5 WEDDING PLANNING tips (from a WEDDING CONTENT CREATOR)

Planning a wedding is so exciting but it also can be super stressful and overwhelming at times. It might even feel like you’ve taken on a full-time job that nothing prepares you for. As a wedding content creator, I’m there for the authentic behind-the-scenes versions of wedding days - the timelines, the preparation on the wedding morning, the chaos, the emotions and everything in between. I have seen what works beautifully and what couple’s wish they did differently. So if you’re planning your wedding day, here are some of my biggest tips to help your day feel smooth, care-free and enjoyable.

Build a Timeline that Breathes.

One of the biggest mistakes I see? Overpacked timelines or timelines without enough buffer time.

If I could give one piece of advice to any bride-to-be, it would be this: allow plenty of time...and then add a little extra between the key components of your day. The last thing you want on the morning of your wedding is to be rushing into your dress and heading to your ceremony feeling flustered.

When designing your timeline, especially for the morning, I would recommend starting with your ceremony time and working backwards from there. I recommend aiming to be getting into your dress at least an hour before your ceremony begins. If you’re getting ready off-site, allow an extra 30+ minutes for travel (and make sure you are allowing time for traffic and some time to prepare once you’re out of your transport). This gives you time to truly soak it all in without the rush. You can get into your dress slowly, capture beautiful photos and videos, maybe plan a first look with your bridesmaids, your partner or a loved one and still have time to breathe before you leave for your happily ever after.

From there, you can work backwards again. A good guide is to allow around an hour per person for hair and the same for makeup - these often happen simultaneously. Depending on your bridal party size, this will help you figure out your start time and even something as simple as when to organize breakfast (because yes… you definitely should eat something on your wedding morning to keep your energy up).

For the rest of your day, make sure you allow enough time between your ceremony, group photos, couple portraits, and your reception. Straight after your ceremony, you’ll want time for hugs and congratulations - this always takes longer than couples expect. Then come group photos, which can also run over if not planned properly.

After that, it’s time for your bridal party and couple portraits—and this is where I see timelines get tight.

As someone who has been a bride who loves photos and videos and whose biggest regret was not allowing enough time for them, (yes, even my own photos were cut short), I can’t stress this enough. If you truly value your photos and footage, I recommend allowing at least 2 hours for bridal party and couple portraits, especially if you’re travelling between locations or planning to include sunset. I know it sounds like a lot, but time moves so quickly between your ceremony and reception. Before you know it, you’ll be getting called back to enter your reception. The last thing I want for my couples is for them to feel rushed during their photo and video time or stressed about running late. After your day has been and gone, all you have left are the photos, videos and content so make sure you allow time to preserve the memories!

Reception timelines vary from couple to couple, but if you’re intending on including speeches, cake cutting, a first dance, parent dances, dinner and dessert - make sure you allow plenty of time towards the end of your reception to let your hair down, party and truly enjoy the night post-formalities. This is especially important if your venue has early night curfews. I personally love the idea of having your first dance open up the reception after the bridal party entry. Followed by dinner almost immediately so guests can remain fed, followed by either all of your speeches or the first half of your speeches. Then you could go into cake cutting next, remaining speeches, parent dances while your cake or dessert is being prepared and then you could officially open the dancefloor! I know this sounds like a lot, but it’s so nice to have all of the pressure of formalities off of your chest and spending as much time dancing and celebrating with your guests and your new husband or wife is so priceless.

The fun part about wedding planning and preparing a timeline is that you can schedule highlights or key events whenever suits you! I have even been to some weddings where cake cutting occurs in cocktail hour!

At the end of the day, if you take anything away from this section it’s to always allow more time than you think. When you allow a decent amount of time, everything changes. You can slow down, be present, actually enjoy being with your partner and your loved ones.

Plan for Moments, not just Events.

A lot of couples plan the big things but forget about the in-between magic.

If you’re someone who shows love through gift giving, this is such a beautiful moment to include in your wedding morning. As a wedding content creator, I’ve seen some incredibly thoughtful ideas like bridal portraits or handwritten letters gifted to the groom, flowers delivered to the bride, a custom tie for dad, bridesmaids creating a book of letters from loved ones to gift to the bride, or even gifting your bridal party matching PJs and keepsakes. These moments are always so full of love, and they create some of the most meaningful memories. My one tip if you know it’s going to be emotional, especially for you as the bride - do this before your makeup.

Another really special moment to consider is a first look. This could be with your partner, your parents, your bridesmaids, or someone close to you. It’s one of the most raw, emotional, and joy-filled parts of the day. The anticipation, the reactions, the happy tears… it’s something you’ll never regret having. Not a fan of seeing each other before the aisle? A first touch is such a sweet alternative. You still get that quiet moment together without giving away the surprise.

If public vows aren’t your thing, private vows are another beautiful option. It’s a chance to slow everything down and really say what you want to say without the pressure of a crowd. The perfect time for this is usually straight after your ceremony, before heading into your bridal party or couple portraits. Just you, your partner, and your photo and video team - nothing else.

And then there are the little extra moments that make your day feel even more you. Things like a champagne tower, cutting your cake before the reception begins, or even sneaking into your reception space together before guests enter - just to take it all in and see everything you’ve spent so long planning.

These are the moments that often end up meaning the most. The ones you don’t rush, the ones you actually feel and the ones you’ll love looking back on. And as a wedding content creator, these are some of my favourite moments to capture and curate into edits for you to relive and rewatch over and over again.

Book a Content Creator and Plan Your Content Ahead of Time.

This is where couples often don’t realise what they’re missing, until it’s too late.

Photographers, videographers, and content creators all capture your day in completely different ways. One of the most common questions I get asked is, “Do I really need a content creator?” My answer will always be yes. I’ve never heard anyone say they regret having too many videos and memories from their wedding day and I don’t think I ever will. One of the biggest misconceptions is that content creators are only for couples who want to post on TikTok. And while we absolutely can create fun trends and transitions, what we really do goes far beyond that. We capture the candid, behind-the-scenes moments - the ones that happen in between everything else. The laughs, the nerves, the quiet little interactions you might not even realize are happening. Then we curate those into something you can relive straight away.

Think: highlights of your day delivered in a format that’s easy to watch, share with loved ones, and come back to again and again. When the day is done, when the memories start to fade, you will always have your content to bring you right back to the day. So you can relive every moment. Relive the day where forever began. Where you can remember how everything felt.

If having those real, unfiltered moments ready to relive within 24 hours matters to you, it’s so important to plan for it ahead of time. That’s why I always give my couples the space to share their vision, their priorities, and anything special they have planned. I’m not just there to take “cute clips” - I’m fully invested in your day and genuinely care about capturing it properly, from every angle. Communication prior to your day is key - of course we will capture as much as humanly possible during our allocated coverage time, but by knowing which parts of your story means the most to you, we can make sure we are there, ready to capture everything you’ve ever dreamed of (and more).

If there are specific moments you want captured, or even fun transitions you’d love to include, make sure you’ve had that conversation with your content creator beforehand. Share inspiration, ideas, and anything that feels like you. And just like anything else in your timeline, if something matters to you, make sure you’ve allowed time for it. That way, nothing feels rushed, and everything flows seamlessly with the rest of your day. Because at the end of the day, it’s not just about having content, it’s about having something that actually lets you feel your day all over again.

Choose a Calming Getting-Ready Space.

Where you get ready on the morning of your wedding sets the tone for your entire day.

It’s not just about convenience; it’s about how the space makes you feel.

If you can, choose somewhere with plenty of natural light, enough room for your bridal party, and a clean, uncluttered environment. It makes such a difference not only for your photos and videos, but for your energy as well. A bright, open space instantly feels calmer. There’s less stress, less chaos, and everything just flows better.

One thing I always notice is how much smoother the morning runs when there’s enough space for everyone including hair and makeup artists, your bridal party, your photographer and content creator. No one is on top of each other, and you’re not trying to squeeze into corners or move things around constantly.

It also means your content turns out beautifully. Soft natural light, neutral backgrounds, and minimal clutter allow the focus to stay on you and the moments that matter most.

And beyond all of that - it just feels better. You can breathe, take your time, and actually enjoy those slow, special moments before everything begins. Your wedding morning deserves to feel calm, not overwhelming

Protect Your Peace and Your Energy.

Your day goes fast. Like… ridiculously fast.

The couples who truly enjoy their wedding the most are the ones who stay present, don’t sweat the small stuff, and trust their vendors.

On the day, things might not go perfectly and that’s okay. Some of the best moments aren’t planned anyway. No matter what happens, the part that truly matters is that you’re marrying the love of your life - your best friend.

Protect your energy at all costs. Block out any negativity and let yourself fully lean into the joy of the day. You’ve worked far too hard to get here not to enjoy every second of it. Take little pauses throughout the day to soak it all in. Walk down the aisle a little slower. Take a breath before you reach your partner. During cocktail hour, look around at all the people you love in one space, celebrating your love story.

And one of my biggest tips—stay with your partner as much as you can. Don’t spend your day apart. This is one of the only times in your life where everyone you love is in the same place, for you both. Be in it together.

If you’re worried about people bringing you problems or drama on the day, assign someone ahead of time to handle it for you. This could be your coordinator, a trusted family member, someone in your bridal party or even your content creator (because yes, I will absolutely step in and protect my couples and handle anything that comes up). Your vendors are there to support you, guide you, and bring your vision to life. You chose them for a reason - not just for what they do, but because you felt a connection. Trust them to do their job so you can stay present in yours: being fully in the moment.

And if you feel even a hint of stress—go straight to the dance floor and shake it off. You deserve to feel carefree, relaxed, and completely yourself on your wedding day.

And Finally…

At the end of the day, your wedding isn’t about perfection - it’s about how it felt. Plan intentionally, give yourself space to breathe, and surround yourself with people who make you feel calm, excited, deeply loved, and supported. And if capturing those real, authentic moments matters to you… that’s exactly what I’m there for - to preserve them in a way that lets you relive it all, long after the day is over.