We are in the midst of engagement season! Some ladies just got engaged over the holidays and others have been knee-deep in wedding planning for MONTHS! In either case, it’s almost guaranteed to hit a patch of wedding planning stress. I remember those moments when planning my wedding almost 5 years ago so trust me, I understand! Do not let it defeat you! You are marrying your best friend and celebrating with your loved ones and that’s truly the the most important part. I reached out to a few of my 2015 brides to get some insight into their wedding planning experience. I asked them what they felt was the most difficult/stressful part of planning and how they overcame it. I’m so happy to share their responses! I love how different they are because no two brides and no two weddings are the same. See what they had to say below and check out the For Brides category for more wedding planning advice!
“Planning a wedding was one of the most stressful things I’ve ever had to do because there are so many things that need to get done, even if you’re keeping it small. There were two parts of the wedding planning that were the most stressful to me. The first was locking in vendors. Finding great vendors was easy but many of them fell through due to budget, availability, non-responsiveness, or some other unforeseen event. I learned to keep many options open and not to stop looking until I actually had a signed contract. The actual wedding day itself was the second most stressful part because everything is coming together from all different directions and there’s only one of you! I would highly recommend spending the money for a Day-Of Coordinator to take care of all the stress so that you can just enjoy your special day.”
“Despite such a short engagement and less than three months of planning before the wedding day, I’m proud to say I didn’t turn into a “bridezilla.” Overall, the wedding was beautiful and it all came together surprisingly well. Once I had committed to a date, my biggest challenge was getting started. Eventually, my mom had to swoop in and plan the entire wedding due to my lack of progress. Having someone else, particularly the person who is paying for most of the wedding, make the decisions is the best way to resolve any issues—even if some things don’t necessarily go your way. Maybe it’s my personality, but I went with the flow and accepted whatever decision was made on my behalf because ultimately your goal is to marry the person you love and share it with friends and family. For instance, very few people will remember or even notice that your centerpieces were horrible. But they will notice and remember how your food service went. It can be expensive, but if you’re going to have a wedding reception, treat your guests to some great food, great wait-staff, and open bar. Lastly, splurge on an awesome DJ and photographer because they will bring sunshine to your unexpected rainy wedding day.”
“The guest list was a challenge! Having a large family and lots of friends doesn’t make it easy. You want to invite everyone but don’t want to offend anyone either. We made a list and went by a few questions; do we spend time outside of work, have we talked in the past year, would they invite you to their wedding, can you imagine your wedding day without him/her?. This really helped us make our decisions, and to remember it’s ok to say no, its your wedding day its meant to be special union of two people who love each other. To future brides; stick to your gut, don’t let anyone make it more about them and less about you, and don’t worry about the bridezilla label, they will say it anyway even if your not! Don’t sweat the small things, take it all in, and remember to celebrate the love!!”
I love all of these different answers and would love to hear from YOU! Are you running into stress in your wedding planning? How are you overcoming it? Remember, you are celebrating one of the most special days of your life don’t let it take a hold over you!
For more wedding planning posts, feel free to browse through the For Brides category! XOXO!
