For couples who are engaged, it’s all about the romance, declaring their love for one another, making the commitment that they want to spend the rest of their lives together, and looking forward to a promising future. What an engagement period shouldn’t be about is non-stop stress in terms of wedding planning that ultimately takes away from this special time in a couple’s lives.
If you’re under the impression that planning a wedding is going to be a giant headache that consumes your very being, it’s time to think again. There are plenty of wedding planning tips that are meant to save you from the never-ending cycle of stress, ensure your day is just how you envisioned, and allow the joy and romance of the engagement to still shine through. You don’t get to re-do this period, so why not make it as enjoyable and memorable as possible?
Here are five wedding planning tips that will help to drastically reduce or even eliminate stress from the process.
Send a Save the Date Card – Ensure Your Loved Ones Can Make It
Because your wedding is a monumental day in your life, you want to be surrounded by your closest friends and loved ones. The best way to ensure that is to give notice of the wedding date as soon as you possibly can by sending out a save the date card. At its core, a save the date card is just that – an announcement of the date you will be getting married. Save the date wording can be short and to the point – there is no need for details just yet. The entire purpose is to allow people to plan to get time off for your wedding and clear their schedule.
Greenvelope’s guide to save the date wording can be very helpful for couples, taking away any confusion they may have about what to include. With a digital save the date, you can send them immediately, so there is no need to worry about postage timing. The card should include the couple’s names, the wedding location (city or town, no need to list the venue yet), the date, a wedding URL if applicable and a note that the wedding invite will come later.
Make a Commitment to Stick to a Budget
The next tip is to commit very early in the planning/engagement process that you will set a realistic budget and will stick to it. If you ask couples who are currently planning a wedding what their biggest stress is, money is often high on the list of worries.
It’s no secret that weddings can be extremely expensive, and if you aren’t mindful with your planning, you could end up spending much more than you’re comfortable with or can afford. Starting your marriage deep in debt from the wedding is bound to cause anxiety, stress and even arguments.
So, what is a realistic budget? It is any number you feel comfortable with because the fact is that you can hold a wedding at any price point. Sure, you will need to make concessions and compromises to stick to a budget but remember – it will all be worth it.
Once you have settled on a budget, make sure to use a planning or tracking tool so you are aware of all the money that has been spent, or will be spent. There are plenty of wedding planning apps that make this possible.
Don’t Allow Planning to Take Over Your Lives
With so much to plan and prepare for, it’s easy for the wedding to take over your life. Before you know it, every free moment may be spent planning the wedding and every conversation revolves around the big day. This will get exhausting very fast, which will leave you burnt out and even resentful about the entire day. The solution is simple – you need balance in your life. This means that wedding planning can’t take over your entire life. If this means you have to schedule free time into your planner, where there will be no mention of the wedding, so be it.
Some of the ways the two of you can unwind and step away from wedding planning include:
- Exercising together (hiking, walking, biking, etc.)
- Going away for a weekend
- Enjoying a meal at your favorite restaurant
- Getting together with friends for a games night
- Going to the movies
- Joining a fun class together
- Visiting local attractions
- Checking out your town/city’s event schedule
Stepping away will help to reset your mind and ensure that when it is time for wedding planning, you are focused and in the best headspace.
Make a Promise to Each Other That This Is Your Day
Another issue that can cause a lot of stress is the pressure from others on how your wedding should look, who you should invite, what you should wear and so forth. This pressure can often come from well-intentioned family members such as parents, but the fact is this is your wedding and the two of you need to make decisions that make you happy. Why not make a promise to each other that this is your day, and all decisions will be made together – without outside influences? This may require you to do some pushback, so it could be wise to speak to the family early on and let them know the two of you will be calling the shots. Better to nip it in the bud before things spiral.
Accept That Everything Won’t Go Perfectly to Plan
Try as you might, expecting the day to be perfect without a single hiccup is unrealistic. Life happens, and things will come up. You need to accept in advance that this will happen and promise yourself you will go with the flow. Chances are the two of you will be the only ones that notice these minor issues.
By using these tips and staying mindful of your thoughts and feelings, there is no need to drown in wedding planning stress.
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