5 Ways to Stay Sane While Planning Your Wedding
First of all, CONGRATULATIONS on your engagement! It is such a meaningful decision to commit your life to the person you love. Now that you’re engaged, you’re probably gearing up for a season of wedding planning. If you were anything like me, wedding planning might feel overwhelming. I lost count of how many times I wondered how ONE DAY could take THIS much planning?! Y’all, we know it’s so hard at times. That’s why we are elated to share our 5 tips to secure your sanity this Wedding Planning Season!
Tip #1: Use a Wedding Planning Timeline
As you get started, it’s essential that you find a reliable wedding planning timeline to help you map out what needs to be accomplished in the coming months. Unfortunately, many couples go into planning blindly underestimating the amount of effort it takes, this can add so much unnecessary stress. Using this map will save you from having to plan last minute. The more you can accomplish in the right timing, the easier planning will become.
P.S. It must be your lucky day because I found a timeline for you on Pinterest!
Tip #2: Batch Work Your Wedding Planning Tasks
Batch working is about to become your new best friend. But first, what is batch working and why is it so great? Batch working is a way of working that focuses on one category of tasks at a time during a designated day or timeframe. This method is said to increase productivity, boost creativity, and also, minimize time wasted. Accomplishing tasks this way allows you to establish healthy boundaries for yourself, your partner, and your families.
Below, we have included an example of what a week of batch working could look like.
Monday – Planning & Ordering Wedding Items/Decor
Tuesday – Follow-Up on Paperwork & Invoices from Vendors
Wednesday – Wedding Invitations/Guests
Thursday – Finalizing Your Registry/Wedding Website
Friday – Vendor Meetings
Saturday – DAY OFF, go on a date with your fiance!
Sunday – DAY OFF, have a game night with friends!
Keep in mind, your batch working categories might look different some weeks as you accomplish various tasks. You can change them as your wedding planning changes to best support your goals! Notice, how I included two rest days where you don’t touch wedding planning at all. Life is about balance and you need to set boundaries for yourself to still have fun and enjoy life!
Tip #3: Build a Reliable Team to Support You
Start calling all your detail oriented, empathetic, and design savvy friends! It’s time to get a small group of 3-5 people you can trust to help you carry the burden of wedding planning. As much as we love all of our friends, it is crucial that you only invite those who you know you can count on to stand in the gaps.
Clarity is so important for everyone involved in wedding planning, so be sure to communicate your needs clearly and graciously. Even though it’s tempting, try not to lose sight of your cherished friendship with each person when the stress gets to you. Remember that it’s a privilege to have their support and this exciting season wouldn’t be the same without them!
Tip #4: Host Group Zoom Meetings with your Wedding Vendors
This is a game changer. Why waste your energy repeating yourself when you could bring many of your vendors together in 1-2 meetings to ask their questions?
As their wedding photographer, we recently had a zoom meeting with a couple, their wedding coordinator, and the bride’s mother. We discussed various details regarding the wedding timeline. It was so helpful being on the same page with everyone and it made working together as a team on the wedding day itself practically seamless.
As long as they are open to it, we recommend you meet with your Wedding Coordinator/Planner, Photographer/Videographer, DJ, and possibly Hair/Makeup. Some couples might not find it necessary to meet with all of these people at once, so feel free to have more than one meeting covering aspects of your wedding day that are relevant to certain vendors.
Tip #5: Create a Detailed Schedule for Wedding Week
On the week of your wedding, there will be people coming from every direction asking you logistical questions. In order to counteract some of this, we recommend you create a large PDF document of exactly what is happening each day. The PDF should also include a contact list so different parties have access to one another to ask their questions. Send this document to all of our vendors, bridal party, family, and anyone who has been involved in your planning. If possible, try to have the detailed schedule completed within two weeks of your wedding to get it off your mind and into the hands of those it will guide.
Our Encouragement to You
No matter how seamless or stressful this time of your life becomes, we want to remind you of why you started wedding planning to begin with. God brought you someone who loves you SO much that they wanted to give you their entire life. Isn’t that mind blowing? It was for us. Try to reflect on that miracle more than you focus on the stress of planning.
Marriage is such a sweet gift and there is so much joy to look forward to even beyond the wedding day. We are so pumped for you to experience this gift and hope these tips bless you in so many ways!
