Well, we’re here to tell you that teaching yourself how to stress less while planning your wedding can take anxiety and fear out of the planning process and make it much more enjoyable. It can also help you make better choices and avoid being completely burned out by the time the wedding comes around. So let’s go over some strategies that can make planning your wedding less stressful in 2023.
Know Your Budget
Knowing what your budget is from early on can help you avoid wasting money on trivialities and compromising the important sides of your wedding. You'll also be able to avoid getting into debt if you can help it. With difficult economic times right now, this is ever more important!
Write your detailed budget down in a physical wedding planner book or on a planning app, like Milanote or Trello, to visualize what you need to save up for and what you can purchase right away. Pick two or three priorities at first and focus on the due amount of time, money, and effort on them. You can also try to get these priorities done before your set deadlines to cross them off your to-do list. Nothing feels good like a big ole checkmark next to a task!
FUN MINDFUL ACTIVITY IDEA: Get your craft on and make this super cute heart-shaped wedding planner bookmark! Not everything wedding planning has to be about numbers or lists. Sometimes we just want to DIY something small for funsies!
Hire a Wedding Planner
Wedding planning takes a lot of energy when you’re fretting about the small and big stuff. The idea that this is your and your sweetie's big day and that every detail should come out perfect can make even the smallest decisions seem much larger and more important than they actually are.
If you have the budget for it, hiring a wedding planner should help you figure out these things because they know the vendors at every budget, they have done oodles of weddings before unlike yourself, and they literally understand every step of the wedding planning process. They also take care of the little details that might escape you, and most importantly, they handle the mishaps that could happen along the way. They are worth their weight in gold! Even DIY brides or grooms can benefit from hiring a professional. Give them the fussy tasks and let you get creative in the more enjoyable aspects of the wedding!
Manage Everybody's Expectations
Sometimes a huge reason for pre-wedding stress has to do with everyone else's expectations for what your wedding should be. Whether it’s about the guest list, the theme, or the budget, you may feel like someone is going to be let down, but remember this is your day and it should be a reflection of your love story as a couple, not your second cousin's opinions on colors. Remind those who are getting a bit too opinionated about your wedding day by establishing boundaries and respectfully reminding them that you appreciate their concern, but you will focus on what's best for you and your spouse-to-be. It'll be a great day no matter what!
Remember to also manage your own expectations about the big day as well. You definitely don't need to drop 20 pounds, get super tan (your photographer will actually advise you against this!), or book lip fillers to look your best on your wedding day. You just have to take care of yourself during the planning process, and if that means ice cream, a spa treatment, or a relaxing bath away from noisy unsolicited advice, then so be it! You do you.
Practice Mindfulness
Meditation and mindfulness can take your mind away from the adrenaline rush of anxiety and toward a calm, serene place. This is important for both your mental and physical well-being and should help you mitigate any anger or irritation that might come about when things don’t go the way you envisioned.
A 10-minute meditation or journaling session at the beginning of each day can help you put everything in perspective and enjoy the planning process a lot more. There are many free mindfulness videos on YouTube that can help you. Our editor-in-chief Chelsea has also personally used and recommends Headspace.
Communicate With Your Partner
Last but not least, your partner is the reason you’re getting married in the first place. Talking to each other, having some time away from planning, and going on a date or for a walk together every week can help you remember why you’re doing all of this! Congrats on getting engaged and going hand-in-hand together into the next chapter of your lives!
Need more stress-free tips? Check out our other helpful articles to bookmark for your wedding planning!
• 10 Ways to Be Happy During Wedding Planning
• How to Spend the Night Before Your Wedding
• Top 5 Things to Do When You Get Engaged
• 10 Tips for Getting Great Sleep Before Your Wedding Day
Photography: Chelsea Barton, Brooke Lark, and Madison Lavern
