A Bride’s Look Back: Wedding Planning Tips to Guide Your Journey

Embarking on the journey of planning a wedding is both exciting and a little overwhelming. From envisioning the perfect ceremony to orchestrating every intricate detail of the reception, the process can sometimes feel like a lot to handle. Yet, amidst the endless checklists and decisions, there’s so much joy along the way. With the right mindset, thoughtful planning, and the help of trusted professionals, your dream of a perfect wedding becomes not only possible, but truly memorable.

In this post, I’m sharing wedding planning tips from our own experience—lessons, insights, and little reminders that made the entire process smoother, more meaningful, and even more enjoyable.

Wedding Planning Tips to Guide Your Journey

After all the excitement of dreaming and envisioning comes the part where planning truly begins. It may seem like a monumental task, but breaking it down into manageable steps can make the process smoother. Think of it less as one massive project and more as a series of small, meaningful milestones. With each decision, you’ll move closer to your dream day. Here are few practical tips to help guide your journey.

1. Start Early, Set Your Budget, and Define Priorities

One of the first and most important steps in wedding planning is setting a clear budget and identifying your priorities. Decide what matters most—whether it’s the venue, photography, catering, or entertainment. This will help guide your choices and prevent your from overspending.

In our case, the ceremony and reception venue, wedding coordinator, and photography/videography were our top priorities. They were the first three suppliers we booked.

Starting early also gives you the best chance to secure your dream venue and suppliers. The earlier you start, the less stressful it will be as the big day approaches. We started visiting venues just a week after the proposal and had seven months to prepare. Thankfully, our chosen venue made an exception and allowed us a weekend slot, even though they normally don’t permit it for non-members during that time.

2. Choose the Right Wedding Vendors

Your suppliers will shape the overall wedding experience, so take time to do your research. Meet with potential photographers, caterers, florists, and other vendors to see if they align with your vision and personality. Wedding fairs can be a great place to compare prices and options. Just remember to stay cautious, as scams unfortunately do exist. Check reviews, ask for recommendations, and take time to pray about your choices before making any commitments.

I’m so grateful to the person who introduced me to a Facebook group called WaWies by Weddings At Work. That community was such a blessing, everyone was so generous in sharing their experiences and supplier recommendations. Their honest insights truly helped me narrow down my options and find the right team for our wedding. 

3. Create a Wedding Timeline and Stay Organized

Map out the months leading up to your wedding with clear milestones, such as booking suppliers, sending invitations, dress fittings, and finalizing the guest list. If you hire a wedding coordinator, they often provide a checklist with deadlines, which can be incredibly helpful in keeping you on track.

To stay organized, keep everything in one place—contracts, receipts, and checklists. We used Google Drive with separate folders for each supplier, and our coordinator also had access to it. This made tracking progress so much easier and ensured everyone stayed aligned throughout the process.

4. Consider Hiring a Wedding Coordinator

If planning starts to feel overwhelming, hiring a wedding coordinator can be a game-changer. Even if you opt for a partial or on-the-day coordination package, it’s absolutely worth it. Having someone handle the logistics allows you to focus on enjoying your big day instead of worrying about details.

We personally booked a partial coordination package, and it truly helped us stay on track with timelines and keep things stress-free.

5. Delegate When You Can

Wedding planning is a team effort, you don’t need to do everything alone. Involve family members, friends, or your bridal party in tasks like DIY projects, assembling giveaways, or tracking RSVPs. Sharing the load not only lightens your stress but also helps your loved ones feel more connected and involved in the celebration, making the wedding preparation process even more meaningful.

6. Remember to Enjoy the Process

If there’s one thing to always keep in mind, it’s this—enjoy the process and savor every moment! Wedding planning is a once-in-a-lifetime journey. It can be stressful at times, but don’t let that overshadow the excitement and joy. Celebrate small wins, whether it’s finding the perfect dress or ticking off another task on the checklist. These little moments are part of the beautiful story you’ll one day look back on with so much fondness.

With these strategies, the wedding journey becomes more manageable and enjoyable, setting the stage for a celebration that truly reflects your love story.

When the big day finally arrived, all the spreadsheets, checklists, and late-night planning sessions paid off—thanks to the amazing team who helped bring everything together. Seriously, we couldn’t have done it without them!

So, if you’re wondering who helped turn our dream wedding into reality, here’s a little glimpse behind the scenes and a chance to meet the wonderful team of suppliers who made our celebration truly unforgettable.

If you have any questions or want to share your own wedding planning experience, feel free to leave a comment below or DM me on Instagram @lorismaeshielda—I’d love to connect and chat! 💕

👉 Read next: Our Trusted Wedding Suppliers: A Look Back at Our Destination Wedding