Wedding Planning Principals Every Bride Should Have

This post is going to share the wedding planning principals every bride should have. 

The thing about principals is that they are your non-negotiables. The things that you simply won’t compromise on. Principals make up what is important to us. They guide us to make the right choices at the time, every time. Yes, principals can change with priorities as we make our way through life. However, when it comes to being engaged, there are simply some wedding planning principals every bride should have. 

Once you understand the ideal wedding planning principals every bride should have, I promise that your wedding will be more authentic and meaningful for you. It will no longer be about outside pressures and other people. Your wedding will be for you, and your partner, unapologetically.  And, it will make sense with the resources you’re both able to contribute to it. More on that later. 

Wedding Planning Principals Every Bride Should Have

This post is going to go over the wedding planning principals every bride should have. Each principal is geared towards reducing stress, staying in control, and being true to yourself as you navigate wedding planning. And yes, for the most part, these principals apply to the grooms too, or just about anyone who is getting married. Of course, pick and choose what ones work for you. I believe in each one of these principals, but if you don’t, that’s totally alright. As long as you’re doing what works for you, I’m happy for you. 

Let’s get into it! 

“I AM NOT GOING TO GO OVER MY WEDDING BUDGET”

The first wedding planning principal has to do with your wedding budget. More specifically, setting a budget and sticking to it. 

If you need help creating your wedding budget, this is the post for you. Essentially, you’ll want to list out everything you’d like to purchase for your wedding, and add it up. You then compare it to how much money you have to spend on your wedding, and make sure the amounts match. Once they do, you have your budget.

Once you set your budget, you need to make sure that you don’t go overboard. This principal is crucial because keeping to your budget will keep you in control. This will minimize stress, and allow you a guiding light when it comes to decisions and prioritization. 

“I AM NOT GOING TO ASK SOMEONE TO BE IN MY WEDDING UNLESS I REALLY WANT THEM IN IT”

Let’s talk about wedding planning principals regarding who is in your wedding party. 

Headaches can arise when you ask someone to be in your wedding out of obligation, rather than because you actually want them in your wedding. Your wedding party choices are important. I mean, you’re coordinating with this group for your major pre-wedding events, and they are a huge part of your wedding day.

Even though you may feel pressure to include someone in your wedding because they are family, you were in their wedding, or they really want the role, if you don’t think they are good fit, don’t do it. Stick to your principals. You have your reasons, and you know what they are. You don’t owe anyone an explanation, other than this is what you want. 

“I AM NOT GOING TO CHOOSE A DRESS TO JUST PLEASE SOMEONE ELSE”

Just as with wedding party choices, you may feel some pressure to choose a wedding dress to please someone else. 

Perhaps it’s your mom who wants you to wear her old wedding dress. Or your maid of honor has strong opinions about what you should wear. Look, it can be anyone, for any reason, telling you what you should put on your body. And you know what I say to that? Your body, your choice! Your wedding, your decision. If you feel beautiful in something, and know it’s the right choice for you, go for it. Stay true to yourself, and don’t worry about the opinions of others. 

And look, this principal can apply to just about any major wedding decision. Don’t make choices just to please someone, unless that person is your partner. Yes, your partner does have decision making power. Other people do not, at least not in the same way. 

“I AM GOING TO MAKE WEDDING RELATED DECISIONS WITH THE BLESSING OF MY PARTNER”

When one person in a couple takes the lead with wedding planning, it can be easy to forget that there are two people involved in the wedding. 

This is why your wedding planning principals should include not making decisions without the blessing of your partner. These decisions can range from picking the venue, all the way down to the color of the napkins. Just run things by your partner if they aren’t that involved. Maybe they care. Maybe they don’t. Either way they can’t say they didn’t know at the end of the day. 

“I AM NOT GOING TO INVITE GUESTS I DO NOT WANT TO COME”

One of the biggest (minor) stressors, when it comes to wedding planning, is choosing who goes on your guest list. 

Most people planning a wedding want to be able to invite their friends. The family members who they like. People they enjoy spending time with. People they like. Those kinds of people. However, many people planning weddings feel pressure to invite people just because. The family members who should come, just because. The people who invited you to their wedding two years ago but you haven’t seen since, just because. Coworkers who are kind of annoying, but it would be weird if you didn’t include them because everyone else is going, just because. Yeah, those people. 

Look, at the end of the day, you want to feel good about who you invite to your wedding. And, if your wedding is big enough, a few extra people won’t really matter. However, if you are really against someone coming, don’t invite them. You don’t owe them, or anyone, an explanation. However, if you need a resource to explain to someone that they aren’t invited to your wedding, this is the post for you. 

“I AM NOT GOING TO GET MARRIED BEFORE I’M READY”

For so many of us, getting engaged can feel like a “next step” of life. 

For example, maybe you’ve been with your partner for some time. Or, perhaps you just graduated from college. Started your dream job. Perhaps you’ve bought a home. It may seem logical to get engaged, and subsequently, married. 

However, I think wedding planning principals should include not getting married before your ready. 

Perhaps you were ready to get engaged, but not ready for a wedding. It could be a finance thing. Or, you just don’t have a lot of time to plan a wedding. Maybe there are other life goals you want to accomplish before you get married. Or, maybe you are having doubts about your partner. No matter the reason, if you’re not ready, you’re not ready. 

You will know when you are ready, and you should get married if, and when, that feeling comes to you. 

“I AM NOT GOING TO STICK TO TRADITIONS JUST BECAUSE IT’S TRADITION”

You know what I hate hearing? That someone getting married stuck to a tradition that they don’t enjoy. 

And this could be anything. Cake cutting. Being “given away”. Wearing a white dress. Having bridesmaids. Garter grabs, and bouquet tosses. A big send off. A big wedding. Honestly, the list can go on and on. 

If you like a traditional element of wedding, by all means, go for it. However, if you are not feeling a tradition, for your wedding, consider skipping it. These days, anything goes with weddings, and you can make them your own. It may mean skipping a well-known tradition, or something that only your family does. In either case, stick to your principals and do what feels right. 

“I AM GOING TO PLAN A WEDDING THAT FEELS AUTHENTIC TO ME”

Along the lines of planning a wedding that feels right, let’s talk about authenticity. 

Not everyone is the stereotypical bride or groom. Not everything is for everyone. And, many people planning weddings have pressure on them to plan something that just doesn’t feel like them. It’s okay to plan a wedding that feels authentic to you. One that helps you stick to your morals, and your wedding planning principals. Will this maybe upset some people? Sure. But, that’s okay. It will be okay. 

“I AM NOT GOING TO MARRY SOMEONE UNLESS I’M TOTALLY SURE”

Remember before when I touched on getting married when it feels like the right time for you? I maybe mentioned having doubts about your partner in that part, but didn’t delve into it. 

Let’s delve into that, right now. 

If you are not sure about your partner, it’s absolutely okay not to marry them. I strongly believe this should be one of your wedding planning principals. Here’s the thing. It’s okay to not love everything about your partner. That is normal. However, if you know something in your gut about incompatibility, severe red flags, or just not seeing a future with this person, it’s time to reconsider things. Even if you have deposits down. Even if your families will be disappointed. 

Avoiding marrying someone is way easier than getting divorced later on. And, it’s way better than being in an unhappy marriage. So, stick to your principals, and again, do what feels right. 

THOUGHTS ON WEDDING PLANNING PRINCIPALS EVERY BRIDE SHOULD HAVE 

Friends, on the surface planning a wedding may seem straightforward, but there is a lot that goes into it. Because of this, you need a guiding light, and this is why wedding planning principals are so crucial. They help you measure your moral compass, go with your gut, and do the right thing. Defining yours, and letting them be the center of decision making, will ensure your have your wedding, your way. Happy wedding planning! 

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