While weddings are often the happiest day of a person’s life, planning a wedding can be extremely stressful. The countless details and mounting costs can be overwhelming, which is why it’s incredibly important to be gentle with yorus during this time. From getting enough sleep to carving out more personal time, here are some tips to keep you healthy and focused during this exciting—albeit demanding—time of your life.
1) Before you get started, lay out a detailed budget with your spouse-to-be. Agree on a ballpark figure for what you'd like to spend on your wedding, and create a spreadsheet that helps you categorize costs. If your wedding is a year or two away, set aside money each month to help you save enough to cover everything.
2) Find ways to scrimp and save. Wedding expenses can add up and before you know it, you’ve tripled your budget on flowers alone, but with a little research and resourcefulness, you can find ways to save in every step of the process. For example, if you’re doing most of your shopping online, be sure to search for coupon codes before checking out. You can even check retailers like QVC for upcoming sales, and see if you can plan your big purchases around those sales using QVC promo codes. By giving yourself plenty of time, you’ll find creative ways to save throughout the planning process.
3) Take time to unplug. Most brides will handle the bulk of their wedding planning online, which requires hours of screen time spent researching the perfect dress, wedding venues, finding the ideal bridesmaid dresses, and reading reviews of potential caterers. While it’s unavoidable, there are ways to mitigate the added screen time and keep yourself sane.
Set aside time each day for online research, and try to stay within those hours. By establishing a routine for your screen time, you can avoid staring at your laptop or phone late into the night. On a good night’s sleep, you’ll feel more confident making important wedding planning decisions.
4) Practice Self Care. Even the best-laid plans can go awry, so make sure to take time away from the chaos of it all for yourself. This doesn’t necessarily mean blowing your paycheck on an expensive spa day—you can take care of yourself in simple yet powerful ways: eating well-balanced meals, sleeping more, and getting exercise are some of the best ways to stay mentally and physically healthy. Carve out time for yourself, don’t hesitate to turn down other invitations. When event planning gets to be too much, reach out to those closest to you for help. If occasional splurging—an impromptu trip to the salon, for example—is important to you, include it in your budgeting. By setting aside money for self-care indulgences, you won’t compromise your carefully budgeted wedding costs.
5) Delegate Tasks. For type A brides, delegating is nearly impossible. While it may seem safer to make every decision on your own, you’ll run out of time and energy if you insist on doing everything yourself. Ask for help from friends and family—they’ll likely help shorten your to-do list and may even have great ideas to make your wedding even more special.
If it’s in the budget, consider hiring a wedding planner. A great planner will be a helpful resource and reduce your stress, which can allow you to focus on the more exciting elements of getting ready for the big day with friends and family.
As you prepare in the months and weeks leading up to your wedding, be sure to keep an eye on your mental health. Maintain your self-care routines and reach out to your support network if you need help. With careful budgeting, you’ll have the wedding of your dreams without compromising your life savings.