7 Wedding Planning Tips To Make Your Life Easier
I’m an organized person and someone who has dreamt of all the details involved in wedding planning my whole life. With that being said, even I was completely overwhelmed by the initial wedding planning process, and I can only imagine how someone who doesn’t thrive in a sea of spreadsheets must feel. Here is a list of 7 wedding planning tips that are easy to do, and will make your life a lot easier.
1. Get a Wedding Planning Book
There are a ton out there and the choice depends on your style- I opted for something a little more fun and quirky vs. traditional, but you’ll know what works best for you!
Ultimately a lot of your planning will be done digitally and through spreadsheets, but it’s nice to handwrite a few ideas and go through the exercises each planner suggests, plus they’re filled with tons of wedding planning tips.
2. Make It a Wedding You’d Want To Go To
Think of weddings that you’ve gone to in the past and what you did and didn’t like about them. While it ultimately is your day and what you want is most important, you are inviting people you love (and who you hope will still like you after), so it’s nice to keep them in mind when planning. If possible, try to avoid a long wait between the ceremony and reception, keep your guests fed and hydrated, and let them know what to expect on your wedding website.
3. Manage Your Bridal Party’s Expectations
Being in a bridal party can be expensive (and overwhelming). From planning expectations, to bachelorette parties and bridal showers, to your wedding dress and makeup, the cost can add up. Make it clear what you will and won’t be paying for, as early on as you can and be reasonable. Understand that just because it’s your big day, doesn’t mean it should be a financial burden on anyone else.
4. Don’t Overwhelm Yourself Wedding Dress Shopping
Do your research going into the day(s). Find 2-3 stores and make appointments, then sit down and look through the designers they carry. Find your favourite dresses and send them to the store so that they can pre-pull them for you and don’t choose more than 2-3 styles max.
You’re going to fall in love with several little elements, and there likely won’t be a dress that has every single one of them. If you find one that has 90%, you feel amazing in it and think you’ll love it 10 years from now- say yes to the dress. You can spend the next 20 years searching for the absolute perfect dress and still not find it, so don’t ruin this experience by making it a stressful one.
5. Hire a Wedding Coordinator
Whether you choose to go for a wedding planner or a day of coordinator- call in an experts help. A day of coordinator is typically significantly less than a wedding planner, and they’re just as helpful depending on your level of involvement in planning!
I signed with my day of coordinator a year before the wedding, and she was helpful right from the get-go. From taking over contracts, to asking questions that I never would have thought of myself. I knew I made the right call in relinquishing some control- and taking some of the stress and responsibility off of myself.
6. Start making a list of lists and spreadsheets
Yes, this definitely sounds over the top and crazy- but I promise you it’s not. It’s necessary and will help you keep track of all your organizational tools and docs.
I’d recommend starting with:
- wedding ideas (word doc, start writing notes and saving photos of any and all ideas you may have in terms of food, decor, aesthetic, florals, etc..)
- wedding planner (spreadsheet, columns: task, status, bride/groom responsible, notes)
- guest list manager (spreadsheet, columns: guest(s) name, address, STD sent, invite sent, RSVP, notes)
- vendor questions (word doc, subheadings: venue, catering, florist, glam squad, wedding planner/coordinator)
- budget manager (spreadsheet, columns: item, cost, budget, bride/groom paid, notes)