The CDC is telling us we still need to avoid large gatherings
What!? You’re engaged and you want to get married already! Enough is enough! We want to have a party! We want to socialize and hug relatives that we haven’t seen in years! We want to dance and drink and eat and visit with friends and loved ones like it’s… 2019! The good old days, right!? When are things going to get back to normal? Soon. Trust us here at the Partyhound! Things are slowly looking up, if we could just get everyone to put aside the politics and get freakin’ vaccinated!
What if you had to postpone your wedding? Sad, we know, so sad, but you’re not alone. So many couples have put aside their wedding plans because of Covid. But here are some positive, joyful , hopefully helpful thoughts for you, to help you survive and carry on, as you look to a happy and loving future with your new husband or wife.
We’ve talked to many couples who actually feel their relationship is better, healthier, more fun, and more fulfilling now that they’ve had a chance to spend more time together. How do you know if your relationship is doing okay and if it can weather the storm of wedding postponement? Perhaps these ideas might provide some inspiration.
You’re working on communication with your significant other
Yes, spending more time together can mean more arguments and disagreements. It can be very stressful being cooped up for months and months for sure, what with remote work, job security concerns, money worries, maybe children to take care of– and teach them math! At least most kids are finally back to school , but are you back to work? It’s all a bunch of stressful stuff that can put pressure on your love life. But you’re working it out. You’re taking a few minutes to talk about your feelings and struggles with each other. It’s going to be okay. You’re giving each other a break here and there. You’re trying not to take your stress or frustrations out on your partner. You’re thinking about your significant other’s needs. You’re talking about it. If you feel it’s a serious problem, you’re considering counseling.
You’re consciously and deliberately being proactive about R&R
That’s rest and relaxation, but you knew that. You’re taking time to chill out. You’re sitting in the backyard in the sunshine with a good book or magazine. You’re doing whatever calms you down. You’re giving yourself some time alone or with friends (with and without your soon-to-be.) You’re working on getting enough sleep… not just quantity. You want quality sleep. Sleep is a big thing. It’s so important. Try to tone down the screen time before you go to sleep. Try to keep regular bedtime hours. A little ambient noise like a fan can be very helpful. Some folks listen to boring documentaries on YouTube to fall asleep. (This is Ted from the Partyhound office, and I’ve listened to documentaries about the U.S. presidents many times over and over, and usually after the first five minutes I’m fast asleep. It really works. Of course, your significant other might not be too crazy about hearing a George Washington documentary every damn night!)
You’re taking care of your body
You’re watching what you eat and drink, but you know you don’t have to be perfect. You don’t. You’re trying to care for yourself, maybe you’re having some fun in the kitchen with each other cookin’ up some healthy meals, helping each other with the clean-up. You’re not slacking off and expecting your partner to do everything. See how good you guys are! You’re going for walks, or runs, or kayaking, or at least something to get your body moving– at least a little bit. If you’re lucky enough to have a dog, that’ll keep you moving.
You’re looking at how you live your life
You’re considering some changes in your schedule, your daily routine. It’s not easy but you’re taking a few minutes from time to time to think about how you can make things better for your partner, and for yourself. What changes can you make, to make life just a little easier? That’s what’s on your mind. The point here is that you are actively thinking about it. We know many of you are doing this already, and you’re on the right track. You’ll be okay. Life will get better. Life will be worth celebrating again. It already is! Really! Like Gloria Gaynor sang all those disco years ago, “I’ve got all my life to live. I’ve got all my love to give. And I’ll survive! I will survive.” Don’t think about the crummy parts of that song, LOL. Just think about the good stuff! The positive feelings!
You’re staying connected with family and friends
We know socializing can still be a challenge, but even if it’s just taking a walk with a friend or family member, and keeping a little distance from him or her, that’s okay. Technology can help. Video chats, social media, group texts. We know, you’ve probably been doing that. It’s helping you feel less stressed just to know someone cares, and you are showing that you care. That you’re not alone in this crazy world. Hey, if you’re not actually doing all this stuff… don’t worry! Maybe give it a try when you feel like it, and it might help you feel good.
Finally, you’re letting yourself be entertained
You’re laughing and smiling. You’re not obsessively watching or listening to bad news all day every day. You’re binge-watching your favorite TV shows, you’re listening to music or podcasts, you’re dancing in your living room, you’re laughing at the wacky people in some of the videos on YouTube, you’re watching some of your favorite romantic movies. We’ll wrap this article up with just a few flicks you might like to watch again.
When Harry Met Sally… Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan. “I’ll have what she’s having.”
Love and Basketball… Sanaa Lathan, Omar Epps, Kyla Pratt. “Offense sells tickets. Defense wins games.”
The Princess Bride… Cary Elwes, Mandy Patinkin, Robin Wright. “You killed my father. Prepare to die.”
Notting Hill… Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts. “I’m just a girl standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her.”
Bridesmaids… Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph. “What kind of a name is Stove anyway? What, are you like a kitchen appliance or something?”
Pretty Woman… Julia Roberts and Richard Gere. “Big mistake. Big. Huge. I have to go shopping now.”
The Best Man… Nia Long, Taye Diggs, Morris Chestnut, Sanaa Lathan. “What we shared was as sweet and as endearing as a forehead kiss.”
My Super Ex-Girlfriend… Uma Thurman, Luke Wilson, Anna Faris. “If you could have any superpower, what would it be?”
Southside With You… Tika Sumpter and Parker Sawyers. “I’m an ice cream kind of girl.”
Crazy Rich Asians… Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Gemma Chan. “These people are so posh and snobby, they’re snoshy.”
Brokeback Mountain… Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal. “About all the traveling I’ve done is around a coffee looking for the handle!”
You’ve Got Mail… Meg Ryan and Tm Hanks. “… if she turns out even to be as good looking as a mailbox, I’d be crazy not to turn my life upside down and marry her.”
How Stella Got Her Groove Back… Angela Bassett, Taye Diggs, Whoopie Goldberg. “So how old are you anyway, young man?”
It’s a Wonderful Life… Jimmy Stewart, “You want the moon? Just say the word, and I’ll throw a lasso around it and pull it down.”
Author: The Party Hound
Our favorite imaginary dog, 'The Partyhound', didn't write this blog post, as you probably guessed. We like to think he's a smart pooch, but he's not that smart!! 'The Partyhound' simply represents one or more of Partyhound Media's creative staff of researchers, journalists, writers, photographers, and cinematographers. These are actual real live people who are excited to share their thoughts with you. If you'd like to learn more about joining our staff, please throw us a bone! Email: ted@partyhound.com.