We know that planning one of the biggest days of your life can be mentally, physically and emotionally draining. It is also an established fact that planning a wedding no matter how small is no child’s play. This is because it involves making many decisions (and sub decisions!) such as guest lists, seating charts, catering, entertainment, flowers, decoration, and so on. So it is important to plan a stress-free wedding to get the most from your special day.
If you are reading this blog post, you are probably newly engaged or near the start of your wedding planning and concerned about the stress of wedding planning. Not to worry, if you follow some of these simple wedding planning tips, then you can retain your calm, have a smooth planning experience and be well on your way to a stress-free wedding!
IN THIS ARTICLE
Identify Priorities
Know what you want and what you do not want. What are your absolute must-haves? What are the things that will make your wedding the one you have always dreamed of? Figuring this out early will help you make decisions throughout the planning process. It is advisable to pick two or three things that are your top priorities and focus your budget on those to avoid getting financially stressed.
So, for example, a wonderful photographer might be a priority, but not entertainment. Or maybe you are a fan of breathtaking bouquets, so that’s a must-have, but you’re not too big on cakes. It’s essential you know what you want on an extensive level so you don’t get confused along the line.
Make a Realistic Budget
Sound like a no-brainer right? Well, you’d be surprised how many couples forget to make a budget or set unrealistic price goals. Carry out research beforehand, identify how much you can afford or what you believe is reasonable to spend. Also, consider if your parents might contribute and assess your current debt. From there, you can set a realistic budget for your wedding.
It is essential to plan accordingly to make sure you stay within your allocated budget. You don’t have to go overboard for one day. You certainly don’t want money worries adding to the stress leading up to your wedding. So even if you do nothing else in order to reduce your stress levels, we strongly recommend that you do this.
Stay Organized
It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer volume of what you need to do and tasks you must complete. To avoid getting overwhelmed and in order to keep track of everything related to your wedding, figure out an organizational system and try to stay as organized as possible. You can use Google Drive, Evernote, a dedicated Pinterest board, a wedding journal, checklists or even a combination of several systems. If you get organized from the outset, not only will you minimize stress but also make your life much easier.
Set Deadlines and Stick to Them
Whether you are planning a small or large wedding, you should create a timeline. After making a list of every single task, break it into sections and establish dates when each task needs to be completed. This way, your to-do list will seem less overwhelming. You can make this fun by treating yourself to a reward every time you beat a deadline.
Hire a Wedding Planner or Day-of Wedding Coordinator
Although it can be tempting to save money by doing all the planning yourself, you may want to think that through. If you hire a wedding planner or coordinator, they can take a huge amount of decision making off you and save you from having to make lots of stressful choices. A wedding planner can provide you with the best recommendations and resources as you navigate through planning. Additionally, they can help with booking a venue, selecting a theme, contacting vendors, and finishing off other tasks. This will save you a ton of time and alleviates stress.
If you are determined to stick to a budget or a full wedding planner can’t fit into your budget, consider hiring a month or day of coordinator at the very least. That will save some money but still ensure that you have some help. You deserve to enjoy your planning process, and if you’ve never planned a wedding before, it can be very hectic to do on your own.
Schedule Regular Planning Meetings
When it comes to eradicating wedding planning stress, the importance of communication cannot be overemphasized. Communication is the best tool for avoiding disagreement. Schedule time each week to meet with your partner to discuss updates, take stock of pending items on your to-do lists and discuss decisions that need to be made. This is to ensure you and your partner are on the same page about everything.
Delegate/ Accept Help
You simply can’t do everything alone regardless of how much you are willing to try. While it may be natural to say no when friends and family ask if they can help with anything, it’s advisable to accept all the help you can get! As a matter of fact, your nearest and dearest will be happy to help out with tasks since it allows them to give you the unique and special gift of their time and effort.
Hence, don’t hesitate to delegate responsibilities for your special day. Wedding planning is much easier that way. Check your list of tasks to see if you can delegate a thing or two, then check it off your list. This immediately cuts your stress and your workload down and makes things run more smoothly. Tasks you delegate can be as small as getting quotes over the phone, stuffing and stamping envelopes, or vetting photographers. Whatever task they can take off your list, allow them. And make sure you appreciate them for it.
Take a Break from Wedding Planning
Since there are a million things to think and talk about when planning a wedding, it’s easy to get caught up. However, don’t let wedding planning consume every conversation you have with your partner and take over your life. Give yourself regular breaks from making or answering wedding related phone calls or emails and scrolling through vendor profiles so that your mind can relax.
Better still, you can limit wedding planning to a specific day and time every week. Go to a movie, have regular date nights, go to the park, meet friends and don’t talk about your wedding or plan a weekend staycation. Apart from making your wedding planning stress vanish, it’ll also help you reconnect with your partner.
Remember the End Goal
You know what we’re about to say: You can’t control everything. Don’t obsess about perfection or get consumed in every little detail that those things become the main focus of your special day. Remember that regardless of the cake you choose, who you book or your dress, all that matters at the end of the day is that you’ll be marrying the love of your life in the presence of the people that matter most to you both.
We firmly believe that wedding planning should be a wonderful, memorable and joyful experience just like the wedding day. Congratulations on your engagement and happy wedding planning! May your day be free of stress and full of joy!
