Unless you’re eloping with just you and your partner, chances are there are a lot of outside influences when it comes to planning your wedding. Not to mention, wedding planning is already stressful in itself! Amidst all the chaos, you might be asking yourself “What should I prioritize on my wedding day?”. Let’s take a minute or two to talk about what’s really important on your big day. 

The wedding featured on this post has also been featured on We Do. We Did.

What shouldn’t I prioritize on my wedding day?

Let’s start off by saying this - there are definitely some things weddings shouldn’t be all about. Of course, everyone has their personal preferences, but there are some things that overall, most couples shouldn’t put too much emphasis on. What are some of those things?

Traditions you don’t believe in

I’m definitely not encouraging you to skip everything traditional for your wedding, just the things you personally don’t align with! Remember, just because people have been doing it for years, doesn’t mean you have to as well. Stressed about having a wedding party? You don’t have to have one! Think the garter toss is a little awkward? You can totally skip it. Heck, why not come up with your OWN unique wedding traditions!

Being too trendy

Now, this one is kind of the opposite of skipping traditions. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good Pinterest-inspired wedding. But the keyword is “inspired”! Just because something is on Pinterest, doesn’t mean you should feel pressured to do it. And most of the time, Pinterest can set some pretty unrealistic expectations for your wedding. As hard as you might try, your setup, decor, or color palette probably isn’t going to look exactly like how the inspo pic looks online. So if you’re going to get inspired by photos on social media, try to use them as an overall theme or vibe that you want to go for. This will help you not get caught up in trying to stage everything just how you saw it on an app. 

Other people’s opinions

I know that Aunt Sally thinks she’s an expert wedding planner with all the tips she’s trying to give you, but guess what? The only opinions that matter on your wedding day are those of you and your partner. Everybody and their mother are going to try and give you their two sense on how they think your day should go. And some people might give you some AMAZING advice! But if you don’t agree with something, don’t feel guilty for not taking it into account. If you plan your wedding based on what everyone else wants, you’ll end up feeling burnt out, defeated, and overwhelmed with the process. 

What should I prioritize on my wedding day?

Now that we’ve got all the things you shouldn’t prioritize out of the way, time to move onto what you should! Of course, there are going to be other personal things that are important to you for your wedding day. But these are just some overall priorities to keep in mind. 

You and your relationship

When you’re overwhelmed with planning your wedding, sometimes you can forget why you’re getting married in the first place. Take this time to reflect on how far you’ve come as a couple, take a little trip together, or schedule your engagement session! Remember, this time period is such a special one, and you’ll go through so many stages together as a couple. So be sure to cherish this one! 

The celebration of commitment and promises you’re making to one another

As someone who’s been married for quite some time, marriage is no joke. It’s also one of the most important commitments you could ever make. And when you’re marrying the love of your life, that commitment is so exciting! You’re promising to love them, be by their side, and spend the rest of your life with them. And once you start focusing on that, all the little things don’t matter much anymore. 

The joy of your marriage to come 

What goals do you have as a couple? Are you moving in together after you get married? Maybe you're relocating to a different area? Are you going to try and start a family? The possibilities are endless when you have your partner by your side, and I’m sure there are things you both are looking forward to. Getting married isn’t just about your wedding day, it’s about all the adventures you’ll embark on as a couple! 

All in all, you should be creating a celebration that reflects who you are as a couple. There might be a lot of other opinions interjected, but remember, no one is going to value this day as much as you and your partner will. So the next time you feel overwhelmed during the wedding planning process, ask yourself “What should I prioritize on my wedding day?” and think about what’s important to you. 

Need a photographer for your big day?

I would love to chat with you about what vision you have for your day. To inquire about your date, you can fill out my contact form and I’ll get back to you ASAP. In the meantime,  I would love for your to check out my post "Is A Professional Wedding Photographer Worth It?"!