Stresses of Planning a Wedding
the entire process sounds like a challenge for anyone.
For some the stress and anxiety
of planning such a large and important event can be a big eye opener. It
definitely was for the main character, Amy, in the book. In the first few
chapters you learn that Amy is the Maid of honor for her friend Mandy. She
expresses how insane Mandy was because she was stressing over a certain type of
flower and comments on the trivialness of the whole ordeal. Then, Amy herself becomes engaged. That’s
when she learns how stressful and how slowly but surely a bride can be
overpowered by her stress and become MAD.
Clearly we have all experienced
stress from deadlines at work or school to the stress of planning a vacation,
but the stress of planning one of the biggest days of your life can be
overpowering. That’s why people such as event coordinators and wedding planners
are here to ease the planning hardships.
Throughout the book Amy expresses her anxiety with different
wedding topics including
- Budget
- Family
- Timeline
- Lack of assistance
These are just a few stresses
that a bride may be going through while planning her big day, but they seem to
be some of the largest.
Budget
Budgeting for lump sum payments
such as rent each month can be pretty manageable since it rarely varies and has
specific payment dates. In contrast, planning a budget around a wedding can be
very difficult and scary for most people - especially if you want to have a
luxurious wedding and you only have $10,000 like Amy from “The Diary of a Mad
Bride.” It is important to determine your budget early on and develop an
outline accommodating to it. By following a couple tips you will be on your way
to planning your perfect wedding.
Step
one: Figure who is paying for what
-
These days
are nothing like the past where the bride’s family pays for the majority of the
wedding. Instead there are numerous ways to divide the budget. Before anything,
lay out who is paying for what and the full amount that you’re or whoever is
willing to spend. Be sure to determine it early on to assist with budgeting.
Whatever the case make a solid budget and KEEP TO IT! Don’t over spend.
Step two:
Follow the outline
After you figured out what the budget is here
is an outline to keeping it on track:
o
50% goes
towards reception location, rentals, food, beverages
o
10% for
flowers and decoration
o
10% for
photography and videography
o
10% for the
brides and grooms attire
o
10% for
fees, invitations, transportation, etc.
NOTE: This is just a simple
outline to guide your budget. It can be altered to your specific type of
wedding in any way. If you have a friend willing to take photos for free than
you have the extra funding to be placed anywhere that best suits your
wedding.
Following a simple budget outline
will help you stick with your budget and not over spending your hard earned
cash.
Family
Making everyone happy was another
stress that Amy faced during her wedding planning experience. She also thought
that people were out to destroy her wedding, but that may have been the stress
that caused those paranoid thoughts.
As the bride, you want to please
everyone: your parents, your friends, your fiancé, and your future in-laws. You
want to prove to them that planning a big event such as your wedding can be a
walk in the park, but we all understand that it’s not. Although we love to make
people happy we are bound to step on peoples toes once in a while. Just keep in
mind that this is your celebration of
you and your fiancés love that you want to share with your friends and family.
Be in mind that your loved ones will give you advice on what to have at your
wedding (photo booth, lobster, and/or open bar), but also know that it is
purely that: advice. While it may aid in gathering ideas, don’t feel obligated
to comply to every friend or family members’ advice. This is not their day - it is yours and your
fiancés day to enjoy. Plan it around what you can afford, but also the style of
you and your fiancés taste.
Timeline
Throughout
the book “The Diary of a Mad Bride” Amy references a wedding planning book that
was meant to help her with planning the timeline of when things needed to be
completed for her big day; such things were when her invitations should be
sent, when to register, and how to find the perfect dress.
These books are great to have.
They are meant to be a guide to help keep your planning on the right track.
Being an owner of six wedding books already I have skimmed through them to
learn more about the profession I’m interested in. I have learned that each
book has different ways of outlining the timeline of your big day. The one that
I have referenced the most and that I recommend for anyone who needs a
step-by-step outline with many check lists is “Simplify Your Wedding” by
Allana Baroni, with this book she understands the busyness of being a newly
engaged bride-to-be and gives you budget saving tips as well as a check list of
questions for all of your venders.
Lack of Help
Amy complained that she didn't have help with planning her big day. Until the end of the book she realized
that she pushed everyone that offered to help away. It wasn't until she asked
for help that she actually received it from her mother and her fiancé.
Throughout this blog I have given
you the major stresses of planning your wedding. Many brides feel the pressure
of having to plan their wedding on their own. But this does not have to be the
case. There are wedding coordinators that are experienced in planning large or
small weddings. They are here to help! We want you to enjoy your day with as
little stress as possible. As wedding coordinators, we are at your command: we
can do as much or as little as you would like, so please don’t hesitate to ask
for help.
All in all, planning your wedding
is very stressful, but don’t panic.
Just remember the simple tips I
have given you. Plan your budget right away to avoid overspending. Keep in mind
to plan according to you and your fiancés taste and advice from friends and
family are welcome, but does not have to be taken. Note, friends and family are
important, but it is your and your fiancés day. Look at books for those
timelines and check list that best fit your organizational skills. Make a trip
to the library and make photocopies of time lines or great tips. And lastly ask
for help. Although you may be superwoman in other areas whether it is your
career, fixing cars, gardening and much more, planning a wedding can be very
stressful-just ask Amy.
