One of my goals this year is to share a lot more helpful content and advice for engaged couples on the wedding-planning journey. To kick things off I have put together some tips for avoiding wedding planning overwhelm! It is such a real thing, and sometimes it feels like the minute you slide that engagement ring onto your finger, everyone is bombarding you with questions about the wedding and every-single-little detail imaginable.

1. Focus on the big three! Budget. Venue. Photographer.
   I would say these are three of the most important things to start off your wedding planning.
   -Firstly, deciding how much you’d like to spend on your special day is going to determine a lot of your decisions and priorities in the planning process. This may mean sitting down as a couple or with parents and coming up with a ballpark figure.
   -Your venue will be the next most important step, booking it will lock in your wedding date and allow you to start enquiring with other necessary vendors. A lot of venues book out at least 18 months in advance (especially if you are wanting a Saturday in Summer) so this is an important one to lock in right off the bat.
   -Thirdly, photographer. Maybe I’m biased popping this one in but I know that most photographers book 12+ months in advance of the wedding day so if you’ve always wanted a particular photographer, it’s wise to get in quick!

   

2. Try not to get overwhelmed with wedding inspiration.
   There are so many amazing blogs, websites and magazines out there filled to the brim with wedding ideas and inspiration. These are great resources and I totally recommend using them. However, be careful with how much time you spend pouring over them and try not to replicate entire weddings just because it looked cool on Pinterest. It’s a great idea to sit down with your significant other and have a chat about what the most important elements you want to include in your day are. Maybe you’re a big foodie and have always dreamed of having an elaborate wedding feast, maybe you’ve always wanted to get married on the beach, maybe you want your dog to be your ring-bearer. Personal touches are so much more genuine and special.

   

3. Book vendors you get along with!
   Personality is super important when booking people to collaborate on your special day. Vendors that communicate well and you click with right away are going to make the planning process so much smoother! As a photographer I spend a huge chunk of the day right beside you so it’s important you feel comfortable, relaxed and enjoy yourself with me there.

   

4. Use a wedding planning book.
   Keeping all your ideas and details in one place is a great way to stay organised. There are some amazing planners out there. I love Little White Book and Together Journal x An Organised Life Wedding Planner. (I’ll let you in on a secret… every couple that books with me receives their own planner!)

   

5. Self care.
   This is important at any stage in life but I think especially important to prioritise during your engagement. It’s so easy for your entire life to start revolving around the wedding and it be a part of every conversation, meeting and plan you have. Carve out some intentional time to look after yourself. Do a bit of pampering, go for a walk, have a date night with your partner where you don’t talk about the wedding. It will help you feel refreshed and avoid overwhelm!

I hope these tips have helped. I have chatted about 3 extra tips for avoiding wedding-planning overwhelm over on my IGTV at @lydiarachelphoto so make sure you go and check them out, I think the third tip in the video is the most important! Let me know what you think and if you have anything else you’ve been doing to keep the wedding stress in check.

PIN IT FOR LATER