10 Ways to Make Wedding Planning Less Stressful

Ask just about any bride, article, or online source, wedding planning is stressful and just plain not fun. Why does it have to be that way? Wedding planning should be a fun process in which you decide what to make out of one of the most important days of your life. But how do we go from stressful and exhausting to fun and exciting?

1. Invest in a planner.

Whether that planning is free downloadable one, a gift from your friend, or a super decked out one from a fancy store, it's a valuable asset to have during the planning process. Seeing that timeline, especially in calendar form, is super helpful. There are a lot of deadlines that I didn't realize needed to be met so quickly while I was planning my own wedding, and having that timeline in front of me made making those deadlines much easier.

2. Mooch off of your friends.

No, I don't mean make them buy you drinks and lunch all of the time, but I do mean take advantage of their wedding leftovers. If you know people that have just gotten married, chances are is that they'll have a lot of left over decorations and planning materials that they no longer need, and are probably willing to depart with for little to no money.

3. Cruise any and all sales.

Facebook has been such a helpful tool in planning my wedding. There are tons of swap and shop groups listed on Facebook regionally. You can use these sites to buy things you need at discounted prices, and you can also use these sites as forums to ask questions and advice!

4. Don't buy too many decorations.

Think about all of the weddings you've been to. Is it really the decorations that stick with you, or is it the time you had while celebrating? Sure, there's always stuff at weddings that catch your eye, but the real goal of a wedding should be for it to be a blast. We're all there to celebrate the newlyweds and have fun, so why get bogged down in the little stuff?

5. Use a budgeter.

Find an app, a planner, or a website that can track your spending. I'd recommend using the Knot. This website can set a budget for you, and can also recommend vendors in your area. The most stressful thing for me while planning my wedding was the amount of money that everything cost. Things add up fast, and being able to see everything laid out in front of me put me more at ease.

6. Include your partner!

Don't be a control freak if you're taking the lead on planning. Make sure that your partner's wishes and styles are being included to really represent the both of you on your big day.

7. Don't overthink everything.

I've watched my friends overthink every little detail of their weddings, and adding so much unnecessary stress to their lives. Don't get too caught up thinking that you don't have enough decorations, or the perfect variety of desserts. Just make what you can happen, and let everything fall into place.

8. Designate tasks.

Enlist your bridesmaids, groomsmen, and personal attendants for help! They're there to stand with you and by you during your special time. If they can help you address envelopes, put centerpieces together, or even make you some coffee when you could really just use a cup. Let your people help you!

9. Design a wedding website.

You can make a website for free with the Knot, and it makes it a one-stop-shop for wedding needs. Not only can you use it to budget and surf for vendors, but you can make a site that your guests can visit, you can link your registries, and you can have that be the way you get your RSVPs. This saves time and money, and makes everything land in one place so you don't have to have multiple lists and spreadsheets going on. Additionally, you can even set up a honeymoon fun where your friends and family can send money directly to your bank account. Cha-ching!

10. Just have FUN!

I know this sounds cliché, but at the end of the day, no matter if some of your decorations didn't turn out right, or some people didn't like the choices of entrees, you're still going to be married to your best friend. So enjoy the ride, and make memories that you're going to cherish!