Managing Wedding Planning Stress

Everyone knows that weddings can be extremely stressful, especially for the bride. That’s because the bride-to-be is required to manage all the moving parts necessary to bring your big day to life. Not to mention the exorbitant amounts of money that you and your partner will invest in your wedding day before it’s all done.

If all of this is starting to get to you, read on for some tips on how to manage wedding stress, whether you just got engaged or have been planning your wedding for a while now.

1. Take your time

Contrary to popular belief, there’s nothing wrong with a 12-month or 24-month engagement process. It can be really tempting to get married straight away so you and your partner can move forward and get started with this chapter in your lives. But, the more time you spend researching vendors and picking a style and theme that really resonate with you, the more satisfied you’ll be with the result.

Taking things slow can also save you money and help you savor every moment of the process. “It’s important to not book anything until you know how many people you want to have at your wedding and how much you’re willing to spend on the venue, cake, dress, etc.”, says Ben from Factory 51 in Brisbane.

2. Keep it simple

Girl, you don’t need a 10-piece band and late-night bites. Keep things simple because then there’ll be less details to worry about. If you think a garter toss and bouquet toss are obnoxious, skip them, and don’t buy favors just to buy favors. This is your wedding day and you have every right to do things your way.

3. Plan in bursts

Plan like a mad woman for two weeks and then ignore the whole process for a week thereafter. Repeat this process until you’ve finished planning your wedding because it’s one of the best ways to avoid insanity during while planning your wedding. Using this approach will also allow you to avoid thinking about your wedding 24/7 to the point where it takes over your life. When creating your to-do list, include elements like a location that holds sentimental value, decorations that will make your venue look stunning like some elegant flower arrangements to whimsical string lights, and incorporating traditions, like a custom ketubah, that are meaningful to you and your partner to add a special touch to your wedding day.

4. Delegate smaller tasks

You don’t have to take care of every little detail. Ask your mom to organize the dresses for your family, or have your father-in-law book the location for the rehearsal dinner. Make a to-do list for your future spouse as well, so you don’t have to do everything on your own. Remember that you have friends and family that would love to help you, so lean on then as much as possible.

5. Trust your vendors

You’ve spent all this time researching your vendors and you know they’re going to be a good fit for you, so don’t micromanage their process. Sit back, relax and let the masters sweat the small stuff like measuring tablecloth sizes.

6. Don’t look at too many Pinterest board

Nothing good comes from going back and comparing all of the design options you’ve selected with other pretty design options. It’ll mess with your mind, and there’s no time for that. If you’re running short on time, don’t try to come up with new ideas. That ship has sailed. Focus on the beautiful things you already have for your wedding day and don’t add anything else.

7. Be true to yourself

If you’re generally unorganized or if you have a really busy job and a full social life, then it’s best to hire a wedding planner. They’ll help you manage all the little details that make your head spin, and what’s hard to you will be easy for them.

On the other hand, if you’re a type-A personality that thrives on paying attention to detail, then you should hire a coordinator and manage everything else yourself. If you love dancing, hire a fantastic DJ; if you’re an introvert, make sure you carve out time to take care of yourself. The most important thing is to focus on what’s important to you and tailor your wedding to your preferences.

8. Enjoy the process

If you’re lucky, you only get to do this once, so focus on the items that you love and delegate the rest of it to your family, friends and the vendors that you’ve hired. It’ll definitely be worth it in the end and it’ll help you hold on to your sanity.