A wedding day, for many people, is the most important day of their life to that point. Bringing together families to celebrate the union of two lives can be a day of joy, fun, and togetherness—as well as days, weeks, or months of stress leading up to it. But does it have to be?
“Our main reason to throw a party is to have fun. It’s the same as your wedding, what is your objective? To marry the love of your life, and to have an amazing time,” says South Florida event planner Jessyca Perez, who has a specialty in weddings and event planning.
“Engagement season” is in full swing—the time from Thanksgiving through the spring—and couples from coast to coast are flocking to wedding expos, bridal shows, and picking up copies of bridal guides. Television shows such as “Say Yes to the Dress” keep brides busy planning their weddings, and even shows like “Bridezillas,” (which has gone off the air for first-run showings), continue to entertain and educate brides-to-be in syndication.
The planning process, for many couples, is a huge undertaking, needing logistics from flowers to catering to music. But, while it can be a lot of work, it is oftentimes quite enjoyable and exciting.
So what is it that becomes a chore for couples planning a wedding?
“For most people, the problem isn’t in the planning because that happens over a long period of time,” says Perez. “The problem is usually in the week or day of the wedding, as the couple realizes the details, and the things they might have missed. As you get closer to the event, stress increases.”
To make things more challenging, while a wedding is clearly a major occasion for a bride and a groom, it can oftentimes be just as big of an event for the families.
“Family and friends can sometimes overstress the bride and groom. They don’t realize that their questions, and the things that they do, can cause even more stress unintentionally. They should avoid trying to be constantly ‘in the know’ of all the details. When the bride and groom are ready to talk about the wedding, they will.”
Another cause of stress comes from logistics on the wedding day. Many brides who want to make sure their wedding day is special have a tendency to micromanage since they know all the details. Hence, they want to know exactly what is happening at all times. This is where a wedding planner can be vital.
Perez explains, “I do not doubt that some brides can handle all the planning and logistics of the wedding. However, if they want to take away the stress the week-of they can turn things over to a planner so that they can have an enjoyable week knowing its in the hands of a professional. We can confirm all the vendors, take care of all the details, and that day we make sure that they have an amazing day from beginning to end.”
Today, with many couples on a budget, some brides feel like they can’t afford to hire a wedding planner to help with the entire coordination of the wedding. However, by having a wedding planner it can actually save couples money because they choose the right vendors, eliminating extra costs by packaging services, know where to shop, have planner discounts and eliminate extra fees and charges some vendors hide in contracts.
“When a bride does it herself, it is beautiful and she is truly connected with her wedding. You know every single detail and you put in a lot of the work. And that’s a memory you’ll have forever,” says Perez. “But while you could do it all yourself that day, would you really be enjoying it if you have to work it? It’s awesome to do the longer-term planning yourself if you feel capable, but on the day of the wedding you want to be able to have fun and enjoy it.”
Ultimately, the reason for a wedding day is to celebrate the union of the couple. For brides looking to have a stress-free wedding, Perez give this last tip:
“One of the biggest things is knowing what your objective is that day, to marry the love of your life, and have an amazing time with your family and friends. Realize that not everything will go perfect, because in life nothing truly does. But if you keep that final objective in mind, the little things won’t matter.”
Jessyca Perez is the owner of Events By Jess, an event planning service based out of South Florida. While offering wedding and event planning services, Jessyca also plans baby showers, bat/bar mitzvahs, corporate events and other parties. For more information, visit: http://www.eventsbyjessyca.com.