mobile logo

5 Tips for Planning Your Wedding (Without Losing Your Mind!)

Although getting engaged is one of the best times of a couple’s life, there is one main reason why the wedding planning process tends to lean towards to stressful side. Guess what the average cost of a wedding is? Close to a whopping $26,000! Whew, just thinking about it brings a bead of sweat to our brow!

If you’re planning on saying “I do” in the next 12-24 months, we won’t lie to you. There are going to be some long discussions, a lot of compromising and probably a sleepless night or two (or more). But that doesn’t mean that your wedding planning process has to be super-dramatic or draining.

If you follow these five tips, we’re confident that you’ll be able to plan your wedding and actually make it to your special day with more than an ounce of sanity. (No, really!)

Hire a Wedding Planner

It will spare you tons of countless headaches if you hire a reputable wedding planner. Not only are they professionals when it comes to making sure your day runs smoothly, they have relationships with vendors that can result in you keeping more than a few dollars in your pocket. Just make sure to interview no less than 3-5, to have a contract in tow for them to sign and that you require they be there through your reception (so that if there are any unforeseen issues, they can handle it so that you won’t have to worry about it).

STICK TO A BUDGET

It’s pretty common for couples to go WAY OVER BUDGET on their wedding day. When it comes to this, try and be the exception, not the rule. Be realistic about what you can afford. Try and only use your credit cards as deposits (for things like venues or hotel room reservations). Also, remember that it’s a very special day, but you have a life to live following it. It doesn’t make sense to spend a mint on a wedding but then can’t pay your mortgage for the following three months.

Be Semi-Flexible

Are you someone who has planned your wedding day down to the flavor of wedding cake that you want ever since you were little? It’s understandable. Just remember that while you were doing that, there was someone else’s perspective who wasn’t factored in—the one you plan to marry. Many marriage counselors will tell you that if a couple wants to see if they are ready for marriage 1) they should take a road trip together and 2) they should plan a wedding. It’s a great way to learn how to not sweat the small stuff like if they want to wear a certain color tux or they want to select the music at the reception. It can amp up your communication skills too.

The Less Opinions, The Better

Over the course of the planning process, brace yourself because you are going to hear a TON of opinions! Just remember that at the end of the day, the ones that matter the most are you and your beloved’s. That said, try and avoid bringing an entire entourage to pick your bridal gown. Also, it’s not necessary to have a gang of people at your wedding cake testing. Having a ton of people around while you’re trying to make decisions is only going to give you more “voices” to consider and more things to get anxious about. Not only that, but you could look up and realize that your wedding was more about what everyone and their grandmother (literally) wanted—not you.

Don’t Procrastinate

A year flies by. Even more so when you’re planning for your wedding day. That said, there should not be a week that goes by when you’re not checking something off of your to-do list (definitely have a list!). Break things down into short and long-term goes. Delegate duties as necessary (that’s a part of what your bridal party signed up to do: WORK). And, make sure to do things in the order of importance more than the order of how you feel.

If you follow through with all of these tips, wedding planning may not end up being a breeze, but it will be a lot easier to do. Guaranteed.