Most couples think the first real wedding decision is the venue.

It’s not.

After 20+ years as a wedding planner, florist, and mentor, I can tell you this with confidence: the decisions you make before you tour venues will shape your entire wedding experience.

And if you skip them?
That’s when planning starts to feel chaotic, expensive, and emotionally draining.

Let’s talk about the first five decisions that actually matter, the ones no one tells you to slow down and make first.

Not your wedding season, your life season.

Are you:

This decision affects everything, from timeline length to how much support you need.

A wedding planned for a busy, stretched-thin season needs very different expectations than one planned with time and flexibility.

This isn’t about what looks best on Instagram.

Ask yourselves:

There is no wrong answer, but clarity here prevents regret later.

Most wedding stress comes from trying to honor every priority instead of choosing the right ones.

This is one of the most avoided conversations… and one of the most important.

Before deposits, you need to decide:

Boundaries set early feel loving.
Boundaries set late feel explosive.

Be honest here.

Do you need:

Many couples overspend on the wrong kind of help, or skip help entirely and burn out.

The goal isn’t to do everything yourself.
It’s to choose support that matches how your brain works.

“If I hear bad news about the stock market one more time, I’m gonna be sick.”

We get it. Investors are rattled, costs keep rising, and the world keeps getting weirder.

So, who’s better at handling their money than the uber-rich?

Have 3 long-term investing tips UBS (Swiss bank) shared for shaky times:

The catch? Most alternatives aren’t open to everyday investors

That’s why Masterworks exists: 70,000+ members invest in shares of something that’s appreciated more overall than the S&P 500 over 30 years without moving in lockstep with it.*

Contemporary and post war art by legends like Banksy, Basquiat, and more.

Sounds crazy, but it’s real. One way to help reclaim control this week:

Skip waitlist.

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This is the question almost no one asks.

Do you want to feel:

If the planning process feels miserable, the wedding day rarely feels peaceful.

Your experience matters, not just the outcome.

Let me tell you what I see after more than 20 years in this industry.

Couples don’t struggle because they’re bad planners. They struggle because they’re pushed to make decisions before they’ve been given permission to slow down and think.

The wedding industry is very good at telling you what to book, but not when or why. And when you skip those early conversations, every decision after that feels heavier than it needs to be.

My role as your wedding mentor isn’t to rush you forward.
It’s to help you start in a way that protects your peace, your relationship, and your priorities.

Your venue will matter. Your flowers will matter. Your timeline will matter.

But those decisions should serve you, not lead you.

When you start with clarity instead of pressure, planning becomes simpler, calmer, and far more intentional.

You’re allowed to slow down.
You’re allowed to plan in a way that feels good.

If you want steady guidance without the overwhelm, Love Letters from The Wedding Mentor™ were created for you.

Each week, I share calm, honest insight to help you plan with clarity, protect what matters most, and remember that your wedding is just the beginning of your marriage. Think of it as a gentle check-in from someone who’s walked this road with hundreds of brides, delivered straight to your inbox.With love and clarity,

Sarah Lizabeth
The Wedding Mentor™

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