Top 10 Tips for Planning a Stress Free Wedding

Yay! It's wedding planning time! It's your big day and one that you'll never forget. It's completely understandable that you want it to be the perfect wedding that you and your partner deserve. Make the wedding planning process as enjoyable as possible with our deep dive into how to plan for a stress free wedding day.

1. Get your priorities right

First things first – plan out exactly what details are most important to you for your dream wedding. It's easy to get overwhelmed with planning the smaller details and lose sight of what really matters most to both you and your partner. Before you begin booking vendors or putting deposits down, make a list of your absolute must-haves. This could be a professional wedding photographer, a live band, a farm-to-table meal, etc. You can then refer to this priorities list anytime you begin to feel stress or comparison creeping in after spending hours scrolling on socials.

2. Set a budget and stick to it!

Speaking of money, putting together a detailed budget is essential from day one. If anxiety stems from how much cash you are spending, take time to clarify your budget from the off. Create a high-level wedding budget and then take it a step further by breaking down that money into different categories. It may seem obvious but don't forget to note every single thing down so you can put a cost aside for it. From the big ticket items like the wedding venue, caterers, alcohol, wedding dress and wedding shoes to the little things you might not think about straight away such as postage, tipping, travel costs and wedding insurance etc. Creating a spreadsheet with all your potential vendors details and costs will help you track your spending as you go and allow you to see if there is any wiggle room or areas you may need to scale back on to save money. Don't lose sight of the priorities you set out at the beginning and take a step back if you start to feel the budget heading in the wrong direction.

3. Create your very own digital wedding hub

Staying on top of your wedding plans and compiling records throughout the wedding planning process will keep your wedding on track and give you the peace of mind you need, should you have any wobbles along the way. When you create a wedding website with Say I do you're automatically granted access to personalised tools such as digital RSVPs and your own custom wedding planning checklist. Select your wedding date and a free checklist is instantly created for you. It’s fully customisable so you can review tasks, check items off that have already been actioned, and add items that are personal to your big day as well as deleting ones that aren’t relevant to you. Using a tool like this will ensure everything runs super smoothly on the run up to the wedding day.

4. Don't take on too much

Know your limits, and your strengths. If you aren't a cake maker, don't try to make your own wedding cake. If you aren't creative, don't try to make your own stationery and signage. The same goes for your friends and family, if they aren’t professional makeup artists or photographers, kindly explain to them that you would like professionals for your big day. Wedding professionals are worth way more than just the job they do on the day, they are good at handling the big game stress of a once-in-a-lifetime day. Trust us… your wedding is not the day for your mates to ‘have a go’ at cake making, hairdressing or taking photos! Have your nearest and dearest do other things that are beneficial to you. During the planning process they can help with research, they already know your style and know you as a person, so they will probably be good at this. On the day itself, those who are desperate for a job can help with organising things, setting things up if required and dealing with vendors. Delegating tasks on the day will eliminate a stressful wedding morning and allow you to take a step back and spend time doing the nice little last minute things you planned to do.

5. Hire a wedding planner or on the day coordinator

Should your budget allow, a wedding planner is a great investment. They will ensure nothing is missed, and that you have the perfect day without stressing yourself half to death. It's your wedding planner's responsibility to pull everything together and ensure the day runs perfectly smoothly, making it memorable for all the right reasons. As for a venue stylist, unless you are a stylist yourself, we advise not to don't dabble too much. Creating an amazing-looking reception venue takes a LOT more time, effort, (and money) than you think it will. Having a stylist and a planner will allow you to totally relax during the final weeks leading up to your wedding day. You will have the headspace to enjoy additional events such as the rehearsal dinner and get time to spend with your bridal party. Your wedding planner will ensure everything is organised and contingencies are in place. Whereas your stylist will ensure everything looks perfect, exactly as you had wanted. And you? Well you just get to enjoy the build up and the wedding day, stress free - perfect.

6. Come rain or shine

You can’t control the weather nor can you predict it so what’s the point in losing sleep? You should however make contingency plans. Make sure you have umbrellas to hand in case it rains, blankets for if it’s cold and fans and sunscreen in case of a heatwave during the wedding ceremony. But at the end of the day remember what’s important. As long as you and your other half get married, have fun and enjoy the day, who cares what the weather is doing, right?

7. Delegate tasks

There is no shame in asking for help. Whilst there is nothing wrong with being relentlessly self-sufficient, delegating tasks to your wedding party and other family members will help you stay sane and reduce wedding planning stress massively. These people want to see you succeed, and they also want to make this process as easy as possible for you. Your wedding is about you, your partner, and your loved ones. Don’t feel like you have to do every task by yourself. If a good friend has a particular skill or talent, ask for their help or advice and they'll be more than happy to help.

8. Don't sweat the small stuff

Like many things in life, you will run into hiccups when wedding planning. And that’s okay. Imperfection is inevitable, so it’s important to embrace it. Once the wedding has come and gone, you’re not going to remember the fact that the flowers you wanted weren’t in season or that you couldn’t find the exact table runners you saw online. Whenever you start being picky and become overwhelmed, focus on the bigger picture.

9. Look after yourself

In the run up to the wedding, eat healthy, balanced meals; after all, you'll need all the energy you've got. Get away from the hustle and bustle of preparations to go for a run, take a yoga class, read a book or just schedule time for another decompressing activity.

10. Don't forget what you're actually there for

At the end of the day, your wedding is not about throwing the biggest and best party around. It’s about marrying the person you want to grow old with and celebrating that with your loved ones. Being stressed about the seating plans or menu design is not going to change the fact that you are tying the knot with the love of your life. While wedding planning may never be completely stress-free, it’s essential to take care of yourself along the way and try to enjoy it! Whenever you’re feeling overwhelmed, take a deep breath, take a step back, and think about these ten tips for a stress free wedding day.