Almost every little girl daydreams of her wedding day. The day she will walk down the aisle, in a white dress, looking like a princess, while everyone is focused on her. Add to that the flood of images from media of all sorts – books, movies, and TV – of fabulous weddings of the rich and famous, or purely fictional, out-of-this-world weddings.
Put it all together, and it’s no wonder brides feel immense stress in planning a wedding to make it the absolute perfect day. But one thing we’ve learned from experience at Legacy Stables and Events is that rarely does any event go exactly as planned. Your flower girl might have a total meltdown on the way down the aisle, your cake could collapse in the heat of an outdoor wedding, and the mothers of the bride and groom might even wear the exact same dress!
At the end of the day, what’s important to remember is that none of those things really matter. The focus of a wedding is you and your partner professing your love for each other in front of family and friends. And those family and friends watching the ceremony and participating in the reception will not care if there’s a hiccup in the way things are going. In fact, they might not even know the difference!
Ways to stave off the anxiety
There are plenty of things that cause bridal couples to have anxiety before a wedding. Not only are there the feelings of others’ high expectations (whether real or imagined), but you might also face stress over the budget or even family conflicts that are resurfacing. Here are a few ways to help ease the anxiety surrounding your wedding planning:
- Create a budget and stick to it. As you’re making choices for the wedding, remember you don’t always have to buy the most expensive thing for a great wedding. It helps to have an idea at the beginning of how much you might be willing or able to spend. And then work from there, with your partner. There’s no need to be fighting about money before you’re even married.
- Work within realistic expectations. This follows well with setting a budget. You might want a chocolate fountain and an ice sculpture, but your budget might only allow for one. If you go into the planning early on with an idea of how much things cost, you will be less likely to spend money on things you don’t really want or need.
- Get help with the planning. Everyone and their brother (and quite literally your brother) will have opinions on what needs to happen at your wedding. Use that energy to help you out! Just make sure to communicate your desires clearly so everyone’s on the same page.
- Hire a wedding planner. There are a lot of different little things to keep track of when planning a big wedding and reception, from the music for the processional to what to throw as the bridal couple leaves. Consider hiring a wedding planner to help with everything. They will have experience in talking with vendors about weddings, and will know who to call. If you’ve booked your wedding with Legacy Stables and Events, we have a great staff who know the ins and outs of setting up the perfect wedding day.
- Practice self-care. You might easily get so wrapped up in crossing things off your to-do list, meeting with vendors, and addressing envelopes that you forget to take time for yourself. That’s always an important part of life, and shouldn’t be forsaken during wedding planning. It can be something as simple as taking a few minutes alone to read a book or go on a walk.
How do I know what I’m feeling is anxiety?
Everyone will tell you planning a wedding, or any big event, is stressful. But it doesn’t have to be painfully so. If you’re feeling any of the following, it would be a good idea to talk to someone or get professional help:
- Difficulty sleeping
- Mood swings or feeling irritable often
- Feeling overwhelmed
- Physical symptoms such as headache or stomachache
- Increased conflicts with your partner or loved ones
Take a tour of Legacy Stables and Events to see all we have to offer as far as wedding planning and providing a beautiful venue for your ceremony and reception. Call today to set up your tour and learn more.
