My friend recently got engaged and just set her wedding date for next July. I was on the phone with her and while she was so excited to be planning the day she marries the love of her life, she let out a little stress saying, “My mother wants lots of flowers, which I do not really care about”, “I do not want to go over budget and everything for weddings is so much more expensive”, and “Whew, maybe I need to be spending more time finding a photographer so I am less stressed about it.” Sounds familiar, right?

Planning a wedding is no small task. I have mentioned in previous blogs but will reiterate because it is a profound statistic: over 5,000 details go into planning and executing a wedding. I do not mention this to give you grey hairs but to remind you to be realistic in your expectations of yourself and of your wedding day. If you find yourself having a moment, try some of these tips to get you grounded and ready to keep on planning!

Be Realistic

Try to come to terms with these things:

Once you label something “wedding” it becomes a lot more expensive
Compromises of all kinds will have to be made
“Do I really have to _?” type questions will run you mad
Trying to please everyone is impossible

Easier said than done, I know. Amidst all of the requests from family and unforeseen logistics of why a balloon chandelier is definitely not an option, there are plenty of your dream wedding details that meet your budget and are easy to organize. Always hold your vision in the front of your mind but not so tight that any sort of drawback really alters your mood and outlook of the process. There is a light at the end of this tunnel, which is that you get to marry the love of your life.

Communicate

This is yours and your fiance’s day. Not just any day. It is your wedding day, for your marriage, that everyone attends to celebrate you. Now, if someone else is footing the bill then it gets a little bit bigger than yourself because their considerations should be heard. This is where communication is key and compromise is your best friend. There should be no anger or hurt feelings over such a positive event. If it helps, write down all the things that need to be negotiated and call for a meeting to resolve any areas of conflict. By writing everything down, you make sure all your points are heard. No matter who is planning, paying for, or more emotionally invested in your wedding, staying level headed is easier through efficient communication.

Photo Credit: Daniel Lateulade Photography

Manage Your Time

Whether you hire a planner or not, there are lots of timelines and checklists to keep you on top of your planning process. If you follow the timelines closely, you will ease your stress because it divides everything up into manageable tasks and as the wedding day comes closer, you have done all the major leg work. It may seem outrageous that you need to book your cake artist 7 months before your wedding. There is a method to the madness though because vendors book up. It’s best to be ahead of the game than disappointed that you didn’t catch your first choice in time.

Relax

If you manage your time well, then your whole engagement/planning should not be all work. You are only doing yourself a disservice by fretting about the things that you are not going to make a priority. Check a couple of things off the list and then spend the majority of the time enjoying the present with your hunny. You do not want your entire engagement to pass by and the only memories you have were about catering tastings and venue walkthroughs. Treat yourself and soak in all the love you have for this human you get to call yours.

Have FUN

I hate to break it to you, but none of your guests are going to talk about the monogram on the dancefloor or if you had bubbles for sparklers at your exit. They are going to remember the energy of the party, the food, and how good of a time that they had with you two. If you are stressed and a bit moody on the day of, that will be remembered too. Laughter is the best medicine. Use it abundantly. Weddings do take some work but it is all creative fun. So, have fun!

Mindfulness is not just a trend. It is a way of life. You will be amazed at how just a little conscious thought and reflection on what’s really important can enhance your life and give you a positive outlook. It’s exciting that you even have a wedding to be getting stressed about! It is a beautiful thing you are experiencing, stress and all.

If you’re looking for an epic planner and wedding designer to create the royal day you deserve, please contact Blue Orchid Events today! Please email abby@blue-orchid-events.com or call us directly (248) 840-4204.