Planning a Day with Intentionality and Authenticity: Written by a Bride from Within the Industry
all photos in this post are by Alex Bo Photo
Planning your own wedding while working in the wedding industry comes with a unique set of challenges. After years of coordinating, implementing, and witnessing hundreds of couples’ big days, it would be easy to fall into the trap of trying to “one-up” everything you’ve seen, comparing your day to a hundred others, or planning from the perspective of your role rather than your heart. You know what it should look like, how the timeline should flow, what the flowers and tables should be - but knowing all of that can make it hard to step back and just be the bride.
Jessa, one of our own team members, faced this very challenge. But instead of letting her industry experience dictate her choices, she intentionally set aside her role, stepped fully into the sacredness of being a bride, and focused on what truly mattered: marrying her best friend and celebrating with the people she loves most. The result was a wedding that felt deeply personal, intentional, and unforgettable - proof that sometimes the best way to plan your day is to trust yourself, your people, and the story you and your partner are creating together.
Here’s Jessa’s story, and the intentional choices that made her day unforgettable…
“Our wedding day came and went in what honestly felt like a blur.” I had heard this statement from brides and friends more times than I could count while I was in the middle of my own wedding planning. One moment you’re getting ready - taking deep breaths and trying not to cry - and the next, it’s all over in the best way. Now that the dress is put away and life has slowed down a bit, I wanted to sit down and write this - not because everything went perfectly (although if anything went wrong, I had zero idea), but because we intentionally planned a day that was real, full of slower moments, highlighted some of the most important people in our story, and will live forever in our hearts.
In a world of Pinterest inspiration and social media trends, it’s so easy to look for other “voices” to tell you what your wedding day should look and feel like. But as a recent bride who has also worked in the wedding industry for over six years, I can tell you there are two things that make certain weddings stand out far above the rest - regardless of budget or planning timeline: intentionality and authenticity.
Your wedding day is likely the one and only time you and your fiancé will get to invite all of your favorite people to celebrate alongside you under the same roof. That is truly one of the sweetest parts of the day. Because of that, it’s so important to create a wedding that genuinely reflects you and your partner. It’s easy to get distracted by less important details or the latest social media trends, but at the end of it all, the very best part of the day is walking away hand in hand, married to your best friend.
So think of this as a little heart-to-heart from someone who’s just been there - but who also has insight from being on the other side of probably 250+ weddings. These are the things I wish someone had told me - some practical, some emotional, and all meant to help you enjoy your day a little more.
I’m a practical girl at heart, so let’s start there. To ensure a smooth day that truly reflects you, it all begins with building a vendor team you trust to support you. If you’re a BGH bride - cue whipping out our preferred vendor list - we’ve already done the hard work for you. There are so many incredible vendors out there, but that doesn’t mean everyone is the right fit for your day. Have a large, rowdy bridal party? Hire a photographer who can confidently keep them on track while still capturing the fun they bring. Not anticipating much dancing at your reception? You might skip investing heavily in a DJ known for packed dance floors and instead consider a live musician for the ceremony and formal dances.
Setting priorities during the planning process is key. Decide what matters most to you and your fiancé. For us, it was spending as much time together as possible (spoiler: that’s harder than you think), honoring our families in intentional ways, and creating space for meaningful time with our guests. I’ll give you a glimpse into how we accomplished that - so much so that guests commented on the intentionality of our day for weeks afterward.
We started our day slowly, over coffee, writing our personal vows and sneaking in some last-minute snuggles with our pup. We chose not to have a traditional large wedding party and instead had only our best man and maid of honor by our sides - less photos and less stress for everyone. Our photographer was incredibly intentional about creating unrushed moments together, from our private first look and vows to a few quiet minutes alone before our reception entrances. One of our favorite moments? Slow dancing in the driveway during golden hour to our first dance song - just the two of us, again. Because we chose to do a first look, we also completed all of our family photos before the ceremony, which allowed us to join our guests during cocktail hour. Mingling on the patio with friends and family ended up being one of the highlights of our day.
Another pro tip: put your phone on Do Not Disturb. Ask a bridesmaid to handle the music and capture any behind-the-scenes content you might want. Then soak it all in. It truly is the best day, and you don’t want to miss a moment.
If you haven’t realized it yet, planning a wedding is all about choices - choosing a date, a venue, bridesmaid dresses, chocolate or vanilla cake, napkin colors, and so much more. At the end of the day, those choices reflect your priorities, your values, and your story. It was important to me that as many of our decisions as possible reflected who we are and the people surrounding us. We wanted our day to tell our story - nothing more and nothing less.
Your wedding day isn’t just a big moment for you and your soon-to-be spouse. It’s also deeply meaningful for your families as they come together to celebrate your union and the journeys that led you there. The moments that replay in our minds are the ones intentionally created to honor those people. These are often the moments that make your wedding truly yours - and they’re usually the ones that require the least financial investment (which is a win, because we all know how much adds up).
From using my late grandfather’s vintage Corvette for my bridal entrance to having my brother and dad officiate our ceremony, it was my greatest joy to include pieces of the men who shaped me in the moment I said “I do” to my best friend. My husband’s one request was to serve his grandma’s homemade pie. She baked over 30 pies - crust from scratch, fruit from her backyard - which we served family-style as part of our table décor, and trust me, it was the talk of the town. Speeches from our dads, a welcome prayer from our mentors, and a surprise dance with our new in-laws were just a few of the other ways we loved including our favorite people.
As I look back now, what stands out most isn’t the timeline, the flowers, or even the dress - it’s how the day felt. It felt calm. It felt meaningful. It felt like us. And that didn’t happen by accident. It happened because we made choices rooted in intention, trusted our people, and gave ourselves permission to let go of what didn’t truly matter.
If you’re in the middle of planning your wedding, I hope this leaves you feeling a little less pressure. You don’t need to do everything. You don’t need to follow every trend. And you don’t need to make choices just because they look good online. The most memorable weddings - the ones people talk about for years - are personal, thoughtful, and true to the couple at the center of it all.
So slow down when you can. Choose what reflects your values. Honor the people who have shaped your story. And remember that at the end of the day, the greatest gift you’re giving yourself is walking away married to your best friend, surrounded by the people who love you most.
The day will still fly by - but when you plan with intention and heart, it will live on far longer than just a blur.”
At The Barn, we believe in creating weddings that reflect the couple, not the trends. Jessa’s day is a perfect example of how trusting your team, planning with intention, and prioritizing the people and moments that matter most can make your wedding day feel meaningful, calm, and unforgettable.
And because everyone’s dying to know what vendors someone from inside the industry chooses, here you go:
Day of Coordination: The Barn at Grace Hill
Bar: The Barn at Grace Hill
Photo: Alex Bo Photo Second Shooter: Ashley Cole Photography
Video: Velvet x Vows
Catering: Izzy’s Soiree
DJ: Black Tie Celebrations
Invitation Design & Calligrapher: Emilime Designs
Florist: Grace Gardens
Rentals: Something Borrowed & Making Memories China Rental
Dance Floor: Black Tie Celebrations
Makeup: Brooke Cero
Hair: Erica Bowman
Spray Tan: Spray Me Golden
Dress: Savvy Bridal
Suits: Gentry LTD
Rings: Especially Jewelry
Cake & Desserts: Salted Creamery
