22 Experts Wedding Resource Advice & Tips
Wedding Resource Advice & Tips: 22 Wedding Gurus Reveal Secrets On How To Not Be Overwhelmed, How To Be Cost-Effective And Enjoy Wedding Planning
What is the best wedding resource advice & tips wedding experts have to share with brides and grooms on how to keep thin
gs simple, not to overspend and how to have fun in the process of wedding planning?
With all the various types of resource wedding advice & tips out there, it is no wonder brides and grooms stress out when planning their wedding.
So I decided to ask some of the top wedding experts to divulge their best wedding resource advice or tip with us in regards to 3 specific issues brides and grooms face when planning their wedding. Here is exactly what I asked these top wedding experts:
“What is the #1 best wedding resource advice or tip you would give to a couple planning their wedding for each of the following:
- Keeping things simple and not getting overwhelmed
- Being cost-effective without being cheap
- Enjoying the wedding planning process together”
We had several amazing wedding experts give us their best wedding resource advice & tips, a BIG thanks to all of you who participated!
The Wedding Experts: Claire Byrne, Jen Carreiro, Dorothy Polka, Jessica Lehry Bishop Lindsay Goldenberg, Emma Arendoski, Sara Burnett, Emily Pettiford, Stephanie Elizabeth Saul, Lauren Grove, Dana LaRue, Louise Baltruschat Hollis, Eleni Balkouli, Ash Metry, Jenn Halak, Julie Albaugh, Sarah Darcy, Harmony Walton, Gina Griffiths, Chelsea LaVere, Sharon Naylor, and Damaris Mia.
And, if you are looking for additional wedding resource advice and tips check out:
17 Outrageously Simple Wedding Resource Tips for Organizing Your Wedding Plans,
Which You Can Start to Use Today!
Claire Byrne, Bridal Musings
NOT GETTING OVERWHELMED: I think starting early with your planning, and not taking on too much, is the key to avoid being overwhelmed.
It’s great to add lots of personal touches, and DIY details to your wedding, but be realistic about the time it will take to do these things, and whether or not they will actually have the kind of impact in your day that will make them worth the effort.
BEING COST-EFFECTIVE: Prioritizing your expenses is the only way you can stick to your budget, and make the most of what you have.
It’s better to skip the band and go with a pre-made playlist than have a cheap band that are a bit rubbish, likewise, opt for a buffet or brunch reception, rather than a formal sit-down meal that’s of poor quality.
Identify one or two areas that are important to you, like the photography, entertainment, food, or the dress, then cut-back (or cut-out on the rest). As long as your guests are fed, watered and entertained, (and so are you!) they’ll have a great day.
ENJOY WEDDING PLANNING: I think there are different kinds of brides and grooms, those who allow themselves to get stressed in the planning, and those who make a choice not to sweat the small stuff.
Even for the most laid-back couple, there will inevitably be days (or weeks!) when it all gets a bit too much, but it’s all about having a positive attitude and realising that you’ll never remember the details that were imperfect on the day, you’ll only remember how amazing it felt to be beside your other half, surrounded by all your closest friends and family.
Planning a wedding might take a lot of effort, expense, and (a certain level of diplomacy skills!), but at the end of the day, all your doing is throwing a (totally epic!) party, so why not make a decision to enjoy the process?
Jen Carreiro, Something Turquoise
NOT GETTING OVERWHELMED: Being overwhelmed and stressed is no fun and not what planning a wedding should consist of. Hire professionals to help and keep WHY you are getting married in the front of your mind at all times. Even write it down if you have to something along the lines of wanting to share the rest of your life with your fiancé and live happily ever after…
BEING COST-EFFECTIVE: Great question. Being cost effective means cutting traditions that mean nothing to you, waiting to shop specific sales and doing the hard research to find the best deals VS. buying a cheap guest book, making your bridesmaids buy their dresses right away instead of waiting on the trunk show and just picking up the ribbon in person because you don’t know if you can find it online. If you have the time and are trying to stay within a budget, hard work will always PAY off.
ENJOY WEDDING PLANNING: Make each special thing you do or event you attend extra special. An enormous part of your wedding experience is the actual planning. If trying on dresses, bring your bridesmaids and plan a special lunch/dinner afterward. If going cake tasting, bring a few special people and go for drinks after. Going craft supplies shopping? Look up a special restaurant nearby and go there as well.
Dorothy Polka, Polka Dot Bride
NOT GETTING OVERWHELMED: Create a wedding mission statement with three or four things that are absolutely non-negotiable. Allow yourself to let go of the other decisions and go with the flow. Delegate often and create a spreadsheet for absolutely everything!
BEING COST-EFFECTIVE: Trust your vendors for their advice and be upfront with your budget. Most vendors will be able to accommodate your budget and suggest things (such as a florist using more greenery, or a cake designer creating a less elaborate design) that will be able to bring the service more into your budget.
ENJOY WEDDING PLANNING: Take regular time “off” wedding planning. You’d be surprised at how much ti can consume your bandwidth together. Go for drives where you ban wedding talk, take dance classes together to learn your first dance. Do something that actively removes you from the decision making and stress.
Jessica Lehry Bishop, The Budget Savvy Bride
NOT GETTING OVERWHELMED: The best way to keep things simple and streamlined while planning your wedding is to make sure you take the time to crunch those numbers and decide on your budget first. The quickest way to get overwhelmed is to make the mistake of booking vendors and purchasing things before you know the total amount you have to spend.
BEING COST-EFFECTIVE: If you want to keep your overall costs low without having to skimp, cut the guest list and keep things intimate. That way, you can afford to treat your guests to a better experience rather than having to thinly spread your budget to cover more people.
ENJOY WEDDING PLANNING: Be sure to take the time to celebrate and have fun! Ironing out all the details takes a bit of time and energy, so it’s important that you plan for fun, as well. Schedule regular date nights with your fiancé and make sure to spend time with your besties talking about things other than just the wedding plans!
Lindsay Goldenberg, Woman Getting Married
NOT GETTING OVERWHELMED: DIY is great, but so is finding exactly what you’re looking for that’s already made! This is why I love Etsy.com. And in most cases you can find what you need for around the same price you would pay to do it yourself.
BEING COST-EFFECTIVE: The best way to be cost-effective without being cheap is to cut back on stuff that guests will notice the least. Don’t spend money on things like personalized cocktail napkins or go overboard on desserts and gourmet coffee. Put your budget towards a great photographer, band or DJ, and venue and the rest will fall into place.
ENJOY WEDDING PLANNING: It’s so easy to over-analyze every decision you make, and it’s easier said than done to take the advice of “Just relax and enjoy it!” The best thing you can do is make a list, stay organized, and take it one step at a time! Just be sure to take a couples days off from anything wedding related a week…reconnect with your partner and trust that it will all fall into place!
Emma Arendoski, Emmaline Bride
NOT GETTING OVERWHELMED: When you’re envisioning the big day, identify one or two things that are most important details to you. Focus on those as your priorities first; if you do this, you’ll be most happy – and less overwhelmed — because your most important tasks will be crossed off well ahead of time.
BEING COST-EFFECTIVE: Think about weddings you’ve attended in the past and discuss them with your partner. Make a list of the things you both really liked – and the things you could do without. If you allocate more of your wedding budget to the things that matter (and even skip the details which don’t mean a lot to you), you can be cost-effective without being cheap. For instance, you might choose simple bouquets, yet splurge on more expensive centerpiece arrangements. Or, skip a wedding program if your ceremony is very short or you don’t have room in the budget for it. Keep in mind that every wedding is unique in its own way; you don’t need every single detail to make yours memorable! Keep only those things which mean the most to you.
ENJOY WEDDING PLANNING: Wedding planning doesn’t have to be stressful! Find joy in the tasks such as gown shopping with your Mom; bridesmaid dress shopping (and lunch afterward) with your bridesmaids; cake tastings with your fiancée; picking out your ultimate dance mix with your DJ; planning the honeymoon; etc. There is so much to be grateful for while planning your wedding, as it is the start of a lifetime together. Don’t fall in the trap of letting the process become a stressful, task-ridden one; instead, take each task as it comes and find something to enjoy in it. Besides, it goes by in the blink of an eye (just like the wedding day itself) – embrace it!
Sara Burnett, Brunett’s Board
NOT GETTING OVERWHELMED: Hire a wedding planner. They do this for a living, let them! They’ll make sure your wedding all goes to plan and exceeds your expectations.
BEING COST-EFFECTIVE: Prioritize your spending. If it’s the dress you’ve been dreaming of, don’t cheap out on that, but perhaps find a venue or catering option that isn’t as expensive. It’s all about priorities. I always recommend getting the photographer you want, though, a great photographer can make a single bloom look like a million bucks, and those memories are the ones they capture forever.
ENJOY WEDDING PLANNING: Remember – it’s just one day. A wedding is a party, a marriage is forever. Don’t loose sight of that.
Emily Pettiford, Bespoke Bride
NOT GETTING OVERWHELMED: When used in the wrong way Pinterest can cause a whole load of wedding envy, however, used correctly and it is a fantastic tool for keeping you on track. The best advice we could give is to create a Pinterest board, pin around 20-30 items including images you are drawn to, dresses, décor, stationery, photography styles etc. Don’t go overboard and make sure you keep it realistic, then keep referring back to this board if you find yourself going off-track. Wedding ideas and trends change so quickly and it is easy to get sidetracked during the planning process. So just remember this is your wedding, it’s about you and your partner and embracing your love in your own special way.
BEING COST-EFFECTIVE: From the moment you start planning your wedding get to grips with your budget! Write a list in order of what will be the most important to you on the day and then assign cost in the order of importance. If you find yourself in a position where you have no budget left and favors are on the bottom of your list, for example, you could either consider DIY’ing them or scrap them all together, if they’re not important to you or your day then way bother worrying about them?
ENJOY WEDDING PLANNING: Get your friends and family involved. You will inevitable encounter stresses along the way but a problem shared is a problem halved and it’s a perfect excuse to spend even more time with your nearest and dearest.
Stephanie Elizabeth Saul, Fab You Bliss
NOT GETTING OVERWHELMED: Delegate some of your duties to other people. You have friends and family who are around to help, let them help you, especially on the wedding day. Be sure to delegate everything you need to do to friends or family you trust so all you have to think about is looking beautiful and having a brilliant day.
BEING COST-EFFECTIVE: Spend your money wisely. Take time to really think about what is important to you in your wedding. You don’t need to follow tradition just because someone says so. Do what you want, and make a list from most important to least to help you put your dollars where it’s going to please you the most.
ENJOY WEDDING PLANNING: This answer goes back to the first one. If you delegate what you need to get done to the many people who are going to ask you how they can help, you’ll be able to enjoy the process much more! If you’re not a planner at all, simply hire someone to do the planning for you.
Lauren Grove, Every Last Detail
NOT GETTING OVERWHELMED: Think about what you envision your wedding day being, looking, and feeling like… and stay off of Pinterest! Pinterest is great for inspiration and ideas, but once you start to envision your own wedding, step away from it. It will only cause you to be overwhelmed and second-guess your decisions.
BEING COST-EFFECTIVE: Identify what is most important to you, as well as what you don’t care quite so much about. For example- I once coordinated a wedding in which the couple really cared about the decor, ambiance, and food, and made their decisions based on that. They had amazing food from an amazing caterer but went the route of a buffet. For their decor, they had beautiful floral arrangements of various sizes, chose colored standard linens instead of specialty linens, and instead of renting flatware and china, they rented chargers and used nice disposable plates and utensils.
There are definitely ways that you can still be cost-effective without being cheap- you just have to know where and what to look for!
ENJOY WEDDING PLANNING: Hire a wedding planner! Countless times, I have witnessed a wedding planner being able to not only save a couple money but also save them the stress and heartache that certain aspects of planning a wedding entail. Hiring a wedding planner to assist you in making educated decisions will most definitely ensure that you enjoy your wedding planning process!
Dana LaRue & Christen Moynihan, The Broke-Ass Bride
NOT GETTING OVERWHELMED: Prioritize! Make a list of your top 5 must-haves and focus on those first and foremost. Communicate frequently to ensure you’re both on the same page and are happy with your choices. Ensure your choices are a reflection of you as a couple.
BEING COST-EFFECTIVE: Be creative! Think out-of-the-box, off-the-rack and do-it-yourself. Just because a venue, dress, flower arrangement or food option doesn’t have the word “wedding” attached to it doesn’t mean that it won’t make a perfectly lovely addition to your wedding day. Who says a $200 sequin gown from a department store can’t be worn down the aisle? And grocery store bouquets, given a little tweak here and there, are a great inexpensive way to have gorgeous florals.
ENJOY WEDDING PLANNING: Remember the reason why you’re planning this thing in the first place! Take time to have tiny celebrations, and do so frequently — keep a bottle of bubbly in the fridge for those “just because” moments. Listen to one another’s input and agree to make decisions together. Have one night a week where you don’t discuss the wedding. Get away for a weekend before the nuptials to enjoy one another before family descends.
Louise Baltruschat Hollis, Whimsical Wonderland Weddings
NOT GETTING OVERWHELMED: Focus on the two of you, what makes you tick and your heart beat fast. Then plan your wedding around those loves and the things that join you, don’t let those around you change your mind. Stick to your gut feeling and instincts, then you can’t go far wrong.
BEING COST-EFFECTIVE: Sit down and work out your budget. Then prioritise what’s most important to you and cut back on the things that aren’t. Are you looking for a traditional venue or an offbeat DIY set up? Are you on the search for an amazing photographer to capture those treasured memories? Want to arrive in style or walk to the church? Or are you hoping to be stress-free and get a stylist in to create the most fabulous décor? Another top tip is to delegate to creative or talented family and friends in crafting or cooking or even entertaining. It makes for a really homely and meaningful day.
ENJOY WEDDING PLANNING: Remember always that you are about to marry your soul mate and so long as that happens on the day, that’s all that really matters. You are only going to plan this amazing celebration once, so soak it all up and enjoy those simple and little things. From spending time together or having an amazing hen do to crafting your decorations. It’s a real blast.
Eleni Balkouli, Love 4 Wed
NOT GETTING OVERWHELMED: Start planning your wedding as soon as possible, listen to others’ opinions but in the end always follow your heart.
BEING COST-EFFECTIVE: Research thoroughly and always ask what is and isn’t included in a quoted price.
ENJOY WEDDING PLANNING: Try to always remember that you should also enjoy the planning process as much as you will enjoy your wedding day. It is the time to bond with your friends, family, and your hubby to be and have fun planning your wedding day without stress!
Ash Metry, Inspired Bride
NOT GETTING OVERWHELMED: KISS is not just for after the vows. It’s also for Keep it simple stupid. This saying applies also to getting married. Yes, it’s a special day, Yes, it’s one of the few days you will remember the rest of your life, Yes it’s so so special. But that doesn’t mean it must be complicated. It’s important to go back and think of each other and real reasons you’re making that commitment to each other. Sometimes couples (especially brides) forget to actually enjoy one of the best days of their life.
BEING COST-EFFECTIVE: DIY, DIY, DIY. Bring meaning to what you’re doing. Bring the family to help you do a project. Invite your new sister in law and ask her to help you with a floral arrangement or putting something together that you liked on Pinterest. The flowers will be forgotten but the bond you create with the new family members will live forever. These nights around the kitchen table laughing and putting something together will be remembered for decades. Nobody dares to call that “cheap”.
ENJOY WEDDING PLANNING: Delegate to others while keeping things simple. Make a short list of what’s most important. Make a longer list of everything else. You’ll feel way more relaxed if list A gets done.
Jenn Hallak, The Overwhelmed Bride
NOT GETTING OVERWHELMED, BEING COST-EFFECT & ENJOY WEDDING PLANNING: The one best tip I can give brides is to focus on the true meaning of the wedding –- the marriage. No matter what vendor doesn’t show up, what goes wrong through planning or on the wedding, or how much you want to use the most expensive marriage, keep the focus on the marriage always and what will be best for your marriage after the wedding. Because marrying the love of your life is the only point of that day!
Julie Albaugh, Wedding Market News
NOT GETTING OVERWHELMED: Figure out what is the most important for your day and keep this within your budget.
BEING COST-EFFECTIVE: Don’t DIY if you don’t have the skills or knowledge.
ENJOY WEDDING PLANNING: Don’t let family or friends talk you into something that you don’t want.
Sarah Anne Darcy, Classic Bride Blog
NOT GETTING OVERWHELMED, BEING COST-EFFECTIVE, ENJOY WEDDING PLANNING: I think it’s very important to keep a good perspective throughout your wedding planning and to remember that the most important thing is just saying “I do” to a beautiful life with your love. Everything else pales in comparison. While the details can be important, they shouldn’t be so important that they’re overwhelming you. If you’re starting to feel overwhelmed, you might want to think about hiring a wedding planner or coordinator who can help bring your vision to life. And if that’s not in the budget, maybe think about scaling things back – whether that involves trimming the guest list or opting for your second-choice venue. Ultimately, you want to be able to enjoy your wedding as well as the wedding planning process so stay calm and focus on the happy things.
Harmony Walton, The Bridal Bar
NOT GETTING OVERWHELMED: Don’t over-shop. Sometimes too much time to plan can lead to too many choices which can overwhelm a couple. Make decisions, stick to them, and move on, don’t keep looking!
BEING COST-EFFECTIVE: It’s important to be realistic about your budget. The guest count will impact that in a huge way, as will your venue and/or caterer so plan accordingly and don’t spend more than 50% of your budget on food, beverage, venue and basic rentals (if not included).
ENJOY WEDDING PLANNING: Have date nights that aren’t wedding related! Spend some quality time together with your fiancé with no talk of wedding plans to appreciate the process and each other more in the end.
Gina Griffiths, BewilderedBride
NOT GETTING OVERWHELMED: I always tell couples to sit down and make a list of everything they think they need for their wedding. This way, I know that what is at the top of their list are their biggest priorities. I advise them to focus on these things.
BEING COST-EFFECTIVE: Work out how much you can actually afford before doing anything. Then look at the list you wrote and what you class as your priorities. Spend your budget on them first, everything else can be budgeted…..but I would advise you don’t scrimp on your photography budget!
ENJOY WEDDING PLANNING: There is no reason to worry or stress over wedding planning. There are amazing resources out there to help you.
Chelsea LaVere, Tidewater and Tulle
NOT GETTING OVERWHELMED, BEING COST-EFFECTIVE, ENJOY WEDDING PLANNING: Always take a moment to realize why you’re planning a wedding. It’s about two people celebrating their commitment to each other surrounded by the people they love! Pre-wedding, make moments to be together and do non-wedding-related things. Whether you are Netflix binge-watching or checking out a new restaurant, be intentional with the relationship and not your roles as a bride or a groom.
Sharon Naylor, Sharon Naylor
NOT GETTING OVERWHELMED: Understand the power of Pinterest to completely overwhelm you. When you spot a wedding detail that creates a Wow reaction in you, one that just feels right, save that image in your folder, then make it a vow not to go looking for any more images in that category. If you’re constantly searching, you’ll see endless supplies of gorgeous ideas that can make you second-guess yourself, and set you on a frustrating course of looking for the next best thing. Trust your instincts when you find a winner, and don’t keep looking at those same topics. I also believe that putting everything in writing, like to-do lists or using checklists, gets the whirlwind of musts out of your head and allows you to keep things simple and more stress-free.-
BEING COST-EFFECTIVE: Being cheap will cost you more in the long run. Vow to spend a fair amount, and follow your wedding experts’ advice, such as a wedding planner saying why it’s important to rent more glasses. I also highly advise being organized, which is the smartest way to protect your budget. Search and book by the deadline, pay by deadlines, keep your receipts handy. and avoid spending more when you have to pay rush fees or even pay more for booking last-minute. A found receipt will prove that you already paid that bill!
ENJOY WEDDING PLANNING: Don’t lose perspective. Each detail, each plan is about the two of you, so when you take time every day to connect with your partner and put your focus on your wonderful partnership, the wedding planning process gets smaller in your mind and you’re flooded with gratitude for the person you have and the details you want. The wedding doesn’t become a monster, grown even more out of control when your relationships are a little out of control or ignored. Put the people first, and your wedding preps will remain more enjoyable.
Damaris Mia, Southern California Bride
NOT GETTING OVERWHELMED: It’s so easy to get overwhelmed when planning your wedding. There are so many blogs, magazines, and fun wedding Instagram accounts out there that provide so much inspiration for couples. I think in order to not get overwhelmed, you’d just need to pull back and limit what you view or how often you’re pinning images to that awesome dream wedding board your have. In terms of keep things simple, elope! Just kidding (my wedding had over 400 guests and I times during my planning process, I did wish we would just elope). I think the word “simple” is subjective and will vary from person to person (“simple” can mean an elopement or a large wedding but without going over the top, etc…). But all in all, I think it’s just important to create a wedding around you and your significant other — when you keep this in mind and then just focus on adding elements that YOU love, details that are important to YOU… I don’t think you can go wrong.
BEING COST-EFFECTIVE: Do your research! The are things that you shouldn’t skimp out on (*cough* a professional wedding photographer) because you may end up losing so much more. But there are so many wedding professionals out there, you are bound to find someone within your budget or someone who might be willing to work with your budget. But it’s important to remember that you should hire wedding pros that you love. Oftentimes, couples will choose to cut back on something or go the cheaper route, only to regret it later. My suggestion would just to be, do the research — extensive research if you have to. Ask around for referrals, check out local blogs.
ENJOY WEDDING PLANNING: In addition to being a wedding blogger, I am also a wedding photographer and many years ago (almost 7, if we’re counting), I was a bride. Based on my experience as a bride and a wedding photographer, I can say that the best way to enjoy the wedding planning process is by hiring a wedding planner or at the very least, a wedding day-of coordinator. I know that many times that is not an option but I can’t tell you how important it is to have someone there to help you along the way or at least, on your wedding day. They are there to help make the planning process and your wedding day run smoother, which in return, brides get to enjoy the planning process and their wedding day.
Well there you have it, the BEST wedding resource advice and tips from some of the top wedding experts out there, a SPECIAL thanks again to everyone who took the time to contribute!
Key takeaways on the best wedding resource advice & tips from these wedding experts:
- make a list of what is important
- do you research, however, do not over analyze or overdo it on Pinterest
- be realistic with your budget and prioritize accordingly
- delegate and enjoy some DIY moments with loved ones, although if you do not know what you are doing hire a professional
- create special bonding time during each wedding-related task or event
- schedule regular dates or get-togethers where you don’t talk about wedding details
- do what you want, not what others want (it is your wedding)
Most importantly remember the wedding is just a celebration which starts your life off together so focus on WHY you are getting married in the first place!
If you have any additional wedding resource advice or tips for staying calm, saving money or having a good time while wedding planning, that has not been mentioned by the experts, we would love you to share them with us.
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