Wedding planning can be one of the most exciting times of your life, but it can also come with a lot of stress. From managing budgets to dealing with family dynamics, the pressure to make everything perfect can quickly feel overwhelming. The good news? You don’t have to go through it alone. With the right strategies, you can reduce stress, stay calm, and enjoy the journey to your big day.
In this post, we’ll explore practical tips from brides and grooms of the past to help you manage the wedding planning stress. With a little planning and a positive mindset, you’ll be able to savour the experience without feeling weighed down by the pressure.
Beat the Wedding Planning Stress
1) Be yourself
Remember just how much your partner and everyone on your guest list loves you for being you, quirks and all! They aren’t coming to see someone they don’t recognise get married, so just have fun with your day, and don’t put pressure on yourself to be ‘perfect’.
2) Stay calm
Easier said than done, I know! But if you feel the pressure during the planning or at any time on your wedding day, take deep breaths, confide in a loved one and remember that it’s all going to be so worth it. Your wedding day should express you, not define you.
Aimee x
3) Delegate tasks
“Consider hiring a wedding planner. It is shocking the amount of work you have to put in. It can get very stressful and you have to make so many decisions. Make sure you have minimum 6 months to plan everything.” – Ed, groom.
100%! Even if a wedding planner isn’t in the budget, you can still get your bridesmaids or other loved ones on board to help with the planning. A girls night writing addresses onto invitations is a great example of how to make a more tedious and overwhelming task much more fun and exciting!
4) You shouldn’t be pleasing everyone else
“Don’t panic about other people and don’t worry about what others think – its your day not theirs!” – Charlotte, bride.
“Don’t worry about pleasing other people, make sure it’s everything that you want.” – Natasha, bride.
I agree with Charlotte & Natasha! You are not the hosts, you’re the guests of honour! This is your one day that is all about you as a couple, everyone is coming to celebrate you. Make sure your decisions reflect who you are as a couple and you’ll always look back completely happy with the choices you made.
5) Enjoy it!
“Try and do as much as you can early on try to enjoy the planning!” – Rebecca, bride.
“Enjoy planning your special day, time goes fast and it will be here before you know it!” – Louise, bride.
Absolutely, Rebecca & Louise! Planning your wedding should be fun! I know sometimes it can be overwhelming and stressful, but focusing on one thing at a time can really help you savour the excitement. Trust me, one day you will look back and miss it!
Feeling inspired?
I post lots of helpful wedding-based tips and guidance that could help and inspire you on your way to “I do.” I also post Real Wedding Stories as often as I can!
6) Go with the flow
“Go with the flow and enjoy every moment.” – Rachel, bride.
Completely one of my favouritre wedding tips. There are a lot of unexpected things that can happen at a wedding, and while we can prepare with make-up remover wipes, umbrellas and emergency sewing kits, the most important preparation you can make (in my humble opinion) is to not focus on what could go wrong!
Prepare yourself to go with the flow, shrug or laugh it off and carry on, don’t let one minor thing spoil your entire day for yourselves!
7) Cost isn’t everything!
“The only thing that matters is the food and booze. No one minds what colour the flowers are or how much your dress cost. Feel pretty and just have fun.” – Laura, bride.
Of all the wedding tips, this is an excellent one! It’s easy to get swept away by how many things we need for our wedding day, but make sure you’re making bookings and purchases because it’s how you want your day to be, not because it’s how you think it should be or that’s what your guests will expect.
No one is going to mind how much your dress cost or if the flowers are real, all that matters is good times and that you look back on your day completely happy.
8) Choose your wedding dress for you
When standing in the bridal boutique, it is far too easy to get swept away by what our mums or bridesmaids think of us in our wedding dresses; and that can add to the wedding planning stress without us even realising.
Don’t let the opinions of others influence you in or out of a decision; take their advice into account of course, but make sure you choose the dress that you feel the absolute best in, not the one they think you should have.
9) Honey-grooms!
“Let the groom plan the honeymoon! It’s one thing less for you to worry about and they’ll have way more fun surprising you with that than choosing napkins.” – Kelsey- bride.
Fab idea! If your significant other is not the wedding planning type, give them the responsibility of planning and surprising you with a secret honeymoon! (Maybe give them a budget though!)
10) Soak it all in
The day will fly by so quickly, and you’ll be completely exhausted by the end of it! Try to keep in a calm headspace and appreciate all of the little moments around you, remember what mum said before you walked down the aisle, remember what your best man said when you gave him the rings.
Have fun, take it all in, appreciate every moment of the amazing day you’ve put together and don’t let the little things spoil it!
I really hope this helped!
I hope these wedding tips give you a smile, remember, it’s all about the two of you! If you’re looking for something specific that’s not in my blog, please let me know using one of my social links below. I’d love to know I’m producing content that’s helpful and people appreciate reading.
