Feeling stressed while planning your wedding is entirely normal and a common experience for many couples. Planning a wedding is an exciting and joyous occasion, but you can quickly become overwhelmed by the long list of tasks that seem to be ahead of you.

Without a game plan, this can quickly lead to anxiety, procrastination, and last minute panic.

Why does wedding planning sometimes feel stressful? Well, there are a few reasons:

1. High Expectations: You want your wedding day to be perfect, and that can create pressure and stress to ensure everything goes as planned.

2. Making Decisions: From choosing the venue, flowers, and catering to picking the perfect dress and inviting guests, there are so many decisions to make, and it can be overwhelming.

3. Budget Concerns: Weddings can be expensive, and sticking to a budget while trying to have the wedding of your dreams can be challenging.

4. Family and Guest Expectations: Dealing with different opinions and expectations from family members and guests can add to the stress.

5. Time Constraints: Planning a wedding can take a lot of time and effort, and balancing it with work and other responsibilities can be tough.

It's essential to remember that it's okay to feel stressed during this time.

Here are some tips to help you navigate the planning process and manage stress:

1. Communication: Talk openly with your partner about your feelings and concerns. Remember, you're in this together, and supporting each other can ease the stress.

2. Take Breaks: Don't forget to take breaks from wedding planning. Give yourselves time to relax and enjoy each other's company without any wedding-related talk.

3. Prioritize and Delegate: Focus on the most crucial aspects of the wedding and delegate tasks to family and friends when possible. You don't have to do everything on your own.

4. Self-Care: Take care of yourselves physically and emotionally. Get enough rest, eat well, and find activities that help you relax and unwind.

5. Celebrate the Journey: Remember that the wedding planning process is part of the celebration too. Cherish the memories you create along the way.

Lastly, keep in mind that the most important thing is the love and commitment you share with your partner. While a beautiful wedding is lovely, it's the love between you two that truly matters. No one is going to remember 10 years from now whether you served chicken or steak.

Some Couples Report Increased Arguments

This would be normal as you are trying to merge two different lives together, and you are making a lot of decisions. Don't be afraid to reach out for help - many churches offer free premarital counseling.

Even if you are not experiencing any of these arguments, it is still wise to seek counseling or to at least work through a pre-marriage book that will you to confront some of your differences before you tie the knot.

A few of my pre-marital favorites are: 

1. The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work
2. Things I Wish I'd Known Before we got Married by Gary Chapman
3. Preparing for Marriage God's Way: A Step by Step Guide for Marriage Success Before and After Marriage by Wayne Mack

So, embrace the adventure of wedding planning, and don't be too hard on yourself. It's normal to feel stressed, but with some patience, support, and a sense of humor, you'll make it through and create beautiful memories to cherish for a lifetime.