Tips for Avoiding Wedding Planning Nightmares

The wedding planning process can be hectic. Don’t let small flubs turn into big uh-ohs. Use these tips for avoiding wedding planning nightmares to make sure things go off without a hitch.

Every couple wants to avoid wedding planning nightmares, but in reality, they can sneak up at any time during the planning process. Some planning flubs might not classify as full-blown catastrophes, but they can still throw a wrench in your plans. To make sure your wedding planning process runs as smoothly as possible, keep the following tips in mind as you arrange plans for your big day:

Invest in professional coordinating services—It’s not uncommon for couples to try and bypass the expense of a professional wedding coordinator. While it’s true you can do much of the planning on your own, a professional wedding planner really is a must no matter how large or small your wedding will be. Why? Because they can handle and organize your plans in ways you cannot, and they have all of the resources you need at their fingertips, making booking appointments and finding the best deals much easier on you. Although a wedding planner is an additional expense, it’s one of the best you can make for your wedding day.

Be proactive—The number one tip for avoiding wedding planning nightmares is to be proactive. Whatever you do, don’t procrastinate—especially when it comes to the small tasks! Those small tasks turn into big responsibilities when you’re down to the wire and have a huge list of to-dos to take care of at the last minute. Plan ahead, take care of the small details as soon as you can, and try to streamline your task list to avoid missing important details.

Know when to say no—Much of the stress and frustration that brides deal with as the big day approaches stems from taking on too much during the planning process. Don’t stretch yourself thin. If you load up your schedule too much, you’ll end up cutting corners or forgetting key wedding planning elements. Managing your time well while you plan your wedding is crucial to avoid wedding planning nightmares.

How to Find Your Wedding Style

Trying to find your wedding style isn’t as easy as it used to be. There are so many options to choose from and not enough time to decide. Not to worry. These tips can help you find your wedding style and plan accordingly. 

Not sure of how to find your wedding style? Feeling stuck by not knowing what works for you? Don’t worry! Every bride has a style and you are sure to find yours. Here we’ll review some of the various wedding styles and show you how to channel those styles into a wedding that suits you and your personality. Be sure to examine your favorite clothing, music choices, and what makes you “you” in general to find your signature look.

The Casually Elegant Bride

You’re elegant, but in a natural way. To you, the most beautiful things in the world can’t be bought. You’d like nothing more than to have a wedding by a beach, in a botanical garden, or at a national park. You gravitate towards browns and greens and the dresses that appeal to you most are simple but beautiful—simply beautiful.

Sound like you? Then it sounds like you didn’t have to work hard at learning how to find your wedding style. Now you just need to channel it. Set your wedding in a natural location. Avoid listening to friends or family members (as well as their intentions may be) when they tell you something is too simple or plain. Just remember to add a touch of bright color to your wedding, such as using colors that occur in nature but are brighter than your rich earthy tones.

The City Bride

Shopping, fine dining, spas, and lush surroundings excite you more than anything. Your dress is sleek but highly sophisticated. You’re attracted to shiny, bright colors – even your hair accessories are shiny. A wedding location overlooking the city lights would take your breath away.

If this sounds like you, then you’ve found your wedding style. The problem is putting it all together. For you, dear bride, the city is your scene, so why not indulge? Just be careful to not get too carried away. Features in your wedding may be a little costly. If you plan a budget and stick to it, though, you should be fine.

Still don’t know your style? That’s okay! Now that you know how to find your wedding style, you can investigate a little more and find that perfect wedding style you’ve been dreaming of.

Wedding and Engagement Ring Shopping 101

Are you about to propose? Are you getting ready to shop for your wedding bands? If you’re a little overwhelmed with all of the different ring and gem styles, here is a crash course on wedding and engagement ring shopping.

When it comes time to pop the questions or shop for your wedding bands, a little wedding and engagement ring shopping 101 can really come in handy. Unless you are very familiar with jewelry and the ring-shopping process, wedding and engagement ring shopping can be a bit overwhelming. Here is a brief rundown on what you should know about wedding and engagement ring shopping:

Choose a wedding band style that suits your personality and lifestyle—There are countless styles of wedding bands to choose from, and there are no set rules that require you to pick any certain style. The choice is entirely up to you and your spouse-to-be. The main thing you want to keep in mind when shopping for a band style is your personality. You’ll be wearing these bands for the rest of your life, so if you don’t want to wear something bulky or flashy, it’s best to opt for a plain, traditional band style. Choose a style that suits your comfort and your style sense.

Decide how you’d like to propose—If you’re trying to figure out how to choose the best engagement ring, first decide how you want to propose. If you pick the ring, your partner will not have a say in the style or cut, but if you propose and let them pick out the ring, you risk killing some of the romance during the proposal. If you’d like to pick the ring beforehand, consult a close family friend or relative for ring size and style preference. You can even shop for the ring with them to ensure you choose the right ring for your partner.

A few tips on gold, silver, platinum, and gems—No matter what style of ring you choose, keep in mind that the darker the stone, the more expensive the ring will be. Common stones include diamonds, rubies, sapphire, emerald, topaz, and garnet, and you can choose from gold, silver, or platinum. Yellow gold is the most traditional, but if gold is not your preferred jewelry color, go for stylish platinum. As far as cost goes, platinum will be more expensive than white gold, so expect to pay more for this harder metal. Choosing the right metal is one of the first steps in wedding and engagement ring shopping, so try to narrow this decision down before you decide on anything else.