In honour of Mental Health Awareness Month in October, this blog post is gonna be a little different from the ones we usually do! While planning your big day is filled with excitement and joy, it can also bring a lot of stress and pressure.
We will be sharing some helpful tips for managing stress and anxiety, along with resources that can hopefully keep you sane throughout your wedding journey. We hope that this blog post can offer support and help ease your wedding planning stress.
7 Tips to Stay Sane Throughout Your Wedding Planning Journey
1. Practice Self-Care and Make Time for Rest
It's important to know how to manage the stress you're receiving to take care of your mental health. One of the easiest way to start would be self-care. As easy as it may sound, many of us actually neglect these points.
- Make time for relaxation: Schedule breaks in your planning process. Designate certain days or weekends to not discuss wedding plans at all. Spend time with your partner or friends doing non-wedding-related activities to recharge mentally, relax and unwind.
- Prioritise physical rest: One of the simplest yet most effective ways to start is by getting adequate sleep, aim for 7-9 hours of quality rest each night to help your body and mind recover.
- Engage in physical activities: Simple activities like walking, yoga, or dancing can help boost your mood and reduce stress.
- Practice mindfulness and meditation: It helps you to stay present, self-regulate and reduce your stress levels.
Helpful resources:
- How to manage Wedding Planning Stress by BRIDES, including expert-approved tips.
- Wedding Planning Stress: 13 Ways to look after yourself and reduce stress by Hitched
- How to manage Wedding Planning Stress by Calm
Apps for mindfulness and meditation:
2. Prioritise Your Tasks By Significance and Deadlines
For all the brides out there, we know how overwhelming it can be with decisions like budgeting, guest lists, vendors, and design details all within wedding planning. It is important to prioritise tasks based on their deadlines and significance, such as booking venues or sending out invitations.
This prevents any last-minute rush or potential issues closer to the big day. It will be good to have a list of things that you have to get done, so that you have a full picture of what you need to tackle.
If you don't know where to start, you can refer to our 12-month Wedding Planning Checklist, and download a detailed copy of our checklist that includes tasks you should look out for during your wedding planning!
3. Delegate Your Tasks Accordingly
It's easy to feel overwhelmed when you see everything that needs to be done, but remember: you don’t have to do it all by yourself. If certain tasks can be handled by your partner, family, or bridesmaids, delegate them.
This will free up your time and focus for other task, and it will certainly make the whole process less stressful.
Having difficulty organising tasks to delegate? We have a checklist for Bridesmaids & Maid of Honour that can act as a guide for your bridesmaids team to navigate their roles with ease.
It includes specific tasks for Bachelorette Party/ Bridal Shower planning leading up to the wedding day and what to do after the wedding.
4. Be Intentional About Your Wedding Guestlist
Many brides struggle with balancing their guest list with the budget or venue size, leading to tough decisions about who to invite. On top of that, you might face pressure from family members into inviting distant relatives or friends that you don't feel close to.
- Have transparent conversations: Have an honest conversation with your family about your budget and venue limits. While their suggestions are appreciated, you need to prioritise your guest list!
- Create a two-tier guest list: The first tier includes close family and friends you absolutely want at the wedding, while the second tier can be acquaintances or distant relatives. As RSVPs come in, you can start inviting more people from the second tier if there’s room.
Helpful resources and podcasts:
- 10 Steps to creating a Wedding guest list by Singapore Brides
- How to create your Wedding guest list by Vogue
- Tips for crafting your wedding guest list, podcast by Wedding Planning Podcast
- Pre-planning Nerves and Planning Tips by Small Girl, Big Talk Podcast
5. Set Boundaries Early to Manage Family Expectations & Conflicts
As different family members have differing opinions, cultural expectations, or personal preferences, it's normal for conflicts to happen. However, you need to realise that you cannot satisfy everyone's requests during your wedding planning.
- Set boundaries early on: Value their input and suggestions, but you and your partner will have the final say and make the key decisions. Be kind but firm in explaining that the wedding reflects your vision as a couple.
- Find the middle ground: Decide which aspects of the wedding are non-negotiable for you and your partner, and be willing to compromise on other details. This avoids unnecessary conflicts from occurring.
6. Be Realistic About Your Budget and Finances
It can be overwhelming sticking to a budget while trying to create a dream wedding. However, with proper planning and mindset shifts, this can be managed effectively and lessen the overall stress.
Be realistic about what you can afford, and don't hesitate to explore alternatives that fit within your budget. Remember, a beautiful wedding doesn’t have to break the bank!
- Start with a realistic budget: Have a clear understanding of how much money is available, and you can start allocating funds to different categories (venue, food, attire, etc.). You can even use a budgeting app or spreadsheet to track all expenses.
- Prioritise the important aspects of your wedding: Allocate your budget to what matters most and cut back on less essential areas.
- Be prepared for unexpected costs: There will always be some unexpected expenses, and preparing for them can help reduce stress when they arise. You can set aside about 10% of your overall budget as a contingency fund for unexpected expenses like additional transportation, taxes, or extra vendor fees.
Helpful resources and podcasts:
- Wedding planning advice by The Budget Savvy Bride
- A free wedding budget template by Joy Wedding
- Free workshop on Wedding Budget Basics, podcast by Wedding Planning Podcasts
- 21 Wedding budget saving tips, podcast by Jamie Wolfer
7. Mentally Prepare for Wedding Day Anxiety
After going through months of preparations and wedding planning, it's hard to not feel anxious on your big day. Here are some things to keep in mind so that anxiety doesn't overwhelm you on the day of.
- Communicate with your vendors: Make sure your vendors are aware of your expectations and timeline well in advance. This allows you to relax and enjoy the day.
- Embrace Imperfection: Embrace the unexpected and focus on the love and joy of the day. Understand that not everything will go perfectly, and that's okay.
- Stay present in the moment: Rather than getting caught up in minor details, take time to savour each part of the day from getting ready to the ceremony. It's time for you to celebrate with your family and friends!
- (Optional) Hire a wedding-coordinator/ wedding planner: It is advisable to hire a day-of wedding coordinator or simplify the day’s schedule so it is less overwhelming.
Helpful resources:
- How to handle Wedding-Day Anxiety by BRIDES
- How to manage Wedding Day Anxiety by Katie Rogers
- 7 Ways to Beat Pre-wedding anxiety and look after your mental health by Happiful
If you're feeling anxious because you don't know what to expect on your wedding day, you can take a look at our Sample Wedding Day Schedule to help you visualise and plan your special day. Download the entire, detailed sample wedding day schedule below! 👇
As you navigate through wedding planning, remember to treat yourself with grace and kindness.
We hope you find these resources helpful and encouraging, and that they help ease your stress throughout the planning process.
Don’t forget to take breaks, breathe, and pamper yourself. Happy planning, and may your big day be everything you’ve dreamed of! ✨
Love,
The Bone and Grey Team 🤍