Zen Weddings: LIMIT PLANNING DAYS
When couples come to me either for premarital counseling or to perform their wedding ceremony, the first stressor they mention is the overwhelm of wedding planning. Since I’m not a wedding planner, I need to get this stressor out of the way, so we can move on to strengthening their relationship or celebrating their union. Most modern couples are busy! They’re working, trying to see friends, family and have couple time AND planning a wedding all at the same time. Gosh, that certainly sounds stressful!
So what happens if you are INTENTIONAL about your schedule?
Limit Planning Days
Many of us have fluid schedules and we may have a hard time keeping work separate from our personal lives. That includes how you plan your wedding. Planning a wedding should be fun and not a chore. Each wedding is different, so only you know what has to get done and the timeline attached. Once you see the big picture, you should be able to determine how much time you need to dedicate to planning. Good news is that you don’t HAVE do it every day.
I suggest you set aside 2-3 days a week to discuss and research, and then MAKE DECISIONS around your big day. So if you decide that your wedding planning days are Thursday and Saturday, the only days you work on your wedding are those days. The same goes for the number of hours. You may need to set aside 3 hours to dedicate to working on your wedding. However, if that seems too much, try 2. Once you hit that 2 hour mark, you STOP and move the tasks to your next planning day. And of course, CELEBRATE your efforts!
Doesn’t that sounds freeing?
Include Your Vendors
Hiring a wedding planner or coordinator certainly can bring some ease here. You have an expert on your side, and you’re not planning alone. Whether or not you do bring one on to your team, it’s important to include your vendors into your planning schedule.
If your planning days are Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, let your vendors know. That way if your DJ requests your first dance song or your florist wants feedback on the number of boutonnieres they know when they can expect a response, and when they should not bother you.
It’s also another person that can hold you accountable to your schedule.
Are you going to try limiting your planning days? Need more guidance to bring Zen to your wedding? Please reach out or add a question to the comment section below. I'm happy to assist!