Q&A: Why I Regret Not Hiring a Planner (Real Talk)

Planning your own wedding sounds romantic , Pinterest boards, colour palettes, DIY décor. But behind the pretty details is the reality: planning a wedding is basically managing a full-scale event. In this candid Q&A, a bride shares what really happened, why she regrets not hiring a planner, and the advice she’d give other couples now.

Q: Why did you decide to plan the wedding yourself?

A: Mostly budget. I thought hiring a planner was a luxury. I told myself, how hard can it be? I liked being organised, and I figured family and friends could help. I thought it would save money and make the day feel more personal.

Q: When did the stress really begin?

A: After booking the venue. That’s when all the moving parts kicked in — food, décor, rentals, timelines, payments. Suddenly every vendor wanted answers from me. It felt like a part-time job that quickly became full-time.

Q: What’s something you didn’t expect would be so stressful?

A: The constant decision-making. Every little detail came to me: “What size plates?” “What time should the cake arrive?” “Who will cue the music?” I thought I’d be choosing colours and flowers — not arguing over delivery times and load-in logistics.

Q: How did it affect your engagement period?

A: Honestly, I didn’t enjoy it as much as I should have. Instead of soaking in the excitement, I was glued to emails and checklists. My partner and I argued over silly details because we were both overwhelmed. It took away from what should’ve been a joyful time.

Q: What happened on the wedding day itself?

A: I was meant to be sipping champagne with my bridesmaids. Instead, I was chasing the florist because some arrangements hadn’t shown up. When the DJ was late, my uncle had to track him down. Guests saw a beautiful wedding, but behind the scenes, I was running around. I didn’t relax until halfway through dinner.

Q: Were there financial regrets too?

A: Yes. Ironically, trying to save money cost me more. I double-booked one vendor by mistake, I ordered décor that didn’t fit the tables and had to redo it, and I paid rush fees because I left things too late. A planner would’ve saved me from those mistakes.

Q: Did you feel supported by family and friends?

A: They helped, but it was too much to expect of them. Family wanted to celebrate, not run logistics. My bridesmaids tried to keep things together, but they should’ve been by my side, not running around asking caterers about serving times.

Q: How do you think a planner would have changed things?

A: They would’ve handled the logistics, kept vendors in line, and solved problems before I even knew about them. Instead of stressing about whether the generator would kick in during load-shedding, I could’ve been present in the moment.

Q: If you could go back, what would you do differently?

A: I’d hire at least a day-of coordinator. Even if you plan most of it yourself, you need someone to take over so you can breathe. Weddings go by in a blur — and I lost hours to stress that I’ll never get back.

Q: What’s your biggest piece of advice to engaged couples?

A: Don’t underestimate the work. Pinterest doesn’t show the behind-the-scenes chaos. A wedding planner isn’t just décor ,they’re time management, crisis control, budget monitoring, and sanity-saving. Even if it feels like a stretch financially, it’s worth it.

Final Thoughts 🌟

No one regrets having a planner — but many couples regret not having one. Your wedding day is too special to spend running logistics. Hire someone whose job is to make sure the magic unfolds — so your only task is to say “I do.”