Wedding Tips to Consider If You Plan on Saying ‘I Do’ in 2022

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It’s undeniable that the COVID-19 pandemic has shifted the landscape of virtually every aspect of our lives. From lockdowns to mask mandates, trying to plan an event of any kind has become even more stressful and difficult than ever before. Now there’s the additional overbearing feeling of uncertainty surrounding what might happen at the time of the event. No one can really predict where we might be in a year from now, or even 3 months from now, so it’s important to take extra precautions when planning your wedding. That way you’re able to celebrate your matrimony in an elegantly safe way without running the risk of losing those hefty deposits should there be any sort of circumstantial changes.

Plan Ahead

Once the excitement over getting engaged shifts to the excitement of planning the wedding, it can instantly turn to a feeling of being overwhelmed because you aren't sure where to even begin. Resist the urge to start your wedding planning journey with a “How to Plan a Wedding” search. Rather, talk with your partner about the expectations of a timeline for this event while taking into consideration that your intended wedding date might be pushed back. Understanding that the duration between getting engaged and getting married might be a little longer than you hoped can help you set a realistic date allowing the rest of the planning process to follow smoothly.

Planning ahead is going to be your best friend throughout the wedding planning experience. Many individuals spend years conceptualizing their dream wedding down to the most minor details. If that’s you, be ready to be flexible with some of the details you had planned in your head. And if you’re convinced that nothing is going to stop you from having your dream wedding, then putting an emphasis on planning ahead is going to be vital.

When searching for your venues and vendors, ensure you’re doing your due diligence on what these places offer in terms of precautions to keep guests safe. What are their capacity limits? How, and how often, are they cleaning common areas? These aspects might be overlooked due to the excitement of trying to book a venue but can be crucial to whether or not you get your dream wedding. Any contracts should be heavily reviewed to ensure that there’s protection for any deposits that provide you with a full refund or credit should there be a change in circumstances.

Set a Budget

Once planning has begun, you’ll quickly find how difficult it can be to anticipate exactly how much your wedding will cost. To ensure you can account for the totality in costs, set your firm budget slightly over your added total. Overestimating the costs keeps you aligned with your wedding vision, and oftentimes results in spending under the budget (which just feels good).

There are plenty of ways you can minimize your spending anxiety. Sit down with your partner and figure out where you could cut out or cut down expenses in your daily routines. This could be as simple as taking a glance at your current subscriptions and figuring out which ones you can do without. If you’ve already cut back on spending, there are still more routes you can take to save. If you’re a homeowner, look into how to refinance a mortgage. Taking advantage of the cash-out refinancing option will allow you to put the money you earn toward large expenses (i.e your dream dress that sets you just a little bit over budget). Or, if both you and your fiancé have personal vehicles but you can manage with one, consider selling the other. Not only will this give you a quicker deposit than cutting back on subscriptions will, but this will also cut back on monthly gas costs.

Keep the End Goal in Mind

If you find yourself feeling discouraged or unmotivated due to a lack of things going right, especially when planning a wedding, try to remember why you’re doing it, and what you’re planning for. The venue you booked, what flowers you have, and how expensive your dress was are not as important as the reason for celebrating. You and your partner are ready to commit to one another and that’s all that matters. Use these tips to help you stay present while planning, avoid getting stuck on the details, and enjoy every second of the process.