Multiply the Love in Week 46: The Simple Act of Helping a Friend in Need
A Friend in Need – Helping Hands with a heart
“When helping someone who’s lonely or someone who is blue, bring your one and only and they’ll feel better too.” – Carl Dreizler and Stephen Arterburn
In today’s fast-paced world, where we’re often wrapped up in the daily grind, it’s easy to overlook how meaningful a small act of kindness can be. Helping a friend or someone in need may seem like a selfless act, but the love you give is often returned to you tenfold. This transformative experience can bring you and your loved one closer while also making a difference in someone’s life. Inspired by Stephen Arterburn and Carl Dreizler’s book, “52 Simple Ways to Say I Love You”, why not take this opportunity to not only help someone in need but also deepen your relationship by working together to make someone else feel truly cared for?
Imagine this: you and your partner selecting someone who may be feeling lonely, disconnected, or overlooked—maybe it’s a friend who’s been going through a tough time, a neighbor facing unexpected challenges, or even a stranger in your community who could use a boost. Offering your time, compassion, and understanding doesn’t have to involve grand gestures. It could be as simple as a coffee date with a friend who’s been feeling down, or perhaps surprising someone with a warm meal. When you make these connections, you create a ripple effect of kindness and compassion that will likely extend far beyond this single act.
Step 1: Select the One in Need
Think carefully about the person who might need a little extra love right now. Consider who in your life may be dealing with a difficult season—such as a friend who’s navigating a recent loss, someone facing health challenges, or a family member who may be feeling isolated. Pay attention to subtle cues: have they been quiet lately? Have they canceled plans more than usual? If no one close to you comes to mind, consider volunteering together at a local shelter or organization that serves those in need. When my mom lived in a memory care residence, my family and I spent a lot of time not just visiting her, but also laughing, talking, dancing and sharing stories with the other residents. Helping someone you don’t know personally can be equally rewarding and can offer a new perspective on gratitude and giving.
Step 2: Find Ways to Make Them Feel Loved and Cared About
Once you’ve chosen someone to reach out to, get creative in planning a way to brighten their day. It doesn’t have to be costly or elaborate. You could cook a homemade meal and deliver it to their doorstep, plan a low-key hangout like a movie night or a walk in a nearby park, or simply spend time with them, offering your listening ear. If the person lives far away, consider writing a heartfelt letter, sending a small gift, or arranging a surprise video call. A gesture as simple as bringing someone their favorite coffee or dessert can be enough to show them that someone cares. Tailor your actions to what would feel most meaningful for them. The goal is to make them feel genuinely seen, loved, and remembered.
Step 3: Reflect and Carry It Forward
After your experience, take time to reflect together. How did it feel to connect with someone in need? What did it mean to your friend or the person you helped? Discuss whether you want to continue doing acts of kindness, individually or as a couple. Perhaps you want to make it a tradition that brings warmth to both you and others.
Multiply the Love during Week 46
Helping someone in need has the power to multiply love and forge connections that benefit everyone involved. So, take this step with your loved one. Reach out to someone who could use a friend, and let the ripple of kindness carry forward. It’s a simple, heartfelt way to spread love, and who knows? It may bring unexpected blessings back to you, too.
About Chanelle
Photo credit: Roxanne Best, Roxtography
Chanelle Carlin is Your Celebrant for LifeTM. She is an ordained minister and professional wedding officiant with a passion for celebrating love and life. As the owner of Chanelle Carlin Weddings, LLC, she also coaches couples, believing that every moment of life and love deserves to be cherished. Chanelle works closely with couples who have cultivated strong relationships and ready to embark on the journey of marriage with a unique and unforgettable ceremony. As your Celebrant for LifeTM, she is dedicated to honoring all of your special milestones. Chanelle is also the host of Now You May Kiss(TM)Podcast. Her podcast focuses on your bespoke, outdoor elopement or intimate wedding Ceremony in the Pacific Northwest. She lives with her family in rural Okanogan County, Washington. You can visit Chanelle at www.chanellecarlin.com or on social media on FB, LI and IG.
“Everyday someone new turns to us for a helping hand, be it for health care, veterans’ benefits, housing needs or employment assistance, with contributions such as the one received, it assures that those who courageously served our country will not ever be forgotten.” – Jack McManus, National President VVA, 11/2/2023 in a thank you letter to Chanelle Carlin Weddings, LLC
Veterans Day 2023 image of American flags flying at Spring Canyon Cemetery near Grand Coulee, WA. Photo credit: Chanelle Carlin
Since starting my business, it has been my genuine desire that I would provide the highest quality officiating and coaching services and that Chanelle Carlin Weddings would exemplify my continued commitment to community. After each wedding, I donate a portion of my fees to a not-for-pofit organization whose mission I support and whose financial dealings I feel are honorable and trustworthy. Over the past three years, Chanelle Carlin Weddings has donated thousands of dollars on behalf our couples to their chosen organization. One of those organizations is the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) and I am mentioning them in this article because just this past week, I received a letter of thanks from their National President. Having worked for many years in the not-for-profit sector, I know how important every donation is and I also know that thank you letters are generally sent out to thank donors, let them kow how their donation will be used and to invite them to donate more. This wasn’t the first donation that Chanelle Carlin Weddings, LLC has sent to the VVA and we have always received a nice email and receipt in the past for our donations, but this is the first letter we received from them so I wanted to acknowledge it and tell you a little about the Vietnam Veterans of America and why they are one of the chosen organizations of Chanelle Carlin Weddings.
First, the VVA is the only national Vietnam veterans organization congressionally chartered and exclusively dedicated to Vietnam-era veterans and their families. Although the war was declared finished in 1975, by the late 1970s, it was clear the established veterans groups in America had failed to make a priority of the issues of concern to Vietnam veterans and there were many. In January 1978, a small group of Vietnam veteran activists came to Washington, D.C., searching for allies to support the creation of an advocacy organization devoted exclusively to the needs of Vietnam veterans. VVA, initially known as the Council of Vietnam Veterans, began its work. Finally, in 1986, Congress recognized them with an official charter. Today, the VVA has a national membership of over 85,000, with over 650 chapters throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam and the Philippines dedicated to serving the needs of Vietnam veterans and those who serve our nation regardless of the war they fought in.
Second, in case you’re still curious about why I chose the VVA, it’s simple and relates directly back to my own life. My Dad, Fred is a Vietnam Veteran who served as a teenager like many others of his generation. In 1969, at the age of 19 (younger than my son and three of my nephews now), he was seriously wounded by a land mine. Many were killed. My father was thrown, and initially presumed dead, though thankfully he wasn’t. Dad suffered many physical and psychological traumas during this conflict, only some of which were the result of this accident. I have chosen to support this organization to support the efforts and healing of all Vietnam Veterans, their families and the Veterans who remain in harm’s way today. Their founding principle, of “never again will one generation of veterans abandon another” touches deep within my heart. The VVA members know what returning veterans face. They have been through it before and understand full well that despite all the heart felt “thank you for your service” comments, returning veterans will face major hurdles. It is their mission to make sure that those who serve our country receive the care and respect they have earned and I support that mission.
In case you’d like to learn more about the work of the Vietnam Veterans of America and how they help all veterans, I invite you to check out this YouTube video which I found on their website. It describes their history and current work far more effectively that I can in this short article.
Brief video of history of Vietnam Veterans of America and their mission, found at https://vva.org/who-we-are/history/
Just for a little lighthearted fun after talking about such an important topic, here is a photo of teenage me as cadet in the Civil Air Patrol in the mid-1980’s. Taken by another cadet, we were “in the field” at our monthly search and rescue training program in Shelton, Washington. For those who don’t know, I grew up in a family that believes in military service and at that time I had grand plans to join the air force. While my life took another direction (many, in fact), I treasure the memories of this time in my life and also still hold the gratitude of all who have served in the military. See, the things you learn about your wedding officiant when you read their blog posts. 🙂
Chanelle in the mid-1980’s as a Civil Air Patrol cadet. Photo credit: Kathleen Holly Waud.
Now, back to the thank you letter…
Thank you letter from Vietnam Veterans of America for donation.
I’d like to personally thank Ciara and Joshua DeLys for allowing me the honor of officiating their intimate wedding ceremony and also because it was their decision to choose the VVA as their preferred donation recipient.
Also, thanks to my dad for his service and to all other service men and women who have responded to the call of our nation and served bravely (even if you didn’t feel brave sometimes). It is never easy and no one ever knows what they’re signing up for or sacrificing. I am grateful to each of you.
As I mentioned above, the Vietnam Veterans of America is just one of the organizations that Chanelle Carlin Weddings donates to and they are the only national organization. Each of the other organizations is unique to the Pacific Northwest:
Camp Fire of Snohomish County – https://campfiresnoco.org/ Oregon Dachshund Rescue, Inc. – http://www.odr-inc.org/ KSPS – Public Television in Spokane – https://www.ksps.org/ KSER (90.7) – Everett – http://www.kser.org/ Washington Trails Association – https://www.wta.org/
I’ll highlight another organization in a separate blog post, but since we’re so close to Veteran’s Day AND I just received this lovely letter, I thought I would start with the Vietnam Veterans of America. I’ve included links to each of the other organizations website though in case you’d like to learn more about what they do as well.
If you’re ready to schedule your consultation to talk about your wedding OR how you can donate to one of these organizations, please feel free to reach out. I’d love to chat with you.
Chanelle Carlin is Your Celebrant for Life. She is an ordained minister, professional wedding officiant, coach, and owner of Chanelle Carlin Weddings, LLC. Believing that life and love should be celebrated every minute, she collaborates with couples who’ve already started building the foundations of their relationship over the years and are now ready to venture forth into marriage with a custom, memorable (for all the right reasons) elopement/intimate wedding ceremony. While Chanelle works throughout the Pacific Northwest and Ireland primarily, she gladly travels to wherever her couples prefer to marry. As their Celebrant for Life, Chanelle also celebrates all the special milestones and moments that matter in each of her couples’ lives. She lives with her family in rural Okanogan County, Washington, USA, and totally LOVES her life. You can visit Chanelle at www.chanellecarlin.com, on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest.
Have you thought about who will officiate your wedding? It’s a question that often gets overlooked in the excitement of wedding planning—until someone (like your photographer, planner, or even your mom) brings it up. Whether you’re just starting to plan your dream ceremony or you’re deep into the details and realizing you still need an officiant, don’t panic.
In this blog post, we’ll explore everything you need to know about wedding officiants, including:
What exactly is the role of a Wedding Officiant?
Do you really need one?
What should you consider when planning your ceremony?
Take a deep breath, and let’s dive in! Your journey to creating a meaningful, personalized, and stress-free wedding ceremony starts here.
Where Do We Start?! Do we need an Officiant for our wedding?
Take time to enjoy just being engaged
First, though, before we get into all things Officiant related, I’d like to add my congratulations on your engagement to the many you have already (I’m sure) received! This is an amazing time and planning your wedding should be fun. You’re preparing a celebration to begin the rest of your lives together. If you haven’t already, take some time away from planning to just breathe and enjoy the bliss of your engagement.
Please don’t try to do everything yourself
Now that you’ve taken some time just the two of you to enjoy being engaged, let’s chat about wedding planning. I receive a lot of questions from newly engaged couples who don’t even know where to start thinking about their wedding event, let alone their ceremony (the part during which they actually get married) and they start feeling stressed. Fortunately, while there IS a lot to consider when planning a wedding and putting together a wedding ceremony, you don’t have to do everything by yourself.
In fact, for every part of your special day, there is a wedding professional available and desiring to assist you: Wedding Venues, Wedding Planners, Florists, Stylists, and Stationary designers, Party Rentals, Caterers, Bakers, DJ’s, Musicians, Photographers, Videographers, Jewelers, Tailors, Retailers, Hotels AND, of course Officiants (the person who actually does the “marrying part”. 🙂 Thankfully, most of the time, each wedding pro can lead you to another. If you’re looking for a specific wedding professional to help with your special day here in the PNW, please let me know. I have contacts with a lot of amazing professionals.
A Wedding Officiant IS required.
You can start with whomever you want, but my suggestion is that you start with the two of you and your preferred date(s), type of wedding (elopement, intimate wedding, large family gathering, something in between), and the location. Once you have those, I’d suggest finding your officiant, a wedding planner and your photographer. Notice that I mention finding your Officiant first. Of all the professionals couples must have for their wedding, the only one required to get married is an officiant. All of the other wedding pros will help make your event beautiful, special and as stressless as possible, but they aren’t required to get married; in most cases, a Wedding Officiant is.
We’re Eloping – Do we still need an Officiant?
Another question that comes up from couples is related to elopements. This is a bit of a tricky question, because elopements can look and feel like a lot of different things depending on who you’re talking to. I discuss this in a bit more depth on my podcast if you want to check it out. However, the answer is generally the same. In all but eight states (and Washington DC), which allow self-solemnization, couples who want to marry (even if they elope) must have an Officiant. Even in those states though, there are varying requirements for witnesses and documentation.
A Wedding Officiant’s primary role – making sure you’re legal.
Now that you know you need one, let’s clarify the role of a wedding officiant. As your Wedding Officiant, my primary role is to make sure you’re legally married. Yep. It’s a thing. I am legally bound to ensure that you say and do certain things on your wedding day in a proscribed manner.
Declaration of Intent
For instance, in the states of the Pacific Northwest, a couple needs to declare out loud, their desire to marry and that they’re entering into this “agreement” of their own free will.
Recording the Marriage Certificate
In the State of Washington, they also have to sign their marriage certificate with two witnesses and their officiant. Afterward, your Officiant is legally required to return the official, signed Marriage Certificate to the county to be recorded. It may seem like no big deal. It’s just a piece of paper. For some, that is the case, until it isn’t. There are many instances where couples’ documents were not recorded and they have no proof that they were legally married. I officiated a ceremony recently for a couple who had been together for decades, married for ten years and have four children together. They needed proof of their marriage for retirement purposes, but didn’t have it…so we made a big celebration of it on their anniversary, and I made sure it was recorded the next day.
A Wedding Officiant’s Role – Crafting your ceremony and helping with vows
Aside from the legal requirement, another part of your officiant’s role is to create a ceremony that fits your personalities and vision for your perfect celebration. Whether your vision for your ceremony is one that just gets you married and on to the party with your family and friends, or you desire a deeply personal and meaningful elopement or intimate ceremony (my favorites), your officiant can help you. It’s one of my favorite things to do…get to know you as individuals and as a couple and then craft a ceremony that is truly meaningful to you both so that when you look back on your wedding day, the ceremony stands out as one of your favorite parts of the day.
When you’re thinking about your ceremony, most couples think about their vows, as you should. After all, a marriage is more than a legal contract between two people. You’re each making a commitment to one another for life. You’re saying that you’re going to be there with and for each other for the days, weeks, months and years to come…no matter what. How you choose to voice those promises during your wedding ceremony is something the two of you want to decide together and talk about with your Officiant. This is another very important part of your Officiant’s role during the ceremony creation process: to make sure that you have support determining what type of vows you want to exchange and if you want to share personal vows, they can help you get started writing them.
A Wedding Officiant’s Role – Celebrating your nuptials
Celebrating your ceremony is where most couples think about the role of a Wedding Officiant. Even if you haven’t been to many weddings, you may have seen a movie, television show with a couple at the front of a church or wedding venue exchanging vows with a minister. Often that is the only interaction many have had with a Wedding Officiant until it comes time for their wedding. As a Wedding Officiant, celebrating my couples’ wedding ceremonies is truly one of the highlights of my day.
Tips from a professional Wedding Officiant to help ensure your ceremony is the highlight of your wedding day:
To make sure your ceremony is the highlight of your wedding day, here are a few things to think about. You’ll also want to discuss them with your Officiant:
How do you want your ceremony to feel for you and your guests? If you start here, your Officiant can help you with the rest.
Do you want a faith-based ceremony? Non-religious? A combination? multi-cultural? themed?
Would you like an outdoor ceremony or indoor ceremony?
Do you want a large event that includes all your family and friends? Or, do you prefer an intimate affair with just a few?
How many people (if any) do you want to be in your wedding party?
Do you want any readings or music before or during the ceremony? These add to the feel, without adding to the length of your ceremony
Would you like some traditional vows, to create your own vows or have a combination of the two? and
What type of unity ritual you would like (if any)? This is a great way to honor your family/ cultural backgrounds.
Length of your ceremony can be impacted by a number of factors
Most non-religious ceremonies officiated by professional officiants take around 15-20 minutes to complete. If you have a lot of elements (readings, live music , etc) it may go a little longer, but not much. I officiated a ceremony for a couple joining both of their families and together they had seven children. The couple wanted each of the children to have a role in the ceremony. With that, their ceremony still only took 30 minutes.
Another factor that may add to the length of your ceremony is escorting elderly or disabled relatives during the processional. It may add a minute or two, but your gesture of love will be most appreciated.
Let’s Recap
Your wedding ceremony is the heart of your special day. Your Wedding Officiant plays a key role in making it legal, personal, and unforgettable. From ensuring all the legalities are covered to crafting a ceremony that reflects your unique love story, an experienced Officiant supports you every step of the way. Whether you’re exchanging deeply personal vows or keeping it simple, your wedding should feel authentic to who you are as a couple.
If you’re ready to start planning your perfect ceremony? Let’s chat! Visit Chanelle Carlin Weddings or send me a message—I’d love to help you create a day you’ll cherish forever.
Photo credit: Roxanne Best
About Chanelle:
Chanelle Carlin is Your Celebrant for LifeTM. She is an ordained minister, professional wedding officiant, coach, owner of Chanelle Carlin Weddings, LLC. Chanelle is also the host of Now You May Kiss Podcast with Chanelle Carlin. She believes that life and love should be celebrated every minute. While Chanelle works throughout the Pacific Northwest primarily, she gladly travels to wherever her couples prefer to marry. As their Celebrant for Life, Chanelle also celebrates the moments that matter in each of her couples’ lives. She lives with her family in rural Okanogan County, Washington, USA, and totally LOVES her life. You can visit Chanelle at www.chanellecarlin.com, on Facebook, Instagram, Linked In or Pinterest.
Why & How to Care for Yourself Leading up to Your Big Day
There are so many ways to practice self-care before your wedding but the main thing to understand is why. You’re planning your wedding. It’s going to be beautiful, and special and you’ve been thinking about it for years. You want it to be perfect, so you and your partner need to take care of yourselves (physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually). It’s just that there is SO much to do beforehand…even when you have your wedding team in place, it can feel overwhelming. I know.
Well, as your officiant, one of my promises to you is to encourage you in your self-care, so here I am, doing just that. There are lots of easy things that you both can do to take care of your mind, body and spirit and if you’re wanting help along the way, I’ve got you covered there too.
Physical
Sleep
Staying up all night watching IG videos or pinning your favorite wedding decor might sound like a good idea, but it’s really not good for sleeping. Studies have shown that the blue light from your phone suppresses melatonin, which keeps you from sleeping well and ultimately feeling refreshed, not to mention possible connections with diseases such as diabetes.
The best thing to do? Start a sleep schedule where you try to go to sleep and wake up at the same time every day (even on the weekends). And, as far as the blue light, aim to put down all your electronics 2-3 hours before bedtime (OK – at LEAST half an hour before bed).
One of the things I have found helpful is to put down/shut off the electronics, an hour before bed. This is a great time to take care of final tasks in the kitchen or around the house, grab a cup of herbal tea, wash my face and brush my teeth. All of that takes me about 45 minutes and by then, I am calm and ready to sleep, my house feels ready for the morning and my skin is ready for nightly rejuvenation. If I’m still a bit awake, I will read a book (old-fashioned kind – no electronic versions).
Sleep, good sleep is vital
Nutrition
I know…there is so much to do in our daily lives even without planning a wedding that our nutrition can get off track. However, when we don’t eat properly, there are all kinds of potential impacts: weight gain, weight loss, digestive trouble, skin irritation and dark circles, stress, frustration, injury and illness to name a few. Some basic things to try:
Less is More:
Drink less caffeine (we PNW folks LOVE our coffee and tea), alcohol and pop – there is a lot of sodium in sodas.
Drink MORE water – this will keep your skin hydrated as well as keep your digestive system working the way it is designed to.
Increase your fresh veggie and fruit intake (mostly veggies), even by a little bit. Our bodies thrive when they get treated to fresh food. It also helps the hair, skin and digestion.
Decrease processed foods as much as possible. I love pizza as much as the next person, but it’s not good for us to eat it every day, or even twice a week.
I am once again working with and using Isagenix cleanse products because I LOVE knowing that I am giving my body the nutritional support it needs with products I know are life-changing (they already have been for me). If you’re interested in learning more, you can visit my website here. If you have questions, I will be happy to answer them and share my story in more detail.
Exercise
So…did you already join the gym? Are you going as often as you planned? If yes, you’re a rockstar and well done!
If not, that’s ok. I don’t judge. I have bought more gym memberships that went unused in my lifetime than I care to think about. BUT… exercise/movement is important for a healthy body, mind and spirit.
I prefer to go for walks, hikes, and dance around my kitchen and living room when no one is watching. I even play ball with my cat (I know it sounds weird, but he loves to race them). These activities don’t have to take a lot of time. Just 10-15 minutes at a go, can be beneficial. Let’s be honest, with as much time as most of us scroll social media, we can usually find 10 minutes for a quick game of chase the ball with the cat…I mean stroll around the block.
Taking care of your skin
You’re most likely having some photos taken at your wedding. Lack of sleep, poor nutrition and stress can really take a toll on our skin. Since I know that you want your photos to show your natural, just married glow, try to prioritize a skincare routine. Ideally, twice per day, you should cleanse and moisturize, but if that is too much, at LEAST do it before bed. Our skin cells rejuvenate overnight when our bodies are sleeping. Washing and moisturizing before that just aids in that process.
I recently became a brand ambassador for a luxury skincare line that also has a super yummy, drinkable collagen. My skin feels AMAZING (I live in the desert and have been experiencing dry skin for years), my dark circles and dark spots on my forehead and hands are almost gone).
Emotional
Emotional self-care is just as important as taking care of our physical health. Our minds and hearts need attention too.
Time Together
Date night
How about Date Night once a week?
Wedding planning can become all-consuming, so I encourage you and your partner to take a night, once a week if possible, and go out here so you don’t talk about the wedding. Just have fun, laugh, tell jokes, talk about work (right?!), maybe even go for a walk or a hike and take care of some physical self-care at the same time.
“You” Time
time for a bubble bath
Sometimes we are so busy taking care of our partner, the kids, the parents, working, planning a wedding, and answering questions from everyone else, that we forget that we need to have time alone too. You know, just to breathe and BE. This is a great time to lock yourself in the bathroom and take a bubble bath. Turn on some music, SOAK and relax.
Time with Friends
After you’re done having your “You” time, maybe try some time with friends just to relax and NOT talk wedding stuff. How about a movie or girls’ hike or even a spa day (pedicure?).
self care time with the girls – pc Joel Muniz (via unsplash.com)
Don’t estimate the power of time with your girlfriends/guy friends. Yes, guys need to practice self-care too and they need time with their buddies.
self-care round of golf with the boys – pc Getty Images/creator pixelfit
To-Do Lists
All this time talking about not talking about wedding stuff may have you thinking, yeah, but Chanelle, I have a wedding to plan and I can’t NOT talk about it or DO wedding things. I get it, but I also know how deep the rabbit hole can get sometimes, so I recommend setting aside a certain number of hours per week for wedding research/planning/doing AND I recommend sticking to that allotted amount of time. Keep track of things you want to get done in your wedding planning notebook or “to-do list”.
To Do List…
Best Self Care Idea Yet – Get Support
Hire a Wedding Planner. I promise you that the amount of stress, energy and emotional overwhelm that you will save by having a wedding planner will far outweigh any money you spend. These folks are awesome and like your officiant (yours truly), they live for weddings. The things it takes you hours to find and do, take them no time at all. Their whole job is to alleviate your stress and help your vision for your wedding come to life. AND…there is a wedding planner for every budget (I promise). If you would like a recommendation for an amazing PNW Wedding planner, let me know. I work with some incredible, talented and creative people.
Even if you decide not to go with a wedding planner, ask for help when you need it! Your family, friends, and bridal party will happily help you plan and take things off your plate when it all gets to be too much.
Spiritual
As I said at the beginning, self-care includes caring e for our body, mind and spirit. For some, this can mean worship and time at church or temple. For others, it may look a little less structured.
Meditation/journaling/prayer
Taking a few moments to decompress each day will help keep you sane. Even if you just take 5 minutes to center yourself and focus on the day ahead. I generally set aside an hour each day for my devotional time (reading scripture, and prayer). I have also found that just taking 15 minutes a day to write down all I am thankful for that day and in that moment helps me feel more peaceful.
Walking
Couple walking. Photo by Catalin Paterau on Unsplash.com
I’m a HUGE fan of walking and not just for exercise, but to clear my head. I’ve also managed to solve all the world’s problems on more than one long walk. Your walks don’t even have to be long ones or even overly speedy. By getting out for 10-15 minutes at a time, you may find your stress level going down and your energy going up. In the winter, if it is too cold outside, I walk the halls of our house just to ‘get my steps in’.
Monthly Treats
We all have something we love to treat ourselves to. When you’re planning a wedding, it’s always nice to take the time to take care of yourself. If you love a great massage or a mani/pedi, treat yourself to one. Maybe it’s decadent dark chocolate (my favorite) or an insanely good book. Enjoy this time of your life in every way possible!
As I mentioned above, self-care is vital for you and your partner every day. It’s especially important for you both to truly enjoy the wedding planning process and your most amazingly beautiful wedding day. I hope some of the information and tips in this article have been or will be helpful to you. If you would like further support or clarification, please reach out and let me know.
I only link to products and services I think you will love. Some of the links on my site are monetized. If you click on the link and make a purchase, I may receive a commission. This helps me build a residual income and keep bringing great content to you! However, all opinions expressed are my own.
Photo credit Roxanne Best
Chanelle Carlin is Your Celebrant for Life. She is an ordained minister, professional wedding officiant, coach, and owner of Chanelle Carlin Weddings, LLC. Chanelle believes that life and love should be celebrated every minute. She collaborates with couples who’ve already started building the foundations of their relationship over years and are now ready to venture forth into marriage with a custom, memorable elopement/intimate wedding ceremony. While Chanelle works throughout the Pacific Northwest and Ireland primarily, she gladly travels to wherever her couples prefer to marry. As their Celebrant for Life, Chanelle celebrates the special milestones and moments that matter in each of her couples’ lives. She lives with her family in rural Okanogan County, Washington, USA, and LOVES her life. You can visit Chanelle at www.chanellecarlin.com, on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest.
