Planning your wedding is hard work; don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Whether it’s a small, intimate backyard gathering or a huge, elaborate celebration, there’s a lot to do. So I’ve been gathering some simple tips (stay tuned for the detailed tips) for my couples to help them survive this wild ride!

 1) ) Join a wedding community such as  A Practical Wedding, Wedding Chicks, Once Wed, Off Beat Bride, I Do Venues etc.  Follow the blog, take part in the conversations, reach out and ask questions.  It’s important to know that there is a community of people out there that know and understand what you’re going through and have fabulous advice to share!

2) Get the right vendors for you.  Do your research and make sure you are going to get what you expect and deserve.  Talk to them over the phone, via skype and if you can, meet them in person to make sure your personalities click.  Ask for references and read their reviews (on their website or Yelp etc).  Make sure you have a contract with each and every one of them!  We are all here to help you achieve the best day of your life, so make sure we are the right people for the job!

3) Talk to and lean on the vendors you already have!  We are all in the wedding industry, which means we have worked with all kinds of caterers, DJ’s, planners, make-up artists, videographers, etc., and we can help pair you with someone who is just right for your big day!  Use your resources to your advantage; we’re here to help.  

On that note I have a vendor page on my site if your in need of awesome people: http://173.255.253.231/chloejackman.com/public/info/vendors/

4) Open an email account just for the wedding.  This is a simple yet very important tip: a way to keep everything wedding-related organized. Also, it gives both you and your boo (fiancé) access to all the same information without overwhelming your daily life.

5) Make a binder!!! This is a great way to keep everything organized and in one place: from price lists to contracts to colors to contacts to samples and so on.  There’s a lot of information to gather and track, so this will make the planning process way easier and less stressful. And make it fun/creative/cute… that always helps me get more into it!

6) Make a Pinterest page!  Maybe you’re not into Pinterest, or maybe you don’t know what it is (If that’s the case let me know and I’ll walk you through it).  But I think it’s an essential tool for gathering inspiration and ideas. Keep in mind that you can OD on it and become overwhelmed, so try to keep your focus on searching for specific things you’re in need of: hair ideas, center pieces, color schemes, nail polish designs, favors, and other details. In order to prevent ODing, most of my brides swear off it one or two months before the big day, so as not to overwhelm themselves with new ideas.

7) Most importantly make sure to take ‘non-wedding’ time out for each other.  Don’t lose focus on what really matters which is the love between you and your fiancé!

No matter what, this is going to be one of the most amazing days of your life and I hope to be there to enjoy it with you, but if I’m not please let me know how it goes!

xo,