The romance of getting engaged and celebrating with the people you love might get overshadowed by the process of wedding planning. Brides have to wrangle endless details and numerous vendors to pull off their big day, but you don’t have to have a frustrating experience. These are 12 of the best tips for stress-free wedding planning that you can start using the day after your proposal.
1. Gather a Team of Helpers
No one should have to start planning their wedding alone. Ask your closest friends and family members if they’re willing to help. While you’re taking calls from vendors and attending appointments, they can keep an eye out for decor craft ideas or store your supplies. Any help goes a long way in relieving stress.
2. Talk With Your Fiance
Your fiance should be part of the process from start to finish. Sit down with them to discuss what their wedding dreams look like or what’s most important for their experience. Combining your ideas is a fun way to personalize your big day and share the responsibilities.
3. Tour Wedding Venues Early
People book their wedding venue more than a year in advance, but you might not have that much time. Start touring wedding venues early so you don’t get anxious about securing your date. During each visit, consider elements like the location and parking so it’s easy for guests to find. You’ll know you’ve found the best place when it’s ideal for everyone involved.
4. Visit an Aesthetic Clinic
Part of your wedding planning stress might come from the pressure to look perfect in your bridal photos. Although you can book an incredible makeup artist and hairstylist, you should consider revamping your skin care routine now. Give yourself time to find the best solutions for your concerns by visiting an aesthetic clinic. Sitting down with a professional and discussing your skin care goals will make you feel and look better long before your walk down the aisle.
5. Create a Dress Board
There are so many details to think about when it comes to your wedding dress. You have to compare styles, fabrics, colors and fits. Streamline the process by creating a dress board with tons of pictures. You’ll spot trends in your preferences before ever stepping into a shop or trunk show.
6. Consult With Planners
Wedding planners exist to ease your nerves. They’ve been through the experience many times before and know how to handle anything that goes wrong. They even have industry connections with local vendors that could result in special discounts.
Meet with a few professional planners who have great reviews. If you ask about their included services, experience and how they can help with your specific plans, you can cut your stress and hand it permanently off to a planner.
7. Research Potential Officiants
Many brides pick their officiant based on who leads their religious services. It’s an excellent arrangement for people who have been long-standing members of a congregation, but it’s not a helpful tradition for everyone else.
Researching potential officiants right after your engagement is one of the best tips for stress-free wedding planning. You’ll have plenty of time to look at their websites and meet with them in person. Once you get a feel for their personality and what kind of ceremonies they’ve led in the past, you and your fiance will feel comfortable booking the right officiant for your wedding.
8. Schedule a Photo Shoot
Your photographer is one of the most critical parts of your wedding. They’ll capture the pictures you’ll treasure forever, so they have to be great. Schedule an engagement photo shoot or couples’ session to get a feel for a photographer’s skills. They’ll deliver a gallery that exemplifies their work so you don’t have to worry about picking someone who snaps terrible photos.
It’s also crucial to see if the photographer clicks with you and your fiance. They’ll see you during your most emotional and memorable moments. If they make you feel awkward or clash with your personality, your big day will be frustrating. Go with your gut and book a photographer who gets along with you and has a history of delivering fantastic pictures.
9. Consider a Mini-Moon
Even with all your best efforts, stress may creep up on you. If that happens, talk with your fiance about going on a mini-moon. They’re the latest wedding trend to defeat anxiety and stress through travel. It’s an excellent way to pick a romantic destination and try it out before booking your big honeymoon plans. Get away for a weekend, and you’ll travel back home with fresh ideas and renewed energy.
10. Pick Your Favorite Foods
Attending numerous catering events to sample dishes can feel exhausting. If the thought of fitting them into your busy schedule stresses you out, go with what you already love. Pick places that serve meals you enjoy so you don’t have to worry about taste-testing them. You can even contact your favorite restaurants to see if they’ll cater your wedding.
Restaurants don’t always advertise their catering abilities on their websites, but that doesn’t mean they won’t consider it. With enough time to plan for the event and a suitable deposit, your favorite restaurant could make an exception for your special day.
11. Cancel Anything Stressful
There are so many things for brides to attend while planning their weddings. You might also face some pressure to coordinate a bridal shower, wedding shower and bachelorette party. If the events fill you with dread, cancel them. Your wedding is all about what makes you happy, not about what pleases other people.
If your family members or friends really want those events to happen, they can take charge of the planning. Ask that they handle everything so you don’t have more on your plate. They’ll likely understand what you’re dealing with and make it all happen as a gift to you.
12. Choose Your Favorite Traditions
Wedding traditions are seemingly endless. They’re also sometimes a surprise. Your loved ones may have looked forward to things you aren’t even aware of, which puts pressure on you to include them. Feel free to cut them if they aren’t something you would enjoy or don’t naturally fit into your plans.
Traditions are only worth your time if they mean something to you. Bending over backward for another person’s expectations will make your wedding feel like something you have to deal with rather than something you can look forward to. Talk about your preferred traditions with your fiance to prioritize what matters for both of you.
Start Your Stress-Free Wedding Planning
Coordinating a big event isn’t easy, but there are a few ways to streamline your efforts. Use these tips for stress-free wedding planning to maintain those exciting butterflies in your stomach while counting down the days until your ceremony.
