A wedding is a magical moment. It’s an event where you and the person you love get to stand up in front of friends and family and commit to one another for the rest of your lives. It’s beautiful and wonderful and one of the best days of your life.
However, planning a wedding can be very, very stressful. Not only are there a ton of details to keep in mind, a lot of different vendors to speak to, a budget to try to adhere to, and a million choices to make, but you also have more people than just yourself to keep in mind.
Yes, a wedding is your special day and it’s about you and your partner having a great time but, in reality, there are a lot of other people who matter on that day and who may want to have input. Your mother might like a different dress than you do, for example. The bridesmaids or groomsmen may want to dress differently than you hoped they would. Your grandfather may insist on inviting people who you don’t even know. And the possibilities go on and on and on.
So what can you do? Here are a few tips for keeping everyone happy when planning your wedding.
Make Yourself Happy
Yes, a lot of other people matter and they’ll want to have their wishes fulfilled as well, but it’s important to remember that you’ll need to keep yourself happy first and foremost. If someone suggests something that truly makes you unhappy, you don’t have to go ahead with it.
Make Your Partner Happy
Beyond making yourself happy, your next priority should be making your partner happy. Remember, this day is about the two of you. Of course, you won’t necessarily agree on everything, but this is where it’s most important to listen to one another and come up with some ways that both of you will be happy. Over the course of wedding planning, you’ll likely have to disappoint someone. Try not to let it be yourself or your partner.
Try to Accommodate What’s Important
If you have a lot of people making a lot of requests, you can’t possibly accommodate everyone. This is especially true because some requests will be the exact opposite of other requests (if your mom wants a band and your dad wants a DJ, it’s not really feasible to make both people happy). However, you might want to take a moment to consider the requests that are truly meaningful and important.
Your mother might want the napkins to be pink and she might also want you to wear your great-grandmother’s necklace. One of those requests is probably more meaningful to her than the other. You won’t be able to do everything that everyone wants, but you’ll likely be able to accommodate most of the truly important stuff.
Explain Yourself
There will be times when you have to let someone down. It’s just part of planning a wedding. There are only so many things you can do. If you know you’ll have to make a decision that someone won’t like, or if you really want to do the opposite of what one of your loved ones has requested, it’s important that you talk to the person involved. Sit them down and explain why you just don’t have the budget to invite great-aunt Sally or why it’s not practical to have a full band inside your small wedding venue. Just by taking the time to explain, you’ll show that you care and value this person's opinion, even if you can't do what they're asking.
Stay Positive
Planning a wedding is stressful. That’s why it’s important to stay positive. Remember what this day is truly about and don’t let people ruin your wedding. Just by staying positive you’ll find that you’re better able to deal with stress and this will make it easier to cooperate and communicate with people.
Realize that EVERYONE Can’t Get Everything
There’s simply no way that everyone can get what they want all the time. That’s not realistic. Some people may be upset by some of your choices but, at the end of the day, this is your wedding. If you’ve made a sincere effort to show that you care for all of your loved ones, they’ll respect your decisions and there will be no hard feelings. After all, they’re happy for you and will likely be thrilled to see you get married no matter what.
