How to Keep Your Peace While Wedding Planning
Most people who have gotten married have said wedding planning was one of the most stressful things they have ever done. Why is that? It’s tough to plan a party that’s supposed to be about you in a way that makes everyone in attendance happy. Everyone feels entitled to share their opinions about how you plan your wedding, and there are so many expectations and “traditions” to follow, even if that isn’t your vibe.
To be blunt, wedding planning can downright suck, especially when it goes against the grain of what is considered normal. That’s why we are going to talk about a few tips to keep your peace while planning your wedding.
Ultimately, your mental health matters more than anything. Your party and wedding are for you and your partner. I know it’s hard, but you must know how to set boundaries and put what you want first. It is not selfish to want everything about your wedding to be catered to who you are as a person and not what your mom or great aunt wants. These four tips can help you cultivate a plan to have a better chance of relaxing and enjoying the process of planning your wedding! Remember, your peace should be your number one priority.
The Daydreamer Diaries | Katie Brown
Wedding Planner
First, understand that it’s okay to ask for help. That might look like hiring a wedding planner or buying a detailed planner to help you organize your contacts and tasks. Etsy has some beautiful planners if you want to support a small business! Amazon and other retailers have great options too. (Psst! If you have a friend or loved one getting married, buying a functional wedding planning book is a great engagement gift!) If a planner isn’t an expense you want to invest in, have a trusted person help you manage the details you don’t want to! I had my mom contact wedding venues when planning my wedding because that caused me the most stress. It is beneficial to delegate tasks that you don’t want to handle. A wedding planner or trusted point person is helpful no matter what kind of wedding you’re having.
Manage Expectations
You will quickly learn that your dream wedding Pinterest boards add up in cost very quickly. When making a budget and layout for your wedding, write lists of what is most important to you and work around that. Let go of some of the ideas you have to focus on the most important aspects of your wedding. For example, the wedding dress of your dreams might be a priority over live entertainment. Maybe your food choice precedes your dream florist, and that is okay! There is no right or wrong answer to what you want to spend your budget on. If all your Pinterest dreams are important to you, think about scaling down the size of your wedding. This might be the time to consider having a micro wedding or elopement. If having all your loved ones and peers is the most important part of the day, think about simplifying other details. You know your situation best. Don’t try to plan a wedding that doesn’t fit your real-life situation. Check out our other posts about other ideas on how to make your day finely tailored to your desires!
The Daydreamer Diaries | Katie Brown
Keep Folders Organized
Make sure you keep all contracts, receipts, and documents organized. One tip I want to share is to make a separate email address for all wedding planning correspondences. This serves two purposes. One, you won’t get spammed with emails mixed into your regular email spam. Two, it allows you to keep all wedding documentation in one central place. You can give access to anyone who is helping you plan and communicate. Utilize folders and tags in your google drive, desktop, and email. It makes it easier to locate all of the important information you need. The more organized you are, the easier it will be to keep your peace while wedding planning. Your sanity will be saved the more organized you commit to being!
Recenter & Prioritize Self Care
No matter how small your wedding is or how Type A you may be, it’s crucial to take time to practice self-care. Nourish your body, slow down, and recenter often. Check in with yourself and figure out what’s working and what isn’t. You can cut out anything that isn’t serving you and devise a plan to stay as stress-free as possible. Take on tasks as you have the mental compacity to do so. Wedding planning doesn’t have to (and shouldn’t!) take up every ounce of your emotional and mental compacity. It is okay to take breaks and focus on yourself and your relationship. Your life shouldn’t be neglected for the sake of wedding planning. Your mental health needs to be a top priority.
Remember why you and your partner are together as you are figuring out how to keep your peace while wedding planning. Check out our post about keeping the peace as a couple because we understand that wedding planning really does bring out weird tension for some couples. That’s okay and completely normal! Throughout these blogs, we want to remind you that you matter most in your wedding. You ARE the main character, and no one and nothing should take away from that.
The Daydreamer Diaries |
To wrap up, I sincerely encourage you to set boundaries early on. Hire the help you need to make that happen. Stay organized and keep wedding documents separate. This helps you to be able to step away from wedding planning as you need. Remember that your wedding is a reflection of you and your real life. Don’t plan a wedding that is entirely out of the scope of your budget and personality. Lastly, take time to focus on yourself and your relationship. You are more than your wedding! Don’t let the stress of your wedding day take away from your peace. Hopefully, this article gave you some actionable steps to keep your peace while wedding planning.
Until Next Time,