memento of the day.

8. Engage in an eat-a-thon.

If you both love to cook, compose a special theme menu for a romantic at-home date. Go shopping together and pick the freshest produce around (maybe there’s a farmer’s market near you) — and remember to include some aphrodisiac ingredients! Nab a bouquet and some candles to pretty up your table while you’re at it. Once at home, take time to really enjoy the meal prep process. Line up all your ingredients on the countertop and open a bottle of wine. And take lots of liberties when it comes to recipes — nothing’s better than creating signature dishes together.