Wedding stress through a planner's eyes

As a wedding and event planner, I belong to several wedding planning groups on Facebook.  I get to watch a lot of what is happening, not only in my local area, but all over the world, when it comes to brides planning their day, and the struggles they find.  If I got paid $5.00 for every time I saw a post similar to this one, let's just say I wouldn't need to plan weddings for a living...

Here's the thing, though....   IT DOES NOT NEED TO BE LIKE THIS!

From the moment you decide to pledge your life and love to another person, you choose to embark on a journey with them.  Cliche?  Maybe.  But also accurate.  Planning a wedding is, in itself, a journey.  Not a destination.  Do I need to say it again?

Planning a wedding is a journey.  NOT a destination.

You have the ability to choose the path your journey takes.  Maybe you don't think you can afford a planner or coordinator for their knowledge and expertise in the field (though, I'm pretty sure you can, as there are always new planners entering the "ring" and offering extremely low pricing as they learn and build).  Even so, you are not the first one to walk down a similar path.  So what should you do when you feel like this poor bride?

First of all, reach out to your planner.  We are here to help, and honestly, if you are feeling like this, you may not be utilizing your planner enough.  It is our job to help ensure that you enjoy your journey, and make it to (and through) the wedding successfully.  I know that I have spent many phone calls working with couples, helping them navigate and ease their biggest wedding stressors.  It's part of my job.  You should feel like a weight has been lifted off your shoulders, and that you definitely have a solid footing when we get off the phone. 

If you don't have a planner, and really, truly cannot afford even a "new on the scenes" one, then reach out to your parents, friends, coworkers, siblings, etc.  I guarantee that there is no shortage of people in your life who have ideas (and would love to share them) about planning a wedding.  The trick here is to take it all with a grain of salt. Really evaluate how all of their suggestions may or may not work for you, and know that they come from a place of love and wanting to help.  Seriously, it can be overwhelming. You my have already experienced some of this.  However, don't feel like you have to do something, just because you asked for their opinion/help/advice, or because they suggested it.  Not everything is for everyone. That's what makes each wedding special.

​If nothing else, postpone it.  I even postponed my own wedding (back in 2015) to make sure I could get the vendors I wanted.  No big deal, and it really alleviated a lot of my stress.

You do you. Make it yours!

​Happy Planning!

---