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5 Ways to NOT Stress over your Wedding Planning
Well it’s January, which means we’re just finishing off Engagement Season. If you’re one of those lucky ladies who received a ring for Christmas (or New Year’s), then congratulations! Now that you’ve called your family to let them know about the big news (and shared photos of your ring on every social media known to woman), what do you do first? Wedding planning can be an overwhelming thing once that “just engaged” euphoria wears off and suddenly you’re staring down a tunnel filled with tulle and organza. When you take all of those gorgeous Pinterest boards and wedding magazines into account, it can look downright impossible to plan a wedding that’s as beautiful as the ones you see advertised.
While we won’t say planning a wedding is easy, there are certainly ways to make beginning the planning process more inviting. By taking it one step at a time and not trying to figure everything out at once, you can make it a lot easier to digest the whole planning process.
1.) Take a Deep Breath and Relax!
You’re engaged! First and foremost, don’t forget to enjoy this time in your life. Get some engagement photos done, enjoy a romantic dinner with your fiancé, and spend some time with both of your parents! It’s also good to remember that whenever you get overwhelmed with all things bridal, you shouldn’t be afraid to take a time-out with your loved ones. Planning your wedding is a marathon, not a sprint, and your fiancé and family are there with you for the long haul. Appreciate these small moments before the craziness, and know that the people you love are there for support when you need it.
2.) Ease your Mind with Engagement Ring Insurance
If your future husband hasn’t already (and if he has, good for him!), you should consider getting your engagement ring insured. While it may seem like an unneeded expense before the wedding, it’s probably one of the smartest things you can do. Having that peace of mind later on that the cost of your ring is covered if lost or stolen can take a big weight off your shoulders. Engagement ring insurance can be purchased as an extension to your renter’s or homeowner’s policy, or can be purchased separately through a company that specializes in jewelry insurance. Make sure you look into both choices to find out which option works best with your needs (and don’t forget to read the fine print!). There’s a great article on The Knot that covers more of the details on ring insurance and what to look for.
3.) Don’t Stress about Style
When you spend hours upon hours on the internet looking at everything from wedding dresses to favors, deciding on one look for your wedding can be daunting. So before you go crazy trying to figure out if you want a Boho Chic or Vintage Rustic look (and what all of that even means to you), step back and take a deep breath. Close your eyes and try to imagine the big picture of your wedding. Small details aren’t important at this stage, but you should be able to come up with a few overall themes or ideas that resonate with your style and who you and your man are as a couple. If you’re still having trouble with this portion, keep watching our blog for more in-depth discussions about choosing your wedding theme.
4.) Bring Attention to the Budget
While it’s probably the most unromantic part of planning your wedding, and not necessarily “stress reliever”, your budget affects every other decision and purchase you make for your wedding, and by defining everyone’s limits and expectations early you can alleviate a lot of problems later on in the planning process. That’s why it’s so important to sit down with your fiancé and both of your families to crunch those numbers. Get specific if you need to, to avoid misunderstandings later on. It doesn’t matter who is paying for it or what amount they’re contributing, what matters is making sure everyone is clear on this before you begin planning.
It’s also important to remember that anyone who contributes to your wedding fund (and even those who don’t) may expect to have a final say on the details. Before you accept anyone’s contributions to your wedding budget, make sure to discuss how involved that person expects to be in the planning process.
5.) Don’t Panic – Hire a Planner
While not every couple will need (or want) to have a wedding planner or coordinator, they can be an invaluable resource to take the stress off of you and your fiancé during the planning process. And before you knock hiring a planner because it’s an additional cost, consider this: a good coordinator can easily pay for themselves. An experienced planner will know who the vendors are in your area and to be able to suggest the right ones to fit your needs. While it may be a little annoying if you think you’ve got THE PERFECT choice for a caterer and your coordinator asks you to try out someone else as well, it’s probably in your best interest to at least consider her suggestions. They could be just as perfect as your chosen vendor, and possibly at a lower price point. So let your planner handle all of the nitty-gritty work like calling vendors and asking the right questions, without sacrificing the decisions that are important to you like what cake flavor you want or what flowers to include in your bouquet.
So now that you’re armed with a few tools to de-stress from the initial overwhelming sense of “Oh my gosh, I have to plan a wedding!”, it’s time to take the next step and actually start planning your wedding! Just remember that sometimes it is good to step away and take part in an activity that’s NOT wedding related during the whole process. And don’t let stressing out over the details ruin your big day!
