It’s been a rollercoaster, these past 16 months. Wedding planning is not fun.
Or is it?
It’s definitely not a walk in the park. It’s more like losing your breath on your 20th lap after falling on your face a few times, body dripping from sweat and the thirst being so real.
The idea of a wedding is a beautiful thing. Girls have been planning these in their heads as they turned 8. Then moving it over to Pinterest at the age of 17. It’s your fairy tale, your cinderella ending, your one day of selfish, deserving, romantic moment (for some, maybe their third lol. To each their own as I always say).
So many people may have made wedding planning look like a breeze but I’ll keep it real as I always do. As Drake likes to put it, it goes from “zero to a hundred, real quick.” Expect the drama, not from your vendors, but from your guests of friends and family. Expect the opinions, the unrelated issues that people will throw at you. My favorite part about wedding planning has been the natural filter it has created in Varick and I’s lives.
Through the long months of planning, we were able to see people’s truest colors. The strongest of friendships and relationships were the ones that only survives. We lost a few along the way, but that only made way for the newfound ones that we never even knew were blossoming!
Here are a few other things we’ve learned from wedding planning:
From Varick:
- It’s always a team effort.
- Worry about you and your fiancee and no one else during the process. This is your day, not your family’s.
- No one’s opinion matters other than yours and your fiancee’s during the planning process.
- Stay organized because the months go by so fast and by the time you know it, the big day is here.
- Have fun along the way because either way, it will be stressful.
From Myself:
- Constant communication is number one.
- Delegate to each other so responsibilities are split in half.
- Make planning fun! Do date night while you plan so it doesn’t feel like work.
- Lighten your list. (The easiest way to trim your budget Cut your guest list. Remember, half of your wedding expenses go to wining and dining your guests. If it’s costing you $100 per person, eliminating one table of 10 can save you $1,000.)
- Be realistic. When it comes down to the last month of your planning (and when you’re particularly harried) look at your mile long to-do list and cut three things. Yes, cut three things. Not crucial things that you just don’t feel like doing, such as picking a processional song or confirming final details with all of your vendors. Eliminate only the over-the-top tasks like hand-painting “Just Married” signs, or baking cookies for all of the welcome bags. Cross them off and make a pledge not to think about them again.
- You can’t please everyone. Do you.
You’re on the same team, rooting for the same things. Make it as fun and bearable for each other as possible. We can’t wait for our big day. Only 40 more days to go!