Consider this – the wedding industry is a more than $100 billion industry in the United States!  And the average wedding in the Kentuckiana area costs around $20,000.  Having the wedding of your dreams can cost you a lot of money, but you don’t have to spend a fortune on a very nice wedding…if you plan ahead and stick to your budget.  Be sure to check out our interactive budget worksheet to keep your finances in check.

First of all, you will want to make sure you have some sort of organizational system in place for your wedding planning process.  A 3-ring binder with pockets works great and you can have a section for each vendor category.  You can gather information and easily sort through it when deciding which vendor is best suited for your needs.  Using KentuckianaWeddings.com makes your planning easier, since we have information on hundreds of vendors throughout the Kentuckiana area.  Bridal shows are a good way to meet with potential vendors face-to-face and gather information.  Another great way to locate vendors is by asking around.  You probably have several friends that have recently gotten married, so ask them about vendors they really liked as well as vendors you should avoid. 

Another one of the first things you should do is decide whether you will hire a bridal consultant.  There are a lot of advantages to hiring a consultant, and the consultant can be as involved as you would like.  They are there to help you have the wedding of your dreams at the best possible price.  Some brides choose to hire a bridal consultant as soon as they become engaged to help plan the entire wedding.  Others choose to bring a consultant in toward the end of the process to coordinate last minute details and make sure the wedding day runs smoothly.  When considering bridal consultants, be sure to look for one who is a member in good standing of a professional wedding association, such as the Association of Bridal Consultants (ABC).  This generally indicates that they attend regular educational meetings in order to keep abreast of the ever-changing trends and changes in the wedding industry.

Your engagement is an exciting time!  While the planning process can be stressful at times, try to enjoy it!  When that ring is first placed on your finger, you don’t have to rush out and plan every last detail of your wedding.  Take time to enjoy each step.  Do your research before spending a dime.  Most brides won’t be able to afford a six-figure fairytale wedding, and that’s quite alright.  You can have a very nice wedding on any budget.  By planning ahead and being organized, you’re wedding day will all come together and be here before you know it!

Let’s face it – your wedding day is something you’ve dreamed about your entire life.  You plan for it and fantasize about it even before you’re engaged.  As a little girl you picture your fairy tale wedding and your prince charming.  You want every part of your day to be perfect and memorable and special.

Then reality sets in – you start pricing venues, flowers, caterers, dresses, photographers, and it’s a whole lot more than you could have imagined.  You have your set budget amount and if you tripled that you might get what you dreamed about as a little girl.  However, most people can’t triple the budget they have to work with.  So then you start making cuts…do you really need to invite Aunt Susie’s neighbor’s daughter?  Do you really need a sit-down dinner?  Do you have to have the designer gown?  Are elaborate centerpieces really necessary?  Whew, your head is spinning and you’ve just begun your wedding planning process.

So once you’ve come back from fantasy land and are back in the real world, you may feel stressed and slightly overwhelmed.  Below are 8 tips to help keep you stress free and focused on the task at hand – getting married!

1. Plan ahead – start planning as soon as you are engaged so that you won’t have as much chaos when it comes down to the last couple of months before the big day.  You may be in a meeting at work and think of something you forgot to do.  Keep a notepad with you at all times so you can write it down and refer back to it later.  Set a timeline (or use our timeline tool) and start marking things off your list as you accomplish them.  Having checklists helps to ensure that you aren’t forgetting things.
2. Set a budget – setting your wedding budget is a must at the onset of your planning.  Use our budgeting tools to break down approximately how much you should be spending on each aspect of your wedding.  Be realistic with your budget…you don’t want to start your marriage out thousands of dollars in debt because you had an elaborate wedding you really couldn’t afford.  You may need to prioritize what’s most important to you on your big day.  Perhaps you want to splurge on a photographer but in order to do that you may need to get less expensive invitations.  Know what’s most important to you and put more money into those things.  No matter your budget, you can have a very nice wedding.  With some creativity and planning ahead you’ll be surprised what you can do with the amount of money you have. 
3. Communicate – make sure to keep your fiancé involved in the planning process.  Make decisions together whenever possible and discuss how to handle situations as they arise.  Start now with open and honest communication and it will carry over into your married life as well.  This is one of the happiest times of your lives, so be sure to share it with each other.
4. Delegate – you have a wedding party for a reason.  They are your best friends and want to help you in whatever way they can.  Ask them to help you address your wedding invitations, plan a seating chart, pick out your wedding attire, whatever you may need. 
5. Get agreements in writing – don’t assume your wedding vendors will be able to read your mind.  Make sure you have written agreements (contracts) with your vendors so that you know exactly what you are getting.  Keep these together in a folder so you have them to refer to anytime you need them.  The week before your wedding, make sure you confirm with all your vendors and specify times they should arrive.  Make a list of all vendors and contact information and give that to a friend or family member on your wedding day so you don’t have to worry about it.
6. Exercise – exercise is especially important in stress management.  It is good for your body and mind and for looking your best on your big day.  Set aside 30 minutes a day to go to the gym, go for a walk or do something you really enjoy. 
7. Eat – make sure you eat something prior to your wedding.  You may have a nervous stomach but be sure to eat something.  You don’t want to pass out when you are up there saying your vows! 

Keep the big picture in mind – sure there are a ton of details that go into planning your big day.  However, the main goal at the end of the day is that you are married.  No matter what may go wrong on your wedding day, just keep in mind that if you are married at the end of the day, it was a success!