Getting engaged is one of life’s most exciting moments, but that first Google search for “wedding planning checklist” can quickly turn excitement into overwhelm. You’re suddenly drowning in timelines, vendor lists, and budget spreadsheets that seem designed for someone who plans events professionally.
Here’s what we wish every newly engaged couple knew: those feelings of confusion and stress aren’t inevitable. The couples who end up loving their planning process (yes, that’s actually possible) are the ones who learn to avoid the most common wedding planning mistakes early on. At Moore & Co, we’ve guided Maryland couples through this exact journey, and we know which wedding planning mistakes create the biggest headaches – and more importantly, how to avoid them entirely.
Whether you’re just starting your planning journey or you’re already deep in the details, understanding these common mistakes can save you time, money, and stress. Let’s walk through the ones we see most often and share our strategies for avoiding them.
Mistake #1: Starting Without a Clear Budget & Guest List
Why It Happens: Wedding costs aren’t always transparent, and it’s easy to underestimate expenses when you’ve never planned a celebration of this scale.
How We Help You Avoid It: Before we tour a single venue or taste any cake, we sit down with couples to create a comprehensive budget breakdown based on the guest lists. This includes not just the big-ticket items, but also those smaller expenses that add up quickly (think postage, tips, and day-of stationery).
Start by determining your total budget, then allocate percentages: typically 40-50% for venue and catering, 10% for photography, 10% for flowers, and so on. Remember to build in a 5-10% buffer for unexpected costs – trust us, there’s always something.
Mistake #2: Booking Your Venue Too Late
Why It Happens: Couples often want to nail down other details first, but your venue choice impacts everything else.
How We Help You Avoid It: We always recommend starting with your date and venue. Once you’ve secured these, the rest of your planning falls into place more easily. Your venue will influence your guest count, style direction, vendor recommendations, and timeline.
Pro tip: If you’re flexible on your date, you’ll have more venue options and often better pricing. Consider Friday evening celebrations or Sunday afternoon receptions for beautiful venues at lower rates.
Mistake #3: Trying to Please Everyone
Why It Happens: Weddings bring out strong opinions from loved ones who want to help (and sometimes from those who just want to be heard).
How We Help You Avoid It: Early in our planning process, we help couples identify their non-negotiables and create a clear vision for their day. When well-meaning relatives suggest adding elements that don’t align with your style, you can kindly redirect the conversation back to your priorities.
Remember: you can’t please everyone, but you can create a celebration that feels authentically you. The people who matter most will support your choices.
Mistake #4: Underestimating Timeline Planning
Why It Happens: Without experience planning events of this scale, it’s hard to know how long each task actually takes.
How We Help You Avoid It: We provide detailed job calendar (think planning timeline) that break down when to book vendors, when to send invitations, and when to finalize details. For example, photographers and videographers often book 8-16 months out, while final head counts aren’t needed until 2-4 weeks before your wedding.
The key is working backwards from your wedding date and spreading tasks across your engagement period. This approach keeps you moving forward without overwhelming any single month.
Mistake #5: Choosing Vendors Based Only on Price
Why It Happens: Wedding costs can feel shocking, and it’s natural to look for ways to save money.
How We Help You Avoid It: Instead of focusing only on price, we help couples evaluate the full value proposition. A photographer who costs 20% more but has experience at your venue or delivers twice as many edited images and includes engagement photos might actually be the better deal.
When interviewing vendors, ask about their experience, backup plans, and what’s included in their packages. Read reviews, look at full wedding galleries (not just highlight reels), and trust your instincts about working with each vendor.
Mistake #6: Ignoring Guest Experience
Why It Happens: After months of planning, it’s easy to lose perspective on the guest experience.
How We Help You Avoid It: We regularly ask couples to put themselves in their guests’ shoes. Will elderly relatives struggle with outdoor ceremonies in July heat? Do out-of-town guests need hotel recommendations? If you’re providing an open bar, will you provide transportation? Is there enough parking at your venue?
Simple considerations like providing convenience for the weekend, ensuring adequate restroom facilities, and offering welcome bags for destination guests show thoughtfulness and make everyone feel cared for.
Mistake #7: Leaving No Room for the Unexpected
Why It Happens: Couples want to maximize every moment of their wedding day and pack in as many special touches as possible.
How We Help You Avoid It: We build buffer time into every timeline. If a couple is doing a first look, we buffer at least 30 minutes prior to the ceremony to give them some down time and ensure guests do not see them.
We also always have backup plans – from rain plans to vendor alternatives. Hope for the best, but plan for the unexpected.
Mistake #8: Trying to DIY Everything
Why It Happens: Social media makes complex DIY projects look deceptively simple, and couples underestimate the time and skill required.
How We Help You Avoid It: We help couples identify which DIY projects are worth their time and which are better left to professionals. DIY projects can add beautiful, personal touches to your wedding – the key is choosing the right ones for your timeline and skill level.
Hand-lettered place cards or custom welcome signs? These can be gorgeous weekend projects. Wedding cake or complex floral arrangements? These can absolutely be stunning and deeply personal, but if taking them on is going to add stress to your planning process, it might be better to leave them to the experts
If you do choose DIY projects, start early and enlist help from willing friends and family. Set a realistic limit on how many projects you’ll tackle, and have backup plans if time runs short.
Your Planning Partnership with Moore & Co
At Moore & Co, we’ve seen these wedding planning mistakes countless times, which means we’ve also perfected the solutions. Our role isn’t just to coordinate your wedding day – we’re here to guide you through every decision, help you avoid common mistakes, and ensure your celebration feels authentically you.
We work with couples all over the US and beyond to create stress-free planning experiences that result in beautiful, meaningful celebrations. From budget planning to vendor recommendations to day-of coordination, we handle the details so you can enjoy being engaged.
Ready to Start Planning?
Don’t let common wedding planning mistakes derail your celebration. With the right guidance and timeline, planning your wedding can actually be enjoyable (yes, really!).
Whether you’re looking for full-service planning or just need help getting organized, we’d love to chat about how we can support your vision. Contact us today to schedule your consultation and start planning the wedding of your dreams.
Featured Vendors
Planning & Design | Moore & Co Events
Photography | L Hewitt Photography
Venue | Baltimore Museum of Art
Florals | Blush Floral Design Studio
Rentals | White Glove Rentals, Select Event Group, 27 Studios
Cake | Charm City Cakes
Stationery | MLC Designs
Beauty | Updos For I Dos