Planning your wedding can be stressful. Do not feel alone! There are many couples who succumb to the stress of wedding planning.
The best advice is to make a plan and do it as soon as possible.
It’s a good idea to follow wedding etiquette, but not to the point of driving you crazy or ruining you. There are many books and articles on wedding etiquette, but their suggestions are not set in stone.
If it’s the amount of things they have to do that wears you down, find friends and family who are willing to help and assign them projects to complete. Don’t feel like you have to pay them in any way for this service. However, if you can afford it, a small gift may be appropriate, but it is definitely not required.
Your plan should include all the important things to take care of, like where the ceremony will take place, where the reception will take place, how many guests, and such things.
By taking care of these three elements, you will be in a position to think about what else needs to be done.
Oh, in planning your wedding, don’t forget about the wedding officiant from the start. This is especially important if the wedding ceremony is not held in a church that has a minister to officiate the ceremony.
Many officiants fill their schedules well in advance, and it is sometimes difficult to find someone who will meet your expectations if you wait until the last minute.
If it’s costs that have you depleted, set a budget and stick with it. Note that anything preceded by the word wedding (wedding planning, wedding flowers, wedding favors) is marked between 100% and 300%.
This is not to say that there are not suppliers in the wedding industry that give you a good product at a good price, there are many. It takes some work to make sure you are getting what you expect. You need to review them and get references.
There are some items that you can buy for your wedding without having the wedding tag.
Find ways to save by doing unusual things.
Here are some ideas:
1. Buy a cake from a local food store, add the wedding decorations yourself
2. Shop for flowers, dresses, accessories, etc. online.
3. Do you know a seamstress? Buy a dress that needs a little work at a reduced price
4. Limit the number of band members or get a DJ instead
5. Cut your own music CDs and have a friend act as a DJ
6. Do you have a friend who is a good photographer or videographer?
7. Use your own catering service, not the facilities (many hire outside providers anyway)
8. Small wedding, have family and friends provide the food and drinks.
9. Purchase your own alcoholic beverages with an agreement to get a refund for unopened bottles.
A word of caution, always check who you are going to buy or hire to perform a service. Do or have someone do a little research to make sure you are getting what you are paying for.
Don’t let the wedding planning put you off. Remember that it is your wedding and you are the one who makes the decisions. You’re in charge. Get what you want. You can do it. You can have the dream wedding you’ve always wanted without feeling overwhelmed.
Don’t stress, have fun with the whole experience.