Easing Bridal Shower Anxiety
/CARISSA PLUTA
The idea of a bridal shower can cause some anxiety in a bride-to-be.
Being the sole center of attention, especially while opening gifts, can feel uncomfortable and a little awkward. It’s normal to feel nervous.
Follow these tips to relieve some of the uneasiness and enjoy the day.
Wear something beautiful
Or rather, wear something that makes you feel beautiful, comfortable, and confident. When you wear something you feel good in, it’s much easier to approach the day with a sense of calm and joy.
Enlist help
If opening gifts in front of others truly gives you anxiety, ask if your fiancé (or a younger relative) can join you for this part of the shower.
My husband’s family threw me a bridal shower in his hometown, and while I knew almost everyone invited, I didn’t feel as comfortable with them as I was with my own family and friends. Having my husband there to open the gifts with me eased my nervousness and made the process of opening gifts more enjoyable.
Be gracious
Expressing your thanks during the shower and after the event through thank-you cards can help cultivate gratitude which has been can help ease anxiety.
Some brides-to-be worry about having to “put on a show” every time they open a gift, but the thanks you give doesn’t have to be inauthentic or forced.
If you can, try not to peek at your registry before the shower so you can enjoy a little moment of surprise when opening the gifts.
Practice humility
The friends and family present at your bridal shower are there to shower you with love. They wanted to join in celebrating your upcoming marriage. Let them.
It’s easy to give into the lies that tell you to feel guilty for people spending a whole afternoon focusing on you and giving you gifts. However, doing this prevents you from truly seeing yourself as God sees you--good, beautiful, and worthy of love.
It is a great practice in humility to allow others to love you well and to be generous with you and your future husband.
