Hello my beauties! Oh how long its been since I've done anything on my blog..I am ever so sorry! I have just been mighty busy!
As you all know, or have seen from my previous blogs, I am getting married! And on this day it is exactly 102 days until the big day! How the bloody hell has that happened?! It literally only seems like yesterday I got engaged and wrote about it!!!
We have pretty much got all the big things sorted (important) its now just the last few bits and bobs here and there that we need to finish off. I'm not going to say that it has all been a walk in the park. I know everyone says it, and until now I didn't really believe it, but planning a wedding is one of the hardest things I've ever done! Don't get me wrong it has been a team effort, however, again, as you all know Darren works away a lot of the time, so now and again I have been doing this blind without him which has been ever harder.
Look at me, I'm speaking like the wedding is tomorrow, I've still got 102 days, 2 hours and 43 minutes, and still a bit to do.
So this is when I thought it would be a perfect time to get writing again! I want to give you all future brides and grooms some of my tips on how to survive the wedding planning without going completely insane! So lets get started:
Buy yourself a planning book
This is the first thing I did, I went into Sainsburys and bought myself a lovely notebook with 'Dream Big' written on it..of course. I wrote loads of notes about the ideas I liked, doing budgets around things. Every time we have booked something or paid for something for the wedding I write it in the book, this is just so then I can always look back on what progress we have got so far.
Download this app. This is almost like a planning book but on your phone. It's brilliant! Although everything always looks so perfect on there..so please don't put all your hopes that your wedding will look exactly like that..unless your willing to splash the cash then go wild!!
Take your time
Me and Darren got engaged May 2016 and set the date for June 2018. The main reason we were doing it in 2 years because my big brother was getting married in November 2017 and he lives in Australia..so we had to pay for that. But that was amazing!
So if I'm honest having 2 years to plan was the best thing if I'm honest..we had plenty of time. We booked a lot of things really early on and then had time to save for all the things we wanted, planning it early on really kept to keep stress levels down. You only get to plan your wedding once, so make sure you give yourself plenty of time to really enjoy it and not rushing round stressing!
Take it one step at a time
You know you'll have a to-do list longer than yourself. Just always make sure you do one task at a time. But once you've booked the date and the venue, things will start to fall into place. Think about the most important things to you- whether its the photographer, dress, florist, cake etc, work on those next, but do it one at a time rather than all at once, because thats when it will feel like its falling on top of you.
Work together
Sometimes it seems like your partner in crime isn't really interested in wedding planning, or doesn't take it seriously. Don't get me wrong me and Darren have had this discussion maaaaaaannnnyyy times. Trying to talk to them about the different flowers and flower arrangements..its like an alien language to them. But don't get frustrated, just keep trying. After all its their wedding as much as it is yours, work together as a team. Always remember why your doing this in the first place.
Make Wedding appointments fun!
Cake tasting, food tasting, venue tours, trying on wedding dresses. Need I say more? I noticed most of those were food related..but lets face it..those are the best bits!
Accept it..you can't please everyone
This is something I am still finding hard to do. All my life I have been and always will be a people pleaser, sometimes its a weakness of mine and this has shown during our wedding planning and made me quite stressed. But honestly, you can't please everyone. It's just not possible. You can't make everyone happy, and trying to accommodate others will just make the whole process more daunting. This day is about YOU and YOUR PARTNER. It really is the only day you will get that chance.
Don't be afraid to ask
Your wedding vendors should be your go-to, most trusted experts during this planning process. When planning with them, its your time to really explore what it is you want. Again, I have been having trouble processing this..I've always been someone who helps others and please others. So for someone to do it for me..I haven't got use to it yet, and have been quite shy through some of it. But with pretty much all of them, they have been soooo unbelievably helpful. Especially our photographer, he has given us some times and some recommendations because he has done so many weddings!
Finding your perfect dress
This is a moment you have been dreaming about since you were little. I know I did. I even use to own this plastic 'The little mermaid' veil that I wore probably everyday for a few years when I was about 6 years old...and I know my mum will be reading this laughing..remembering it! So the moment your trying wedding dresses is the moment you've been waiting for a long time. So..enjoy..every..minute. I know your stressing of finding 'the one' but please just enjoy it..your playing dress up in the most beautiful dresses that you will only ever do once.
When you find it..trust me you'll know. I know everyone says that but its true, you will get that feeling. A feeling that no bride can explain because every bride is different. Some brides will cry, some will just be super happy and excited, but when you know you know. I sure did..I cried like a baby when I found mine!
Set yourself a budget
This is very important, if you know you have a budget that you want to stick to, there are so many ways to save on money. Even little things like, doing things yourselves. You don't always have to rely on your vendor to provide every little thing..because that will come to a price sometimes. So pop down to places like Hobbycraft, The Range where you can buy/make things yourself..especially if you want to make some things for the wedding, it will be a lot more fun and meaningful.
So there! They are jus some tips from me that I wanted to share with you all. I still have a few months left and I might even write another one closer to the date. I can't tell you how excited I am!!
If you enjoyed this, and would like to read more about the wedding or wedding planner then please let me know!
S'laters!
Ellie
xx
