Singaporebrides | Weddings 101

December 2023

10 Tips for Planning Your Wedding While Working Full Time

By Tansey Tang

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Planning a wedding is a significant undertaking, and when you’re balancing it with a full-time job, it might seem like an impossible task.

Crafting the celebration of a lifetime takes a lot of thought, energy, and time, things you might feel in short supply of after pouring all of yourself into your full-time job. Planning a wedding typically takes a couple nine months to a year, as they juggle other responsibilities and commitments. With so much research to do, so many decisions to make, and so many vendors to coordinate, wedding planning can easily feel overwhelming. However, with the right strategies and a bit of organisation, you can plan your dream wedding without sacrificing your career or sanity. We show you how to plan your dream wedding on top of killing it at your 9-5.

1. Break Down the Planning into Manageable Tasks

Start by creating a wedding planning timeline, and breaking down the tasks month by month. Or download a copy of our handy wedding checklist with a timeline broken down for you! You don’t have to do everything at once. Prioritise tasks and tackle them one at a time. For instance, book your venue first, as it’s typically one of the most important aspects and often needs to be done well in advance. Then move on to other vendors like caterers, photographers, and entertainment. Checking things off your list will make you feel more in control, and allow you to see your progress.

2. Identify Your Priorities

Your time and energy are limited, so to ensure you manage to craft the perfect wedding celebration without burning out, you’ll need to prioritise. Think about which aspects of the wedding matter most to you and your partner, and spend your resources on those items. For example, if you care more about the food than your flowers, then spend your effort researching restaurants and caterers or going for tastings, and let your florist decide on the floral styling. Realising what you value in your wedding will help you create a more authentic celebration that reflects the both of you.

3. Be Disciplined about Free Time

Make the most of your time outside of work hours. Dedicate a few hours over the weekend or some time in the evenings to wedding planning. Ensure you’re using this time effectively by setting specific goals for what you want to achieve, like visiting venues, trying on dresses, or meeting with vendors.

Your lunch hour can be a great time to make calls to vendors or do quick online research. Many vendors understand you’re working and are willing to accommodate calls during lunchtime. Just remember to step out of work mode for a moment and focus on your wedding tasks.

4. Delegate Tasks

You don’t have to do everything yourself. Delegate tasks to your partner, family, or bridal party. Maybe your partner can handle the music playlist, while your maid of honour could help with vendor research. Delegation not only lightens your load but also involves your loved ones in the process, making it more enjoyable.

5. Set Up a Dedicated Wedding Email

If you’re sending all your wedding enquiries from your work or personal email, it’s easy to miss important correspondence or urgent emails from your vendors. Create a separate email address for all things wedding. This will help you keep all your contracts, correspondence with vendors, and inspirational ideas in one place. Plus, it prevents your work email from getting clogged with wedding-related emails.

6. Hire a Wedding Planner

Feeling overwhelmed just reading this? If your budget allows, consider hiring a professional wedding planner. They take care of all of the nitty gritty work for you, and often have industry connections that can save you time and money. Even if you can’t hire a planner for the entire process, look into partial planning or day-of coordination services to alleviate some of your stress and allow you to enjoy this special day with your loved ones.

7. Limit Your Research

Sure, social media can be a wonderful source of inspiration, but if you’re constantly scrolling and pinning beautiful trends, you can get bogged down with too many ideas. It’s difficult to decide on on a theme when the algorithm is serving you a million gorgeous and trending themes daily! Decide early on your wedding vision and stick to it confidently, and help yourself by limiting the research. You’ll be better able to make decisions and make progress on your wedding planning.

8. Be Efficient with Vendor Meetings

Try to schedule vendor meetings back-to-back to make the most of your time on a weekend. If you’re visiting bridal boutiques, try scheduling consultations on the same day if your vendors are in a similar area. Instead of your usual romantic weekend brunch, go for a venue visit and lunch together. Or head to The SingaporeBrides Wedding Fair to see multiple vendors at the same time in the same place! Also, consider virtual meetings after office hours if your vendors are available.

9. Be Realistic about DIY Projects

DIY projects are a great way to express your creativity and inject personality into your wedding, but don’t fall into the trap of thinking you have to make everything yourself. Making 200 individualised wedding favours by hand can be a huge time sucker, especially when you’re only starting after 5pm. Be smart and choose DIY projects that make a big impact, and focus your time and energies on one or two crafts instead of DIY-ing everything in your wedding. Don’t forget to start early, so you’re not overwhelmed at the last second!

10. Remember to Take Care of Yourself

Don’t let wedding planning consume all your free time. Make sure you set aside time to relax and unwind, on your own and as a couple. Dedicate time to self-care and spending quality time with your partner, family, and friends. After all, staying happy and healthy is crucial as you prepare for the big day. Remember that your wedding is a celebration of your love and have fun with it!

By following these tips, you can manage to plan your dream wedding while working a 9-5 job and keeping your sanity. Remember, the most important thing is that at the end of this journey, you get to marry the person you love. Keep your eye on the prize, and don’t let the stress of wedding planning overshadow the joy of what is to come. Happy planning!

Credits: Feature image from Fatima and James’s Romantic Garden Wedding at Botanic Gardens Bandstand and COMO Dempsey by Lydia K Photography

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