How to Plan an Event Without Losing Your Mind

Photography: Petronella Photography, Couple: Mantonie & Rondell Wescott Wedding October 2025

(Because it really doesn’t have to feel this hard)

Let’s be honest for a second.

Most people don’t start planning an event feeling excited — they start feeling overwhelmed. Not because they’re disorganized or incapable, but because the moment you say “I’m planning an event”, everything hits at once.

The guest list.

The budget.

The venue.

The opinions.

The timelines you didn’t know you were supposed to have.

And suddenly, something that was meant to be joyful starts to feel… heavy.

If that’s you right now, take a breath. You’re not behind. You’re not missing something everyone else magically knows. And no — you’re not the only one who feels this way.

I see this all the time.

Why event planning feels so stressful (even when you’re doing “everything right”)

Here’s the part no one really says out loud:

Event planning isn’t stressful because it’s hard.

It’s stressful because there’s **no clear starting point**.

Most people jump straight into decisions:

• “Let me find a venue.”

• “Let me look at décor.”

• “Let me see how much this costs.”

But without context, those decisions pile up quickly — and before you know it, you’re reacting instead of planning.

That’s where the stress comes from.

Not the event itself — the lack of structure

What experienced planners do differently

When I sit down with clients, the first thing I notice isn’t what they haven’t done.

It’s how much they’re carrying in their head.

So we don’t start with colors or menus or seating charts. We start with clarity.

We slow things down just enough to answer the questions that actually matter:

• What kind of experience do you want people to walk away with?

• What decisions need to be made now — and which ones don’t?

• Where does your energy need to be protected?

Once those answers are clear, everything else becomes lighter. Decisions stop feeling so personal. And the noise quiets down.

A quick reality check (this part matters)

You do not need to:

• Have everything figured out

• Know every industry term

• Compare yourself to what you see online

• Do this alone

You just need a starting point that makes sense.

That’s it.

If planning feels overwhelming, start here

Instead of asking:

“What should I book first?”

Ask:

“What would make this feel easier right now?”

Sometimes that’s guidance.

Sometimes it’s structure.

Sometimes it’s simply knowing you’re not missing anything major.

That’s why I created my No-Stress Event Planning Cheat Sheet — not as a checklist to overwhelm you, but as a grounding tool. Something you can look at and say, “Okay. This makes sense.”

It breaks the process down into manageable steps, without pressure or fluff.

👉 You can download it here if you’d like something simple to reference as you move forward.

(And if today isn’t the day for that, that’s okay too.)

One last thing before you go

Planning an event doesn’t have to feel like a second full-time job. And it definitely doesn’t have to steal the joy from the reason you’re celebrating in the first place.

Whether you’re still in the “thinking about it” phase or already knee-deep in decisions, know this:

You’re not doing it wrong.

You’re just doing it without support — yet.

And when you’re ready for clarity, I’m here.