Your wedding day feels like the most important thing you’ll ever have to plan (hey, maybe it is!) which can all too often lead to a bride (or groom) feeling so much pressure that it becomes one of the most stressful things they’ve ever done, too! Which really is a shame, because the nature of a wedding is that it’s supposed to be celebrating happiness and joyfulness and love and togetherness. The biggest oxymoron is a bride feeling all alone in the stress of planning her wedding, when the whole purpose of planning a wedding in the first place is to celebrate togetherness and lifelong unity.
However, wedding planning doesn’t have to be the most stressful thing you’ve ever done. If it starts to become something that drags you down rather than building you up, then it’s probably time to remind yourself of exactly what it is that you’re doing and why.
Here are a few top tips to avoid that feeling of being overwhelmed by the stress of planning your wedding day:
Delegate, delegate, delegate!
I think that this is probably the best piece of advice that I can give to you. I know that you want your wedding day to be perfect, and I know that only you have a really clear idea in your head about what you want your day to look like. But insisting on doing everything yourself will probably make your day feel like a nightmare as it approaches. Nobody can retain all of that responsibility and worry in their own mind! If you feel like things are all building up, maybe consider sitting down with those nearest and dearest to you and asking for their help. I can almost guarantee, they will be more than happy to help you to plan your big day! You could give them things to do like creating an evening playlist (for my top tips on how to plan the best playlist, click here), marquee decorations (after discussing your theme and style with them!), RSVP’s, bridesmaid dress fittings, etc. Whatever you feel like is adding extra (unnecessary) stress to the planning process, delegate it!!
Take time together not talking about the wedding
There’s a danger leading up to the big day that when you’re with your spouse, the two of you will be so fixated on the upcoming wedding day that it becomes all that you can think and talk about. It’s great fun to talk about how excited you are, etc. But, if this becomes the only thing that you’re talking about, it can get overwhelming, and since it is a time of higher than normal stress levels, it’s probably not going to help to dwell on all of the little details all of the time!
Consider making it a priority to chill out with your other half – maybe go on dates to talk about anything other than the wedding, hang out together, watch a movie together, take a walk through the countryside – whatever it is that takes your mind off of planning the wedding and puts it back on the fact that you are so utterly in love with your partner! Not only will this be a nice break from worrying about how the day will go, but it will also be a nice reminder of why you’re planning such a big event in the first place!
Remember why you’re doing it
At the end of the day, your wedding is about committing your life to this person that you love so much. When you keep this in mind, it’s easier to be relaxed about the actual day itself. It’s the beginning of years and years and years of companionship and love. The day itself is just a way to celebrate this fact, it is not the be all and end all of your marriage!
Always remember the heart of it – to celebrate your love together, not to put on a show to your family and friends. In my opinion, the best wedding days are the days that feel authentic, and centre around the fact that two people are in love and are committing themselves to each other. Try not to get so wound up in thinking that your day has to be as beautiful or as fun or as glamorous as weddings you’ve been to in the past, or weddings that you’ve seen on Pinterest!! Your family and friends love you just the way you are, and they’ll love to celebrate the fact that you’re getting married in whatever way comes naturally to you as a couple.
I guess my main piece of advice is to take it easy, do what you want to do, because however feels most comfortable for you to celebrate your marriage will be the best way to do it. Your family and friends are all here to support and celebrate you just as you are! The day is just the start of a lifetime of love, and keeping this in mind will hopefully stop you from getting carried away with which shade of white is the absolute best shade for your napkins! 😉