How does everyone deal with the stress?

I take a break and/or talk it out with my fiancé, MOH, bridesmaids or one of our moms (or all of them haha). Everyone has been very helpful and I know I can’t do it all so giving some things for my fiancé, MOH or a mom to do helps a great deal. As well as gathering their opinions since I can be indecisive sometimes. I also like to go for a massage if I can fit one every month.

When I get too stressed from planning or family or life in general I go to physical activity. Running, yoga, and soccer twice a week. It keeps me sane and give me a non wedding outlet to just relax with my friends and take out the frustrations on anything but my fiancé. It also helps to remind myself that no one but me is going to care or remember any of the little details so if something doesn’t get done it won’t make or break the day.

You have the venues which are the big things. Regardless of budget and timeline if you look hard enough, start asking around for referrals, and think outside the box you can find something that works for everything else.

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I agree, my FH is being deployed for 7 months and we need to cram all the planning into like 2 months! I try to limit the wedding talk somewhat which is why I love this site!

Keping your cool throughout the process does help in the research and bargaining with vendors as they will want your business one way or another. Face any obstacle calmly as possible and seek alternative possibilities as a solution.

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WW really is the best for this stuff!

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Omg yes! 100%!! I could so talk about it non-stop but I know I would drive him nuts ahah!

Honestly one of the biggest reasons I love this place so much to babble to other brides who want to talk just as much as I do hahaha!

Don't stress. Everything will fall into place as you go. You still have lots of time. It might not feel like it but you do. My wedding is 73 days away and there are still plenty of projects and things I have to get done. Just keep checking off every small or big thing you get accomplished for the wedding.

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You're just like me Steph, all planning! I've also been making the conscious effort to not bring up wedding talk a couple days a week in order to give my FH a break from it or else I would literally go on and on about it until the wedding lol.

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Things will get done because they have to! Have you done research into what you need to accomplish ASAP for your wedding?

The checklists are definitely helpful - it also helps you realize you can't do everything at once - so don't worry about something until you have to. If there are things you can get done ahead of time then do them - you'll feel great about it afterwards.

When you feel like things are getting a little overwhelming, take a step back and give the wedding plans a break for a couple of days (or weeks if you have the time). When you revisit the list, prioritize what was stressing you out, it usually doesn't seem as bad then!

If that still isn't working....have a glass of wine, or the bottle!

As others have advised, just stay organized and give yourself attainable deadlines that are spaced out from each other. Try tackling something each week, or focusing on one thing at a time.

For example, we booked our venue. When that was done, we researched photographers and booked that the following week. Then we researched and booked a DJ and so on. One step at a time. You'll be okay.

Once your big vendors are in place, you'll have a lull before you need to do more stuff too.

Taking Breaks Helps

Don't stress. You've got the most important decisions out of the way.

Break down your daunting to-do list into what's most important to you. Next big thing is probably photographer. You'll want to find somebody whose work you like, and who you like as a person.

Then you can worry about the smaller things like decor, deserts, and DJ. They may seem big in the grand scheme of things, but in reality, they're just details, so not worth stressing over. You got this!

I think you have plenty of time! Have you sat down and written things out? I personally think this website is so amazing to plan and keep organized. Between taking notes , budgeting, to do, etc.

I think its just a matter of taking it one step at a time.

I'm with the list thing! Make a list of everything that needs to be ordered and things that will need to have deposits put down on. Then divvy them out as to when they need to be done by and tackle one of them at a time giving yourself a couple things to do a week.

I got engaged and married within 9 months, so I definitely felt the time crunch. I was also planning from out of province, so I had to make that work too. Make sure to limit the time you plan and balance it out with things you would normally do. If you're doing something for the wedding, it's always more fun with a friend or two and adds the quality time. Make sure to do "non-wedding" events as well, like movie nights or going out that involves very little wedding talk. Good luck and enjoy the planning!

One thing at a time until the list is done.

269 days is still a lot of time (I know it doesn't seem it in the wedding planning world but that is close to a full year). Make lists, check them twice and three times and go from there.

View quoted message I'm the same! I made my own checklist based off of 3 that I found online (including the one on wedding wire) as added a few of my own things to it! I printed off several copies and make sure that my fiance and I review it every so often just to make sure were on track and what's next to do for both of us! Also to deal with stress we go on dates that are wedding bukbuk free and then also have dates where we sit and discuss wedding things! Stay on track but have fun and still enjoy each other and our engagement has been working out well for us!

My dad like to say “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.”

Your to-do’s may seem daunting, but just settle in and chip away at them. Maybe instead of focusing on the big list, you spend each day tackling a max of 3-5 until you’ve completed everything.

Enlist the help of your friends and family too!

I don’t think any of this is supposed to be stressful, so to quote Tim Gunn, “make it work”...and try to enjoy the process!

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I use the checklist on this site and yesterday it pointed out that something were over due so that didn't help lol

I have a checklist of when things need to get done and have been doing my best to meet my own personal deadlines! The stress is still there tho! I think you just need to buckle down and do what you have to do now so you can have your perfect wedding