You can never entirely prepare yourself for your wedding day. It’s the biggest day of your life – a mix of pure bliss, complete chaos, and a thousand emotions all at once, and that’s what makes it so distinct and memorable. The butterflies we’ve been talking about all our lives feel real. There is a constant blush to our cheeks, and we can’t help but smile at everyone we pass. So even if the day isn’t turning out exactly how we planned, it’s still the best day of our lives. Though, it probably shouldn’t stop you from preparing beforehand.
Are you are about to jump headfirst into your wedding preparation craziness? These are some of the best tips for surviving those final few weeks before your big day. Trust me; they’ll come in handy!
Spur the Brainstorming Process
The first step always brings shivers, but it’s essential to start planning your wedding as early as possible. So, grab your phone and call your fiancé (not for some love talk). Even if you don’t have all of the specifics worked out yet, the beginning can only help to alleviate part of the pre-wedding stress.
Start by listing your priorities. What is the most crucial aspect of your wedding day? Is it the location? The photographer? The food? Your bridal dress, probably? How extensive will be your guest list? Who is
going to be your bridesmaid? What flowers do you want?
These are all critical yet straightforward questions that you and your fiancé will need to answer as soon as possible.
Be Real and Plan a Budget
Weddings are not cheap, and they can quickly spiral out of control if you’re not careful. And rightfully so, it’s your big day after all. That isn’t to suggest you should spend an arm and a leg on everything. Smart and prior planning are essential. Sit down with your fiancé and create a realistic budget that works for both of you. That way, when the inevitable disagreements about vendors and flowers arise, you’ll at least have a starting point.
For example, have a smaller guest list, skip the band, go for a DJ, or choose simpler flowers. And don’t forget to factor in your honeymoon!
Set a Date and Book Your Venue
The next step is to save a date for your wedding and book your venue. It is probably one of the essential steps since wedding venues quickly fill up. The wedding venue you choose depends on how you envision your wedding day.
If you want a more traditional wedding, you might choose to have it in a church. If a casual wedding is more of a thing for you, you might decide to have it outdoors or in a barn. Or maybe a dreamy beach wedding that your guests will rave about for years to come? Don’t forget about the food; most guests will be there for that!
What’s important is that you choose a place that has meaning to you and your fiancé. It could be the place where you had your first date, where he proposed, or even where you grew up. Your wedding should be a celebration of your partnership as a couple. So have fun with it!
Plan Your Pre-Wedding Parties
While your fiancé plans his bachelor party, take some time to think about all the ways you can have fun at your bridal shower! Have it at your favorite restaurant, a spa, or even outdoors. And for the bachelorette party, you can go all out and have a weekend getaway with your girls or keep it low-key and have a fun night at home.
Make a list of games with your girls to play at the shower and party. Pin the Tail on the Donkey, Wedding Pictionary, Charades – these are all classics that will keep everyone entertained.
Even the music you choose can set the tone for your wedding party. If you’re looking for something a little more upbeat, go with classical rock or pop music. Something more laid-back? Consider jazz or soft rock.
Just remember to include people who support you and love you, not those who will be a royal pain in the butt.
What’s Your Backup Plan?
One of the most important things to do when planning your wedding is a backup plan. What happens if it pours down on your big day? What if someone gets sick or can’t make it? What if your makeup artist bails?
The best way to deal with potential problems is to have a solid Plan B in place. It could mean choosing an alternate location for your ceremony or reception or having a list of last-minute caterers. You could also consider taking help from a friend who can take care of things for you when you are dealing with the nerves.
Trust me – you’ll be glad you planned ahead of time!
Delegate, Delegate, Delegate
Who is doing what? Assigning responsibilities is something you’ll want to hammer out as soon as possible. If you don’t have a wedding planner, now is the time to appoint someone to take care of specific tasks. It could be anything from organizing the transportation for your guests to making sure that Aunt Ida has a place to sleep.
Take help from your friends and see who can pick your dress up from the cleaners or who can make your favors. You don’t want to be bogged by minutiae during the weeks leading to your wedding. It’s time to unwind and have a good time!
Shower Yourself with All the Love and Care
Who is going to rock the world on your big day? You! So start by showering yourself with all the love and care you can muster. Get a manicure, buy some new lingerie, take yourself on a romantic date night – do what it takes to make you feel beautiful and confident. The more self-love you have leading up to your wedding, the more love everyone else will reflect onto you.
As long as you stay sorted and take advantage of all the help available to you, everything will fall into place perfectly.
Ending Note:
Go, bride, go! You’ve got this! Take help from these wedding preparation tips, create a checklist, surround yourself with supportive and helpful people, and you are good to go. Weddings are beautiful, crazy, and the most beautiful day of our lives – so make sure it is all worth it. But, the highlight, at the end of the day, it’s all about marrying the love of your life. The rest is just a beautiful bonus.