According to my more worldly friends, there are several things a girl needs right before her wedding.

A massage.

A manicure.

A night out on the town with her crew.

A stiff drink.

I’ll gladly take all of the above. However, I have one more pre-wedding essential to add to the list.

A trip to a fabulous French bakery with her beau.

Oh, and I’ll take some steamy and delicious coffee with that too.

Exhibit A features this final, but abundantly essential, pre-wedding requirement.

I now understand that a good pastry can really take your mind off of the piles and piles of things you left until the last minute. It can be transportive, in a sense. And, while full of things that might make you plump, you might find eating a cube of butter in pastry form decreases stress. You might even add years to your life.

You think I’m exaggerating. I might be. However, I noticed a change in K’s spirits following his ingestion of the buttery croissant at the famous Tartine. He was more upbeat and seemingly inspired to go about a long day photographing another happy couple as they take the plunge.

I was thankful for this. It’s been a busy busy season. But there is much about these days to celebrate. It’s ridiculously important to slow down.

So when you and your sweetie find yourselves sweating over thousands of place-cards made by your loving hands with an exacto knife, scissors and a pretty little stamp, take a load off and head out to Tartine or your nearest and dearest french bakery. The benefits of the butter far outweigh the burdens.

Now, I must get back to it. Just thinking of pastries puts me in far better spirits.

Just 12 days left.