Time can be rather hard to come by on a daily basis. Now tack on the duty of planning a wedding and you’re bound to lose some sleep. Even if you have a wedding planner, there are so many small details that go into making your wedding unique and special to you as a couple. What’s a bride to do!? Following these 10 time-saving tips should help alleviate some of the stress and make the planning process a little smoother. That way you’ll have more time to enjoy that newly engaged bliss.
1. Plan at the Office: Planning your wedding at work will save you oodles of time. Many vendors are working during normal work hours and are happy to correspond via email. Use your lunch break for vendor meetings or phone calls. The more you plan and check off during the day, the more time you’ll have with your fiancé at home after work. (via Style Me Pretty)
2. Shop Online: Purchasing wedding items such as candles, specialty decor pieces or even your shoes online will save both time and money. Just make sure the online store you’re purchasing from has a fantastic return policy. You’ll be able to order multiple sizes/options without having to worry about losing money on the purchase. Bonus: Sign up for newsletters and you’ll gain access to their sales and special promo codes. (via Love Ala Photography)
3. Use the Network: Find a vendor you love and ask who they recommend. Wedding vendors have a tight network of people they are comfortable working with and who they are dying to recommend. If you have a specific taste in florals, that florist will probably know a great wedding planner who aligns with their style and would be a perfect fit for your overall wedding vibe. This will ensure a smooth wedding day and a cohesive event design. (via Design Sponge)
4. Marathon Meetings: Set up a day of meetings. Whether that means having everyone over to your house over the course of the day, or devoting time to head to their office space, find a day that is free and schedule as many meetings as possible. This will keep you focused, and you’ll check off a lot of things at once. (via JordynJanelle)
5. Create an Inspiration Board: Create an inspiration board right on your Pinterest page or keep a cork board in your office for all of the inspiration pulled from magazines. This will help you narrow down your likes and dislikes, and will also be a huge help when you’re trying to describe your vision to your florist, wedding designer, wedding planner, etc. Also, don’t limit yourself to only looking at weddings either. I always encourage clients to include images they like from home decor magazines or blogs, graphic designs they are drawn to or even outfits they would wear on a regular basis. Your wedding day should reflect who you are as a couple, and the best way to achieve that is to pull inspiration from your everyday style. (via Jenny Does Weddings)
6. Delegate Tasks: Delegate tasks to your wedding party. You have bridesmaids and groomsmen and family members who all want to help. Give them certain tasks that they are responsible for and will enjoy. For example, put your mom in charge of welcome bags and your maid of honor in charge of making sure everyone has a hair appointment. This will give you one less thing to worry about in the end. (via Tara Welch Photography)
7. AddressStamper: Purchase a stamper with your return address. This will save hours of time when you start sending out save the dates and wedding invitations. I cannot tell you how many hours of True Detective I went through while hand lettering all of my envelopes. By the time the thank-you cards rolled around, I wised up and used a stamper. (via Engaging Papers)
8. Buy a Planner and Notebook: Writing everything down in an organized fashion will keep your sanity in check and your schedule realistic. Weddings require a lot of vendor meetings, logistics and strict timelines, and a planner or notebook will keep everything from getting out of control. Use your planner to remember vendor meetings, guest arrivals, bridal showers, when deposits are due or even what time your rehearsal begins. Bring your notebook to every single meeting you have — heck, carry it with you in your purse! And be sure to have a tab for every vendor to keep your notes organized. (via Printed Ink Designs)
9. Hire a Wedding Planner: Your wedding planner will take all of the notes, create all of the schedules and timelines AND make sure everything is running smoothly. A good wedding planner will give you smart and direct advice, will set you up with trusted vendors and will manage your wedding-day details so you can spend your time getting your hair done and enjoying the day with your family and friends. This will save you oodles of time and will keep your head clear so it is possible to focus on the bachelorette weekend instead of negotiating a price-per-plate with the caterer. (via Glitter Guide)
10. Small Guest List: The smaller the wedding, the better. While there is something great about large weddings bubbling over with extended family and childhood friends, it can also be a full-time job just managing that guest list. Your guest list determines how many invitations are stuffed, addressed and stamped, as well as the number of texts, emails and calls you’ll receive leading up to the big day asking where the best place to stay is or where they can get a manicure the day of the wedding. The number of guests also determines the number of welcome bags you’re dropping off all across town, how many personal DIY projects you’re crafting up and the number of people you’ll be saying “hi” and “thank you” to during your reception. Doesn’t a smaller reception sound better now? ;) (via Ben Haisch Photography)
How have you saved time during the wedding planning process? Give us your tips below!
