Wedding Planning Resolutions For The New Year

Each and every year we talk about and plan our New Year’s resolutions—promises we make to ourselves and others to change bad behavior or to accomplish a personal goal or just to improve our lives in general.

We typically resolve to lose weight or eat more nutritiously, while some of us decide to finally quit that smoking habit or find a new, more fulfilling job. Unfortunately, these resolutions don’t always stick. In fact, it’s arguably more likely that a resolution we make going into the New Year will fall short than actually be accomplished. And why is that? Well, quite honestly, it’s hard to change oneself, even when it’s for the better. 

However, New Year’s resolutions can also spur you into action—giving you the tools you need to set goals and plan for a future accomplishment that needs a bit of time to come together. And it’s this type of New Year’s resolution we need to discuss here. 

If this New Year is the one in which you're getting married—or at least kicking off your wedding planning—this year’s resolutions are not only constructive, but could be just what you need in order to get your head straight and set your sights on the wedding of your dreams. Meanwhile, it’s important to manage expectations and stave off any potential hurt feelings on the part of certain family and friends. 

First things first: Congratulations on your impending nuptials! We know that you’re likely feeling a lot of emotions right now, namely frustration, anxiety, stress, and a general air of uneasiness. That’s all totally normal! But the best way to combat those pesky feelings is to have a solid game plan during your wedding planning process. Long Island weddings in general can be a challenge to put together—resolve to do everything in your power to make your wedding happen in a way that is as close to your personal vision as possible. 

We believe that walking down the aisle will make this year your best yet, but before kicking off the wedding planning in anticipation of making vows to your future spouse, it’s important to stop and make a few vows to yourself. And with that, here’s our list of wedding planning resolutions as you begin the journey on your way to wedded bliss. Read this list, then recite it to yourself over and over leading up to your wedding day!

I Will Make A Budget And Stick To It

Behind the love of the nuptials, there’s the very practical question of how much will it cost and is your vision financially feasible. Chances are you weren’t handed a blank check and told to do whatever you wish no matter the expense. Life doesn’t work that way for the majority of us. Instead, strict attention must be paid to all financial considerations associated with a wedding—this includes the venue, ceremony, reception, guest list, wedding dress, and all of the other pricey trappings that come along with weddings. 

You might not think you have it in you to prepare and stick to a budget, but you do. In fact, there are plenty of tools out there to help you in this specific regard. Find yourself an easy to use money tracker. One of the most popular wedding-themed money trackers comes from Wedding Wire. The handy tool, which is available on their site and also as an app for your phone, does all the math, keeps you on track with your payments, and organizes every single imaginable aspect of the financial side of your wedding planning.

Deciding on a budget is one thing, sticking to it is another heavy lift entirely. There will be temptations to go beyond your budget in nearly every step of the wedding planning process. You must remember to stop, think about money as a finite resource, and above all else, learn to just say no!

I Will Trim My Guest List If Necessary

Part of keeping the wedding budget under control is keeping your guest list under control. It might sound a tad harsh to reduce your beloved family and friends to figures on a bill, but that’s essentially what they are. Every person who ends up on your guest list will cost you money. This is an important note to keep in mind when you’re deciding whether or not to invite your old college roommate or your twice-removed third uncle on your mother’s side. 

Of course, a good chunk of the stress involved in cutting the guest list has something to do with pressure being applied to you from various sources. Chances are you’re a reasonable person who knows exactly who you want to invite to your wedding—the problem arises when your mother, mother-in-law, sister or future spouse insists on pressuring you into inviting someone who you don’t think truly needs to be there. Here’s another instance where learning how to “just say no” can save you lots of trouble. We know that’s easier said than done, but keeping your guest list to an exclusive lineup of people you definitely want to have at your wedding will make the entire event that much more enjoyable!

I Will Try Not To Take My Stress Out On Others

Remember the Golden Rule you learned in school? It’s the principle of treating others the way you would want to be treated. It sounds simple enough and we’re sure you are typically the type of person who follows this particular basis for behavior. But we also know that wedding planning has the tendency to bring out the worst in people for a variety of understandable reasons. In these instances, it can be difficult to realize just how short you’re being with certain people, your bridesmaids for example. Take their feelings to heart and try to be sensitive to everyone’s budget and schedules. If you do this, we think you’ll find your bridal party reciprocated that love, care, and respect tenfold. 

I Will Remember To Eat (And Drink) At My Wedding

Far too often, brides and grooms get to the end of their reception and realize that they never got a chance to enjoy the delicious gourmet food that was prepared by the staff at their Long Island catering hall or wedding venue. What a shame! You spent all that time planning the perfect menu that’s dotted with some of your all-time favorite foods and you didn’t even get to enjoy it for yourself! Try hard to avoid that by carving out some time for you and your partner to sit back with a plate full of goodies in between speeches or trips to the dance floor. And as for drinking, we’re talking about water! There will be plenty of booze making its way around your wedding reception, but keep it safe and healthy by interspersing plenty of water throughout the night. You don’t want to find yourself dehydrated and sick when the wedding comes to a close! During your wedding planning process, be sure to make this an important note for your wedding timeline and stick to it. 

I Will Always Keep My Eyes On The Prize

Don’t drown in a sea of centerpieces or let yourself be overwhelmed by the sheer number of musical choices for your first dance. Wedding planning can make you feel as though you’re on a sinking ship or you’re floating in space running low on precious oxygen. It doesn’t have to be like that. Try your hardest to remember that the goal at the very end is to marry the love of your life. If you were to strip away all of the other details, the ultimate goal remains the same. So worry not about your third cousin’s feelings if they get cut from the guest list; don’t fret over not being able to afford the most grand wedding dress of all time; and certainly don’t let something like your bachelorette destination destroy your friendships—take a deep breath and take the greatest plunge of your life!