It's no surprise that planning a wedding can make you break out the tissues; as it turns out, there are distinct emotional phases you may go through before getting married. You can experience these stages in any order, and every person's experience is just as unique as their wedding.
By: Stefania SainatoStage 2: Bewilderment
Once the daydreaming phase was over, we realized that executing our wedding would be much more complicated than we initially thought. Confusion set in, compounded by the fact that people started offering their two cents on everything from what cake flavor they liked to which bridesmaid dresses they hated. We hadn't even set a date yet! Secretly, I began to dread the "W" word and prayed it wouldn't come up in conversation at family functions or nights out with friends.
Who do we invite? When do we do what? How do we make the wedding reflective of our personalities? I remember trolling through message boards desperately searching for answers. And then there was the biggest question of all: how much is this all going to cost? The sticker shock came fast and furious, forcing us to prioritize on what was most important. We made a lot of sacrifices over the next few years (eliminating vacations, Christmas/birthday gifts, and date nights out).
How to make the most of this stage:
Event planning is akin to building a house — you need a solid foundation, or else it all topples over. Start by locking in a date and deciding about how many guests you'll want to invite since you'll need that information before you look at venues. Now's also the time to have that much-dreaded (yet necessary) conversation about finances, and decide who's paying for what. Consider it good practice for married life! Determine the tone of your event — ultra-formal, a casual beachside affair or even a creative themed wedding — which will help guide the rest of your planning decisions.
Couldn't have put it better myself.
