Managing Wedding Planning Stress: Are You a Bridezilla?

When it comes to the first steps of wedding planning, keeping things organized is going to be a key factor in helping to manage wedding planning stress.

One of the first things you can do in organizing your big day is come up with a wedding planning checklist. This will help you with the bigger picture, looking far in advance of what you need, like ordering and sending out engagement party invitations, setting up a wedding website, creating a guest list, and more. Having a wedding planning binder, where you house your checklist and everything you may need, will also help things physically keep things organized.

Another aspect to organize and think about in advance is your actual wedding day. Creating a wedding day timeline will give you an idea of what you will want to include during your big day, like possibly having a cocktail hour, different photo opportunities, or a “first dance”.

In general, your wedding day timeline will keep you organized the day of because you will know what time you will be getting ready, when to expect photographs, what time vendors will start setting up, etc.

This doesn’t have to be something you have to take on by yourself. If it’s something you can handle financially, hiring a wedding planner or coordinator can be a huge benefit in organizing your big day, and recruiting your wedding party and family for support.

If you’re not sure what your budget is, it is time to sit down and figure it out. We’d get more into it, but we’ve created a full guide to making a wedding budget here:

Prioritize the things that are most important to you. For example, if there’s a wedding photographer you’ve wanted to work with for ages, reach out to them first. If you’re not really concerned about whether or not you have a videographer, that can go lower on the list.

Take some time with your partner to discuss what is a top priority and make sure those items get handled first. You can also refer to your wedding planning checklist here so you know everything is covered!

Take a moment to identify the tasks where you could use some help. These should be tasks where you can give clear direction or preferences, and then your family, friends, or wedding party can complete on their own time.

This might include stuffing envelopes, deciding on wedding party gifts, finding wedding signs, or making favors. Just make sure that you let your helpers know when these items need to be done by!

Delegating the day of is especially important as well. There are a number of things you can designate to others, having a maid of honor or best man help out with certain tasks, like getting everyone together for photos, will definitely alleviate some stress. When you designate certain tasks on the big day, you take.

Having clear lines of communications with your partner, wedding planner, wedding parties, vendors, and guests is a great way to reduce stress. How to do this?

• Schedule a time (or two) each week for you and your partner to speak about wedding-related items. This can also keep the wedding from taking over your day-to-day, because you know you have designated time to work on everything.
• Add as many details as possible to your wedding website to reduce the amount of questions people will send along. Helpful information could include your wedding day timeline, the dress code, places for lodging, reception directions, childcare, dinner options, wedding registry, and other details that may be specific to your big day.
• Ask your wedding vendors lots of questions up front. Get all the information right at the beginning, in one conversation, so you don’t have multiple follow ups. Not sure what to ask? Read our guides on the questions to ask:

• Your wedding photographer
• Your florist
• Your caterer
• Your DJ
• Your cake designer
• All your vendors!

If you're feeling overwhelmed, try to squeeze in some self-care time. It doesn't have to be a fancy spa treatment—in fact, the simpler the better! Here are a few ideas:

• Take a walk around your neighborhood or explore one nearby.
• Get a massage, either by yourself or with someone else. It's great for couples who want to bond over something they can do together.
• Eat healthy meals and snacks for energy.
• Try to get 7-9 hours of sleep per night.
• Taking some time in the morning or evening for meditation is an overall great way to relieve stress. There are a number of great apps available to use like Calm, as well as great free resources on Youtube for quick guided meditations.
• Therapy is a great way to communicate how you’re feeling, especially during what may feel like a stressful time. A professional can help you pinpoint the root of what’s stressing you out so you can work through it.

As exciting as it is, take a break from wedding planning whenever you need to. While your wedding is an exciting day, it’s not your entire life.

Choose one day a week to not talk about anything wedding related, or designate a specific time each day to work on it–and that’s it. Creating boundaries is healthy for you and your partner, and helps put less stress on the day of.

We’ll be the ones to break it to you: your wedding isn’t going to be perfect. Know that things that you may not have accounted for can happen, and that’s okay!

There may be somethings that are out of your control, but don’t let those details take the fun and beauty out this day that’s about the love you and your partner share. Remember the point of the day–the marriage–can help you manage your expectations during the planning process and the day of.

Of course, you can try to make it as perfect as possible. Get your wedding emergency kit set up, review wedding etiquette guidelines, and have fun!