We hear jokes all the time about bridezillas... But if we are truly honest with ourselves, its easy to get into bridezilla mode if you let the stresses of wedding planning overwhelm you. There are so many details, and sometimes we worry if we have everything under control. Its a bride's worst nightmare for something to terribly go wrong on your wedding day! With all this being said, here are a few simple ways to simplify your wedding planning process for a better wedding day! And who doesn't want that?
1. Don't sweat the small stuff. Its so easy to get caught up in the small details, should I serve this or that to my guests? What if someone doesn't like what we're having? But guests typically don't go to weddings expecting to be 100% entertained & satisfied. Often, if you choose menu items & décor that suit your style, the majority of your guests will like it, or they'll at least enjoy knowing that you picked items & décor that really speak to your personality & preference. This is YOUR wedding, and its ultimately about you and your fiancé! So do what you can, but don't stress about what your guests prefer or don't prefer. You can't please everyone at once!
2. Be decisive. This is for all you indecisive people out there... I know how difficult it is to know what the right decision is, there are so many factors in play! At the end of the day, no one is going to know that you contemplated these decisions anyway. Most guests aren't going to remember what your centerpieces looked like, what meal you served, or who was sitting at their table. Just make a decision based on what you like, not based on your parents or friends, but YOU. Pick something, and stick with it. As long as you make good decisions for the big things like DJ, Photographer, and Venue, whatever you choose for all the other details will usually work out just fine.
3. Skip the seating chart. That's right, just skip it altogether. I get asked all the time, "if I don't make a seating chart, how will my guests know where to sit?" The honest truth is that most guests despise seating charts. Adults don't like being told where to sit, and it's a huge hassle to have to create assigned seats, a seating chart, and place cards when your guest list is in constant change. Skipping assigned seating means this - When your last minute RSVP's come in, you won't have to do any changing or shuffling on anything! When someone you didn't expect to come shows up on your wedding day, you don't have to worry about where they will sit. When someone sits at the wrong table, you won't have to worry about where to move them to or what to say to them. Skipping this step is a huge relief to so many of my couples because of these reasons. INSTEAD, just have a handful of Reserved Tables for family or bridal party, and communicate with the people you know will be there so they know to sit there! This simple switch will save you hours of time, sweat & tears, I promise!
4. Try a Sweetheart Table instead of a Head Table. This is a simple one, but sometimes your bridal party doesn't want to stay at that awkward long table the whole night. Do you want a partially empty table next to you on your wedding day when your bridal party goes to say hello to their significant others or family member? Just avoid this issue altogether and do a little table for just you and your love - then you don't have to worry about it!
5. Don't Control. If you don't have a wedding coordinator, designate someone for your family or friends to go to if they have questions on your wedding day. This way no one is coming to you and distraction you from what is important - getting ready! I don't recommend this person to be your mom, MOH or anyone involved in your ceremony - that way they aren't getting distracted either! We can't control every little thing that happens, and odds are there will be something that goes wrong. Just let it happen & know that no matter what, your wedding will be perfect because you get to marry the love of your life!
6. Don't DIY. I am a sucker for a good DIY, it's always great to save money & do projects at home! However, when it comes to your wedding, sometimes its best to just spend a little more & save the time & energy it takes to make those 15 centerpieces, or 100 wedding invitations. Instead, get something pre-made and add one or two personal touches to achieve the same goal. OR, if you must DIY it, get your bridesmaids together and make a night of it! It's always good to get help on these big projects.
7. Pick a color palette, not just a few colors. Be open to the idea of shades/tones of your colors, and it will really simplify things. Most colors have families, so choose a tone of your color instead of obsessing about if something "matches" or not.