Planning a wedding can be stressful. There are so many things to do and you often have no idea where to start. It’s easy to get bogged down by the pressure of the occasion, but there are ways to deal with it! It’s important to remember that this day is going to be a beautiful celebration of your love and it’s okay if there are some imperfections. The moment when you read your vows and exchange your wedding rings will make it all worth it. Here are 8 tips that will help relieve some of the pressure when you’re planning your big day.
Take a break
When you’re feeling overwhelmed, take some time for yourself. Step away from the planning and go for a walk, watch your favourite movie, or just relax in bed. This will give you a chance to clear your head and come back to the planning with fresh eyes. It’s important to make some time for self care during this process, so that you don’t start suffering any physical side effects or having negative feelings about your wedding. Set some specific time limits for the amount of time you spend planning the wedding and use the rest of your free time to wind down and clear your mind.
Make a list
One of the best ways to deal with stress is to make a list of what still needs to be done. This will help you organise your thoughts and give you a clear plan of action. Seeing everything that needs to be done can be daunting, but it’s easier to tackle when it’s written down. It might also give you a nice sense of satisfaction to cross things off the list as you do them; and will remove the need for you to keep things ordered in your head. Making a list can also help you prioritise the essentials in order to avoid fussing too much over minor details.
Delegate
One of the best ways to reduce stress is to delegate tasks to your friends and family. Ask them for help with everything from setting up for the wedding to packing up afterwards. This will free up some of your time and allow you to focus on the things that need to be done. Many couples find it stressful to have their parents or in-laws involved in the wedding planning process, so it can be a good idea to set clear boundaries at the beginning in order to try and avoid miscommunication later on.
Set a budget and stick to it
One of the biggest sources of stress for many couples is money. Wedding planning can be expensive, but if you set a budget and stick to it, you’ll be much less stressed. Talk to your partner about what you’re both comfortable spending and start planning from there. It can be a good idea to use a budget calculator or a spreadsheet to keep track of all the spending. You may also want to set aside 5% of the budget for last minute expenses, in case of an emergency.
Take care of yourself
It’s easy to forget about your own needs when you’re busy planning a wedding, but it’s important to take some time for yourself. Make sure you get enough sleep and eat healthy foods. This will help keep you sane and relieve stress during the planning process. You should also try to make time for exercise and hobbies to ensure that you’re not spending all your time agonising over the wedding.
Simplify
If possible, simplify your wedding plans. The more complex the plan, the greater chance you’ll get stressed out by it all! Ask yourself which parts of your plans are really important and cut anything that isn’t essential to creating a beautiful ceremony or reception space. You may want to work on the most important things at the start and then come back to any of the finer details once you’ve got those sorted.
Don’t be afraid to say no
If someone asks you to do something for the wedding and you don’t have time or just don’t want to do it, say no. This is your day and you should only do what makes you happy. You don’t need to please everyone else, just focus on what will make you happy. You and your partner’s opinions are the only ones that really matter, so you should work as a team to create the best day for both of you.
Take a break from social media
Social media can be an amazing tool for planning a wedding, but it also brings with it lots of distractions. If you’re having trouble concentrating on your to do list, take a break from Facebook and Instagram so that you can focus on the tasks at hand! A good way to do this can be to turn off notifications or put your phone on do not disturb for a while, but if you still find yourself tempted you can temporarily delete the apps. Social media can also be overwhelming because it can make you feel like everyone else’s wedding was perfect and yours must be too, but it often doesn’t reveal any of the little mishaps or last minute fixes that happened on the day.
Wedding planning can be stressful, but if you follow these tips, you’ll be able to manage the stress and enjoy a beautiful day with your friends and family.
