The Wedding Planning Shortcut: 7 Decisions You Can Make Now That Will Save You Major Stress Later

(Because you’re not just planning a day—you’re planning how it feels.)

Planning a wedding can feel like trying to juggle flaming swords while learning a new language… blindfolded… on a moving horse.

Okay maybe not that dramatic. But still—there’s a lot.

Everyone’s got an opinion. Your Pinterest board has 48 tabs. Your fiancé just wants to elope in Moab with In-N-Out, and you’re over here trying to pick between ivory and off-white.

So let’s make it simple.

These 7 decisions aren’t fancy, flashy, or overly complicated.
They’re the ones couples always wish they’d made earlier.
The ones that shape your timeline, your photos, and your entire experience.

Ready? Let’s bring some peace into this chaos.

1. Decide Your Top 3 Priorities (Together)

Before you book a venue, order florals, or spiral into linen samples you can’t pronounce—ask yourselves:

“What do we want to remember most about this day?”

Is it the people? The photos? The feeling of calm? The dance floor?

The exact moment your grandma does the worm at the reception?

Whatever it is—name it. Together.

Because once you know your top 3 priorities, everything else gets clearer.

You stop losing sleep over charger plate options or whether eucalyptus is “too 2019.” You spend your energy on what actually matters to you.

Pam and Jim had a Niagara Falls boat ride and a secret ceremony on the side.

Schmidt and Cece had a power outage, a panic, and still ended up under string lights on a rooftop.

Lily and Marshall got married in the rain—with a surprise serenade and no regrets. Not one of them had a “perfect” day.

They had a true one. One that felt like them.

This isn’t about having the “best” wedding.

It’s about having the one that’s most you.

And the sooner you figure out what that looks like, the more peaceful (and way more fun) planning becomes.

2. Pick Your Ceremony Time Based on Light—Not Just Tradition

Here’s a little wedding planning secret most couples don’t know:
Your ceremony time is a photography decision as much as it is a scheduling one.

The light matters. A lot.

If you’re getting married outdoors, when you say “I do” isn’t just about the time that looks good on an invitation. It’s about what kind of light you’ll be standing in when one of the most meaningful moments of your life happens.

2 p.m.? Harsh overhead light. Squinting. Shadows under the eyes. Washed-out colors.
Golden hour (that dreamy hour before sunset)? Soft. Warm. Flattering.
It wraps around you. It glows behind you. It turns real moments into timeless ones.

That shift in time?
It can literally change the entire feel of your photos.

This isn’t about being picky—it’s about setting you up to look and feel your best when it counts.
You don’t need to know how to chase light.
That’s my job. And it’s a big part of why the photos matter.

So before you lock in a ceremony time, talk to your photographer (me or whoever you choose).
Look at the location, the direction of the sun, and the season.

Plan it like someone who knows this day deserves more than just a pretty setup.
Because light tells the story—and the right light makes yours unforgettable.

3. Decide Early If You Want a First Look

This one affects your entire timeline.

Do you want to see each other before the ceremony, just the two of you?
Or do you want the first look to be walking down the aisle?

Neither answer is wrong. But you need to decide early—because it shapes how the whole day flows.

Bonus?
Couples who do a first look often say it calmed their nerves and gave them space to breathe before the chaos kicked in.

And let’s be real—having more time together on your wedding day is never a bad thing.

4. Make Your Family Photo List Now—Trust Me

If you wait until the day-of, it’s going to be chaos.

People disappear. Emotions run high. You forget the one combo you really wanted.

Sit down and write out the groupings that matter. Add names. Keep it simple. Prioritize the must-haves.

That 10 minutes of planning now?

Saves you 30 minutes and 4 family meltdowns later.

5. Choose a Getting Ready Space That Actually Feels Good

This is the most overlooked detail—and it makes a huge difference.

Look for:

Natural light

Enough space to move

Calm energy (aka not a frat house)

You’re going to spend hours in this space. And your photos? They start here.
Give yourself a setting that sets the tone.

6. Assign a Runner (Not You)

You know that moment when someone can’t find the rings? Or someone needs to get Grandma to the front row? Or the cake is here but no one knows where to put it?

You shouldn’t be solving that.

Pick someone—a friend, cousin, planner, anyone—not in your bridal party who can be the go-to problem solver.

Your only job on your wedding day should be experiencing it.

7. Plan 10 Minutes Alone Right After the Ceremony

I once watched a couple slip away right after their ceremony. No announcement. No crowd following. Just a quiet exit through the side of the chapel as the music faded and people began to clap.

They didn’t run to the photographer.
They didn’t check their phones.
They didn’t ask what was next.

They just held hands and walked—barefoot, through the back garden, into a patch of sun that hit at just the right angle like it was planned by something bigger than a timeline.

And they stopped.

Didn’t talk. Didn’t pose.
They just stood there—foreheads resting together, eyes closed like they were catching up with their hearts.

Because when everything else was spinning—guests laughing, playlists queuing, champagne popping—they knew the real moment wasn’t happening out there.

It was here.
The breath after the vows.
The space between “I do” and “we’re really doing this.”
The very first second of marriage.

There were no photos.
No applause.
No performance.

And yet—it was the most sacred moment of the day.

That ten minutes? It won’t make the highlight reel.
But it’ll live in them longer than any toast or dress or floral arrangement ever could.

So build that moment in.
Take the walk.
Sit in the car.
Hide in the corner with your soda or your person or both.

Whatever you do—make space for it.
Because no one else will notice if you don’t.

But you’ll remember it forever if you do.

Final Thought:

You don’t have to plan your wedding perfectly.

You just have to protect the moments that matter most.

These decisions? They’re little things that make a big difference.

They bring peace, intention, and breathing room to a day that flies by fast.

And I want that for you.