It’s easy during the wedding planning frenzy to get overwhelmed, particularly for women balancing a hectic work schedule. It’s estimated that over 50% of women spend 10-25 hours per week planning her wedding. That’s in addition to all the other obligations of school, work, family, and spending time with your fiancé. If you can related to those numbers, I imagine you are running on a lot of caffeine and little sleep.
There are so many choices to consider and decisions to make; sometimes it takes the fun out of wedding planning. Here are a few tips to help you keep your sanity while planning for your wedding, while still making the most of your special day.
1. DIY Projects—Decide if it’s worth it. Sure, if you’re a Pinterest junkie, you can find 1001 great crafts to create for your wedding. But let’s be honest….who really has the time to make all of that stuff? Pick one or two projects that can save you money and look amazing, and pin the rest. Plan to have a girls night where you all work together to complete the projects at least 1-2 months in advance prior to the wedding, so you can feel more at ease knowing that a time consuming project can be checked off your list.
2. Set your priorities. With every vendor you can imagine vying for your attention and money, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed quickly. Before you dive into every wedding planning site and bridal show imaginable, make a decision on what aspects of the wedding are most important to you. Personally, I chose food and photography/videography. I wanted everyone to have a fantastic meal, and I wanted to capture every moment so I could cherish it for years to come.
3. Set your budget. Finances are a big worry for most couples, and it tends to create additional stress and anxiety. It’s one of the biggest issues couples fight about after marriage. Set the tone for your marriage by setting a wedding budget and sticking to it—there’s nothing that can suck the excitement right out of the room more than coming home from your honeymoon to a stack of bills from your wedding day (on top of all your other normal bills). Once you choose two or three priorities for your wedding, allocate the most money to those areas, and decided on which other aspects of the wedding you’re going to reduce spending. Decide on your budget (I recommend using a spreadsheet that can adjust as you make purchases), then print off a copy and keep it handy while you’re out shopping, so you can remember how much money you’ve allocated to each area of the wedding. You can find some great wedding budget spreadsheets online for free.
4. Complete premarital counseling. Make the small investment of time and money to complete premarital counseling (also called premarital education). Work through as many issues as you can with your partner before you walk down the aisle. Who knows, you might discover you don’t want to get married after all—which isn’t the worst thing that could happen. Breaking up before the wedding could save you lots of planning, time, and money—and more importantly, one big nasty divorce. If you do decide to keep moving forward with your partner, researchers suggest that couples who complete premarital counseling tend to be better off than those who don’t. As a bonus, Florida residents who complete a certified premarital course get a discount on their marriage license (there are some other states that offer this incentive as well).
5. Enjoy it. Remember what this day is really all about. It’s easy to lose perspective in the midst of wedding planning. Keep in mind that the wedding is a day—granted, one of the biggest days of your life—but your marriage is a lifetime.
What’s your biggest struggle during wedding planning? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Want to learn start your marriage on the right foot? Learn more about our premarital program.
