You know that old saying, I wish I knew then what I know now? We are willing to bet every bride could say that when it comes to planning a wedding. Today, we are thrilled to share some real and honest tips from one of our favorite Whim brides, Maura! Read on to find out what she wished she would have known before planning the big day.

When my now-husband and I got engaged, I assumed wedding planning would be a piece of cake! We’d been together for 8 years, so we knew each other’s style, and we’d both worked in the wedding industry before (him as a DJ, me as a day-of coordinator). I thought we would skate through our short planning period and put everyone to shame. I was so, so wrong.

To help you avoid the same shock I had, here are the 5 things I wish I’d known before planning my wedding.

1. It’s okay to ask for help

I know this sounds basic, but if you’re like me, you might want to be superwoman. Ask people to help you! Your friends and family want to help, as long as you don’t chain them to the glue gun for your 500 custom made favor boxes against their will. And don’t be afraid to ask for professional help. You won’t regret it.

2. Calculate the ROI of your time

I love crafting, so I figured I’d be able to put tons of DIY stamps on my wedding. But when it came down to it, I realized that my time + crafting supplies was a greater spend than hiring someone else. This is not to say that you can’t do anything yourself, but choose wisely. Make sure any projects you do mean something to you.

3. The details are for you, not your guests

Our wedding was fantastic, and guests still talk about it. But they don’t talk about the little chair I hid in the woods or the perfect photo booth props I found. They talk about the food, the music, and the overall experience. That being said, I would do all the details over again, but it’s nice to know that you can focus on what you want for those. They are there to make you smile!

4. Spreadsheets are your best friend

So this might be unique to me, but spreadsheets became my best friend during wedding planning. Not only did they help keep everything on budget, they were also a great way to prove to my fiancé and family that yes, this is what things cost, this is where that’s going, and here’s why. If you aren’t a spreadsheet gal yet, embrace your inner data geek and learn to love Excel.

5. Pick a time to stop worrying and stick to it

When you’re in the midst of planning, it can be easy to forget that you’re a person. I am so so so glad that I was able to stop worrying about all the minutia a month out and just enjoy my last few engaged weeks with my fiancé. We had guests coming from across the globe and being able to spend the week leading up to our wedding with them instead of making 300 cake pops like I’d originally planned was well worth it.

In general, lean on your pros and take a deep breath. They know what they’re doing and they’ll make your day everything you and your fiancé have dreamed of. Congratulations, and happy planning!

About the author: Maura FitzDaniel is a proud former Whim bride! She currently blogs and makes paper flowers at www.fleurishpaper.com