Whilst getting married is exciting, wedding planning is one of the most stressful life experiences any couple can put themselves through. According to research conducted by Brides.com, 96% of couples surveyed are experiencing stress surrounding their pending nuptials, this year more than ever.
But whilst wedding planning stress is incredibly common, it doesn’t have to be this way! Here are five ways that you can reduce your wedding planning stress, allowing you to focus on all of the fun of preparing to say ‘I do’ instead:
1. Get Organized
If you’re not organized then you will find it much harder to negotiate the wedding planning process. Some brides choose to hire a wedding planner to take care of the organization for them, whilst others will invest in stationary to help them stay on track: a dedicated wedding folder, color coded sticky notes, and an updated schedule or calendar will help you to stay on track.
Setting up your own wedding website is another great way to stay organized and minimize the amount of paperwork you have to deal with: your wedding website can deal with RSVP’s, menu selections, and your gift list.
A wedding website is also a great place to share more information about your wedding plans with your guests, and introduce your wedding theme or color scheme too.
2. Take Time for Self-Care
Whilst planning your wedding is important, it shouldn’t dominate every aspect of your life. Make sure you carve out time in your schedule for self-care, in the months leading up to your wedding. Whether you enjoy exercising, cooking healthy dishes, or simply taking a long bubble bath, be sure that you take time to focus on yourself.
As part of your self-care regime, you should also make the time for dates with your future spouse that don’t involve talking about the wedding: this will give you time to reconnect with each other, clear your mind, and remember why you wanted to get married in the first place! 47% of couples suggested that wedding planning put a strain on their relationship, so this step is particularly important.
Visiting your favorite restaurant, going to watch a movie, or enjoying a hike or swim together are all great wedding-free date night activities.
3. Be Prepared
Proper preparation is key to ensuring that your wedding planning process is stress-free and that everything runs as smoothly as possible. This means that, as soon as you have found your wedding venue and set the date, you should book all your other vendors as soon as you can. There is nothing more stressful than leaving everything to the last minute, and risking your dream vendor already being booked.
What’s more, the photographer that you can find with availability two weeks before your wedding is likely to be very different to the photographer you could choose 8 months before your wedding. Once all your vendors are booked, you can sit back and relax, knowing that most of the hard work is taken care of.
4. Don’t Be Afraid to Delegate
No bride should be expected to do everything herself. If you have more tasks on your plate than you can handle then don’t be afraid to delegate to other members of your wedding party. From your parents to your bridesmaids, you’ll be surprised at just how many people want to help you make your wedding a success.
Too much of a control freak to relinquish control of the big tasks? This is much more common than you might think! Instead, ask your volunteers to help with small tasks such as stuffing envelopes, packaging the wedding favors, or picking up supplies.
5. Keep Talking
Struggling to deal with all the stress of your wedding planning and not sure what to do next? Keep talking about how you feel: talk to anyone who will listen! Your spouse-to-be, friends and family will all be happy to listen, and you’ll be amazed at how much better you feel once you get it all out.
So many of your friends and family will have been through their own weddings, and the stress involved, so they are likely to be very reassuring and understanding. They may even offer some helpful tips of their own to help you deal with your stress levels!
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