You're engaged! Hot on the heels of hearty congrats are unsolicited
advice, strong family opinions, options to make your head spin, and
expenses to make your jaw drop—not to mention the pressure to plan a
perfect wedding. Take a deep breath (or three), and read on for tips to
help keep things in perspective.
1. Be organized, divide, and conquer.
Yes,
you do need a plan to wedding plan, and there is a natural flow to
follow—can't set a date without a venue, for example! Refer to timeline
and checklist resources to create a plan that works for you, and tackle
only a few tasks at a time. Don't worry about decisions that don't need
to be made now.
Get Our Planning Timeline
2. Give up on perfection.
Ok, not
completely. This is your day, and it's going to go perfectly as long as
your definition of "perfect" has some wiggle room. Hiccups are
inevitable, but if you focus on enjoying the process and having a ton of
fun at your wedding, figuring out all the details, and how they fit
together, will be less daunting.
3. Set a budget.
It's much easier to
get carried away—and disappointed—if you start planning without a
budget. You may still consider a dress or venue that's above your cap,
but setting limits early makes you less likely to set your heart on
something you know costs more than you want to spend.
4. Delegate.
Most of your friends and
family will be happy to pitch in, but you do need to ask for help (not
demand or expect it), trust them to come through for you, and be mindful
not to overload any one person with too many responsibilities.
5. Give your brain a break.
Yoga or
meditation can give your mind a much-needed rest from racing over your
to-do list. Practice them regularly, and you'll be in the habit of
breathing deeply and summoning a sense of calm whenever you start to
feel overwhelmed.
How to Calm Your Nerves
6. Go on dates.
Spend quality time with
your fiancé doing the sorts of things you enjoyed doing before you got
engaged … and don't discuss the wedding! Whether that means a movie
night or a bike ride or cooking a meal together, it will remind you
what's really important—your relationship.
7. Stay healthy.
It's easy to overdose
on chocolate when you're stressing about the guest list, but try to eat
well and exercise frequently. Not only will you look even better in your
dress, you'll have more energy and be better equipped to handle
anxiety.
8. Do something for someone else.
Volunteer
at a home for the elderly, babysit for a friend's toddler, or help your
cousin with her college apps. Redirecting your energies in a way that
brings someone else's life into focus will give you a fresh perspective
on your own.
9. Talk about it, but not 24/7.
Seeking
advice, sharing excitement, and venting are all important parts of
planning, but don't let the wedding hijack all your conversations and
girls' nights out.
10. Take time out to unwind.
Ease the
pressures of planning with "me time": go for a walk, relax in a warm
bath, book a massage, or spend a morning in with your favorite book or
TV show.
11. Choose a bouncer.
Tell your mom or
maid of honor she has full permission to turn Bridezilla away (gently
but firmly) should she try to crash your party.
12. YouTube Will and Kate's wedding.
Remember
that three billion people won't be watching you get married! You will
be surrounded by people you know and love, and who know and love you!
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