By: Lydia Mattern
So you’re finally engaged to the love of your life. Congratulations! Now it’s time to plan the wedding of your dreams.
At Epic Thyme--an experienced Northern California wedding planning company--we are committed to helping couples enjoy the process of planning their wedding, while helping them stay organized and within budget.
However, we know figuring out the details and getting on the same page can be stressful at times. Here are seven proven tips to help you and your fiancé “keep the peace” while planning the most special day of your life--your wedding day.
1. Set Clear Expectations
There are many different aspects of “wedding planning.” From choosing seating arrangements to choosing flowers to choosing the band and caterer, there are a lot of decisions to be made.
Before diving head first in the planning process, it is important for you and your fiancé to set clear expectations regarding each other’s level of involvement.
We think it is great for both parties to be involved. This will eliminate any future conflicts around someone not doing their part or another person taking over. For example, someone can be in charge of the catering while another is in charge of the flowers. That way, everyone is contributing, which adds more excitement to the day!
When clear expectations are set, they can be met.
2. Value Each Other’s Opinion and Ideas
Speaking of flowers, food, and music, do you and your fiancé have the same taste? Are you on the same page when it comes to the look and feel of your wedding day?
As you begin the wedding planning process you may find you each have different ideas of what your “dream wedding” will look like. It’s helpful to get on the same page early in the process, and the best way to do that is by valuing each other’s opinion and ideas. Always hear them out and understand the reason behind their idea. You may even find they have an idea you love.
You may also find you need to compromise--if you get to choose the flowers and food, he gets to choose the band. If he wants to pick the wedding colors, you get to pick the song for your first dance.
There are ways to make this day special and enjoyable for everyone. And it begins by being open to new ideas and making this the wedding of both of your dreams.
3. Practice Effective Communication
You may have heard that effective communication is the key to a successful relationship. We are here to tell you it is also the key to successful wedding planning.
At Epic Thyme, we have seen many couples enjoy every bit of the wedding planning process by sharing expectations and ideas throughout the entire process.
Some issues that tend to lead to wedding conflicts include family and friends giving their input on your dream day (which might not be in line with your vision), different wedding or religious traditions, the guest list--size and who gets a wedding invite, and where money is spent (i.e., on a wedding dress or the honeymoon). At Epic Thyme, we talk through these subjects with you and act as a mediator to help find what works best for everyone involved.
The easiest way to avoid wedding conflicts around these topics is to discuss them before they become an issue. If you know you have different religious practices, we can talk about ways to incorporate both traditions into the wedding. If you are dreaming of a small wedding but your fiancé has a mile-long wedding guest list, we will find a number in the middle that everyone is happy with.
And most importantly, we encourage you to discuss finances before you start planning your wedding.
4. Decide on a Budget Together (and stick with it)
By deciding on a wedding budget together--and figuring out who will be contributing to the budget and how much they will be putting forth--you can ensure that both of you feel comfortable with the amount of money spent on the different aspects of your wedding and honeymoon. Committing to sticking to your wedding budget also keeps you out of debt, which is vital for newlyweds.
A LendingTree study found that “45% of newlyweds between the ages of 18 and 53 went into debt to pay for their wedding.” And once married, nearly half of those couples contemplated divorce due to their wedding-related debt and fights about money.
This is why it is essential that you determine a reasonable budget for your wedding and stick to it. At Epic Thyme, we help couples plan dream weddings that stay within budget by finding creative solutions to any money issues. We are here to help you, too!
5. Hire a Wedding Planner to Coordinate The Details
The most effective way to keep the wedding stress and arguments at bay when planning your wedding is to do yourself a huge favor and hire an experienced wedding planning company to take care of all the little details and help you stay on schedule, within your budget, and having the time of your life!
At Epic Thyme, we truly love being on the journey of wedding planning with you. And we do our best to keep the process fun and lighthearted. After all, you are planning the biggest and BEST day of your life. It should be fun!
6. Divide and Conquer
Together, you, your fiancé, and your wedding planning team can plan an epic wedding. Whether you choose to hire a wedding planner for day-of coordination, partial planning, or full-service planning to help from the beginning, your wedding planner is on your team, ready to jump to the plate and help with all aspects of the planning process.
You don’t have to do it on your own. You have your wedding planner and, most importantly, you have each other.
7. Remember You and Your Fiancé Are on the Same Team
When the budget is tight or you become overwhelmed by the wedding planning process, the most important thing to remember is that you and your partner are on the same team. Let this time bring you even closer together. Lean on each other for support and make important wedding decisions together. Keep the peace by keeping love at the center of all you do as you plan the most wonderful day of your life.
Epic Thyme Keeps the Wedding Planning Stress at Bay
Have you and your fiancé dreamt up the perfect wedding? Don’t let the stress of wedding planning take away from the excitement of planning your perfect day.
Epic Thyme is the Northern California wedding planner of choice for hundreds of couples. And we are ready to help you plan your wedding.
Contact us now to find out how we can help make your dream wedding a reality.