Are you ready to unlock the secrets to a stress-free wedding planning experience? Insights from a celebrant and a wedding photographer provide invaluable advice for engaged couples. Discover the first tip on focusing on your relationship and the final wisdom on emphasizing what truly matters to you. This article compiles five expert insights to guide couples towards their dream wedding.
- Focus on Your Relationship
- Prioritize What Matters Most
- Plan the Wedding for Yourselves
- Remember the Importance of the Marriage
- Focus on What Matters to You
Focus on Your Relationship
The best piece of advice I can give to engaged couples is this: Take time to focus on your relationship, not just the wedding. Planning a wedding is exciting but can also be stressful. While you’re choosing florals, venues, and playlists, don’t forget to invest in building a strong foundation for your marriage.
One of the most valuable things you can do is participate in Prepare/Enrich Pre-Marriage Sessions. These sessions are designed to help you and your partner strengthen your communication, explore key relationship dynamics, and plan for life after the wedding. Couples often tell me that these sessions feel like a breath of fresh air amid the hustle of wedding planning. They help you realign, reconnect, and set shared goals for your future. It’s not about fixing problems but proactively learning tools to navigate married life with confidence. Plus, it’s a great excuse to press pause and focus on you two as a team!
Julie Muir, Celebrant + Mental Health Advocate, Julie Muir – Celebrant
Prioritize What Matters Most
As someone who eloped and now works as an elopement photographer—I tell people to think about their priorities first and foremost. Whether you’re eloping or having a more traditional wedding, what are the most important elements to your day? Is it food? Is it intimacy? Is it the photos? This will help drive where you invest the most, and also help you weed out some of the overwhelming number of options you will be presented with on your wedding day.
So sit down, make a list, and compare. Then you can start making big decisions and booking vendors!
Rose Groves, owner, Matlai Photography
Plan the Wedding for Yourselves
Plan the wedding of your dreams for yourselves. It really, truly doesn’t matter how much your family and friends want you to do something—it’s your marriage that you’re celebrating! I remember being a bride myself and hearing so much feedback that I never asked for. Not everyone liked how I planned my wedding, and that will be true for you, too.
But as long as you and your future spouse are happy, that’s all that matters. Don’t worry about trends or traditions. Just make sure everything is personal, and you won’t regret it!
Christine Murphy, Wedding Photographer, Christine Hazel Photography
Remember the Importance of the Marriage
I recently got married this past Spring, and as I reflect on my wedding experience, I can’t help but think about how much I wish I could go back and give myself the advice I’ve since learned. Hindsight is 20/20, right?
While my wedding was picture-perfect, the stress leading up to it and some unexpected challenges on the day itself made it difficult to truly be present and enjoy every moment. The most important lesson I took away is that the wedding day itself isn’t the end goal—it’s the fact that you’re getting married, which is what really matters.
As a relationship counselor and coach with nearly a decade of experience working with couples in the early years of their relationship—whether living together, engaged, or newly married—I bring both my personal and professional expertise to help couples get aligned on what they truly want from their wedding celebration.
I recommend finding ways to make the planning process fun and connecting, simplifying where possible, and always remembering that the real focus should be on the fact that you’re getting married, not just the celebration or the day itself.
I’d love to share my perspective on how couples can stay grounded during wedding planning, avoid unnecessary stress, and build a stronger connection throughout the process.
Alexa Gelles, Relationship Counsellor & Coach, MAC, RCC, Alexa Gelles Counselling
Focus on What Matters to You
The best wedding planning advice I can give is to focus on what really matters to you as a couple. Sit down together, decide on your top priorities—whether that’s the venue, food, or photos—and let those guide your decisions. Set a realistic budget early on, stick to it, and remember to leave room for unexpected expenses. Start planning as soon as possible, especially when booking key vendors, and don’t try to do everything yourself. Delegate tasks to family or friends you trust, or hire a coordinator if you can.
Keep your guest list manageable—it’s okay to only invite the people who truly matter to you. Create a planning timeline to stay organized, and make sure you don’t overpack the schedule on the big day. You’ll want time to actually enjoy it! If you’re having an outdoor wedding, have a backup plan for the weather, and always keep your guests’ comfort in mind with thoughtful touches like blankets or fans.
Most importantly, don’t stress over every little detail. Something might go off track, but chances are, no one will notice. Take a few quiet moments with your partner to soak it all in. This day is about celebrating your love, not perfection. At the end of it all, it’s your marriage that matters most—not the flowers, the seating chart, or anything else. Keep that in mind, and you’ll have a beautiful day no matter what!
Korbin Henderson, Owner, KDH Weddings