Being a student is hard work. You’ve got the pressures of quizzes, assignments, essays, and exams playing on your mind, which is enough to make anyone feel stressed. Add planning your LGBTQ wedding to this list and you may start to feel slightly overwhelmed.
But don’t let the stress of planning your big day put you off. It is possible to earn your degree and organize a dream wedding at the same time. Here are some of our top tips to help you:
1) Create a Schedule
Whether you’re training to become a lawyer or you’re a qualified nurse who wants to become a neonatal nurse practitioner, it’s always a good idea to create a regular study schedule in order to stay on top of your assignments. This is even more important if you’re trying to plan your LGBTQ wedding while studying.
You should start by choosing one or two days a week to concentrate on wedding planning (according to research, Sundays and Mondays are usually the best days for this). On the other days, you should concentrate on your studies.
2) Plan in Advance
Planning in advance is a great idea. Consider creating a calendar that lists the important school and wedding dates for the next few months. It’s important to remember to update this list if things change. Your list should include things like major ceremonies (e.g. Graduation), school presentations, and exams. It should also include any wedding-related dates, like engagement parties, bachelor/bachelorette parties, and deadlines for making deposits or booking venues. Once you’ve made a list of all of these important dates, you’ll be able to see if any of them overlap or if there might be times when you’ll be extra busy.
3) Work with Your Partner
In order to create a wedding that both you and your partner will love, you’ll need to work together. Not only does this help reduce the workload for you both, but it also allows you to create a day that is perfect for you both.
As you begin to think about ideas for creating your dream LGBTQ wedding, be sure to consider all of the major issues. Some of these issues include:
- Venue type – indoor or outdoor? Formal, religious, or casual setting?
- Color palette – what color scheme are you wanting?
- Choice of music – what music would you like to walk down the aisle to and what song would you like for your first dance?
- Service type – are you spiritual or religious?
- Guests – you’ll need to decide who you want at your wedding. You may choose to have a big wedding, or you may choose something more intimate
- Reception – do you want to have a reception after your wedding ceremony? What entertainment will you provide?
- Budget – if you’re a student, then there’s a high possibility that you’ll have a strict budget to stick to.
There’re lots of things you need to think about when planning a wedding. This is where a wedding planning checklist can help. Breaking down your list of things to do each month can make planning a wedding seem more manageable and it can also make it more enjoyable too. This is even more important if you’re currently studying at college, as you’ll have less spare time to spend on planning your dream wedding. Using a checklist can help you to not forget important parts of the wedding planning process.
4) Prioritize Tasks
When it comes to planning a wedding and studying for a degree it’s important to get your priorities right. For example, if you have a major research paper due then it’s sensible to spend time completing it and not wasting your time on other tasks. Focus on one thing at a time in order to stop yourself from feeling overwhelmed.
5) Set a Budget
Lots of people find it hard to stick to a budget when it comes to planning a wedding. This can be even harder if you’re a student. When you’re creating a budget for your LGBTQ wedding not only will you need to take into account the cost of the wedding, but you also need to take into account any school expenses and tuition fees that will be due in the lead up to the wedding day. You will also need to consider any recurring payments or other expenses that will be deducted from your account once the wedding is over.
6) Try and Minimize Costs
One of the main reasons why students choose to wait until after they’ve graduated to marry their partner is because of the cost of a wedding. Weddings are expensive. But there are ways you can cut corners including:
- Create your own floral displays – this can take a lot of time, so it’s not ideal if you’ve got exams coming up, but it can save you a lot of money. It’s important to remember not to prepare your wedding flowers until the day before your wedding day.
- Make your own invitations and table decorations – why pay someone else to do it when you can do it yourself? You may even be able to use the equipment at the college (e.g. printers) to save yourself some more money.
- Venue – instead of hiring a fancy hotel or a medieval castle for your big day, why not have the ceremony in a quaint little park?
- Shop smart – it’s a good idea to search for deals on things like wedding dresses, tuxedos, venues, etc.
- Ask for help – most of us have friends who are willing to help us on our wedding day. They may be able to help you prepare the food for a buffet or they may be good at taking photographs. All of this can help you to reduce the costs of your wedding.
7) Remember to Relax
If you’re trying to plan your dream LGBTQ wedding and you’re studying for a degree at the same time, then it’s important to remember to take some time out to relax. You shouldn’t feel guilty about taking a bit of time to relax and re-focus your mind.
Over the past few years, we’ve seen a huge increase in the number of LGBTQ couples tying the knot and saying, “I do”. Many of these couples planned their weddings while studying for a degree. Planning your dream LGBTQ wedding and going to college are two completely different things, but they both require a huge amount of focus, energy, and time. While it can be stressful to plan a wedding while studying, it’s often easier than you’d think. Being organized is the key to success. If you’re planning your LGBTQ wedding while studying, then follow some of our top tips above.
