Photos: Rebecca Burt Photography

Planning a wedding in DC is exciting and a time when you can dream and make everything about you and your partner. However, it can also become a stressful and overwhelming period in time when you have to make many new and sometimes tough decisions. During the planning process, couples can easily forget about the most important thing that got them there, i.e., their love!

Although uncertainty and disagreements in the planning process are often inevitable, they are normal. With that said, maintaining a healthy relationship while you’re planning a wedding is so important, and you might want to come up with ways that will allow you to keep your relationship strong and healthy. Remember, this should be a joyous time for you and your partner, so you owe it to yourselves to make the best of it! 

Here are some things you can try to keep the stress level to a minimum and avoid big confrontations that may hurt your relationship. 

1. Pick days for wedding planning

You are planning your big day, and it is completely normal to be interested in it most of the time. However, this does not mean that you should only eat, sleep, and dream about wedding planning at all times. One way to maintain a healthy relationship is to pick specific days and times when you will discuss wedding details and stick to them. 

This will make your lives easier since you will have time to think and prepare for the discussion rather than say whatever comes to your mind. You can let key vendors like your wedding planner know which days you’re available and can focus on wedding planning tasks. Moreover, a schedule will allow you to enjoy your love as engaged couples should. You are about to experience something big, so do not ruin your fun! 

2. Communicate 

Always talk to your partner honestly and calmly. This way, you will be heard and get your ideas across. However, ensure that you also listen when your partner talks to you. After all, listening is a crucial part of maintaining a healthy relationship. Try to come to solutions that will benefit both of you and only make decisions that work for you as a couple. 

Talk about your wedding together and how you both imagine it. It’s easy to get influenced by the experiences and suggestions from friends and family, but you should not have to live up to someone else’s expectations on your wedding day!

3. Consider counseling

While we highly recommend counseling for all couples – regardless if they’re getting married or not – if the planning process becomes chaotic and unbearable, you should consider therapy or counseling. There’s nothing wrong with getting a bit of advice from a professional. Having some essential talks before marriage might be really helpful for your relationship. This is how you can efficiently establish healthy grounds and roots for your marriage and ensure you grow together in the right direction. 

4. Have fun

As we mentioned before, although the process can require a lot of your time and making many decisions, planning a wedding is, ultimately, very fun – so make the most of it! You should not regard it as an obligation or a work assignment. Instead, It is a celebration where you get to honor your love. Remember to date each other throughout the planning.

5. Hire a planner

Hiring a wedding planner can do wonders for maintaining a healthy relationship. By doing so, you are saving yourself from loads of stress! The person (or people) you hire for this role will keep everything in line and on track. Planners are responsible for making everything run smoothly so everyone (including you) can enjoy the celebration. They will take care of many things for you, especially the delicate ones, such as selecting and managing numerous vendors, troubleshooting issues, keeping you on budget, and being a support system. This is the best way to soak in every moment of your big day! 

When you keep the focus on your love for each other, planning a wedding in DC becomes a breeze. Our recommended ways to maintain a healthy relationship should help you stay on top of your wedding planning game.

If you are interested in hiring wedding planners in DC, please contact us for more details on our services.