u/Chalulah

I'm on Week 2 and found my Artist date from Week 1 a bit frustrating - I've been reflecting on what I can learn from it to bring into this week...

I live in the city and planned to visit a portraiture gallery for creative inspiration. The gallery bit was really inspiring. But it ended up being really long and exhausting day overall.

My bus was delayed - and by the time I arrived, I was hungry. After eating, I got distracted on seeing shops that I needed to visit. I spent way too long in the shops, exhausted myself, and then needed to find a cafe to use the toilet and get a coffee before I could even get to the gallery! I was also overthinking everything and spending time looking things up on my phone. I eventually ran out of battery! It was so stressful! I also got lost on the way home

I kept thinking the whole time, what would my inner child want? But I found myself struggling with the practical needs of food, toilet and rest - before we could even get to the good stuff. I felt like an anxious parent rather than a playful, curious child!

It is disappointing because when I did The Artist Way before, I remember feeling so fulfilled and inspired on my first date - a trip to the city to see a documentary screening. Whereas this just felt hectic and exhausting.

I've been thinking about how to be better prepared next time. Or even avoiding the city after it ended up so distracting and overstimulating. I have enjoyed little trips to local cafes, walks in the woods etc.

I wonder if I also need to take off the pressure somehow? A few people here have also mentioned needing to embrace the good and bad dates. And working on creating more safety for their inner child to play + explore. I have ADHD and can struggle to focus, so think maybe a simpler plan or destination might be better for me, so I don't need to think as much!

Has anyone else had any learnings that emerged from disappointing experiences on their artist dates?

Hi, I’ve left it a bit late but I’m trying to find a local recommendation for a hair stylist for the morning of my wedding.

I’m happy to go to a salon but most open 9am earliest, so anyone who can come to my flat SE15, or the venue BR3 would be great. I have considered mobile apps like Wecasa but with this I can’t choose the person and would be worried about the quality, hence preferring word of mouth.

Let me know if you have any recommendations of local stylists who are freelance or might be flexible on time!

Edit: forgot to mention, ideally would be starting around 8.30am, imagine it’d take 1.5h max and I want a more natural look.

Hi there,

I am feeling undecided about whether or not to book a coordinator.

Our wedding is 7 weeks away and I decided to explore the option as I was feeling a little anxious, and got a quote back from someone who seems really reliable and experienced for ~£800, but I can't decide whether to go forward. My fiancé doesn't think we need one, and that we can just delegate across family and friends.

From what I've seen, Reddit is very pro-coordinator, so I'd really appreciate a balanced take from those who have both hired coordinators or gone without for weddings that were similar to ours:

- It's a DIY wedding in a dry-hire venue

- Many of our 'suppliers' are friends (DJ, cake, photographer and even the bar), so there's definitely a community feel to it all

- The venue staff seem up for helping and are used to managing room changeovers

- The caterers and electrics are basically 'preferred' suppliers and have done multiple events at the venue, so know what they're doing

My fiancé and his family are very 'just get stuck in' sort of people, which I love. And our friends generally seem open and eager to help. So I'm worried that bringing in a coordinator is an unnecessary formality. A few friends who didn't hire coordinators said they delegated to friends and family and took a 'laissez faire' attitude on the day. It's also money that we haven't budgetted for.

While I think we could absolutely manage with this approach, our draft schedule already suggests we're gonna need people's help with or without a coordinator. Because we're already asking a lot in the days leading up to (flower arranging, set-up), I'd prefer if my friends and family could just enjoy the day. A coordinator would take some of those responsibilities off them a little (e.g. schedules, getting things out at the right time etc.)

So it feels like the options are:

1. Spend extra time putting together a really strong schedule and delegation list, lean on friends to show up and do their tasks (I do trust them)

2. Splash out and still do the above, but with a bit less pressure on family/friends needing to execute this or keep track of things.

What do you think - should I go for it and just splash out, or save the money and lean on friends and family a bit more?