Saying Yes to Myself: Lessons from My Wedding Planning Journey

I remember what it was like to plan my wedding. Exciting, yet one of the most stressful experiences of my life. Seven years ago, I walked into the process with a clear vision, but that vision quickly became clouded by expectations, opinions, and the overwhelming weight of trying to please everyone which led to delays. To make things even more challenging, COVID complicated everything. Planning a wedding while feeling burnt out was exhausting.

I struggled to set boundaries. Everyone had an opinion, who I should invite, what I should do, where I should host it. I was always the person who said yes, but for the wrong reasons. And that left me drained.

I wanted a small wedding with only 70 guests, but every time a family member insisted that I add another person, I caved. More guests meant more costs, more logistics, and more pressure. I found myself sending pictures for approval, seeking validation for decisions that should have been mine. Even my wedding date and location revolved around others, trying to make it convenient for family members in Jamaica, the U.S., and Canada. But in trying to accommodate everyone, I wasn’t considering what was best for me and my husband.

Although I was indecisive with the wedding planning, I was sure of who I was going to marry, and that’s why we decided to scrap our wedding and get married, just the two of us. Do I regret it? No. But I hope that one day I can have the wedding I originally envisioned. More importantly, I’ve learned a powerful lesson: I can’t keep saying yes to everyone else while saying no to myself. Moving forward, I’ll send out the invitations and simply say, “If you can make it, wonderful. If not, we’ll see each other another time.” And I’ll be okay with that.

This experience was more than just wedding planning, it was a journey of self-discovery. It showed me the importance of boundaries, self-care, and saying yes to what I truly want.

That’s why this isn’t just about therapy for me. It’s about supporting you through the entire process, ensuring you feel heard, understood, and empowered to create a wedding (and a marriage) that truly reflects you. From managing anxiety and setting boundaries to navigating the deeper fears that come with marriage itself, you don’t have to go through this alone.

This is just the beginning. Welcome to I Do Therapy.