The day has arrived… your wedding day! You still don’t have a dress. You haven’t figured out the menu, and you can’t find your fiancé.
You’re alone in the church, and hear pounding on the door…
You wake up in a cold sweat. It takes a second for your heart rate to return to normal – thank goodness. That was just a nightmare.
Wedding planning can be stressful, but – spoiler alert – it doesn’t have to be.
Keep reading to discover the secrets of stress-free wedding planning.
Brainstorm – Get your ideas on paper
Let’s start by grabbing a notebook, pen, and probably Starbucks… make it a Venti. Oh, and your fiancée too.
Use this moment to zoom out, look at everything from a macro-level. Ask:
- Indoors or outdoors?
- How many people do you want to invite?
- Do you want your pastor to officiate, or do you need to find someone?
Start brainstorming. Getting your vision onto paper is an excellent way to clarify it, organize your mind, and start shaping your to-do list.
Now, think about your budget.
Many people feel restricted by a smaller budget, but ultimately, this day is about celebrating your love, which is impossible to put a price tag on. If you have a smaller budget there are ways of being creative, and your celebration can still feel wildly extravagant.
Categorize & Prioritize
So now you have your list, you can start to categorize and prioritize.
First, decide what aesthetic you’re going for. This is really fun, and the only stress involved here is narrowing down which one you’d like to choose. There are so many different, unique and fun aesthetics.
Unsure of which aesthetic to go with?
How about a cowboy themed wedding? This article on the cowboy wedding aesthetic covers all the essentials. We’ll continue with the cowboy theme here, as an example of how making the big decision of which aesthetic you’d like makes the additional decisions easier.
Once you’ve chosen your aesthetic, you know:
- what style dress to look for and what you’d like your bridesmaids to wear
- The type of venue and setting you’re looking for – in this case, outdoors with a barn
- You want a live band that covers all the country classics
- Food wise, something off the grill sounds perfect. After all, the associated sizzle and smoke is basically a universal beacon signifying a good time.
- Your decorative touches will include hay bale seating and sunflowers in Mason jars.
There are so many fun ways to add something extra special, and once you’ve figured out the big decisions, the smaller details fall into place much easier.
Delegate
If you’re overwhelmed with all the choices and decisions, delegate some of the less-important tasks. Your mother or mother-in-law are probably chomping at the bit to be involved.
Just make sure you are absolutely clear on what you’re looking for, and have them check in with you before making any decisions.
If you have a hard time finding something specific, for example a country cover band, don’t be afraid to ask around. Post your questions on social media. Chances are, someone knows someone who would be perfect.
Deadlines
Give yourself deadlines. That may seem cruel, but giving yourself an anxiety attack or having to make do with something you’re not thrilled about because you waited too long, is worse.
If your wedding day is set for a year from now, it may seem like you have all the time in the world. However, experts recommend you select your wedding and bridesmaid dress at least six to eight months before your big day. That way there’s time to make adjustments. They’ll fit perfectly, and you’ll all look stunning.
Communicate
Make sure to communicate with everyone involved in the planning process and those involved in the wedding, and ask that they do the same with you.
Final Tips
- Create a dedicated space for everything wedding planning related
- Take notes
- Add dates for when specific tasks need to be completed into your Google calendar, or whichever system you use to stay on track
- Have a plan B in place. For example, if your wedding is outdoors, put a deposit on a marquee so if it rains, it won’t ruin your day.
Conclusion:
By not putting everything off to the last minute, you’re giving yourself time to enjoy the process.
Have fun!
You’ve probably heard it more than once, but it doesn’t make it any less true: this is your day.
