3 Soft Planning Tips from a Mindful Wedding Planner
For couples who want a meaningful wedding without the overwhelm
Planning a wedding can be A LOT — even when you’re excited. Between the to-do lists, decisions, and expectations from others (as well as figuring out the darn budget!), it’s easy to feel scattered, stressed, or overwhelmed. As a wedding planner who values intention and calm over chaos and perfection, I truly believe there’s a gentler (and more enjoyable!) way.
These three soft planning tips are here to help you move through the process with more ease, more clarity, and less pressure — no spreadsheets required ;) (although I love a good spreadsheet!)
1. Start with how you want the day to feel
Before you dive into the logistics, take a moment to reflect:
What do we want this day to feel like — for us and our guests?
What moments do we want to remember most?
Your answers can help shape everything from the timeline to the décor to the way you interact with vendors and everyone in between. Instead of aiming for a “perfect” wedding (is there really such a thing?!), you’re creating a day that actually reflects what matters most to you - while also enjoying the planning process and your engagement.
Tip: Write down 3–5 feeling words (like relaxed, joyful, intimate) and use those as a filter when making decisions.
2. Make space in your schedule — and your head
Planning a wedding on top of everyday life can easily become overwhelming, especially if you have a demanding job. Try to build in small systems that give you breathing room:
Set “planning hours” (maybe Sundays only or 30 minutes a night).
Batch tasks instead of doing things piecemeal.
Don’t be afraid to pause if you’re hitting a wall or just feeling overwhelmed
Even little boundaries like this can go a long way toward keeping things manageable and fun again
Tip: Schedule a day or weekend where you don’t talk or think about the wedding at all. Rest counts as progress.
3. Let go of “should”
There’s no one way to do this — and you’re allowed to skip, simplify, or reimagine anything that doesn’t feel right for you. You don’t have to follow every tradition or please every person involved. You’re allowed to make choices that align with who you are and what feels true to you as a couple. (And yes, taking a social media break can help immensely)
So…
Want a kick-ass playlist instead of a band?
Want to keep the guest list small?
Want to ditch the cake altogether? and so on and so on :)
All of that is okay!
The more aligned your decisions are, the less pressure you’ll feel to get it “right” — because it is right for you.
Planning a wedding doesn’t have to mean losing your peace, or your mind, for that matter.
At Imperfectly Planned, I help couples slow down, find clarity, and create weddings that feel meaningful, personal, and completely their own — without the stress of doing it all alone.
If that sounds like the kind of support you’re looking for, I’d love to help you bring your vision to life — in a way that feels calm, intentional, and true to you.
