Congratulations on your engagement! Planning your wedding can be one of the most exciting times of your life, but the stress of organizing and keeping track of everything can get overwhelming. In this blog post, we'll share tips and strategies to help you stay organized and on schedule while planning your wedding. We’ve also brought on NJ Wedding Planner Ness Mcgovern as our expert on all things wedding planning. As the owner of Ness McGovern Events and Design, Ness has graciously shared some of her expert tips and advice with us to help you with your wedding planning. Whether you're a DIY bride or you're outsourcing to a professional planner, these helpful tips can help make the planning process a breeze. Let's dive in!

1.Use a wedding planning app

There are countless wedding planning apps available that can help you stay organized and on top of things. Create a timeline specific to your wedding date, make to-do lists, track your budget, and keep track of vendors and contact information in one place. Some popular apps include The Knot, WeddingWire, WithJoy, and Zola. These apps also offer tools for managing your guest list and creating seating charts.

Tips from Ness:

“If you like using google sheets or excel, consider purchasing a templated checklist and budget tracker on Etsy that you can share with your partner and any decision-makers. You’ll want to track your overall investment and when payments are due.

We’d also recommend creating a specific email address that both you and your partner have access to for all things wedding-related, that way you have a specific inbox, potentially even a drive, that has all your wedding correspondence and contracts.”

2. Create a wedding binder

If you're more of a visual person or prefer tangible materials, a wedding binder is a great option. Use dividers to organize your binder by categories such as vendors, contracts, to-do lists, and inspiration. You can also print out important emails and documents and file them into the appropriate category. This will help you easily access all of your wedding planning documents in one place.

3. Hire a wedding planner

If the thought of planning your wedding stresses you out beyond measure, hiring a wedding planner may be the best option for you. Not only will they help you stay on track, but they can also provide personalized vendor recommendations. They can create a customized checklist and timeline that will keep you organized and ensure that everything is completed on time. If hiring a full-time planner is out of your budget, most planners offer day-of coordination or month-of coordination packages, which can still be extremely helpful.

4. Set deadlines for yourself

Without deadlines, it's easy to push things off and fall behind schedule. Set realistic deadlines for yourself or use the timeline provided by your wedding planning app or binder. Make a note of when deposits for vendors are due, when invitations should be sent out, and when final payments are due. This will help you stay on track and avoid any last-minute stress.

Tips from Ness:

“I strongly recommend having a weekly or monthly wedding planning date with your partner to make the process a bit more fun and less stressful. If those dates become too hectic, maybe add both purely date nights focused on having fun, in addition to a specific wedding-focused meeting.”

5. Delegate tasks

You don't have to bear the brunt of wedding planning on your own. Consider delegating tasks to your wedding party, parents, or close friends. Assign tasks such as ordering and assembling wedding favors, or addressing invitations. This will not only ease your burden but will also help involve others in the wedding planning process.

Tips from Ness

“Sometimes there is a family member or close friend who really wants to be involved but you don’t really want their help. Assigning them something like “assembling welcome bags” is an easy thing to offload and they’ll feel included while also making your life easier.”

Organizing and planning your dream wedding can be an exciting and fulfilling experience. By using a wedding planning app or binder, hiring a planner, setting deadlines for yourself, and delegating tasks to others, you can avoid feeling overwhelmed and enjoy the planning process. Remember that this is a time to celebrate your love and future together, so take a step back and enjoy the process. Happy planning!

A special thanks to Ness McGovern for lending us her expertise for this post!