Table of Contents
Key Takeaways
- Start planning early and create a realistic schedule to balance wedding tasks with college duties.
- Set a clear budget, considering your financial situation to avoid post-wedding financial stress.
- Delegate tasks and maintain open communication with your partner to share the workload and strengthen your relationship.
- Opt for an off-peak season wedding for better deals and less stress.
- Prioritize self-care and celebrate milestones to enjoy the planning journey and create lasting memories.
Life works in mysterious ways, and sometimes, you might decide that the best time to tie the knot with your partner is in college. Planning a wedding in college offers a unique set of challenges and opportunities. You will have to balance your wedding plans with coursework, exams, and other social activities, which demands proper organization, time management, and flexibility.
However, having your wedding in your college years has its benefits, specifically having a lifelong partner to share a life with and support each other from as early as college. On top of that, it provides an opportunity to infuse your wedding with the youthful energy and creativity of being a college student and create a fantastic experience.
Planning a wedding in college is not easy, but we have some amazing tips to help you navigate this adventure and make the experience worthwhile.
Start Planning Early
When planning a wedding in college, you should aim to start as early as possible so that you have enough time to make all the right decisions. The more time you give yourself for planning, the easier scheduling becomes since you can spread out wedding tasks evenly to suit your college schedule.
The bulk of the workload should be in the first few months before the wedding so that in the last few weeks, you will have more time to yourself while you complete the menial planning tasks like arranging the sitting charts and picking up the gowns. Other benefits of starting early include the following.
Prevents the Last-Minute Rush
Wedding planning can be a stressful affair. There’s a lot to do before you walk down the aisle, and having enough time to plan helps you make it easier. Starting early helps you reduce the stress during the final days of the wedding by preventing the last-minute rush.
Helps Create a Good Budget
By starting early, you get enough time to prepare a good budget for your wedding. You will have time to research strategies to save on costs. Besides, you will have time to consult other married couples on the strategies they used for their wedding.
Helps Get a Good Venue
Venues are booked months and even years in advance. You can secure a great venue and avoid last-minute scrambling by starting your search early.
Enables Better Decision Making
Throughout the duration of wedding planning, you will make decisions on lots of things, including venues, invitations, food, decorations, suits/gowns, and more. Starting early gives you enough time to research your options and make better decisions without rushing.
Starting early can help guarantee a smooth planning journey and a stress-free wedding. Just remember to create a good schedule that properly balances the planning with your academics.
Prepare a Manageable Schedule
Planning a wedding requires sticking to a strict schedule to ensure everything is done. As a student, you should prepare for your wedding while staying on top of your studies. Thus, your schedule should accommodate wedding-related tasks and academic responsibilities like classes, studying, and assignments. Balancing the two can be challenging at first, but your schedule will help you stay on top of your priorities. Otherwise, you might start lagging in academics and find yourself looking for scholarly writing helpers from platforms like EssayUSA writing service.
Start by mapping out your semester. List all your academic commitments, such as classes, assignments, and exams. Then, add all the wedding planning tasks to your calendar, including visiting venues, meeting with vendors, and wedding gown fittings. From there, identify gaps in your class schedule and dedicate the time to wedding planning tasks. Thanks to technology, there are various digital planning tools like calendars that you can use to keep track of your deadlines and appointments, but you can also use a manual calendar.
Your schedule should also be realistic. Know your limits and avoid overloading your days with activities you will struggle to accomplish. If your schedule is overwhelmed with tasks, discuss it with your partner and share the responsibilities.
Create a Good Budget
Weddings can be costly. Most couples who start pricing the cost of their wedding are often shocked by how expensive the whole occasion is, from the venues, decorations, catering, gowns, and rings. For students getting married, finances are understandably limited. Thus, college couples have to find a way to create a decent wedding experience without overspending or going into debt.
How can you achieve that? Start by being realistic about your financial situation. Take account of your income from sources like a part-time job and scholarships, as well as your savings and any contributions from your family. From there, set the maximum amount of money you’re willing to spend on the wedding. It’s important to think beyond the wedding when setting the figure to ensure you will still be in a good financial position after you’re married.
Once you have a maximum figure you’re willing to spend, research the type of wedding you can have based on your budget. Research the average costs for different aspects of the wedding and prioritize your needs over the luxuries. For example, a good venue is a priority over extravagant decorations. It’s best to create a budget with your partner to confirm you’re on the same page regarding what you’ll spend.
Remember to factor in the hidden costs, such as the marriage certificate, taxes, officiating fees, and more. A good budget can help you have a successful wedding that doesn’t leave you in financial ruin. Just be realistic with your expectations, be open with your partner, and remember to track expenses to ensure you’re spending within your limits.
Be Flexible
Balancing academics with wedding planning has its challenges, and sometimes, the only way you can manage responsibilities from either side is by being flexible. College life is often unpredictable; exams will get rescheduled, completing assignments will take longer than usual, and other situations may require adjusting your plans.
So, while creating your schedule, remember that things can change, and sometimes plans will collide, for example, an exam coinciding with your meeting with the caterers. You will have to learn to prioritize your engagements and handle the urgent ones first. It may sometimes mean postponing meetings to accommodate your studies.
Delegate and Share Responsibilities
Wedding planning should be a group effort. The responsibilities can be too overwhelming for even the best planners. Adding academic responsibilities to the mix makes the burden even heavier, which is why couples should cooperate and share responsibilities. Collaborating with your partner in planning your wedding is a great way to bond and learn to face challenges together.
You can also have other people help you with your wedding, such as loved ones and close friends. They can help you with errands, decorations, and managing guest lists and can be valuable sources of feedback for some of your choices. Alternatively, you could hire a wedding planner to help with all the preparations, but it will involve extra costs.
Sharing responsibilities can help free more of your time for academics. It also helps prevent burnout and stress from being overburdened. By involving your friends and family, you’ll also gain useful perspectives and ideas that can improve your big day.
When delegating responsibilities, allocate them according to a person’s capabilities to ensure no one is overburdened. Also, remember to show appreciation to anyone who contributes their time and efforts to help you plan your wedding.
Take Breaks and Practice Self-Care
The demands of college are overwhelming, and if unchecked, they can cause stress and burnout. Planning a wedding during a school year can be even more stressful, which is why taking breaks and practicing self-care are important.
Wedding planning involves a lot of decision-making, meetings, and traveling, which can be exhausting for a student. So, aim to stay healthy and energetic by taking regular breaks to recharge your mind and body.
A healthy regimen of sleep and exercise will also benefit your mental health. Proper sleep rests your mind and body to prepare for the day’s activities. You should also include exercise in your schedule to help you relieve stress and keep your body healthy.
Maintain Open Communication
You and your partner should be in constant communication throughout your wedding planning. Open communication is the key to a successful and fulfilling experience for both partners. For one, open communication will ensure you are on the same page about your finances, thus encouraging a realistic budget. You will also share your preferences and expectations for the wedding so that you can make major decisions together.
Open communication also means being comfortable voicing any concerns you have regarding the wedding. Being open about your concerns ensures they won’t develop into bigger issues in the future.
Another key benefit of communication is that it helps strengthen your bond. You will learn to understand and trust each other with the truth, which is a great tool for a successful marriage. Communication also allows a couple to bond and work together to achieve desired results and celebrate the special occasion.
Opt for Off-Peak Seasons
Weddings have on and off-peak seasons, and they play a big part in how costly and successful a wedding can be. Peak wedding seasons are usually spring (April – May), when the weather is very conducive for outdoor weddings, and fall (September- October), when the weather is comfortable, and there is beautiful greenery to compliment the pictures. These seasons see a lot of competition for venues and vendors, so they tend to be more expensive.
So, as a college student looking to save some funds, you are better off planning your wedding during the off-season of winter and summer. During these seasons, there will be better venue deals and other wedding costs, and you will face less competition for your preferred venues. Furthermore, off-season weddings are generally less stressful; thus, balancing your wedding plans with your education will be easier.
Celebrate Milestones
Due to how stressful planning a wedding can be, it’s important to celebrate the small wins you get along the way. Celebrate milestones with your partner, such as securing a venue, finding a caterer, and more. It will motivate you and give you a sense of progress. You can fit the celebrations during the breaks you allocate in your schedule.
Every milestone should be a reason to celebrate, but it does not have to be extravagant. For example, you can have a simple dinner or a small celebration with your partner, friends, and family. It will give you time to bond with them and gain encouragement to keep progressing in the planning. It is also a great way to strengthen your relationship with your partner and create great memories before the big day.
Enjoy the Journey
Despite the challenges you might face planning the wedding, remember to enjoy the process with your partner. Wedding planning is not just about the day itself but also the journey leading up to it. Every step of the process provides an opportunity to bond with your partner and create great memories.
Adopting the mindset to enjoy the experience reduces some of the pressure and stress during the journey. It will also be an opportunity to create lasting memories that live long beyond your wedding. So, be present in the planning process and take the time to appreciate the little details along the way.
Enjoy participating in the choices with your partner, such as deciding on flowers and tasting cake flavors. Finally, whenever you feel overwhelmed, remind yourself why you’re planning the wedding – to enjoy a long life with your partner.
Parting Shot
The journey of juggling academics with your wedding plans will test your resolve, but you have to remain focused and enjoy the little milestones. It all becomes worth it on the wedding day when you tie the knot to the person you deeply care about. Remember, a wedding does not have to be extravagant to be successful, so try to be creative and resourceful and, most of all, cooperate, and you will create the experience you both dreamed of. The above tips should be useful, but remember, as a student, your education should remain a priority.
FAQ: Planning a Wedding While in College
How early should I start planning my college wedding?
Begin as soon as possible to allow ample time for decision-making and to avoid last-minute stress.
How can I balance wedding planning with my college schedule?
Create a realistic schedule that accommodates both academic responsibilities and wedding tasks, utilizing digital tools for better organization.
What are some tips for creating a wedding budget as a college student?
Assess your finances realistically, prioritize essential expenses over luxuries, and keep track of all costs to avoid overspending.
How can I manage the workload of wedding planning while in college?
Delegate tasks among your partner, friends, and family to share the burden and prevent burnout.
What are the benefits of planning a wedding during off-peak seasons?
Off-peak seasons offer better venue deals, lower competition for services, and can help reduce the overall stress of wedding planning.
