How to Plan a Stress Free Wedding

So you’re engaged! ….Now what? As a newlywed, I understand the pressures that come even in the first week of being engaged. Everyone always asks the same questions: Did you pick a day? What’re your colors? Whose your bridesmaids? Where are you going to have it? This bombardment of the sudden need for all of these answers can be scary but remember that until you put money down on places you get to change your mind. It’s not rude to tell them that you’ve been engaged for 3 hours and have no clue what you’re going to be doing over your engagement.

Things to do:
- Get a wedding planner. Whether it’s online or a physical book, you need something that will help get you organized. You have a lot to plan over your engagement and some of it is really time sensitive. Planners also help to remind you of the little details that you may not think of when you’re overwhelmed by the bigger details like your dress or the cake.
- Try on tons of wedding dresses. I know every dress is going to feel perfect, every dress you’ll want to spend your life savings on. Look around online at different styles, don’t be afraid to hit up your local David’s Bridal or other wedding boutiques to see what different dresses look on your body type. You’d be surprised at what you like on paper and what actually looks good on your body. Be sure to take a friend, too!
- Change your mind. Pick a color scheme then switch it, then switch it again. You don’t have to settle on one thing just because you told your second cousin twice removed that you were going to pick this color scheme. I switched the colors I thought I wanted for my wedding a few times but I was really happy with the way everything turned out in the end and I was really glad I did it.- Include your husband-to-be. I know it's easy to get wrapped up in the idea of the wedding being your big day but remember it's about him, too. So be sure to just check and see his thoughts on certain things: colors, flowers, cake flavor. You'd be surprised at what he might want to have a say in. It's his day, too!- Have fun! Try and remember in between cake tasting, dress fittings, and trying to pick out flowers that this is supposed to be fun. This is supposed to be as stress-free as possible. So, surround yourself with people who love you and would do anything for you. Go on extra cake tastings and bridal conventions even if you have everything planned out - just have some fun with the wedding planning process!

Things not to do:
- Put down payments on the first place you see. I know it’s tempting, very tempting, to just have one look around a generic hotel ballroom and settle down on that venue for your reception. However, take a few days to research wedding reception venues in your area and see not only what’s the best place but who also offers the best price packages.
- Take a small army with you to try on wedding dresses. This can be over-whelming and everyone has their own opinion of what kind of dress you should be wearing on YOUR big day. At the end of the day, you need to feel happy and comfortable in the dress you pick out - especially if you’re the one buying it!- Let yourself get pressured into picking bridesmaids. I know that it's hard to pick out your four closest gal-pals to stand up for your in your wedding party when all of the sudden every girl you've ever associated with seems to be coming out of the woodwork trying to worm their way into your wedding party. Don't be afraid of offending anyone and just pick who you want to be standing up there with you, who you think would throw you a killer bachelorette party, or who you think would actually help you through the wedding planning process. They're supposed to be the ones who help keep you sane, who do the little errands you need in order to make your life a little easier when it comes to planning your big day.