Planning a Holiday Wedding

Planning a wedding is stressful enough without having to throw in the holidays with it. I would really want to reduce my stress as much as possible during this time.  Here are some thoughts that I had to do that...

1. Take advantage of  day after Thanksgiving sales--These sales then to have holiday items for a reduced price, which would reduce your cost. If you know exactly what you want you might even be able to find some the items that you needed for your holiday wedding right after Halloween since that is when some of the stores begin to put out their holiday items.
2. Have a Party and not Just a Reception--The holidays are a festive time. Make sure that your wedding reflects this. This can be done through the attair that everyone wears, the decor, food served and the music played. Take advantage of the festive spirit.
3. Ask Family and Friends for Help---Instead of recieving Christmas, Hanakkah, Kwanzza or wedding gifts, ask family and friends to in-kind their services. You might have a friend that can bake ask them to make your wedding cake or a aunt who does flower arrangements ask her to do the flowers for your wedding. By recieving in-kind gifts, it will help with your budget and will make the people that you ask feel special about taking part in your special day.
4. Wedding Favors--Favors for a wedding, especially during the holidays, can get lost in the shuffle in the whole planning process. Make your favors something that your guest will use again and will remember you when they use it. You could give each guest an ornament with your wedding date or it or bake a special batch of your families favorite holiday cookies. Making the favor more personal makes your guest feel that you were really thinking of them.
5. Remembering What the Holidays are About--Whatever your family tradition is during the holidays, it is always special to you. Your wedding day will be one of these special days, just with the added bonus of it happening during the best time of the year. Remember why you are getting married and all the new traditions that you will begin to make with your special loved one.

Wedding planning has it ups and downs, I know from experience. If you  just look at what you feel is important to you for your wedding, your holidays and wedding day will be stress-less and wonderful.

(picture found here)