Wedding Bells

Family Circus

Here are 12 tips to get you and your family happily through the planning process. By Alyssa Buckley

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Planning a wedding is an exciting but sometimes overwhelming time. Your wedding is the biggest party you’re ever going to throw and chances are you want it to be perfect. With all the planning that needs to get done, the close proximity of family and friends can often breed friction and place strains on relationships. Be careful that no feelings are hurt, that everyone feels involved, and that any past family issues remain in the past. Here are twelve ways to ensure the planning process runs smoothly. 

1. Take care of yourself. Make sure you and your mister are eating and sleeping properly and getting plenty of exercise.

2. Give yourselves plenty of time to spend with one another, and we don’t mean planning time. Go on dates, and enjoy each other’s company.

3. The two of you are a team, so look to each other for support.  

4. Stay organized. Create a master to-do list and delegate tasks.

5. Stay calm. Don’t let stress overwhelm you. Always remember that you have one another to lean on. 

6. Be sensitive when including step-parents or extended family members. Anticipate issues that may lead to a potential disagreement. Planning ahead will help you avoid them altogether. 

7. Keep parents in the loop. Remember that your parents want to feel involved in the planning process. Try to delegate tasks to them or ask their advice every so often.

8. If someone is being difficult, try not to react. Take a deep breath and think about why they might be acting the way they are. Reacting will only make you, and those around you, more upset.

9. Sometimes parents or in-laws will insist on particulars for reasons that seem invisible to you. While it is your wedding, you don’t want to create any kind of hostility before you’re even married. Try to solve the situation in a way that won’t create problems down the road.

10. Be considerate of the needs of elderly guests. Ensure that they have a ride to and from your ceremony and reception. If the party is planned to go on late into the night, ensure that they have the option to leave when they feel ready. 

11. If family members are sick or can’t travel, find a way to involve them in the wedding. Perhaps you can call them before the ceremony or the speeches begin so that they can listen and be part of your special day, or set up a web cam so they can watch as you walk down the aisle.

12. Traditions make a wedding unique and special. Try to incorporate any traditions that mean a lot to someone close to you. Forego a tradition if you think that it might cause a rift.