I’ve stood in over a hundred beautifully styled rooms.

Rooms where every detail has been carefully considered. From the napkin colour, the font on the place cards, the chairs swapped out because those ones didn’t quite fit the vision.

I’ve watched couples overthink their linen colours and panic about whether their tables feel “finished enough.” And yet some of the most meaningful weddings I’ve ever photographed looked nothing like what the internet told them they should be.

That’s not a hot take for shock value. It’s something you start to notice only after you’ve attended enough weddings to see patterns.

You realize that beauty doesn’t always come from more. Often, it comes from less pressure, fewer decisions, and a whole lot more presence.

Before the Rules Existed

Think about your parents wedding. Or your grandparents. Or really, anyone’s wedding that happened before Pinterest, Instagram, and TikTok told us exactly how a wedding is supposed to look.

There were fewer decisions. Fewer choices presented as “options.” Less pressure to make the day visually impressive to people who weren’t even there.

The day wasn’t performed. It was lived.

People showed up, ate food, gave speeches that weren’t timed to perfection, and danced because the music was good— not because it made for a great reel.

The focus wasn’t on curating moments for consumption. It was simply about being together.

Somewhere along the way, modern weddings became less about the experience and more about the execution.

When Weddings Feel Like a Show

I see it all the time.

Couples carry this invisible weight— the pressure of “doing it right.” Right colours. Right timeline. Right photos. Right moments. Right reaction from guests.

What starts as excitement slowly turns into performance anxiety.

Overconsumption sneaks in quietly under the guise of beauty. A few extra rentals here. Another signage moment there. One more detail because you’re worried something might feel unfinished or underwhelming. Comparison creeps in through social media, and suddenly connection takes a backseat to aesthetics.

The wedding day begins to feel less like a gathering and more like a set.

And the thing is— no one talks about how heavy that feels for the couple. How exhausting it can be to hold an entire production together while also trying to be present for one of the biggest days of your life.

My New Hope for Weddings

I hope that in 2026 and beyond, more couples choose real over impressive.

I hope weddings start to feel softer again.

Long tables where people linger instead of rushing to the next planned moment. Laughter that isn’t staged. Conversations that run late because no one is watching the clock.

I hope the goal becomes togetherness, not perfection.

I hope we see fewer set pieces and more spaces that feel like living rooms— music playing, drinks refilled, people comfortable enough to stay awhile. Weddings that feel less like a showroom and more like a home filled with people you love.

Not everything needs a moment. Not everything needs to be documented. Some things are meant to just exist.

Presence Is the Luxury

The most memorable weddings I photograph aren’t the ones with the biggest budgets or the trendiest details.

They’re the ones where couples let go.

Where timelines are flexible. Where nothing feels rushed. Where the couple isn’t constantly scanning the room wondering if everyone is having a good time— because they are.

Presence is the luxury people are craving, whether they realize it or not.

And presence doesn’t come from perfection. It comes from feeling safe enough to be exactly where you are.

A Reminder for You

There is no correct way to get married.

There is no award for the most cohesive colour palette. No prize for the most viral detail shot. No secret checklist you’ll fail if you don’t include every trending element.

The most beautiful wedding days are the ones where couples stop performing.

The ones that feel easy. The ones that feel honest. The ones that feel like home.

If you’re planning your wedding right now and feeling overwhelmed, let this be your permission slip: you don’t need to impress anyone. You don’t need to prove anything. You don’t need to follow every rule.

Because at the end of the day, the best inspiration for a wedding day is the day itself.

If this resonated with you, I’d love to stay connected. I send a monthly email with more honest, helpful thoughts on planning a wedding that actually feels like you— no noise, no pressure. And if you want extra support, you can also grab my free wedding timeline planning guide to help you plan a day that feels easier, more intentional, and more focused on what actually matters to you. Click here to download the guide and join the list!