Planning a stress-free wedding is an exciting time in your life, but if you are not careful it can quickly become very stressful. If you are panicking, you are not alone. It is natural to worry about things like budget, guest list, family members opinions, seating charts and what seems like a never ending to do list. While these things are all important, protecting your mental health is more important than anything. After all, you want to look back at your wedding day and think of all the happiness, not the stress that went into it.
ONE: Take a Break from Pinterest
Inspiration is everywhere, which can be a nightmare if you are stressed and second guessing your decisions. Once you have made a decision, whether it is your dress, centerpieces, invitations etc., stop searching! Delete or hide your inspiration boards and put away the wedding magazines, they will only lead to buyer’s remorse. Trust that you made the right decision, that fits within your budget and overall style.
TWO: Ask for Help
If you are feeling like you and your partner are in this on your own, it is time to reach out to your wedding party. Chances are some of your friends and family have strengths in areas you are struggling.
Reach out to your cousin who is an excel pro to help build an invitation and RSVP spreadsheet for you. Your most stylish friend, ask them to help you plan the wedding party attire or work with your florist to perfect the centerpiece design.
If you have a particularly tricky situation, reach out to your vendors, chances are they have heard it before and may be able to guide you towards the right decision. Always share your feelings with your partner, you are not in this alone and perhaps he/she can take some of the weight off your shoulders. At the very least, allow those who love you to provide some emotional support (or cocktails) when you are feeling overwhelmed.
Three: Take a Break
When it all feels like too much, step away! Go for a walk, find a yoga class, get moving, whatever makes you happy, do it – get those endorphins flowing! Plan a date night with your love and talk about all the exciting things that are coming up …can you say honeymoon?! You may need more than a day or two off of planning to drop the stress level, and that’s ok, take it!
Four: Check things off Your List
Sometimes all it takes to realize how far you’ve come is to make a list and check off the items you have already done. A list can also help get your thoughts and stressors in one place so that you can focus on eliminating them one by one. Take this list and refer to Number 2.
If you start stressing that you are missing things on your list, ask a friend who has recently been married, or ask one of your trusted vendors to review and let you know if you are missing anything. Chances are, you are in better shape than you think. If you are waking up in the middle of the night thinking of things, try to brain dump after dinner each night. Take a few minutes and add anything you think of to the list. By writing these items down vs trying to remember them, hopefully you’ll be able to sleep soundly knowing you won’t forget.
Five: Do the Fun Stuff
If you aren’t able to completely separate from planning a stress-free wedding, pick something off of your to do list that will be fun for you. Whether it be shoe shopping, putting together wedding party gifts or even addressing envelopes…. take the time to do something that you will truly enjoy. It will remind you of the fun parts of wedding planning. Bonus points if it is something you and your partner can do together!
At the Tiffany Ballroom, we strive to help you with planning a stress-free wedding. With our complete wedding packages that provide you access to some of the area’s best vendors, we’ve checked off some of the big-ticket items before you even begin the planning process. Reach out today to hear all we have to offer in our packages at Four Points by Sheraton Norwood in Massachusetts.