This week’s {aPRettySocialBride} is a guest post by fellow bride-to-be, Andrea Shifflet. Like me, Andrea is on a budget. Unlike me, Andrea is a lot more laid back when it comes to planning her big day, so I figured she would be perfect to provide some insight on how she’s been able to keep her sanity in the process. After all, I need it! Don’t you?

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I’m not your typical bride in that I haven’t been dreaming about my wedding day since birth (gasp!). My laid back attitude about the whole process has lead to some eye-rolling from my friends and family, but it has also kept me from overspending and stressing out.

Here are 10 ways I’ve kept my sanity during the process:

1. Keep the guest list low. We’re inviting only those who we really want to share this moment with. Our guest list is less than 100 which saved us money on food and drinks.
2. Choose a simple color scheme. I picked black and white for two reasons: (1) My bridesmaids ease of finding a dress they will ACTUALLY wear again, and (2) I can’t mess up decorating in black and white right?
3. Pick a multi-functional venue. We chose the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts to hold the ceremony and reception. This makes it easy for guests and easy for me to deal with problems that may arise that day. Plus, we got a great price since we did a combo deal.
4. Beg, borrow and steal. I’ve put the word out to friends and family about my black and white theme, and one of my co-workers graciously donated items I will be using as part of my centerpieces. Total cost: $0.
5. Do it yourself. I designed my own save-the-dates, invitations and programs and will be printing them at work for a minimal cost. Our save-the-dates printed for $8. I also made my own card box (because I can’t stand the weird traditional bird cage thing) for a cost of $15.
6. Opt for a small photography package. One of my bridesmaids does photography on the side, so we decided to hire a photographer for just a few hours. I had a hard time finding one who had my date open and was willing to only do a few hours, but I finally found someone. As a bonus, I get TWO photographers! Total cost: $500
7. Hire a day-of planner. It hit me that there are so many details that need to get done the day-of that I won’t be around for. I didn’t want the burden to fall on family or friends, so I decided to hire day-of wedding planners, and it’s the single best investment I have made to date. They’ve already been a life saver in getting logistics figured out and ensuring that they will take care of all the crazy things that will happen that day. For the ease of mind I will have, the price tag of $750 is worth it!
8. Ask questions. Other brides are very eager to share their knowledge, so visit wedding forums like those on weddingwire.com for good advice. I posted a question and received 10 responses within minutes, so use your online resources to your advantage.
9. Start early. I’ve been chipping away at things ever since I got engaged so that when it came down to the last month I didn’t have a ton of last minute decisions. Often, brides make a decision solely because there’s not enough time to look at other options, which will cost you money in the end. Plus, you won’t be draining your bank account all at once if you spread out the planning.
10. Stay level-headed. I’ve had one too many brides tell me to elope because the wedding planning process is so difficult, so make sure to relax and enjoy this portion of your engagement. A laid-back attitude can go a long way when dealing with mishaps. And I promise you’ll have them!

Are there other ways you’ve been able to keep your sanity in the wedding planning process? Share them here!

*Andrea (@CSCAndrea) is the communications specialist at Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg, Ill. She is an Illinois State University alumna (go Redbirds!) and enjoys incorporating new PR strategies into the education sector.