How to deal with Bridesmaid Burnout

burnout- physical or mental collapse caused by overwork or stress

First of all, it is completely normal to experience burnout due to all of the duties, the financial responsibilities and the emotional strain of being a bridesmaid. Although it is a joyous occassion and you want to be as supportive as possible to the bride-to be, it can be silent torture if you allow it to be. Im going to cover a few pointers to help you address and hopefully avoid #bridesmaidburnout.

1) Be completely honest with yourself about your finances. Basically, if you dont have disposable income for a bridesmaid gown (that average upwards of $200), hair styling, nails, shoes, professional makeup, bachelorette party, bridal shower and wedding gift, you can NOT afford it. If you agree to becoming a bridesmaid, you are signing up for unnecessary stress with every cost. How much can you really enjoy each debt you incur? This can simply be avoided by telling the bride that you appreciate the offer, you have other financial obligations at the time but you would love to assist her in any way with this exciting process. Easy as that!

2) If you are past the point of declining the offer, and you are already stressing and dreading further financial and emotional distress, this is the time to speak up. Tell the bride that you are experiencing burnout. Your friend/family member will hopefully appreciate your honesty. If not, calmly explain to her that when dealing with a group everyone has to be flexible, even the bride. Instead of swiping your credit card for overpriced shoes that can only be worn once, tell the bride that you believe you can find comparable shoes for a lower price. Now, this is your time to deliver, everyone will appreciate your "bravery" in standing up and saving them some money. If you are becoming emotionally drained, let her know that you will need to sit out an activity or two. Let her know that you are not abandoning her, but you need to come up for a little non-bridal air.

3) This one will be the absolute last resort, and only necessary if Option #1 is too far behind you, and Option #2 didn't work. You need to withdraw completely from the wedding party. This is obviously an extremely difficult decision and should be well thought out. Keep in mind that this will greatly inconvenience everyone else involved so again, last resort. Your mental wellness is supreme and everyone will just have to understand and readjust. Although weddings are a very important occassion, it is NEVER worth a mental breakdown. I hope this is never the case for anybody but please remember to be kind to yourself. You are the only YOU, you have!

#bridesmaid #stress