Planning A Wedding: Stress-Free Strategies For Your Big Day

Planning a wedding can be stressful, but it doesn't have to be. There are many ways to make the process more enjoyable, from setting aside time to focus on things that bring you joy, to getting support from your venue's planning team. It's also important to set a budget and stick to it, as well as focus on the elements that are important to you and your partner, such as food, music, or flowers.

Focus on what brings you joy, not what you think you 'should' have

Planning a wedding can be stressful, but it's important to focus on what brings you joy, rather than what you think you should have. Before you start making any decisions, sit down with your partner and write down the things that are important to you both. This could be anything from the dress to the food, or the music to the flowers.

Once you have a clear idea of what's important to you, you can start planning. It's easy for wedding planning to take over your life, so make sure you set aside some time each week to do something unrelated to the wedding. Spend time with your partner, friends, and family, and do the things you love. This will help you avoid burnout and make the planning process more enjoyable.

When it comes to suppliers, be guided by the style of their work. For example, if you're looking for a photographer, find someone whose style of photography you like. The same goes for videographers, florists, and other suppliers.

Don't be afraid to ask for help. The team at your wedding venue should be able to support you with planning. They can help with everything from controlling your budget and managing schedules to sourcing suppliers and taking care of practical details like dietary requirements and accommodation.

Finally, remember that there are ways to save time and money. For example, instead of sending paper invitations, you can create a graphic on a free website like Canva and text it to your guest list. You can also skip the bouquets and party favors to save money. Focus on what's important to you and your partner, and don't worry about the rest.

Take time away from wedding planning

Wedding planning can easily take over your life, so it's important to take time away from it. Set aside a few days every week where you don't do anything wedding-related. Spend that time with your fiancé, friends and family, doing the things you love. This will help you avoid burnout and make the wedding planning process more enjoyable.

Focus on the things that will bring you joy, rather than things you think you "should" have. For example, if flowers aren't important to you, skip the bouquets and save your floral budget for centrepieces on the tables. Similarly, if party favours aren't a priority, don't feel obliged to provide them – you're already buying food and drinks for your guests.

Another way to save time and money is to make a graphic on Canva.com and text the image to your guest list. You can also collect RSVPs via a wedding website that you link to on the invite.

Finally, if you're feeling overwhelmed, remember that the team at your wedding venue should be able to support you with the planning. They can help with everything from controlling your budget and managing schedules to sourcing suppliers and taking care of practical details like collecting dietary requirements and booking accommodation.

Get support from your venue

Wedding planning can be stressful, but there are ways to make it less so. One of the most important things is to focus on the things that will bring you joy, rather than things you think you "should" have. This might be the dress, the food, or the music.

When it comes to getting support from your venue, it's important to choose a venue that offers a range of services to make your life easier. For example, some venues will arrange an initial planning meeting to understand your vision for the day and help you bring it to life. During this meeting, you may get to meet with the head chef, the operations manager, and other key members of staff. The venue may also be able to help with budget control, schedule management, and sourcing suppliers. They can take care of practical details such as collecting dietary requirements, booking accommodation, and even pillow choices and favourite drinks for your guests.

It's also a good idea to set aside a few days each week where you don't do anything wedding-related. This will help you avoid burnout and make the planning process more enjoyable. Spend this time with your partner, friends, and family, doing the things you love.

Finally, when it comes to suppliers, be guided by the style of their work. Look for photographers, videographers, and florists whose aesthetic aligns with your vision for the day. This will help ensure that your wedding is exactly how you want it to be.

Save money on flowers and party favours

Planning a wedding can be stressful, but there are ways to make it more enjoyable. One way to reduce stress is to focus on the things that will bring you joy, rather than things you think you “should” have.

To save money on flowers and party favours, consider the following:

• Skip the bouquets. Flowers are expensive, and you generally toss them after the event. You only hold bouquets for about 20 minutes anyway, and the bride gives hers away a couple of times. Save your floral budget for centrepieces on the tables instead.
• Skip the party favours. You are already buying food and drinks for your guests. They don't need anything else.
• If you're looking for decorations, be aware that these can be superfluous and expensive.

Pare down the guest list

Planning a wedding can be stressful, but there are ways to make the process more enjoyable. One way to reduce stress is to pare down the guest list. This can be done by having a destination wedding, as not everyone will be able to afford to travel to the location. For example, if you choose to get married in Maui, most of your friends and family might not be able to attend.

Another way to reduce the guest list is to consider the budget. A smaller guest list will allow you to spend more on other aspects of the wedding, such as food, music, and drinks. It is important to focus on the things that will bring you joy, rather than what you think you "should have".

Additionally, you can save time and money on invitations and RSVPs by sending them via text and collecting responses through a wedding website. This can help streamline the planning process and reduce the overall guest list.

Finally, it is important to set aside time each week to relax and recharge. Wedding planning can be all-consuming, so make sure to spend time with your partner, friends, and family doing things you enjoy. This will help you avoid burnout and make the planning process more manageable.

Frequently asked questions