After months of planning your wedding and organizing the photographer, bands, venues, desserts, decorations, clothing, and guest lists, your long-anticipated wedding day is here! With months of planning, you have successfully created a day you will remember forever! Congratulations, you made it to the end!
Now what? After the day is done, and the guests have gone home, you may feel empty. There is a term for this, and it is referred to as “post-wedding depression” or “post-wedding blues.” Don’t worry, this is common, and you are not alone. Here are some of the universal emotions that brides and grooms, as well as their family, may feel after their wedding day.
Disappointment: Do you may feel let down or empty? Do you feel like something is missing now that the wedding is over?
Anxiety: Do you feel anxious? Are you second-guessing your decision to get married?
Worry: Are you worried about finances with the money spent on your big day?
Frustration: Are you frustrated with your spouse?
Boredom: With your new free time after the wedding, are you bored?
Sadness and Relief: Have you been feeling a roller coaster of both sorrow and relief? Sadness that your wedding is over, and relieved that it is?
To begin with, when dealing with your ‘post-wedding depression,’ alert your spouse. Inform your spouse of your feelings, because not only could they be feeling the same way, but they can comfort and help you through your different emotions.
Fortunately, there is a multitude of ways to get past your ‘blues.’ I have listed a few suggestions that may help you conquer these emotions.
Plan Social Events: After your big day, you may feel isolated or lonely, and this could lead to depression. Plan social events. Consider a dinner party, a BBQ, or even a hike with a couple of friends.
Start Something New: After months of planning your wedding, you need a new obsession. Cooking classes, painting, reading, spin classes, or even karate … get passionate about a new hobby. Get obsessed with exercise, which is proven to be one of the best remedies for depression.
Find Others: “Post-Wedding Depression” is common, and it is beneficial to seek out other recently married couples that are also experiencing the ‘blues.’ Sympathize and support each other.
Couple Activities: With wedding planning, you may not have had the opportunity to do activities together. Now you can! Have a picnic in a park, take a scenic drive, take up couples’ tennis, or go on a hike.
Organize Your Gifts: Filter through your wedding presents. Organize your home with your new gifts and write thank-you notes to your guests.
The best way to cure your “post-wedding depression” is to set a new goal. The goal could be for your career, such as building your social media or gaining more clients. Or, your goal could be marking off items from your bucket list, such as visiting a natural wonder, running a 5k, riding a camel. Throw yourself into a new goal, transfer the joy from your wedding to the new adventures that lie ahead!
I hope these tips help you get past your “post-wedding blues.” However, if your “blues” continue, it is crucial to get in contact with a professional who can help you break through the depression you are feeling.
Resources: Wedding Wire, Huff Post, Psychology Today, Marriage Name Change