Selecting bridesmaids’ dresses can be a lengthy process and is always one full of opinions. With so many styles to choose from and aesthetics to consider with the overall look and feel, brides and their bridesmaids have tons of options to choose from as they create the perfect bride tribe vibe for the big day.
We loved working with Jaime and Amanda to create their dreamy woodland wedding at The Grand Barn at the Mohicans. With a focus on simple sophistication and ethereal elements, the pair’s goal was to create a memorable and intimate day.
It’s no secret that stress is a part of our lives. From our jobs to our relationships, stress can seem unavoidable. Add wedding planning into the mix and our internal stress-meter can reach capacity.
So the question is, how do we respond? How do we cope? And how can we equip ourselves to be strong enough to handle it? For some, the answer can be fitness! Thank you to our friends at Harness Cycle (especially instructor Katie Spies) for the expertise and advice in this blog post!
How does fitness help relieve stress?
One of the most studied ways to relieve stress and anxiety is the practice of physical activity. According to Harvard Medical School’s Health Watch*, stress doesn’t just have an effect on our minds, it affects our bodies, too. I’m sure you’re familiar with the iconic line from Legally Blonde, where Elle Woods so boldly declares, “Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people don’t kill their husbands. They just don’t!” Well, Elle was right. Exercise does release endorphins, and it reduces the levels of stress hormones in your body including cortisol and adrenaline which contribute to the heart beating fast, sweaty palm feeling associated with stress. Exercising regularly also helps us look and feel our best, leading to an increase in self-confidence and self-worth.
Let’s face it, though. One of the toughest parts about deciding to add fitness into your daily routine is actually taking the first step. Is it easier to sink into your sectional with a glass of wine after a rough day? 100%. But if that’s your usual coping mechanism and you still feel stressed and anxious afterward, it might be time to switch things up! We fall into comfortable habits because that’s all we know, and it’s what feels safe to us. So while working out may feel like a chore at first and may push you out of your comfort zone, take a chance on yourself. Exercise your power. It’s in there, you may just have to sweat a little to feel it. And after one class- whether it’s yoga, spinning, running, boxing, lifting weights, or Zumba, you will feel a difference. I hope that difference becomes a habit. And I hope that habit becomes your new routine. So it’s not just something you do to feel good, it’s something you do because you look forward to it.
Beyond helping you to look + feel your best, how can a regular fitness routine benefit you pre-wedding?
I’ve seen it, you’ve seen it. Shedding before the wedding. That mindset can go one of two ways. One, you look forward to your regular fitness routine because it keeps you balanced and helps you relieve some wedding planning stress. Or, you see this fitness not as a routine that helps keep you anchored and grounded, but as something you have to do in order to look good for your wedding. The problem is, not allowing yourself to enjoy exercise can be a stressor all on its own. Instead of allowing for internal healing, you view exercise as the only way to achieve outward confidence on your wedding day. You’re placing the value of exercise solely on the physical appearance it provides. But it is so much more than that!
Having a routine that you genuinely enjoy takes the guesswork out of things. By using fitness as a way to prep for your wedding day, you will benefit from physical changes. But more importantly, you will show up in this next phase of your life grounded, self-confident, and empowered to grow. Because it’s not just about looking your best, it’s about feeling your best. Harness Cycle, for many of our riders and team, has become a constant in our lives, a space that is uplifting and energizing. Creating your routine pre-wedding will not only help you to look and feel your best, but it will be an anchor as you experience a major life change.
How does a regular fitness routine impact a relationship? What is an easy way for couples to implement a routine together?
Ultimately, when you feel your best, it’s not just you who feels those good vibes – those around you can sense it as well! I’m not saying people who exercise are better people, partners, or friends, but I think whenever you take time for yourself to reset, recharge and stay grounded, it can have a positive impact on your relationships. It comes down to you feeling your best, not for your significant other, but for yourself. That kind of “me time” is not selfish; it’s one of the most important things you can do for yourself. How can you give love when you lack self-love? How can you give time to others when you can’t give time to yourself? You have to refill your cup first. If your cup is full of stress, you’ll spill stress on those around you. If your cup is full of doubt and self-loathing, those will run over and affect anyone who is a significant part of your life. But when you fill your cup with good things – gratitude, love, compassion, balance – you can share those good things with those around you. That not only strengthens your relationship with yourself but with those around you, especially those you love. It may only take forty-five minutes on a stationary bike to fill up that cup, but if you can look forward to that as part of your routine, it can change your entire perspective.
When it comes to implementing a fitness routine with your significant other, focus less on doing something together and more on encouraging each other to find something that works for each of you. Your partner might want to get swole and you might want to hit up the treadmill, but that doesn’t mean you can’t meet up at the gym together. Or at Harness, we cross train with other groups in the area, especially with our own Running the Bridges every Wednesday. So you can hit up a Harness ride while your partner runs. Even getting involved in Cleveland Plays, where the workout is less about the actual workout and more about having fun and being part of a team. Most importantly though, it’s about supporting and respecting each other. And as age old saying goes… ‘til sweat do us part.
With two locations in Cleveland (Ohio City + Downtown) Harness Cycle offers over 50 classes per week to incorporate into your weekly schedule. A great add-on to any wedding weekend is our signature b(ride) event. The private reservation includes a private house ride for up to 40 guests, shoe rentals and 15% off retail after the ride. To learn more visit: https://www.harnesscycle.com/private
*SOURCE: HTTPS://WWW.HEALTH.HARVARD.EDU/STAYING-HEALTHY/EXERCISING-TO-RELAX
Last week, wedding pros from around the Cleveland area gathered at Event Source for the Thursday Therapy meetup. This was the last mixer of 2018, and we closed out the year strong!
We’d like to thank our sponsors for the December event because, without them, this wonderful networking opportunity wouldn’t exist: Event Source, PearlFlower Catering, Plantscaping & Blooms, Too Much Awesomeness Photography, and Company Car and Limousine.
We’ve loved seeing so many old + new faces at our monthly events, and look forward to many more in the next year.
If you’re a wedding pro in the greater Cleveland area, we’d love to see you at a Thursday Therapy event in 2019! For more info and to RSVP, click here.
Photos by: Too Much Awesomeness Photography
Here at Oak & Honey Events, we love it when a couple pulls us away from Ohio for a dreamy destination wedding. In July, Kelly + Tyler brought us to Hilton Head, South Carolina for their wedding that was full of boho details set on a white, sandy beach.
The Vendor Team: Photography: Photography Anthology, Design + Planning: Oak & Honey Events, Venue: The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa, Florals: Em Creative Florals, Rentals & Decor: Ooh! Events, Bakery: Low Country Flour Girls, Cotton Candy Bar: Pure Fluff, Videography: Wedit, Hair & Makeup: Bride's Side Beauty, Entertainment: Hilton Head Entertainment, Officiant: HiHo Officiant
Thursday Therapy is a place for us to meet, mingle, and share… and in November, wedding professionals in the Cleveland area met at Sapphire Creek Winery & Gardens for our monthly Thursday Therapy mixer. Our generous sponsors for the November event were: Sapphire Creek Winery & Gardens, Hungry Bee Catering, Maria Sharp Photography, L’Nique Specialty Linen Rental, The Red Twig
We’d love to see you at our December event! We’ll be meeting at Event Source.
For more information and to RSVP for December's event, click here. And for a little preview of what a Thursday Therapy event is all about, check out the photos below from our November event, care of Maria Sharp Photography.
Catie's and Jacob's backyard wedding was the epitome of organic whimsy. From the wild florals to the moody color palette and gold details, their day was truly perfect. The Proposal Story: "Jacob first told me he loved me in Vancouver several years ago. It’s our favorite city. We travel to Victoria BC every year for work and we often try to get to Vancouver. Last year when we were in Victoria, he surprised me with a weekend in Vancouver. We flew over on one of those little harbor planes that lands on the water. The next day, we went for a hike in Stanley Park, this huge park in the city full of old growth forests. He waited until he found the perfect spot and proposed. We hiked to a little cafe in the park and drank champagne in front of the fireplace."
What was your favorite part of the planning process? "Working with the florists and the caterer! I love food and flowers and had so much fun sharing my vision for both."
Do you have a tip for any couples currently planning their wedding? "Find a wedding planner whose energy feels right to you. Trust your instincts. Don’t sweat the details too much. I barely noticed the details on the day of. I was so happy to be surrounded by family and friends and to be marrying my best friend!"
The Vendor Team: Photography: Agape Photography, Planning & Design: Oak & Honey Events, Beauty: Beauty Therapy, Bride & Bridesmaid Fashions: Something White, A Bridal Boutique, Cake: Vegan Sweet Tooth, Catering: Spice Catering Co., Entertainment: Cleveland Music Group, Florals: Molly Taylor and Co., Linen Rentals: L’Nique Specialty Linen Rentals, Tent Rental: AAble Rents, Tabletop Rentals: All Occasions Party Rental and Event Source, Furniture Rentals: Borrow Rentals, Stationery: Baci Designer
October is a wild wedding month in Ohio, but we still have time to network with vendor friends! To take a break from this busy season, wedding professionals gathered at The Flying Fig for our monthly Thursday Therapy event. Thursday Therapy is a place for wedding professionals from our community to meet, mix, and mingle. We’re stronger when we work together – and Thursday Therapy is a place where awesome vendor relationships are born!
Thank you to our October sponsors: The Flying Fig, Stems Fleur, Michael Wypasek Photography
