STRESS-FREE PLANNING

5 Steps To Keep You Going

You’re engaged – hooray! Then reality sets in, and you discover that planning a wedding takes an incredible amount of work. It requires making countless decisions, handling thousands of details, juggling endless tasks and errands, and doing it all while also maintaining your relationships, job, life and sanity. What’s a stressed-out bride-to-be to do? We’ve got some suggestions for you!

Stay organized.

Have one large manila envelope to hold all contracts and receipts. Have another one on hand for all information, ideas, notes and resources. (Or a binder or accordion file…whatever works for you, just as long as it’s all in one place.) Keep all wedding-related books, papers and other items in one place – the bookshelf in your home office, the corner of the guest bedroom – so that you always know where to find something. And finally, write everything down. Keep a “wedding notebook” and a detailed calendar where you can put everything in writing. Don’t assume you’ll remember – 47 details later it may be gone!

Get help.

The very best thing you could do for a stressfree experience (and a relaxing, stress-free wedding DAY) is hire a wedding consultant. Many couples feel that this just ‘isn’t for them’ and yet, without question, it could make the critical difference between having a fun, enjoyable wedding experience, and having a grueling one. You can find a consultant for every budget, and every penny spent will have a priceless return.

Take breaks.

It’s easy to get so wrapped up in all things wedding that you forget to see movies, visit with friends on non-wedding topics, or to catch up on the world news. Take regular, restorative breaks from wedding planning where you don’t think about, talk about, or work on anything weddingrelated. And remember, there is life beyond the wedding!

December or May, big or small, afternoon or evening, traditional or decidedly not. Whatever your preference, the staff at Stone Harbor Resort will help you make your dream a reality.

Stone Harbor Resort & Conference Center

107 North 1st Avenue • Sturgeon Bay

(920) 746-0700 www.stoneharbor-resort.com

Cultivate gratitude.

When frustration or stress overwhelms you, take a moment to focus on everything going right, and everything in your life that is good. Write them down, or call a friend to share your ‘gratitude list.’ You’ll feel better in no time and regain your perspective. This is also a good time to take a break – see above! And, call your wedding consultant and let them help.

Time To Celebrate

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21 same time as yours. Make sure there is enough separation between the event spaces, so the two parties don’t interfere.

PARKING. Confirm that there is ample, well-lighted, and convenient parking for your guests. If there isn’t, find out if a valet or shuttle service is available.

TECHNICAL DETAILS. Whether you’re planning to have a DJ or live band, ask about possible restrictions on the type, volume, or duration of music. Confirm that there’s adequate power and electrical outlets for speakers, mixers, and amplifiers. Acoustics is another consideration. It’s not uncommon for a venue’s coordinator to invite future brides and grooms to stop by a scheduled wedding to get a feel for sound levels and acoustics. If this is a real concern for you, just ask if you can do a drop-in. Odds are the site coordinator will be welcoming.

ROOM DÉCOR. Sites can range from modern and dramatic to rather neutral. Pay attention to the permanent decorations and fixtures. Do the flooring, wall color, window treatments, and artwork suit the style and season of your wedding? Is it a room with a view? If photography is of great importance to you, search online for professional photos from weddings staged in the space. Does it photograph well?

SERVICES OFFERED. With each site you visit, note what’s included in the rental price. Whether it’s big things like catering and waitstaff or details like candles and breath mints in the bathroom, it pays to get those details up front. Also bear in mind that the included services greatly impact whether a reception site fits within your budget. An affordable venue that doesn’t include any furnishings, for instance, might not be so affordable in the end.

Once your reception location and details are locked in, the remaining decisions will flow a bit easier. 