Are you looking to reduce your stress in the lead up to your wedding?

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Wedding planning – does the idea of planning increase your stress levels, or do you embrace the process and are the master of lists and post-it notes? Whatever you feel about the planning of your big day, we can almost guarantee that there will be times when you feel it all just gets a bit too much. We hear many stories about venues applying pressure to brides to make decisions, families getting involved too much, and start taking over the planning process, or you simply just don’t know where to start with the whole planning process.

Simple things to reduce the stress:

  • Remember who is getting married – families, friends or bridesmaid may get carried away with planning your big day, and if you feel they are overstepping… tell them! It will be easier to address before it starts to upset you, and it is your day after all. You may, however, enjoy the involvement of others, but just remember it is down to you and your groom.
  • Make big decisions alone – sit down with your groom after the excitement of your engagement has rescinded, and discuss your ideas about what your ideal wedding scenario will be. Collaborate on your ideas, and make some big decisions i.e. church or civil, hotel or barn, summer or winter, at home or abroad. The details, you can work out with your mum, groom’s mum, bridesmaids or friends, but think about the big decisions, and clear some time to discuss with just your husband-to-be. It will ensure your groom feels involved, but will also set a clear path for your combined dream wedding!
  • Agree your budget and stick to it – During the initial discussion with your fiancée, agree what your budget will be. This may be a figure that you have to save for, you are given by relatives, or you will borrow and pay back after. Whatever method of funding you have for your wedding, set your total spend limit from the start. When you know what you are working towards, it will make decision-making much easier.

We found some really useful facts from a 2014 You and Your Wedding Survey about wedding spend:

  • The average cost of a wedding in 2014 was £20,983
  • 50% of all brides expecting to go over their initial wedding budget
  • 59% of brides do the bulk of their wedding planning alone
  • 20% borrow money to fund their big day
  • Only 22% prepared to cut budget due to economic climate

Remember, this is your wedding day – it will hopefully be one of the most important days of your lives, so you and Groom should work together, and keep stress at a minimum.