An average of 44,230 weddings take place every weekend, and everybody loves attending a wedding. As a guest, you get to spend time with friends and family, witness the union of a loved one, and indulge in plenty of booze! As the host, however, weddings are often fraught with stress and panic: the pressure of creating the perfect wedding affects approximately 63% of brides, putting a damper on what is supposed to be the happiest day of their lives.
The details involved in crafting the perfect Big Day are often overwhelming: the average wedding sees around 136 guests — even the most diligent, multitasking brides struggle to manage every aspect of their needs in addition to the design and aesthetic of the wedding itself. Brides and grooms get caught up in cake flavors, table centerpieces, and invite designs and frequently forget that this is supposed to be a joyous occasion. As the date looms ever closer, last-minute corrections, alterations, and replacements consume your every thought; rather than looking toward your wedding day with delight and excitement, you’re ready for it to be over and done with so you and your spouse can finally leave the anxieties and frustrations behind.
In an effort to turn the tide on your wedding day woes, consider the following three tips to tackling that ever-present planning tension.
Remember To Relax
At the heart of every wedding is a commitment between two people; if you can hold onto that simple concept, you’ll find that details are inconsequential — whether or not your floral arrangements perfectly match your decor means nothing when weighed against the love of your life and the future you’ll experience together.
The best way to remind yourself of this truth is to take time to yourselves every so often: continue to schedule date nights, even if you’ve got a hundred more Big Day decisions to make; share a bottle of wine and drink all of it, regardless of any early-morning wedding planner meetings; and spend any time you can together when you get the chance. When you’re able to remember why you’re getting married, the panic of perfection becomes infinitely less important. Relax with your future spouse and truly live in the moment rather than stressing about the future.
Planning For The Future By Remembering The Past
While it’s true that weddings are centered on the bride and groom, it’s important that they not forget where they came from and how they came to be together. Creating a photo arrangement can have a calming and grounding effect; the bride and groom can look back on their lives, both together and with their families, and be reminded of the support and love they’ve experienced. At the same time, family members and friends can see snapshots of their favorite moments together and rejoice in the union they’ve all come together to celebrate.
Collages are easy and fun to create: collect photos from childhood, the early stages of the two lovebirds’ relationship, and even pull some ancient family pictures from that dusty box in the attic. When displaying old photographs — especially if they are from decades past — you’ll want to be wary of visible and ultraviolet light: use special ultraviolet filtering glass to ensure that picture of great great grandma will be available for your daughter’s wedding as well. Other than that, the world is your oyster! Get creative and attach pictures to the seating arrangements, or stay classic and feature a pinboard at the reception’s entrance.
Contractual Considerations
Though the legalities of a marriage aren’t particularly important beyond obtaining a marriage certificate and deciding whether or not you’d like a prenup, contacting one of this country’s 1,315,561 lawyers can go a long way in lessening the stresses that occur after the wedding has ended. There are many aspects to consider: who will be the legal owner of your joint property, how will marriage affect your taxes, what rights do married couples gain, etc. By seeking out the help of a legal professional to help you understand the nuances of these changes, you’ll be prepared for anything and everything that may occur down the road.
Don’t let the stress of wedding planning detract from the happiest and most delightful day of your life. If you can keep these three tips in the back of your mind when it comes to your Big Day, you’ll be able to await your wedding day with the giddiness and excitement any blushing bride deserves!
