Weddings are huge, important events, which means they require a lot of preparation and planning. It also means the stakes are high; how many times have you heard about a bride-to-be who felt overwhelmed by her choices, or the couple who was nearly torn apart trying to plan their special day?
But planning a wedding doesn’t need to be stressful—and in fact, it shouldn’t be. Take the stress out of planning a wedding by following this simple guide.
Start with a Vision
If you know the look, feel, and theme for your big day before you start planning, it’s easier to make the micro-decisions about the fine details. Of course, a grand, sweeping vision doesn’t necessarily help you pick out your flowers or decide on your menu’s design, but it may make it easier than if you go in open to any and all possibilities.
A vision can also help you know what you don’t want—which can make it easier to make decisions. If you’re dreaming of a rustic barn or a fairytale church wedding, you’ll quickly be able to rule out industrial venues as options.
Work Together
Getting married means you’re forming a partnership—‘til death do you part. While you’re probably a fantastic team already, planning a wedding is actually a great test of how well you two will work together. An overly controlling partner who makes all the decisions can make the other feel left out and dissatisfied, while a partner who simply shrugs and says, “Whatever you want” can leave the other feeling burdened by all of the decisions that need to be made.
Instead, work together! If one person doesn’t care about flowers, that’s fine—but find out what they do care about and have them make the decisions about the parts of the wedding they are truly passionate about. Communicating is key; both of you should be aware of and agree with the vision for The Big Day, and you should both work toward that vision as you make decisions. A great way to ensure you’re both on the same page? Spend some time filling a wedding scrapbook together. You can also plan weekly date nights to discuss how your plans are moving along.
Call in Professional Help
Booking the venue is just one part of the planning process. You will also have to coordinate al your vendors, staff, and décor. Wait staff, caterers, DJs, and photographers will become integral parts of how you make decisions and how you remember your day.
Have you thought about hiring an event planner? If not, you may want to consider that option. In addition to an even planner, your caterer may be able to steer you in the right direction; after all, they usually have plenty of experience with big events and with one of the most important aspects of your wedding: food. They may be familiar with the event spaces, and they can likely help advise you on your budget.
Be Ready to Handle Stress
Even when you get all the help you need, you have a fantastic vision, and a great support team, some stress will pop up—it’s simply inevitable. There’s a lot to plan and a lot going on. Chances are you’re also nervous about The Big Day, which can make even the most insignificant details seem more important than they really are.
You should accept early on that you will feel stress at some point. And once you’ve accepted that, be sure you book yourself some time away from wedding planning! You should also practice letting go of what you cannot control (like the weather), and stop worrying about whether or not your wedding will be as nice as your friend’s, or your cousin’s, or a dream wedding you saw on TV. Your wedding will be lovely—and more importantly, it will reflect you and your new partner!
