I would like to take a moment and wish everyone a happy holiday season. This is a fun time of year for family and friends, but it can also be an overwhelming one for those planning a wedding.

Disclaimer: This advice is supposed to be light and informative! You can use it as a guide or disregard it. It is your choice. Lastly, this may not apply to everyone!  

So, I have some advice I have prepared for you. Whether your wedding is a month away, 6 months away, or a year away the holidays bring a great deal of questions regarding your wedding…also unwanted and unwarranted advice! Just like other subjects/topics (religion and politics) your wedding is not the subject of Christmas dinner, unless you want it to be.

Many will give you advice or ask questions to which you may not know the answer. We all have that one friend who thinks they can do anything after one glass of wine and that includes planning YOUR wedding…it is okay. Grandma may tell you what you are planning is not etiquette appropriate…it is okay.  Many questions and comments will arise that may make you want to pull your hair out! This can cause unwanted stress and tension in the family… this is not okay.

My advice to you is to stay calm and try to avoid wedding talk (unless you want to). The discussion has a tendency to get out of hand. Asking if your niece would like to be the flower girl is fine. You asking the questions is fine. The issues tend to arise when family and friends bombard you with questions you do not know the answer to and/or advice you may not want, delivered in a way you definitely do not need.

Phrases to practice:

“My planner has it under control.” “My planner knows the answers.” “I will ask my planner about that.”

The last thing you want is to get into a discussion about YOUR wedding that causes strife or stress in the family…not to mention worry on your part.

Keep it light and have fun with family and friends. Answer what you want and if you do not know the answer…I do!