Be Thankful Every Day

Written with love, by Felicia Zammit-McMann

With Thanksgiving (my favorite holiday) just around the corner, I wanted to focus this month's article on the power of being thankful. We’ve all heard of gratitude journals, and the reason they work is because they make you focus on the little things (or big things) that bring joy to your life every day - the things that may otherwise go unnoticed or forgotten.

It’s easy to get distracted with your wedding planning and in your married life. It happens to the best of us. But when you stop and take a moment and think about what you are truly thankful for, it helps to bring perspective into, what otherwise could be, a very chaotic time in your life.

Let’s start with your engagement ring. Yes, it’s beautiful and of course you’re thankful your man proposed. But let’s dig a little deeper. I often find myself looking at my ring and thinking about the story behind it. All the time and effort that went into looking for the ring, dropping thousands on what could otherwise easily be a down payment on a car, and the planning that went into our proposal. I’m thankful for every moment that led to me meeting my husband, for every moment that led to me getting that ring and thankful that my husband loves me enough to make me his wife. Do you ever find yourself thinking the same thing?

Think about everything that came into your possession since your engagement. Your dress, your shower gifts, the parties and showers, the well wishes. Yes, receiving all that is somewhat of a given, but no one HAS TO do any of it.

What about these folks...

Your Bridal Party

For many of us, it’s assumed that if you ask someone to be by your side on your big day, they will say yes. However, do you ever think about how thankful you are to them for the financial investment they are making for you? Between their dresses, hair, makeup, nails, flight, hotel stay, plus wedding gift. That’s a big commitment!

Wedding Guests

Again, just because you send an invite, doesn’t mean they HAVE TO come.

Many guests travel near and far to be with you. Having a room full of people that saved that date just for you is part of what made our wedding so special. Seeing everyone we care about in one room, together, for us, was truly unbelievable. Then, when we opened our gifts and realized how generous people were to us, it just sent us over the top. They didn’t have to do that.

Your Wedding Vendors

Think about their jobs. Most weddings take place on a weekend, so that means that the workers, whether it be your photographer, your limo driver, your servers, hotel staff, your florist, cake baker, etc., have to give up their weekend to be with you. Could you do that? Even if you were paid? I know I wouldn’t be willing to give up my weekends so easily. 

Your Spouse

The one you love the most can often be the person you take for granted the most. When was the last time you thanked your spouse (or future spouse) for taking out the trash, or doing the dishes, or shoveling your car out from the snow? (Yes, for those of us on the east coast, that time is coming again soon!)

Be thankful each and every day.

Help us name this gown: The Top Three

Thank you so much to everyone who suggested names for this stunning Celia Grace gown! The designer and I have now narrowed it down to our three favorite names, and it's up to you to vote and decide on the winner!

The Nominees

Isabel [Allende]

Isabel is a Chilean-American writer whose books are based on her own personal experience and pay homage to the lives of women. She founded and runs a foundation which supports programs that provide fundamental rights to women and children in order to make them more empowered and protected. Isabel was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters, has received Chile's National Literature Prize, and just this year was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Obama.

Angelina [Jolie]

Angelina is a renowned American actress and filmmaker who also focuses her life on humanitarian work. She worked as a Special Envoy for refugees and a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and has received wide recognition for her work - the Inaugural Humanitarian Award from the Church World Service's Immigration and Refugee Program, the Citizen of the World Award by the United Nations Correspondents Association, the Global Humanitarian Award by the UNA-USA, the Freedmon Award by the International Rescue Committee, the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, among many more top humanitarian honors and awards.

Gloria [Steinem]

Gloria is an American feminist, journalist, and a social and political activist. She became nationally recognized as the spokeswoman for the feminist movement in the late 1960s, while founding New York magazine Ms. She co-founded the Women's Media Center, and organization helping women to become more visible and powerful in media and currently acts as an international spokeswoman on issues of equality.

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Which name do you think best exemplifies this dress?

Vote BELOW

Happy Holidays Coordination Giveaway

It's that time of year, and we're getting into the holiday spirit here at The Overwhelmed Bride! The holidays are all about giving, so we decided to give a gift to our bride readers! We believe that every bride should have a wedding planner, so we are going to make that wish come true for two of you!

We are offering two lucky brides $500 off of our full service coordination package!

And yes, we are offering this to brides around the world! If you need a coordinator, you are welcome to enter!

How to Enter

We know this time of year is busy for all of you, so we're making it nice and simple.

...it should only take about a minute to enter :)

1. Post this photo on your Instagram page

2. Comment with your wedding date (or estimated date)

3. #theoverwhelmedbride AND @theoverwhelmedbride

And that's all you need to do!

How many times can I enter?

You can enter up to one time per day!

Want more entries?

Have your bridesmaids, groomsmen, groom, parents, grandparents, and anyone you know enter one time each day to increase your chances of winning! If they're not engaged and they win, they can give the prize to you!

When does the contest end?

In the spirit of giving, we're going to choose a winner at random on Thanksgiving and another on Christmas day! So keep those entries coming our way!