Say “I Do” the Healthy Way

Wedding planning health and safety tips from the CDC

(RxWiki News) Weddings are wonderful, but they can also be stressful and time consuming to put together. Couples have to remember to take care of their health before, during and after their nuptials.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released a list of tips to promote health and safety for couples that are about to walk down the aisle. 

Practicing health and safety from the engagement through the honeymoon can help reduce the risks of stress, illness and injury.

"Always put health and safety first."

The CDC said they recognized the time constraints, budgetary concerns and stressful decision making involved with wedding preparations. With those issues in mind, they recommended a set of rules to follow in order to ensure health and safety for people as they prepare to wed.

The CDC's Top Ten Tips for Staying Healthy While Planning a Wedding:

  1. Don’t forget to work out! When there are too many things to do and not enough time to do them, one of the first things to get put on the back burner is exercise. Health experts at the CDC recommend that people get at least 2.5 hours of physical activity per week, no matter what. Exercise can help people reduce stress, watch their weight and boost energy. To avoid added stress and possible injury, workouts should be planned into daily schedules. Trying to cram in a bunch of last-minute exercise right before the wedding isn’t going to reap the same health benefits as a long-term, regular exercise habit.
  2. Brides and grooms may be tempted to do a crash diet right before the wedding. But a healthy diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables and low in sugar, salt and saturated fats can’t be beat. For the parties leading up to the wedding, at the wedding day and during the honeymoon, choose healthy meal plans for everyone to enjoy.
  3. There’s no time like right now to quit smoking! Promote health and safety by hosting the pre-wedding events as well as the wedding at smoke-free environments.
  4. Stress management may include asking for help with planning and duties, setting realistic limits, sticking to a normal schedule and taking time to relax and hang out with friends.
  5. Be careful not to drink too much. Don’t let stress from planning the wedding, celebrating on the day of the wedding or relaxing on the honeymoon turn into dangerous drinking. The CDC recommends that women have no more than one and men have no more than two alcoholic beverages per day.
  6. Get rest! The human body needs 7 to 9 hours of sleep every single night.
  7. Look for fire hazards or injury risks of venues or decorations to reduce potential causes for harm.
  8. Always buckle up when driving!
  9. Make sure to check out health and vaccination information specific for the honeymoon destination. The CDC recommends checking with the US Department of State for local health and safety concerns. If the honeymoon involves a cruise ship, wash hands often and use hand sanitizer stations located around the ship. Make sure to check the health score of the cruise ship before buying tickets as well.
  10. Don’t forget to pack the sunscreen, bug repellant and any other necessary safety equipment for the honeymoon adventure.

This feature was published in March on the CDC website.

Review Date: 
March 19, 2013