5 Wedding Tips to Stay Calm and Enjoy Your Big Day

Planning a wedding can feel like juggling swords while riding a unicycle on a tightrope. The journey to saying “I do” is rarely a stress-free walk in the park. If you’ve been Googling “Wedding tips” in a desperate bid to regain sanity, you’re not alone.

Don’t fret, dear reader: wedding overwhelm is survivable. So dive into my five tips to help you sail through the chaos and remember what’s really important.

1. Delegate Like a CEO

One bride does not a wedding make. And yet, many of us (yes, even you, perfectionists!) insist on micromanaging every ribbon and canapé. Here’s the truth bomb: delegating is a survival strategy.

Ask your friend who’s oddly obsessed with spreadsheets to take charge of seating plans. Enlist your artsy cousin to create the welcome sign. Give your mum the task of calling suppliers with questions that only she could dream up. People want to help; let them! Your inner control freak might have a mini-meltdown, but letting go means you’ll actually enjoy the process—and keep your sanity intact. I wish I’d done this when we got married! 

Pro Tip: Hiring a planner or on-the-day coordinator might just be the best investment you make (other than that dreamy photographer).

2. Say No to the Pinterest Paralysis

Ah, Pinterest: the land of impossibly perfect weddings where mason jars and fairy lights reign supreme. While a little inspo is good, drowning in a sea of mood boards can lead to an acute case of wedding comparisonitis.

Instead of aiming for ‘Pinterest-perfect,’ focus on ‘you-perfect.’ What genuinely represents you as a couple? If it’s a laid-back barn vibe with local ales, lean into it. If it’s a glitzy black-tie affair in a stately home, go full glam. Forget the pressure to DIY 700 origami cranes—choose what feels authentic and enjoyable.

Pro Tip: Pick three Pinterest images you actually love and build from there. Any more than three and you’re on a slippery slope to “wedding overwhelm city.” 

3. Create a Non-Negotiables List

Spoiler alert: You can’t have it all. But you can have the things that matter most. Sit down with your partner and list three to five non-negotiables for your big day. Maybe it’s killer live music, a top-notch photographer, or an open bar that’ll keep everyone dancing until midnight.

Once you’ve nailed these priorities, let go of the rest. No one’s going to notice if the napkins are ivory rather than pink. Seriously. By focusing on what’s important, you’ll feel less pressure to make every tiny detail perfect.

4. Remember: It’s a Party, Not a Performance

Somewhere along the line, weddings have, at times, become less about love and more about putting on a show. But let’s be honest: do you really care about choreographing a TikTok-worthy first dance or impressing your bestie’s plus-one?

Reframe your mindset. Your wedding is about celebrating love, joy, and commitment—not about meeting the unrealistic expectations of Instagram. Dance like no one’s watching (because most people will be at the bar). Trip on your dress? Laugh. A dog crashes the ceremony? Pure magic. The imperfections often make the best memories.

5. Take Breaks (And Keep Perspective)

Planning a wedding can become all-consuming. But—brace yourself for this bombshell—there’s more to life than table linens and floral arrangements. Step away from the planning madness now and then. Go on a date night where you’re banned from talking about the wedding. Take a long walk in the  countryside. Binge-watch your favourite Netflix series.

When things feel overwhelming, zoom out. This is one day in a lifetime of love. The marriage, not the wedding, is what really matters. In 30 years, you’ll laugh about the flower girl who threw a tantrum or the DJ who accidentally played “Baby Shark”.

Pro Tip: If it gets too much, take a deep breath and repeat: “It’s just one day, and at the end of it, I’ll be married to my best friend. Everything else is irrelevant.”

The Final Toast

Wedding overwhelm is real, but it doesn’t have to define your journey to the aisle. With these five tips, you’ll stay grounded and even—dare we say it? happy while planning your big day. Embrace the quirks, trust the process, and remember: you’ve got this.

When I’m not officiating ceremonies as a celebrant, I work as a mindset coach, helping couples navigate not just the logistical challenges of wedding planning but the mindset struggles that often come along for the ride. From dealing with pre-wedding nerves to managing the expectations of well-meaning family members, I’ve seen it all. Couples regularly come to me with challenges tied to their mindset and that of those around them—and trust me, shifting your perspective can make all the difference.

Take heart; your dream wedding is within reach—and you don’t need to lose your mind to make it happen.

Photos by:

Kirsty Mackenzie Photography

Photos from Sophie

Laura Gjuzi