Being engaged is a really happy time in your life, but planning a wedding can make that time a lot more stressful. Trying to put together a huge party that makes your wedding dreams come true and won’t leave you in debt is overwhelming and can sometimes even feel impossible. You’ll also get a lot of advice thrown at you, but there are some things people forget to bring up.

As someone who recently got married and spent a year and a half planning a (successful!) wedding, I can tell you that there are a few things you absolutely need to keep in mind throughout the entire process, even if you haven’t heard about them already. These will keep you calm and relaxed, which is the attitude you want during this busy time.