Taming the wedding planning beast: stay sane before you say ‘I do’

WEDDINGS are meant to be magical, right? That one picture-perfect day that crowns your love story. But here’s the not-so-secret truth: planning a wedding can push even the calmest person into full-blown panic.

- VUYILE MADWANTSI

You're not just picking flowers and cake flavours, you’re managing expectations, navigating family politics, handling finances, and trying to keep your relationship strong in the process.

Wedding vendors Aura Print found that searches for “pre-wedding nerves” surged by a staggering 5 000% in the past three months alone. And over a quarter of brides have called wedding planning the most stressful event of their lives.

It's no wonder many couples start questioning everything, including whether they’re ready for marriage at all. So, how do you protect your mental health while planning one of the biggest days of your life?

"Wedding anxiety is real and normal,” says Dr Michel Nawfal, a psychiatrist and mental health expert. In a blog post, he writes: “You might wonder how come you're so unhappy and tired psychologically and physically when it’s supposed to be the best thing that ever happened to you. That’s when the guilt kicks in and you begin to question everything.”

This kind of emotional overload can show up in your body too, from trouble sleeping and stomach aches to low appetite and panic attacks.

Understanding that wedding stress is common and doesn’t mean you're making the wrong decision is the first step in protecting your mental well-being.

5 common wedding stress triggers and how to handle them like a pro: