Sometimes wedding planning can feel like a full time job. With so many looming deadlines andimpending decisions, it’s easy to get bogged down in the details, especially if you’re receiving an equally overwhelming amount of conflicting advice and opinions. As you wade through mountains of petals and lace, your friends and family (even strangers on the street) are likely to approach you with their suggestions and input. While some advice is welcome and appreciated, some is just plain unsolicited. So how do you deal with all that’s coming your way? RiverStone is here to give you the tools to manage.
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Set the right Precedent
Engagement is exciting, and that excitement is contagious! Everyone wants to talk about the wedding… a fact that makes it incredibly tempting to start seeking opinions right off the bat. But be aware that asking for the opinions of your friends and family members establishes an open door policy and communicates that you want (and maybe even need) the help. Alternatively, you can limit unsolicited advice by setting a precedent before that advice starts flowing in. If you don’t want the door to be quite so open, try to avoid asking for widespread feedback, and contain the majority of your decision making to you, your fiancé, and wedding planner.
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Be Honest and Direct
Honesty is always the best policy. It’s important to state your own opinions in a kind but straightforward manner. This will communicate capability and assuredness. Both important tools when managing the details of your event.
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Create a Virtual Suggestions Box
Regardless of the precedent you set, you will continue to receive advice and opinions from time to time. The truth is, some of the input will be incredibly helpful and some will not. Either way, it’s wise to buy yourself time to consider the advice without the pressure of immediately accepting or rejecting each suggestion. The solution? Make a spreadsheet! Compile all the advice you receive in one place. That way you can refer to it when it’s convenient for you, and you will be able to make less pressured decisions as you move forward. Additionally, having this spreadsheet will allow you to respond to the advice giver in a kind, straightforward manner (see above). Try “Thank you for your input. I’ll put that on my list of possibilities.”
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Share with Confidence
When you want to share details about your wedding with your friends and family, practice telling them your plans instead of asking what they think about your decisions. For example, “Can’t wait to share the color scheme I’ve chosen for our wedding!” As opposed to, “What do you think about this color scheme?” Communicating this way will allow you to include the important people in your life without inviting too much feedback.
