By Rhiannon from Rhi In Pink

My name is Rhiannon and in four months I’m getting married. Do you know what I’m not doing right now? I’m not freaking out. Nope, I’m cool as a cucumber. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m busy. I have a demanding job that keeps me out of the house 11 hours a day and speaking of my house…I just moved and am living out of boxes. But, I’m proud to say that I’m keeping my wedding-related stress level relatively low.

Here are some tools to help you plan a stress-free affair:

1. Hire an expert.

About 3 months ago, I found myself awake at 3 a.m. three nights (um, mornings?) in a row freaking out over wedding related tasks. Who was going to get the gifts from the venue to our house? How would I know when it was time for the first dance After the third sleepless night, my fiancé and I decided to hire ourselves a planner. Now we have someone to handle little details such as room blocks for out of town guests, the rehearsal dinner and overall event design and I’m sleeping through the night again. Hurray!

2. Utilize free planning tools.

Many wedding sites offer free tools to aide in wedding planning. TheKnot.com has the mother of all wedding checklists as well as a handy-dandy budgeting tool. When I first got engaged I had no clue how many little tasks there were leading up to the big day and I also didn’t know how much things were supposed to cost. Tip: pour yourself a giant glass of wine before looking at the checklist. It’s a doozy.

3. DO NOT, AND I REPEAT, DO NOT VISIT WEDDING MESSAGE BOARDS.

Other brides will stress you out. One bride on her own is fine, but I firmly believe that when one bride gets together with one or two other brides? Craziness ensues. Do not get into a wedding competition. Avoid the message boards at all costs.

4. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

People love weddings and they will offer to help you plan. Do not turn them down. Also, put the groom to work! Wasn’t the wedding his idea in the first place? My fiancé and I both worked on our save the dates (over cocktails) and we got them done in no time at all.

5. But, don’t be afraid to tell someone if they’re offering too much help.

One of the most annoying things about planning a wedding is that everyone has an opinion to offer you. If someone is not being helpful (or nice) in their “advice,” it’s okay to say something. You’ll be glad you did.

6. Take advantage of “registry events” at local stores.

Many stores, such as Macy’s and Crate and Barrel offer special registry events. They’ll close the store off and have experts there to help you decide just how many place settings you need and how many gifts you’ll need to register for. Product representatives are also on hand to help you decide just which food processor or toaster oven is best for you. And, as a bonus, they have food and drink as well as a parting gift.

7. Take time for yourself.

Lastly, be sure to take care of yourself. If you’re well rested and relaxed leading up to the big day, it will show. Also, don’t forget that this is a stressful time for your fiancé, too. Be sure to set aside alone time for the two of you.

So, there you have it. There are a lot of moving parts involved in wedding planning, but you can totally handle it. And, just think…when the wedding is over, you get to jet off with your sweetie for a fantastic honeymoon.

If you have any tips of your own to share, please share them!

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