Wedding planning - it always sounds so glamorous and exciting. How can it not with all of the images, advice, resources, and opinions that are thrown your way as soon as you get engaged? It all can get really overwhelming really fast. And somehow your wedding becomes about everyone else at your wedding but you. Which seems like the exact opposite of where you want to focus.

So how’s wedding planning going?

No, really. We want to know! Send us a message and let us know what you’re loving or struggling with. Maybe we’ll be able to help out in some way. Outside of photographing your wedding, one of our biggest goals is to be a good resource for all of our couples.

Planning a wedding is a lot of work…it can be complicated and overwhelming. And it always seems like everyone has an opinion about what you should be doing, when you should be doing it, and how you should be doing it. (Especially if your best friend or one of your siblings has recently gotten married.) What vendors should you book first? How much should you spend on it? What colors are the right colors for your venue? What time should your ceremony happen so that your guests don’t wait too long for dinner?

There’s one word that keeps popping up: should. In our world that’s not a nice word. It sets unrealistic expectations and puts so much pressure on our couples and that’s just not something we agree with. SHOULD – YUCK. You know what we say to that?

“Don’t should on me.”

Now, bear with us; we’re going to say something a little crazy here. What happens if you started wedding planning with no expectations going into it? If no one was whispering in your ear what to do, but instead you could focus on what’s really important to you and your fiance, like actually getting married? What if you were able to put blinders on and really truly, make a list with your fiance of what’s important, and what you want to focus on and forget about what everyone else is telling you that you should be doing?

Wedding planning just might be enjoyable.

And fun. Probably a little glamorous. In our opinion, that’s the way to go. Because you’re marrying your person. Your lobster. Your very best friend. The human you can’t live without.

It seems like in today’s world, as soon as you get engaged there are a certain set of wedding planning resources that immediately pop up all over your social media accounts. You know the ones we’re talking about. The ones where you download an app to keep you on track, but it winds up giving you anxiety instead. And don’t forget about the ones where you log on to look at one thing, and then get spammed uncontrollably for the rest of the day.

What would you think if we told you there are other resources out there to help you plan your wedding?

Real, down to earth, could be your best friend, resources. Resources that don’t put all of that stress on you, but instead are aimed at taking the stress off your shoulders? Because it’s true. They do exist. And in our experience, sometimes those resources are the best ones. They’re like a breath of fresh air. They do exist, and we’re going to share some of my favorites with you today. In the hopes that maybe, they won’t should on you, but instead let you relax and enjoy a little bit.

Less-Stressful Wedding Planning Resources

1. Arizona Bridal Source

If Arizona Bridal Source sounds a little familiar, or you think you’ve seen it somewhere, that’s because you likely have, especially here in Phoenix. It’s actually a completely local wedding planning website and magazine run by a local wedding planner, and one that I absolutely love. Not only is it full of all kinds of amazing inspiration and ideas, but it’s also focused on all LOCAL vendors.

2. Offbeat Bride

Maybe Game of Thrones and Lord of the Rings are inspiring your wedding day, or you dream of having a wedding gown that’s inspired by your favorite novel. Are you planning something that’s not necessarily a “traditional” wedding day? Offbeat Bride is the place for you. Their advice column is top-notch, and they include so many different kinds of inspirational photos and photographers for their couples to look through.

3. A Practical Wedding

If you’re looking for the most amount of real weddings and advice that’s run by an amazing, unapologetic woman, this is where you’ll want to head. I love all of the no-nonsense information that Meg and her team has put together over the years. And the fact that they address things that aren’t just wedding related is the cherry on top for me.

Hopefully, hopefully you’ll find this list helpful. And really, truly, we would love to hear all about how your wedding planning is going. If there’s anything at all that we can do to help take some stress off your shoulders, just let us know. =)