March 18, 2020 /

Our Favorite Wedding Planning Stress Relievers

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Wedding planning is stressful, friends. It’s hard. And overwhelming, and it’s one of those hard things that you don’t see coming. Especially because you’re planning the best day ever, which should be easy, right?

A candid picture of an engaged couple holding hands and laughing together as they walk down the middle of the street during their West Bottoms Engagement Session in Kansas City.

We know. We get it – we’ve been there. Wedding planning is HARD.

There are all of the big decisions, and all of the contracts to sign. Retainers to pay and even worse, all of the little, teeny, tiny, unexpected decisions to make. There are expectations on each person’s side about what they think of things and how they expect things to turn out. Which turn into little arguments here and there about big and little things, and even more stress. Stress on you, your boo, your wallet and your relationship. 

How do you handle it? What do you do?

Especially now that you’re stuck at home together for the next few weeks? Well, today we’re sharing our favorite wedding planning stress relievers with you. Some of them might have to wait a few weeks until we can all come out of our social distancing hidey holes. Some can of course, be done now. Either way, hang in there friends. And always remember why you’re doing all of this planning. 🙂

A silly, black and white picture of a woman sticking her tongue out and crossing her eyes at her fiance as she wraps her arms around his neck during their engagement session in the West Bottoms.

Our Favorite Wedding Planning Stress Relievers

A candid picture of an engaged couple holding hands and laughing together as they walk down the middle of the street during their West Bottoms Engagement Session in Kansas City.

1.Hire a planner.

Yep, we’re going there again. The number of things these angel-on-earth, fairy godmother and godfathers take care of and do for their couples that takes the stress off your shoulders is ridiculous. In fact, maybe these amazing humans should be called “Wedding Stress Relievers.” Don’t feel like doing a seating chart or packing those invitations? Your planner can help with you with that. Not sure when all of your final payments are due? Your planner can help with that. Have no idea when all of your vendors are supposed to arrive? Your planner can help with that. Does this color look good with that color, or will those chargers blow your budget?

Hello, friends. Your planner can help with that. Send us a message and we’re more than happy to share some of the best in the business with you. 🙂

A colorful, candid picture of an engaged couple sharing an embrace and kiss uring their engagement session in Kansas City's West Bottoms.
A casual, colorful picture of an engaged couple sitting on a pile of rocks laughing together in the middle of Kansas City's West Bottoms during their engagement session.

2. Take a day off. Or a week off, for that matter.

No wedding talk whatsoever. And when we say no, we mean NO. Sometimes it’s super helpful to get back a little bit of “normal” when things are so crazy out of whack and totally not normal. And the best way to do that? TAKE  A BREAK. Make a pact with each other and stick to it. You’ll probably catch yourself still trying to talk wedding stuff, but make yourself stop. Even if you can’t do a whole day, make a promise to each other to have date night and not talk about the wedding once during date night. We promise, it will be like a breath of fresh air.

A close-up picture of an engaged couple leaning in for a kiss as they lean up against a brick wall during their engagement session in Kansas City's West Bottoms neighborhood.
A bold, candid picture of an engaged couple holding hands and laughing in a swatch of sunlight during their engagement session in the West Bottoms.

3. Date Night

Or Date Day, or a little weekend getaway, or even Date Dinner. Friends. Make time for each other to focus on each other. Whatever that looks like to you. Maybe you want to recreate your first date. Or maybe you want to visit the restaurant where you had dinner after you said yes. Maybe, it’s just a whole day spent with each other, being nice and patient, and visiting some of your places in the city. Heck. If your worried about time, make dinner together, light some candles and sit at the table instead of the couch. The point is, make time for each other and make it sacred.

A candid black and white, wide picture of an engaged couple dancing together under the 12th Street Bridge in Kansas City's West Bottoms as sunlight bathes them in bright light during their engagement session.
A candid black and white image of a man dipping a woman back as she laughs in a spot of sunlight under the 12th Street Bridge in Kansas City's West bottoms neighborhood during their winter engagement session.

4. Watch a favorite movie from your childhood together.

Give yourself bonus points if it’s one that your boo hasn’t seen. This is one of our very, very favorite ways to relieve stress. And since we grew up so differently, we have so many favorite movies that the other one has never seen. Kyle LOVES Monty Python. My jam growing up fell more along the lines of The Princess Bride or Labyrinth. Pop some popcorn, pour a glass of wine, and snuggle in to enjoy and laugh hysterically together.

A colorful silhouetted picture of an engaged couple standing on a ledge in front of a brick wall, leaning in to share a kiss during their engagement session in the West Bottoms in Kansas City.
A colorful, intimate picture of an engaged couple standing face to face, laughing together as they stand in front of a red wall during their engagement session in Kansas City's West Bottoms.
A colorful, intimate picture of an engaged couple standing face to face, laughing together as they stand in front of a red wall during their engagement session in Kansas City's West Bottoms.

5. Go for a phone-free walk or hike.

The key here, friends, is phone-free. If you’ve got a fur baby leash them up and go for a walk. Try someplace new, or even an old favorite. Just because we’re all working to flatten the curve doesn’t mean that you can’t go for a walk on a trail with your honey. Fresh air does everyone good. And by leaving your phone at home, you’ll be notification free for at least an hour.

A wide picture taken along a steel plank of a man carrying a woman down the middle of the street.
A colorful, intimate picture of an engaged couple standing face to face, laughing together as they stand in front of a red wall during their engagement session in Kansas City's West Bottoms.
A wide, dramatic portrait taken along a railing lit up bright in red of an engaged couple sharing an embrace and laugh together during their engagement session in the West Bottoms in Kansas City.

6. Play a game.

Yep. You heard us right. Get your brains focusing on something else for a while. Whether you’re a long-term, big strategy game player, or just have time for something simpler (our favorite is Hive), bust out that box and play together. Heck, maybe even a Google Hangout with a group of your friends playing Monopoly would work. Enjoy each other’s company and do something completely non-wedding related for a while.

A candid picture taken from a distance of a man and woman sprinting towards the camera in downtown Kansas City during their winter engagement session..
A candid portrait of an engaged couple sharing an embrace in front of the Western Auto Building during their downtown Kansas City engagement session.

7. Do something new together.

With our current social-distancing atmosphere, this could be a little tricky at home, but there are still definitely things you can do. Maybe you try a new waffle recipe on Sunday morning (this is our favorite). Or try doing yoga together. Order takeout from the new Indian place down the street that you both have been dying to try. Try making homemade pizza (bonus points for teaching yourselves to toss the dough!) or pick a random recipe off Pinterest that you both approve of to try. Take a virtual painting class, or salsa class from your living room. We could go on and on but are sure you’ve got ideas too. 🙂

A colorful, candid picture of an engaged couple leaning forehead to forehead during their downtown Kansas City engagement session.
A candid portrait of an engaged couple sharing an embrace in front of the Western Auto Building during their downtown Kansas City engagement session.

8. Can you say dance party?!

This is one of our FAVORITE things to do when we’re stressed out. Find your favorite playlist, turn it up, have a cocktail or two, and go. You’ll be swinging around the living room and laughing your booties off before you know it.

BONUS TIP: So many DJs, bands, and artists are hosting live, request shows via Facebook or Zoom right now. Find your favorite on social media and see what they’re up to. (This will also give you a GREAT way to experience your wedding DJ before the big day!)

A candid portrait of an engaged couple sharing an embrace in front of the Western Auto Building during their downtown Kansas City engagement session.
A candid black and white picture of an engaged couple hysterically laughing together during their downtown Kansas City engagement session.

9. Print some pictures.

Sit down together and start going through the pictures on your phone – non-wedding related only, of course. Pick a handful of your favorites and actually get them printed. Pick a wall in your home to start a gallery wall, or even just frame a few to set out and about. You would be AMAZED and the love and memories that come bouncing back to you every time you walk by those printed photos. We love printing personal photos through mpix.

A candid picture of an engaged couple walking hand in hand in front of the lit-up Western Auto sign during their downtown Kansas City engagement session.
A candid picture of an engaged couple walking hand in hand in front of the lit-up Western Auto sign during their downtown Kansas City engagement session.
A candid, bold picture of an engaged couple spotlit from above leaning in to share a kiss during their winter engagement session in downtown Kansas City.

Bailey and Caleb – thank you so much for letting us make your engagement photos! We’ve had so much fun with you both and are so excited to see where life takes you!

Feel like you’re missing something? Check out Bailey and Caleb’s Sneak Peek here.

Book us for your Wedding:

To book us for your upcoming engagement session or wedding, please visit our contact page to send us a message. We can't wait to hear about your big day! Having a destination wedding? We LOVE to travel and have the perfect wedding photography package for you. We would LOVE to hear about your adventure!

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