No one fully prepares you for the battles that go into planning the day of your dreams. I became engaged in February and planned for our wedding August 15 of this year (one more week!). We thought a 6 month engagement wouldn’t leave any room for drama to happen because there wouldn’t be time. Here are a few myths that my fiancée and I debunked throughout this planning process.
1. This wedding is your day.
No. It’s not. It’s about what everyone else wants and it’s a battle when you say no to family members and they don’t understand why you can’t do it for them. You will start out very polite and happy at first and by the end you want to turn into a full-blown bridezilla screaming, “This is MY day and I’ll do it however I want.This day is about ME!”
Hopefully, you’ll have a very supportive fiancée and wedding party to help you keep your sanity so that you don’t actually do that. That was my saving grace through this process. That, and an amazing mom.
2. You can’t find a beautiful dress unless it’s expensive.
False. Here’s a tip for all you newly engaged and on a budget. You can purchase a bridesmaid dress and order it in white or ivory ranging in price from $150-300. And they look gorgeous! I have a beautiful Mori Lee, lace, backless dress that looks like it should be $1,000. Seriously, try this method out. I have two co-workers who are getting married this year and once they saw the dresses they had to choose from, they followed the same path. That way you can have more money to spend on all the fun things, like a spa day with your wedding party…or just a spa day for yourself. Let’s be honest, you’ll need some alone time.
3. Everyone will be happy for you and this event will only draw you closer
There will be times that you may want to tell people they are no longer invited because they just don’t understand what you’re saying. Do not do this. Take a moment and breathe. Go for a walk. Spend some time talking about all the happy stuff that is happening with the wedding to get out of the funk. I promise you, this works. You will become more relaxed, happier, and more appreciative for all the help people are giving you…even if it’s not exactly what you’re asking for.
Once you get past these things, the planning tends to run a little smoother and/or you’re just getting better at how to field the drama. Remember: Breathe in. Breathe out. Hug your significant other when you’re stressed out; it will ease your stress every time. Remind yourself that you love all these crazy people that your family and friends have turned into during this process. And the most important advice that I can give is to take time for yourself. Take time to just be alone and decompress. Make sure that you make time for your fiancée outside of wedding planning and just enjoy loving each other. That’s what this all about. In the end, it comes down to the two of you and the love that you share. If you can keep that as your base throughout this process, you will somehow manage to keep your sanity.
Good luck, fellow planners!
shannhert 