Wedding planning is a bundle of fun and absolutely no stress. You’ve been told that, right? Yeah, neither have we. Look, it doesn’t have to be this Herculean task, but it will be challenging. You’re going to want (and need) breaks from time to time. In fact, breaks are beneficial to your success. However, scrolling Instagram for an hour is not a break, and you need to plan actual activities to take your mind off wedding planning. Below we break down how to successfully plan your wedding, along with some fun activities to try when you need a break.

How to Plan a Wedding Well

Have a Task List

This can be everything from deciding on a theme to picking out some new pieces of bridal jewelry. You can put your own task list together if you like, but there are plenty of pre-made checklists out there. If nothing else, consult those pre-made ones to make sure yours has everything covered.

Give Yourself Longer Than You Think You Need

Now add a few weeks. Seriously, don’t underestimate just how much time you’re going to need. Worse comes to worst, you’re just done a few weeks early. On average, a wedding takes about a year to plan. Maybe give yourself 13 months just to be safe. Oh no, how terrible it would be to have two weeks to relax right before your wedding day because you planned really well and finished early.

Make a Budget and Stick to It

This is something that couples can struggle with, and money can be a big source of tension in wedding planning. Really, it can be a big source of tension throughout a relationship. Define your budget early and do not — under any circumstances besides absolute family emergencies — deviate from it. You’ll thank yourselves later.

Consider What You Actually Need

Look, the big ornate wedding is a dream plenty of us have. However, the more ornate your wedding, the more stressful it’ll be to plan. If you’re cool with that tradeoff, great. If not, consider what’s actually essential for your wedding and what you can live without. Do you need a really expensive set of rings, or would you be happy with a set of silicone rings to take on a two-week epic honeymoon? Could you have a shorter guest list and a simpler ceremony? Food for thought.

Fun Activities to Do When You Need a Break from Wedding Planning

  1. Take the Day Off

Do whatever you like. Head to a spa, go to the mountains, stay on the couch. Whatever sounds like relaxation to you, do that. In some ways, finding something active and creative that’s entirely unassociated with wedding planning may be more restful than just doing nothing for a day and getting right back to it. Using your creativity for something other than color palettes and budget spreadsheets may be just what you need. Explore hobbies or activities that bring you joy, whether it’s painting, cooking, or diving into a good book—it’s all about giving your mind a break. Even if you’re in the midst of autumnal elopement planning tips and feeling the pressure of timelines and to-do lists, stepping away for a moment of self-care can recharge your energy and perspective. Remember, the best ideas and solutions often come when you’re least expecting them!

  1. Talk Through Your Stresses

This isn’t so much “fun” as it is healthy. You’ll likely feel better afterwards, so there’s probably some fun to it. Seriously though, consider this a strong candidate when you need a break. Sometimes all you need is to vocalize what’s bothering you, even if you can’t immediately fix it. Plus, if you haven’t said it out loud, you don’t know if your fiancé has a good solution or not.

  1. Take a Weekend Trip

There’s something to be said about getting physically away from your stressors for a little bit. Sometimes the best way is to just go on a short trip, even if you just stay in the next town over. Some mental and physical separation can do wonders.

 

  1. Go on a Hike or Nature Walk

Get out and smell the fresh air. Move around a bit. All these things are important and much more beneficial than you may realize. If nothing else, it’s a nice change of pace.

  1. Go Bowling or Mini Golfing

Really, any simple and repeatable low-stakes game will do. Bowling and mini golf just happen to be two of the most popular games that fit the criteria.

  1. Garden

Here’s another great creative task, especially for the green thumbs. If you have a tendency to end the lives of plants unceremoniously, maybe find a different creative outlet, though.

  1. Do Something New

Something low-stakes that won’t take a ton of mental energy, though. Maybe learn a new recipe or pick up the basics of a new hobby. Whatever it is, some new creative challenge — as long as it’s low-level — can be a lot of fun.

  1. See a Show

Concert, stand-up comedy, local theater. Whatever show sounds interesting to you, take a night off and go enjoy it. Let someone else do the work for a few hours, and you can sit back and just take it in.

  1. Exercise

Endorphins are your friend here. You may not feel like exercising, but even a short workout or light jog is enough to help you feel rejuvenated.

  1. Visualize Your Wedding

Daydream away! This one is a bit of a double-edged sword. On the one hand, you can just envision what the day is going to be like and how exciting it’ll be. On the other hand, that may make you want to stress over all the individual details. If, however, the former is more your style, visualize away.

  1. Have a No Tech Day

This is great when combined with some of the other options on the list. No doom-scrolling through social media and seeing tons of wedding content. Give yourself a break.

  1.  See Family and Friends

When all else fails, hang out with those you love most. When you don’t know what you need, sometimes it’s those closest to you who do.