Wedding Tasks You Should Tackle Over The Holidays

While it may seem counterintuitive to busy yourself with wedding planning during your Christmas break, setting some time aside to tackle a few items on your wedding to-do list can end up saving you a little bit of money (and a lot of stress) in the long run.

We've compiled a list of simple tasks you can easily tackle over the holidays while still enjoying much needed time off with your family and friends.

1. Search for deals The holiday season always brings holiday savings. You can expect to see sales at larger online wedding vendors such as Wedding Paper Divas or Minted on favours, stationery and items like personalized stamps and tags. If you're looking for handmade, one of a kind items, certain Etsy shops also have holiday sales, so be sure to dig a little for deals. Bridal accessories such as shoes are typically on sale during the holidays. Many brands market their sales towards Christmas parties and New Year's Eve bashes, so if you're not looking for a shoe labelled as specifically 'bridal', you can find tons of gorgeous heels and flats at reasonable prices.

2. Look for bridesmaids' dresses Unconventional bridesmaids' dresses are everywhere in the lead up to Christmas party season. December is actually the best month to score deals on sequined numbers and vividly-coloured dresses meant for holiday fetes. Consider outfitting your girls in mismatched dresses since it may be a little difficult to find the same dress in multiple sizes around Christmas. The plus side of this is that each bridesmaid can find a dress that really suits her. Searching for dresses can be a full-day outing, so plan it accordingly and be sure to make it a fun get together. Think: weekend brunch and shopping!

3. Book your hair and makeup trial What better time to book your formal hair and makeup trial than during the Christmas season? You'll be able to test-drive your look during an office Christmas party, or a New Year's Eve gala. It won't look out of place in either formal setting, and you'll get an idea of what worked throughout the long night and what you may need to change. Work functions tend to have a professional photographer snapping photos of attendees, so take advantage of this and examine how your hair and makeup look in professional shots.

4. Map out which wedding shows to attend The beginning of the new year brings a slew of bridal shows. January is the top month for the biggest and best shows of the year, but trying to decide which ones to attend can be overwhelming. Taking a little time to research can save you a lot of headache in the end. Search for popular annual shows around your area and go through their vendor lists to see if the companies attending jive with your overall wedding vision and budget. Narrow down some of your favourite vendors and only attend the shows you think will benefit you. You'll also want to consider who you want to invite to attend the shows with you. We don't recommend bringing your entire bridal party since wedding shows are typically busy and crowded. Instead choose a few key people who are organized and can help you with the decision-making process.

5. Get started on DIY projects Starting your DIY projects around the holiday season is a great idea since most people are already crafting holiday decor and gifts around this time and certain supplies are likely to be on sale or generous in variety. Wedding projects such as favour packaging and escort cards can be done over the Christmas break with your bridal party. If you're planning on baking goods for your favours, it would also be a great time to test your recipes out.

Wedding planning over the already hectic holiday season doesn't have to be maddening. If you follow our suggestions, you can save time and money, and even enjoy some extra memorable moments with your loved ones.