Dealing with wedding planning

We all face stress.

Stress is a common factor that all couples planning a wedding or other type of an event share. It may be stress over the little details, money or planning or you may just feel overwhelmed. While you can’t eliminate all of the stress inherent in event planning, there are a few ways to minimise that stress. The best way would be to hire an event consultant. Consultants can be of great assistance to engage couples and their families. A consultant can be called on simply as an advisor, informing couples on etiquette issues, a sounding board for ideas, or for information on where to find the most haute couture catering company. In most cases, a consultant is needed to arrange all the intricate details of event planning. This can include finding the “perfect” reception site according to the couple’s criteria, helping couple’s select their vendors, setting timetables, reviewing contracts, negotiating discounts, assisting in menu selections, and endless hours of phone calling, e-mailing, faxing, and follow ups! For those of you wishing to tackle your own planning, however, in this article we will take a look at a wedding planning checklist.

My hope is it will make planning your wedding a lot less stressful.

Why is planning stressful?

One of the largest causes of wedding stress is trying to keep up with social and personal expectations. Trying to mesh your ideas of a perfect wedding while also trying to “follow the rules” and trying to keep up with family members’ and friends’ ideals is certainly a stressful task. The problem is more apparent when your wedding ideal doesn’t follow the rules and doesn’t fit in with the vision that friends or family members have.

One of the best ways to combat this particular stress is to realise that no wedding will satisfy every guest, and neither will it follow every rule. While it is a gracious thing to ask guests how they might feel about something you are unsure about, it doesn’t mean that you must follow every suggestion.

You don’t need to follow the bridal magazines or etiquette books to the letter either. These items are intended as guides rather than gospel.

Another cause of stress in wedding planning is the quest for perfection. All couples want their wedding to match their view of a perfect event. Though this seems like a minor cause of stress, many couples take their quest too far. Unfortunately, while in the midst of matching the shoes to the tablecloths to the bouquets, you’ll start to feel a bit overwhelmed.

Feeling overwhelmed is normal and so trying your best to make the wedding day “perfect.”

However, you need to be willing to let a few things go. Figure out which items are less important to you and allow yourself to either delegate those items or ignore them if they aren’t necessary.

Another suggestion along the same vein is to remember that, as a couple, there will be two views to consider. Be willing to compromise so that both of you will be able to realise the elements of a “perfect” wedding that are most important to you.

Wedding Planner Checklist

12-16 Months before the Wedding

• Set the Wedding Date. Take into consideration holidays, school, major sporting events, weather, work, honeymoon plans

• Discuss and decide on the style and type of wedding. Formal/informal traditional/unconventional

• Choose a Wedding Motif, colour theme and style

• Select and reserve the church, temple or wedding site

• Contact a wedding consultant

• Research and retain the following:

1 Photographer

2 Videographer

3 Entertainment

4 Ceremonial musicians

5 Reception facility

6 Caterer

7 Beverages

— Continues next Monday. For questions or comments, contact amanoka@flowtrinidad.net