Preparing for marriage is more than just planning a wedding—you’re planning a life. Some of the biggest decisions will happen as during your wedding planning, like combining financial accounts, adjusting names, writing wills and establishing retirement funds. One of the major, and more immediate, life changes many engaged couples face is buying a home together. This is the home where you’ll make your first memories as a married couple, and though you probably won’t live in this house forever, you want it to be as perfect as possible from the start.
That being said—if the idea of house hunting and wedding planning at the same time makes you break out in a cold sweat—you’re not alone. Here are a few ways to navigate these major life changes with minimal stress and confident decisions.
Choosing a new home while choosing a wedding venue
Your upcoming wedding is the start of your next big adventure. However, the pressure of finding and, most importantly, securing the perfect venue can lead to stress and anxiety. Your distress might be intensified if, at the same time, you are also looking for a new home.
There is good news! Searching for the ideal backdrop for your nuptials means you are already in analysis mode. You probably created a wishlist for your venue, so why not use the same strategy for house hunting? And, just like a wedding venue, you have a house-buying budget so start off by only looking for what you can afford. Honing your search in on homes that fit your criteria and budget will help reduce the feeling of being overwhelmed by options.
Did you hire a wedding coordinator? Just like the person you’re relying on to help secure a location, caterer, musicians and florist, you can also hire a realtor to direct your search. Let them do the heavy lifting for you. A realtor can take all the research and hunting off your plate, only bringing you into the loop when a real opportunity arises.
Renovating Before Moving In
Whether you’re buying a new place or moving into your significant other’s house, you may want to update a few things before you settle in. Outdated kitchens, teal and pink bathrooms, bedrooms with shag carpeting—many newlyweds decide to remodel their new home before moving in.
The major stress here—money. Setting aside funds for the ceremony and reception, while also investing money into your new home, can feel like you’re breaking the bank. In San Francisco, a kitchen remodel alone can cost between $23,586 – $50,209 and take anywhere from 7 weeks to 2 months to complete. One of the best ways to reduce the stress of conducting home improvements while planning a wedding is to hire a contractor. If you want to make sure the project is completed so you can cross the threshold on time, it’s important to be certain your contractor is reliable, timely and resourceful. Ask friends and neighbors for recommendations, conduct thorough interviews and check references. Play an active role in drafting or approving construction plans and learn all you can about contracts. If finances are a concern, be sure to compare bids from multiple contractors and talk with them about paying for the work in installments.
Planning a Stress-Free Move
If packing boxes while you’re planning a seating chart sounds like responsibility overload, there are ways you can reduce the stress. Hire movers or bribe your friends with food and drink to come to your aid. While movers can be the more expensive choice, they can handle the packing, loading, moving and unloading with as much or as little of your assistance as you want to give. Organizing for your new home is a lot like organizing for your wedding—create a checklist that includes due dates, timelines and goals to help you stay on track.
Giving in to feelings of stress during this time will only make an already demanding time seem much worse. Practicing positive coping mechanisms and avoiding negative ones will help create a smooth path to your wedding and your new home.
Article provided by Medina at dogetiquette.info