Wedding Planning 101: 7 Key Steps for Planning a Successful Wedding

There's more to planning a wedding than making out an invite list. Keep reading for wedding planning 101: 7 key steps for planning a successful wedding.

Your moment of matrimony. Your happily ever after.

Your wedding is one of the biggest days of your life. However, it can also be one of the most stressful.

One study found that 96% of people thought of the wedding planning experience as stressful.

Don't let your big day get ruined by stress. Here's a wedding 101 crash course to help you make your wedding planning as smooth as possible.

1. Start Early

Planning a wedding is tough. And if you're planning your big day while also balancing work and social life, you're going to need all the time you can get.

The sooner you can start planning your wedding, the better. There's a reason why some couples start the process up to a year in advance.

Plus, if you start planning now, you can secure your venue at a lower rate.

2. Set a Budget

The average cost of a wedding comes out to almost $34,000. Needless to say, you'll need to be smart about how you budget.

Come up with a ceiling so you don't overspend. Then, keep a running tab of your expenses so you can have some cash left over for your honeymoon.

3. Make Your Invitations and Programs

Speaking of being frugal, there are certain tasks that you don't need to outsource. By making your programs and invitations, you can potentially save hundreds of dollars.

Best of all, you don't need experience with graphic design to make a gorgeous invitation or program.

As long as you have a computer and access to the Internet, you can make wedding programs and invitations that look every bit as professional as the real thing.

4. Ask for Help

Saving money is a necessary and important step in the process. But don't do it at the expense of your sanity.

You're capable of a lot, but that doesn't mean you have to take on every task solo. Enlist some friends for help. Most people are more than happy to lend a hand whenever you need it.

5. Stick to Your Guns

If you're someone who second-guesses every decision, wedding planning will be the bane of your existence.

If you overthink your decisions, you'll drive yourself insane. No one is going to berate you for choosing eggshell clothes instead of ivory.

Once you've made a decision, stick with it and move on.

6. Cut Yourself Some Slack

On the other hand, realize that it isn't the end of the world if your plan doesn't work out.

Be flexible and don't view your wedding's execution as a "pass or fail" type scenario. One thing going wrong doesn't mean you made the wrong choice.

7. Don't Forget to Eat

When it comes time for your big day, you'll be so stressed out that the last thing you think about is food. Trust us, you'll feel way better after having a snack.

Plan to eat before you get ready. If you don't want to indulge in a full meal, at least have snacks on hand for the wedding parties.

Your Wedding Planning 101

Wedding planning is simultaneously a joy and a nightmare. While it's tough, it's worth it for your special moment.

So follow these wedding planning 101 tips to make your big day even more blissful.

Want more helpful hints like this? Be sure to check out our blog for more info on how you can live your best life.