Planning Your Wedding!
It’s a well-known story: your partner drops to one knee and asks for your hand in marriage and suddenly life feels like a fairy tale. It’s nothing but kisses, champagne and congratulations as you spread the word of your good news amongst family and friends.
After the initial buzz, talk quickly turns to wedding planning and with so much to think about, suddenly your relationship has taken a backseat as planning takes priority. Those evenings you reserved for date nights and quality time together are quickly replaced with venue research and questions about catering and guest lists.
Planning a wedding can be a great bonding experience, but it can also put a lot of stress on a relationship. Most couples don’t realise just how much time and organisation goes into planning a wedding, especially one with a DIY focus, so it’s super important to always put the health of your relationship first during this process. Be present, be aware and take time to keep the magic alive – we’ve provided a few tips to keep the romance brewing while you plan your big day.
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Schedule time for wedding talk
We’re not saying you can’t ask questions or keep each other in the loop of plans here and there, but don’t let talk of the wedding override every single one of your conversations. Too much wedding talk and not enough focus on other aspects of your life is what can lead couples to feeling completely overwhelmed – it’s all about balance. Establish rules for when wedding talk is not allowed. Maybe you have a “no talk about the wedding over dinner” rule or schedule a date night once a week where discussion about the wedding is completely off limits. Wedding planning is important, but not as important as keeping the spark alive and enjoying each other’s company.
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Focus on the more romantic wedding planning tasks
We’re not gonna lie – some wedding planning tasks are pretty boring, but some of them are incredibly fun and can actually be a great way to bond and spend quality romantic time with your partner. Rather than scrutinise over tablecloth colours together, turn some of the more exciting plans into romantic dates of their own. Spend a night going through old photos together to create a slideshow for the reception or make a wedding playlist with all the songs you love as a couple. This is a great way to take a trip down memory lane and remind you of all the incredible things you have done together and the incredible journey that lie ahead.
Turn uncertainties into adventures. If you can’t decide what wine to serve, spend a romantic weekend visiting wineries as an excuse to do tastings together, or spend a night at Seacliff House to get you in the mood for the festivities that await. Many of our recommended vendors can be found at local markets and festivals, so plan a day to visit them in the name of wedding research.
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Delegate tasks to friends or family
Your bridal party exists for a reason, and it’s not just to look good in wedding pictures. The very nature of bridesmaids and groomsmen is to provide assistance and support for the couple, so why not think about some of the smaller tasks you can delegate to them? Perhaps ask your bridesmaids to be in charge of a particular DIY project or see if one of your groomsmen is happy to contact drink suppliers about bulk discounts. Whatever it is you’re comfortable with entrusting to someone else, just do it – each small talk you hand over to someone else is more quality time you have to dedicate to your partner.
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Take time for each other
Just because you’re engaged, doesn’t mean those small romantic gestures are no longer important. Remember to take time each day to let your partner know how much they are loved, in a way that has nothing to do with the wedding. Send them a cute text or email with a sweet message without any mention of the wedding and don’t forget to give them plenty of physical affection along the way.
Relationship experts believe one of the keys to a healthy, long-term relationship is new experiences, so rather than just scheduling a date night with dinner and a movie, think about something brand new you could try together. New experiences help couples bond, and there’s no reason why these should wait until after the wedding. The NSW South Coast offers some incredible activities, so think about something new and exciting you could do together that’ll bring you even closer in the lead up to your wedding.
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Prioritise your honeymoon planning
Some aspects of planning a wedding are a lot of fun, while other logistical details aren’t exactly a thrill a minute. Balance things out by putting more focus on planning your honeymoon, even if it’s just dreamy conversation about fantasy destinations to build some excitement. Researching tropical destinations or looking at luxury villas is a sure-fire way to get the romance going rather than scrutinising over seating charts and it will give you some perspective about the quality time that lies ahead. Whether it’s a big overseas adventure or a weekend getaway on the beautiful South Coast, the honeymoon is your time to do whatever you love as a couple without having to please anyone else.
