When it comes time to plan what is (likely to be) the biggest and most public celebration of your relationship, you want to make sure it will be a party to remember.
And it’s this ideal, wanting to make your wedding special because you don’t want to have any regrets, that can contribute to your decision making becoming seriously clouded; your spending can easily get out of control, the expectations of family and friends can feel oppressive and then the sickening overwhelm starts to set in..
At Unbridely, we're big believers in making the 200+ hours you spend planning your big day a happy and memorable experience for you AND your guests (because those outcomes needn't be mutually exclusive)
We share the 5 most powerful tips we have learned (in hundreds of combined years of wedding industry experience) to help save you money and time, therefore eliminating undue stress.
Bingo bango; a happier engaged couple enjoying more of their wedding planning experience!
Tip #1: Outsource labour intensive tasks
Depending on your priorities, the way you allocate your budget between your venue, the photography, flowers, entertainment etc. is likely to be vastly different to the next couple. For some, having a jaw-dropping venue is a must, for others, it's all about the nosh and booze.
However you rank these elements, (unless you have an unlimited budget and who does?) you will be led to splurge in some areas and save in others.
No matter how you slice it though, the cost of people-power or labour, can still easily be the most pricey part of your wedding.
But here's an astounding fact: most couple's family and close friends want to help.
True story.
And getting a spare pair of hands (or better still, a well-coordinated team!) can seriously lighten the load, be fun AND save you a lot of time and money.
Make your DIY wedding planning a group effort - Unbridely
Post-wedding, it’s a common regret:
"I couldn't delegate. I didn't let people help me and got completely overwhelmed and burnt out. In the end, I wanted the wedding to be over and done with, so I could just relax." REAL BRIDE (name withheld)
As long as you respect your helper's time (i.e. give them plenty of notice and set a single day or afternoon aside - expecting your helpers to donate multiple sessions/days to your wedding is not cool) and reward them with a great, bonding memory with you (a simple cheese platter while helping with the seating chart or a round of drinks after dress shopping) they will be glad that you asked.
Are you DIY-ing your wedding invitations? Call your crafty friends around for a workshop complete with champagne and nibbles.
If you’re planning on doing your own wedding flowers, make it a group exercise, learn together and share a laugh at the same time.
Creating some rustic signage or a ceremony arbour? Ask your Dad or father-in-law to help source materials and host a family BBQ on 'construction/painting day'.
Tip #2: Automate tedious responsibilities
There are some awesome parts of planning a wedding and there are the 'necessary' parts. For many couples, the invitation and rsvp process is a drag, for others it's the creation of a gift registry or the ongoing and repeated communication with their wedding party that puts them off.
The good news is that, for most repeatable tasks, there are automated solutions that can save your sanity and free up your time for you to focus on the parts of wedding planning that you enjoy.
A great example is the new breed of free or low cost websites that can be created to convey the important info (rehearsal times, dress fitting appointment, map to the venue, rsvps etc.) to your bridal party and guests without feeling inundated with calls and texts.
Another super handy and time-saving trend is the rise and rise of online gift registries.
It’s now common for couples live together before getting married. And if you already share a home together, you probably don't need the typical (read: traditional) wedding gifts.
Creating a cash wedding registry or honeymoon registry could be a much smarter and convenient option for you.
Honeyfund provide a simple and FREE online honeymoon registry service. Or, if you prefer to raise money for a house deposit or renovations, their free cash wedding registry is a great alternative.
Tip #3: Focus on feelings rather than stuff
We get it.
Budgeting is boring.
But what is even more painful to consider is the dded anxiety that a blown budget may cause to your newly married life together. Starting your 'ever after' knee-deep in debt is not sexy and it contributes to serious post-wedding stress.
By focusing on how the wedding will make you and your guests feel, you will naturally be guided towards more highly interactive entertainment.
The awesome side effect of this way of thinking is that it saves you money.
A couple of months after your wedding, your guests will not recall the hand-dyed, imported silk ribbons that were wrapped around the bouquets, but they will remember how your wedding felt;
"the food was awesome!", "we danced all night", "the speeches were great - short and heartfelt and then we got right back into the partying"
These are the things that your guests will remember - they will remember how they felt and how they were made to feel.
This a really important concept to embrace - your guests will be honoured they were invited in the first place, but beyond that, what are you doing/incorporating into your day to make your guests feel truly welcome and valued?
Here are just a handful of ways that your guests can contribute to help transform your wedding into an interactive celebration for everyone;
being witnesses at your wedding ceremony
performing live music/singing at the ceremony or your wedding reception
assisting with readings or rituals during your wedding ceremony
giving a speech or toast
cooking a plate for a homemade dessert bar (& divulging the recipe for a community wedding cookbook)
compiling a slideshow/movie for your weding reception
arranging a guard of honour with sparklers or streamers
choreographing a flash mob as wedding entertainment
being the MC of your wedding reception (having a team of friends do this is soooo much fun!)
Tip # 4: Practice mindfulness
A chilled engaged couple is a beautiful engaged couple.
And if there is ever a great time to balance mind, body and spirit, it’s during the potentially draining wedding planning process.
Unbridely's contributing psychologist, Steph McBeath, describes the pressure of wedding planning using a Boiling Pot Analogy and the easiest way to shortcut it?
Yep, you read that right - Yoga Cat.
Check it out.
Tip #5: Hire experienced wedding vendors
There’s little doubt that the sense of calm and confidence an experienced wedding supplier (vendor) can give a couple is worth its weight in gold.
Your questions are quickly, easily and simply explained and unexpected dramas are foreseen well in advance.
Dedicated wedding vendors can help recommend and guide your decision-making process (read: manage your expectations and/or anxiety) every step of the way.
Unbridely Suppliers are not only awesome at what they do, but they are gracious, generous and just great people. And these are the types of supporters you need around you for the 12+ months that you are working towards your wedding day.
*THIS POST CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS
Now over to you, what do YOU think are the best ways to stay happy and calm during the wedding planning process? Let us know in the comments!
