Wedding Planning Tips for a stress-free wedding!

Don't be so stressed you're like Monica here - there should be no tears (unless they are happy ones!)

So, you did it, you said yes, have a lovely new ring and you are so ready to tie the knot with the love of your life. It’s all incredibly exciting and then bam – the planning stage hits you!

I’ve heard many stories and talked to many couples about the overwhelm that can come with planning a wedding. Where should we hold our wedding? Who should I invite? Will I upset my mum if I don’t invite so and so? Which supplier should I hire first? How much should we spend? It would be easy to fall into a mindset like Monica here and have the tears start - we don't want that - it's supposed to be a happy time!

Having immersed myself in the wedding industry and having been a part of couples’ journeys, from ceremonies to wedding fayres, I’ve picked up a thing or two about the planning process. Whilst it can seem scary and overwhelming at times, planning your wedding is supposed to be an enjoyable time, especially when armed with a few expert tips and handy bits of advice. Here are my top tips for ensuring that you have a stress-free time planning your wedding, and an amazing day too!

How it should be!!!

Set your budget early

Once you have set a budget, it will determine a lot of the day, from the kind of venue you would like, how many people you can invite and even what time of the day to get married. From here, you can then start to plan all of the other fun things and the things that will make your wedding unique.

Be yourself and decide what’s important to you

Read that again. If you have always dreamed of having a certain aspect to your wedding, whether it’s a fun photo booth/backdrop, a glitter station, or you’ve fallen in love with a particular venue then go for it – and if you need to – make savings elsewhere. Also don’t feel that you need to have a particular element in your wedding day – just because it’s the norm. It’s your day, have it how you want it!

Trust your gut!

I speak to a lot of couples that get caught up in what someone in their family or friendship groups wants them to do. Whether that’s a well-meaning parent or a best friend, the day is about you and your partner and not about them, and you should have the wedding you want! Trusting your gut also applies to the people you hire for your day. If something sticks out to you as a red flag – don’t be afraid to ask more questions, do some more research or walk away. You will always be able to find someone else who will make you feel at ease and comfortable with the vision of your day. Seek out vendors testimonials, via social media, Google and their own website - these will guide you to the best vendors as you will be able to see at a glance client feedback.

Hire suppliers that understand your vision and are excited to be a part of it

When looking for suppliers to hire for your wedding day, be guided by their work and their style as to whether they are right for your day. You’ll usually get a feel of their work from their website, Instagram feeds or Pinterest but you’ll get an even better understanding of them, their business and ideas for your day if you have a coffee with them (or something stronger, depending on the time of day!). Whether that’s virtually or in-person, no wedding supplier I know (myself included) will turn down a coffee and the chance to talk through plans for your day and how they can enhance that experience. Picking a supplier that compliments the ideas you have for your own wedding will mean you get to work on something exceptional together. We all enjoy talking wedding and event planning with couples and families - it’s such fun sharing in the anticipation and excitement - the excitement I feel the night before I perform a ceremony is the best, and I know I’m not the only vendor that gets those feels in the run up to a booking!

Try not to get bogged down with all of the detail

The quicker you are able to make decisions related to your wedding through the planning process, the easier and more fun it will be. There are so many decisions you’ll have to make, so as a couple, go with your gut. Don’t sweat on the small stuff. Go with what is best for you, make the decision and then stick with it.

Don’t sweat the small stuff

Weddings don’t have to be perfect. There. I said it. No matter how much you plan your day, things can go a little wrong sometimes, for example rain when you’ve been expecting blazing sunshine. However it’s how you react to little hiccups that will make or break your day. Make up your minds that you are going to have a great wedding day – no matter what – and you will.

You don’t have to stress too much to pull off the wedding you have dreamed of. When you start your planning, communicate as a couple about your priorities for your day. When you have a theme and budget in mind other decisions come much easier.

Next, ensure that you do your research before hiring or signing contracts. If you are considering asking a friend or family member to tackle one of the wedding jobs, ensure that they are fully happy to help and that they are qualified to do the task. Don’t forget to take a wedding-planning break when things get too overwhelming. A simple romantic date night can help bring your focus back to what really matters!

Finally, relax and enjoy your hard work. Don’t worry about things that you can’t control…. such as the weather! Focus instead on the reason why you’re celebrating – your marriage to your partner and the start of the rest of your lives together.

Be happy and enjoy!!