Your wedding day will be filled with love and laughter, a chance to celebrate with friends and family. However, the weeks and months prior to the big day can be a very different story. Planning this major event can be a stressful experience, and couples often put a lot of pressure on themselves to host the perfect wedding day. It’s a challenge to avoid this kind of stress.
With the following tips, you can manage stress and ensure the wedding planning process is something you can look back on with fond memories.
Iron out the numbers early
There are many reasons why wedding planning can become an overwhelming experience for couples. It’s a major emotional commitment, but it’s also an expensive undertaking. Balancing the pressure to spend with the need to save amps up the stress. Devising a detailed wedding budget before planning will help you keep on top of spending and work within your means. Although everyone’s wedding budget is different, it’s always possible to host a beautiful and meaningful celebration.
Stay connected with your partner
There are countless things to think about when planning your wedding. With recent research revealing that the average bride spends 36 days planning their wedding (with another fifth spending over 60 days preparing) it can be difficult to find time to spend together as a couple. Staying connected to your partner throughout the planning stage is important. Your wedding is about your journey as a couple, so don’t neglect your relationship as your wedding date approaches.
Spending time together without thinking about your wedding planning checklist will ensure you stay grounded, keep stress levels to a minimum and keep the romance alive. Making time for each other during this special part of your life will also help you form good marital habits as Verily Magazine explains:
“We are all creatures of habit. As your married life becomes more full—and more complicated—with children, work, friends, and all the wonderful details of life, changing your marital habits becomes harder. Spend time during your engagement discussing your short- and long-term goals, and make concrete plans on how to build good and successful habits into your new married life. Sunday afternoon budget discussions, Thursday date nights, a yearly weekend getaway—these are the things that become crucial to your long-term health and happiness. It’s best to install these routines during engagement as foundational building blocks.”
Understand the signs of stress and anxiety
Being able to pinpoint the symptoms of stress and anxiety will ensure you can identify when wedding planning is getting too much. Increased irritation, fatigue, concentration problems, headaches, nausea, continuous worrying, and experiencing intense emotions are all signs of stress and anxiety. Unmanaged stress and anxiety can cause long term issues so make sure you’re aware of the tell-tale signs, and recognise when to slow down.
Share the burden of wedding planning
It’s not just your partner who will be there to help with wedding planning tasks. You’re likely to have several family members and friends waiting in the wings to assist you, so don’t be afraid to delegate. We’re certain that trusted bridesmaids, groomsmen, parents and friends will be honoured to play a bigger role in your special day, whether it involves them turning their hand to creating homemade wedding venue décor or accompanying you on a trip to a wedding supplier.
