Creating a mindful, intentional wedding experience: Part three – looking beyond your wedding day

Published by Claire Gould on January 23, 2026January 23, 2026

Bride smiling at the camera, holding a pastel bouquet in her hands. By Ross Willsher Photography

These heartfelt and thoughtful articles are by Essex and UK wedding photographer Ross Willsher for English Wedding. (Find all 3 via the link at the end of this page)

Looking beyond your wedding day

Wow – it’s over. The day went by in a blur, didn’t it? All that time planning, all those decisions. Those frustrating last-minute cancellations that scuppered the seating plan, that accessory you lost and then finally found the day before the wedding. All now a memory. So now what? How do you navigate the transition from the build-up to the aftermath? The key, once again, is in the planning process.

Wedding planning can be all-consuming. Trust me I know. My husband and I got married in the autumn of 2024. Throughout 2025 I couldn’t believe how much free time and headspace I had and how much of my mental capacity had been consumed with putting together our special day. At the time we didn’t realise how much it was taking out of us mentally.

We loved our wedding day, and we had a pretty seamless planning process during which we agreed on nearly every aspect, but would we want to plan another wedding? Absolutely not! I adore weddings. Being a wedding photographer is a literal dream come true for me, but planning? Nah – not my wheelhouse.

So as a side note, I just want to say – it is OK not to love every aspect of wedding planning. The idea that it has to be some dreamlike sequence where everything feels like a Richard Curtis movie is nonsense. Even if you do enjoy the process, it is also absolutely normal to feel a little flat when it is all over. It can be so easy to dip into a state of post-wedding blues. It is great to have a focus and a big event to work towards, but it is also important to not allow one day – however special – to be the centre of your entire existence.

When you are planning your wedding, of course life will ‘get in the way’. Bin days will still come around every week, the fridge will need refilling, and the ironing won’t do itself (although if I leave it long enough my ironing fairy does it for me!). When you are not doing wedding or life admin (or of course earning a living) try to factor in a few days where you spend time just enjoying each other’s company. Watch new films, share playlists, try out a new bar together. Talk about office gossip and make each other laugh. The biggest trap couples fall in to is allowing wedding planning to become the sole identity of their relationship. The last thing you want to happen is to get married and forget what you ever talked about before you spent your life planning your day.

It is also important to have goals and plans beyond the wedding and to share these with each other. I have loved having more time and head space for my business this year. We also made a commitment to go to more gigs and events together in 2025. The initial post-wedding period can feel like the completion of a long-term project, but it is also the start of an exciting new chapter in your life. Make plans – both short and long term – beyond the date of your wedding. The wedding is one day – your marriage is every day after.

Finally, give yourselves a pat on the back and allow yourself a bit of chill time. Planning a wedding is no mean feat. It takes a huge amount of time, knowledge, problem-solving and thinking outside of the box. It is also a huge emotional undertaking. Do not underestimate the energy you have used up during this process and factor in time to rest and recover.

Wishing you a wedding journey that is intentional, mindful and centred on what brings you joy.