Planning a wedding is no easy feat! From choosing a venue to finalising menus, it demands time, energy, and patience.
Add a 9-to-5 into the mix, and it can feel like an overwhelming balancing act. But fear not! We've gathered together our best advice to help you seamlessly navigate wedding planning while juggling your career.
Here are 8 tips to keep you on track:
1. Consider Hiring a Professional
You know I had to lead with this one, right? Planning a wedding while managing a full-time job can feel overwhelming, but enlisting the help of a wedding planner can alleviate much of the stress. These seasoned professionals specialise in orchestrating weddings and can provide a little bit of assistance, or a lot, depending on your individual needs.
A wedding planner also acts as a valuable resource and advocate throughout the planning process, offering guidance, expertise, and peace of mind as you navigate the journey toward your special day.
2. Set Aside Dedicated Planning Time
I cannot emphasise enough how important this one is and how much it helps to keep your plans moving forward! While hiring a wedding planner can streamline the planning process, your input and decision-making are still going to be required. It's crucial to carve out dedicated time each week to review details, make important decisions, and stay informed about your wedding's progress. Make a weekly, one-hour ‘appointment’ with each other and take care of it over a glass of wine.
3. Stay Organised
In the whirlwind of wedding planning, maintaining a high level of organisation is paramount to ensuring that no detail falls through the cracks. To achieve this, it's essential to establish a comprehensive system that keeps all wedding-related documents, tasks, and communications in one easily accessible location. Consider digital platforms such as Asana, Trello, or wedding planning apps to create virtual folders for each aspect of your wedding, from all of your contracts and budget spreadsheets to inspiration boards and guest lists.
Alternatively, opt for a traditional planner or binder. By categorising everything meticulously, you'll streamline the planning process and have a clear overview of your progress at all times, empowering you to stay on top of deadlines and make informed decisions with confidence.
4. Create a Separate Email Account
Email has become a primary mode of communication for wedding-related correspondence. However, mixing wedding emails with your personal and/or professional inbox can quickly lead to confusion and overlooked messages.
Consider creating a dedicated email account specifically for all wedding-related communications. Choose a username that incorporates your names or wedding date for easy identification and use this account exclusively for all wedding-related inquiries, supplier communications, and RSVPs.
Maintaining a separate email account also offers the added benefit of preserving the sanctity of your personal and professional inboxes, allowing you to maintain boundaries and focus on other aspects of your life without interference.
5. Prioritise Your Tasks
With a whole host of wedding-related tasks competing for your attention, it's crucial to adopt a strategic approach to task management to maximise your productivity and minimise any stress.
Begin by identifying your core priorities as a couple - whether it's securing a dream venue, booking key suppliers, or including personalised touches that reflect your unique love story.
Once you've established these, create a comprehensive task list that encompasses all aspects of your wedding, categorising them based on urgency and importance.
By focusing your efforts on high-impact tasks, you'll optimise your productivity, streamline decision-making, and ensure that your wedding planning journey remains focused and on track.
6. Limit Your Research
While planning your wedding, it's easy to fall into the trap of endless research, scouring every available source for inspiration and ideas. However, constantly checking outside sources consumes precious time, leaving you with little room for other responsibilities.
To streamline the process and avoid decision fatigue, it's essential to set boundaries on your research efforts. Avoid excessive scrolling on social media platforms like Pinterest and Instagram, where the abundance of options can quickly become overwhelming. Instead, trust in your vision and resist the urge to constantly seek out new ideas.
7. Scale Back on DIY Projects
Embracing do-it-yourself (DIY) projects is a fantastic way to infuse your wedding with personal touches while saving money. However, it's essential to strike a balance between creativity and practicality.
Taking on too many DIY tasks can quickly become overwhelming, consuming valuable time and energy. To avoid this, we recommend limiting your DIY endeavours to one or two manageable projects, and it’s preferable that they’re not last-minute tasks that have to be achieved in the last week or two leading up to the big day.
Consider focusing on elements that are meaningful to you and your partner, such as handmade centrepieces or personalised signage, and leave the rest to the professionals.
8. Learn to Delegate
This one is tough for many people, me included, so I get you! It’s natural to want to oversee every detail personally. However, attempting to manage every aspect of the planning process can quickly lead to burnout.
Learning to delegate tasks to trusted friends and family members is essential for maintaining your sanity and ensuring a successful event.
Whether it's crafting a playlist or coordinating transport, delegating responsibilities allows you to focus on your own priorities while fostering a sense of collaboration and support among your loved ones.
Remember that your wedding is a celebration! We’ve seen couples fall victim to wedding stress when they forget to keep the main thing in focus. Wedding planning shouldn’t feel burdensome, it should be fun. Always keep that in mind, so you don’t let drama or stress get you down or distract you from celebrating this time.
And if it’s all starting to feel like a bit too much, the Sparrow team is here for you! Click here to fill out a Contact form and we’ll start the conversation about what kind of help you’d like most xo
