Stress Relief for the Frazzled Bride

Originally written by MJ (intern)

We’ve all been there, those moments where the cliché of ‘so much to do, so little time’ seems to be the slogan of our lives. No more so than when planning and preparing for one of the biggest days of your life: your wedding. Not only do all of the decisions have to be made (venue, dress, colors, flowers, invitations, guest list, seating charts etc.) but then, as if in a never ending circle of things to do, those decisions must be executed.

While planning your wedding, it is important to find ways to relieve this overwhelming circle of stress.

Unload your plate: You don’t have to do this alone, you have people around you always willing to help! Delegate your tasks to friends, family, and your wedding planner.  Allow those people to ease some of the burden of the To Do List you’re constantly thinking about.

Make time for yourself: Whether it be going to the gym, getting a manicure, or grabbing a coffee with friends and talking about anything BUT your upcoming nuptials. Make sure that you are allowing yourself some time to just enjoy yourself.

Don’t let the stress of it all take control of this experience, you can handle it!

Feel free to post in the comments and tell us your favorite ways to relieve stress.

Until next time…

Glitter Wishes & Unicorn Kisses

Don't Blow Off Your Wedding Budget

We continue our Money & Matrimony series with a warning: Don’t Blow Off Your Wedding Budget.

It costs a lot of money to host a wedding... more than a new car!

Excited couples start booking vendors and making purchases without having a real budget and then are shocked to discover they've already spent all of their money (or parents' money) and don't yet have half the things they need. If you bounce checks or don't have the money to pay your deposits or make your final payments on the wedding day, your wedding will not happen. Please believe me when I tell you -- the band is not going to play all night if you don't pay.

Planning a wedding is serious business.

Make a budget and keep track of your expenditures so you won't be walking naked down the aisle.

Be honest about your budget when you meet with the professionals you plan to hire. Simply say, “My budget is X, how can we work within my spending limit?” They may have a special offering or other unadvertised services that will suit your needs.

At our Money & Matrimony Workshop on April 12th, we will talk about wedding budgets in more detail. We will talk about ways to make sense of your cents. We will also provide some money saving tips. Register before March 1 to take advantage of the Early Bird pricing.

Until then…

Glitter Wishes & Unicorn Kisses!

I'm Engaged! Now What?

Are you newly engaged and wondering what to do next?

The very first thing to determine, even before setting a date, is whether to have a religious or civil ceremony. 

That might sound simple, but it could be a difficult decision if you are of different faiths. If this is true in your case, then: 

• Speak to clergy from both of your religions, and ask if they are open to co-officiating.

• If one (or both) is not, ask him or her to refer you to a less conservative member of his or her denomination.

• To find ministers who specialize in interfaith ceremonies, contact the Unitarian Universalist Association

Many religions require that every engaged couple attend premarital counseling for several weeks, sometimes months. Find out about these requirements before setting a wedding date.

If you decide to have a civil ceremony, then make sure the officiant can perform a legal union in the state where you will be married.

A few officiants we happen to like here at Trilogy Event Design include:

• Jill Magerman @ Meaningful Milestones

• Stacey Thomas @ Philadelphia Wedding Chapel

• Reverend Roxy @ Married by Rev Roxy

(It is just a coincidence that they are all women.)

Many religious ceremonies require a payment in the form of a donation. Civil celebrants will either have a fixed rate or a customizable package rate.

Once you have decided on the type of ceremony, then you can choose the type of venue for your ceremony: church, chapel, synagogue, a museum, art gallery, restaurant, hotel, your home, a beach, a park, barn... the list goes on and on.

Some religious officiants will not perform the ceremony outside of their house of worship. Be sure to ask about this before making a commitment.

We’ll be back soon with more useful tips and interesting tidbits to help you plan an amazing event. If you can’t wait, feel free to schedule an initial meeting to discuss the details for your special day.

Until next time,

Glitter Wishes & Unicorn Kisses!