couple shoot. Make this time feel like a carefully curated part of the day, rather than just waiting around for something to happen. Schedule time for your photos wisely. It’s easy to get carried away with your photographer leaving guests to get twitchy. So, allocate a period of time for this and make sure you all stick to it. Go for your group photos immediately following the ceremony and arm your photographer with a (very) short list of the essential shots. Documentary photographers will prefer capturing your guests as the action happens, so they too will want to keep formal groups to a minimum. Think about personal touches you can add to make your loved ones feel involved and appreciated, as well as experiences to keep them occupied. Think photo booth, ice cream cart, sweetie table, glitter bar, pimp your prosecco... the list goes on. It’s an old saying but it’s a goodie in this context, so keep this in mind: “You can please some of the people some of the time, but you’ll never please all of the people all of the time.” HOW DO WE AVOID OVERWHELM AND MAKE SURE WE ENJOY THE PLANNING PROCESS? Keep calm and marry on! You’ve decided what’s most important to the two of you and you’ve set boundaries with third parties, and assembled your team of trusted suppliers to take care of the hard work, with these crucial planning processes in place, the rest should be a breeze. Remember, not everything will be perfect but weather challenges, small mishaps or delays are all part and parcel of a wedding. We guarantee, you won’t even notice on the day, you’ll be too busy enjoying your stay on cloud nine! Experience the planning process as a pair, it’s a shared experience to relish. Have fun together visiting venues, tasting food and picking the pretty stuff. Treat yourself to date nights along the way to avoid anything feeling like a chore. Don’t be afraid to delegate or ask friends and families for help. Tasks like envelope stuffing and dress shopping offer a great excuse to get your closest cohort together. And don’t forget to take plenty of snaps along the way, these will all be fond memories to look back on and cherish. Build in breaks from the planning. Sometimes, you’ll just need to step away and that’s fine. Take time together to rest and recharge your batteries before tackling the next big task. We think this is a great excuse for a couple’s spa break as a reward for your hard work so far! After all, there is such a thing as overplanning, which can lead to burnout. Finally, never lose sight of your “why.” You’re planning a celebration of your love. Focus on your relationship and the joy that gives you and you can’t go far wrong. unsplash.com@micheile Getty Images PLANNING SOS 39
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