Most people have never planned a wedding before planning their own. I get that! That’s exactly how I was! Now that I’ve been in the wedding biz for a few years and have been to more weddings than I can count there are soooo many things I wish I knew before I planned my wedding!
Most people think that their wedding will be the happiest day of their lives (AND IT SHOULD BE!) but I’ve seen some unfortunate cases where it becomes one of the most chaotic and stressful days! That’s where I want to help! Today’s advice is all about how to have the most stress free wedding!
Don’t Save Things To Be Done On Your Wedding Day
The key to having a stress free wedding is putting in the work BEFORE the wedding day! What do I mean by that? Let me explain! Don’t put anything off until the day of the wedding. Last minute decorations and confirming plans with people should all be things done before! Vendors, friends and family should all know this. Do what you need to do so when you wake up on your wedding day, all YOU have to do is get ready, say “I do” and then dance the night away!
Make A Timeline
The most helpful thing you can do is MAKE A TIMELINE!!!! You would be shocked by how many people I talk to who don’t have a timeline for the day of their wedding. This is CRUCIAL! As a professional photographer I try to set up a time a few weeks before the wedding with the bride and groom to carefully plan out their day with them. Anything from what time you need to be getting ready to what time your family needs to be leaving their house goes on the timeline! Then, send that timeline to anyone who is important to you. Bridal party, family, vendors- EVERYONE! Within that timeline, plan hour long gaps where nothing is happening because I guarantee you that something will happen and you will get off schedule. That shouldn’t be a problem at all as long as you plan for it!
(Pro tip- During the “getting ready” time is where most weddings get off schedule. Plan your time very generously when it comes to getting ready.)
(Pro tip 2.0- Make sure your family and friends are ready for their pictures with you and your spouse when it’s time. SO much time is wasted when people didn’t know they were supposed to be getting their pictures taken. Give them the timeline and make sure they know where and when they need to be ready! EACH time you rearrange a group to take a picture it takes about 1.5 mins for everyone to get in place. That may not seem like a lot, but when you’re stretched for time it can be really frustrating to the bride and groom when people aren’t ready.)
Delegate
You are going to be the “go to” person that people will ask questions to on your wedding day. After the 50th question you’ll be pretty scatterbrained. Avoid this by delegating out the responsibilities of what needs to happen on your wedding day. Who do you delegate these reposnsibelties to? Let me see… YOUR BRIDAL PARTY! When they agreed to be a bridesmaid or groomsmen they didn’t just agree to take a picture with you and wear a nice outfit. They agreed to helping you with whatever you need for your wedding! REMEMBER THIS! Assign each person to be in charge of something so when someone asks you a question you can say, “Oh, ask Ashley about it! She’s in charge of that!”
There are a few people I don’t recommend delegating work to and that’s YOUR PARENTS! Most moms that I’ve met on wedding days seem just as stressed if not more stressed than the couple. This is an emotionally taxing day for your parents so cut them slack and tell them they aren’t allowed to work!
The biggest piece of advice I can give you is; know that your wedding won’t go exactly as planned and that’s okay. Do your best to prepare for it and then let it go. Enjoy the day with the people you love most while celebrating the happiest of occasions. You won’t remember any of the stressful things years later- you’ll only remember how happy you and your lover were.
