Ways to De-Stress While Planning Your Wedding
Do yourselves a favor by completing a thorough and detailed bridal checklist at the beginning of your planning process and your wedding planner will have a better idea of what you want (www.theknot.com has an excellent one). Remember, just because an activity, item or service is on the list doesn't mean you have to have it or do every single thing.
Choose your bridal party carefully! A one hour meeting with us on bridal party etiquette and responsibilities could save you tons of stress and even preserve friendships in the long run. Some brides and grooms have received more stress from their bridal party when the bridal party is supposed to be in place to help reduce the stress!
Remind yourself that each wedding is holy and royal no matter what your style is and no matter what others say about your wedding.
One of Steve Harvey's guests said that he didn't want to commit to marriage because it seems that the sanctity of marriage is a thing of the past. Steve Harvey told the guest the reason it seems the sanctity of marriage is gone is because the people in the marriage have lost their commitment to be sanctified within the marriage!
Each wedding is an expression of the couple's talents, desires and combined style. It is a presentation of who they are as a couple. Do not let other people control or criticize your style. You have both dreamed of this day and spent so much time, money and effort putting it together, why let someone else rob you of it? Are they paying the bill? If so, a good wedding planner can help smooth things over and make suggestions leading to peaceful resolves!
Do not go "all out" to impress others or "out-do" other weddings you have attended. Your guests are already impressed with you, otherwise they would not even consider coming to your wedding. If you are trying to out-do someone else's wedding, you are working too hard or spending too much money. At the end of the day, all that really matters is that you and your spouse are the right people for each other. This is what people are really coming to witness.
Do not stress out that enough guests will not show up. Most of the time, you have a 3 day window to take non-attendee's off the list without being charged for their food. Those who are supposed to be there, will be.
Only invite guests who PROMOTE your upcoming marriage. A wedding is NOT the time to make amends. For instance, an estranged father coming to give his daughter away and to do the father / daughter dance for the sake of being noticed when he has not spoken to you in 5 years is not the time for reconciliation.
Friends and loved ones who always have a pattern of creating an unpleasant scene or drama or they criticize everything you do, or your relationship, should be left off your guest list. You need to meet with them on the side and explain to them before you send out invitations that they will be asked to leave your wedding / reception if they create any interruptions, then leave the choice up to them.