Weddings are wonderful, happy occasions but they can be incredibly stressful to plan and sometimes to execute as well. You want your wedding to be perfect but there’s just so much planning that needs to be done that things can get hectic quickly. It almost seems that nowadays the pressure of planning the event can outweigh the wedding itself.
But have no fear. Preparing to get married doesn’t have to be all stress and no fun or excitement. All it takes is careful setup and knowing how you plan to go about executing everything ahead of time. There may still be some anxiety or issues that arise, but you can at least be a bit more relaxed and able to focus on enjoying your big day with your future spouse.
Get ahead of the schedule
There’s a lot that goes into planning a wedding, and trying to get everything done at once or making decisions as you go can make things much more complicated for you. It could be a good idea to make a basic plan first of everything you want and need before making any solid decisions. Creating a checklist can ensure you won’t miss anything and also help you keep track of everything so you don’t accidentally double-book or choose mix-matching colours or things.
Before you decide on any decorations, dresses, or cake, you should first choose the aesthetic of your wedding. Decide if you want your wedding to have a theme or simply a cohesive color palette and envision how you want everything to look. You can make the ceremony classy and elegant while having the reception be more whimsical and fantasy-inspired, or style both in the same way. Discuss with your partner what you’d both like the overall feel of the wedding to be like and it can make your other decisions that much easier to make.
Once you know the colours and theme of your wedding, consider ordering your wedding invitations in advance. Depending on where you get the invitations they may take a little while to get to you and also to get out to your guests, so allow plenty of time for shipping and postal services. Also, if you have friends or family that live far away, you want to give them plenty of time to make travel arrangements or take time off from work or school. Sending invites too close to the wedding will mean that some people you want to attend may not be able to.
You’ll also want to speak with different wedding vendors before deciding who to hire or order from. Compare prices, quality, and the communication of different vendors. If a certain business has a great selection but is hard to reach, doesn’t respond to calls or emails promptly, or isn’t willing to compromise on certain things, a different option may be better. Establish a rapport with businesses to better negotiate for the best deals.
Decorate with easy but impressive items
When it comes to wedding planning, it’s important to remember that every detail matters. However, planning a wedding can be overwhelming, so it’s important to find decor items that are both easy and impressive. For example, string lights create a romantic and magical atmosphere easily and can be hung in a variety of ways. Flowers are a classic choice and can make any space feel more beautiful and festive. You could also consider unique decor options, like inflatable decorations that are custom-made to match your wedding’s theme. Except for arches and tunnels that look perfect on wedding venues, you can incorporate inflatable air dancers as a fun and unique way to welcome your guests. They are easily installed and have impressive decor, that will add a playful and fun touch to your wedding without being too overwhelming. Ultimately, choosing easy but impressive decor options can help reduce wedding planning stress and allow you to fully enjoy your special day.
Calling for backup
If you’re overwhelmed by all the decisions and preparations you have to make, keep in mind that you and your partner don’t have to do everything all by yourselves. There’s no shame in asking for a bit of help, whether it’s help dealing with vendors, help with scheduling, or simply asking for opinions on different decor options. There are many people who would be happy to help you out.
When asking people to be a part of your wedding party, choose wisely. Make sure your bridesmaids, maid of honour, groomsmen, and best men are all people you feel close to and comfortable with. You’re inviting them to participate in a huge life event after all, so pick people you know can be responsible and trustworthy as well as supportive. Consider any friends or family members who are particularly calming presence as this will be extremely helpful for minimising your stress levels.
You can also consider hiring a wedding planner to make things easier for you. A wedding planner can not only help with aesthetic choices but will also deal with vendors and handle any orders so you don’t have to. It can be a great option for those who want to take some of the pressure off themselves, but it isn’t the right choice for everyone so think about what you want and what would be the best option to make it happen.
The ‘Big Day’ setup
Make sure to set things up on the day of the wedding to go as smoothly as possible. Know who is doing what, where things are going to be going and the timing for everything as well. Setting everything up beforehand will help to ease the anxiety and minimize problems, as well as make room for any problems that do arise.
It’s incredibly important to create a detailed schedule for the wedding day and include what everyone in the wedding party and anyone else who’s helping set up should be doing and at what time. Include the times given to you by the venue and any vendors or staff that will be there. Also, be sure to allow for some wiggle room so any problems that come up can be handled calmly instead of frantically trying to stay on schedule. Plan for things to take a bit longer than you actually think they will just in case so you don’t feel rushed and can focus on getting ready rather than focusing on the time.
Also, prepare multiple emergency kits. Bring separate kits for the bride and bridesmaids, the groom and groomsmen, the officiant, and anyone who will be there helping set up. Include things like makeup wipes and hairspray for the ladies, backup boutonnieres for the men, and things like bandaids, aspirin, a sewing kit with extra buttons and such, and tape in all kits. This will ensure you have everything you need and keep you prepared for any possible issues.
Everyone wants their wedding to be special and perfect, but with this desire comes a large amount of stress and pressure. Keep in mind that this day should be about you, your partner, and the love you two share. Make sure you allow yourself to enjoy this special day and not be so overwhelmed that it becomes a negative experience.
Tim Williamson, a psychology graduate from the University of Hertfordshire, has a keen interest in the fields of mental health, wellness, and lifestyle.
