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Congratulations! You’ve got the ring, you’ve posted the "I said yes!" selfie, and you’ve officially entered the "Engagement Bubble." It’s a magical place filled with champagne and Pinterest board... Until the reality of planning a once-in-a-lifetime event hits you like a bouquet to the face. As a Mostly Rational Bride , you know that wedding planning isn’t just about choosing between "eggshell" and "ivory." It’s a psychological marathon. Unfortunately, many brides-to-be fall

So, you’ve got the ring. You’ve posted the "I said yes!" picture. Now comes the part they don’t show in the rom-coms: the logistics. Wedding planning is essentially a full-time job where your only salary is cake samples and a very expensive white dress. As a behavioral science enthusiast, I like to think of this checklist not as a "to-do list," but as Decision Fatigue Management.  Here is your 12-month guide to getting down the aisle with your sanity (and your relationships)

Let’s be real: As a bride, you’ve spent months obsessing over centerpieces, the exact shade of "cream", and whether Aunt Linda’s gluten-free-vegan-paleo diet will be accommodated. But on the big day, there is only one metric for success: The Dance Floor. If that floor is empty, the wedding is just an expensive dinner party where you're wearing a very heavy dress. As a behavioral science nerd (and someone who has analyzed way too many social cues), I know that getting people

You’ll notice it the minute you get engaged: Everyone suddenly thinks they are Martha Stewart giving you their two cents, except with none of the talent. Mostly Rational Bride , Yael Mark, 2025 Whether it be from family, friends, or complete strangers, the amount of unwarranted opinions you will hear about your wedding day will surely overwhelm you. If you are first time bride, you are scientifically proven to be influenced by these input no matter how trash it is. You may

"On my wedding day, I spent more time with my glam squad, planner, and photographer than with my own mother." Mostly Rational Bride , Yael Mark (2025) Your photographer’s vibe matters as much as their portfolio . Especially if you’re the kind of person who freezes when a camera points your way or doesn't know what to do when the photographer says, "Look natural," (hi, same) A photographer doesn’t just document  the day. They actively shape it. The right one: Makes you laugh w

Most weddings blur into a whirlwind of hugs, speeches, and blisters. But by activating multiple senses and forming associations with other memories, you can increase the chance you will remember a specific moment. Mostly Rational Bride , Yael Mark (2025) Memory doesn’t work like a camera roll. It works through senses . The brain stores moments more vividly when multiple senses are involved (e.g. sound, smell, touch, movement, emotion.) The more sensory input a moment has, the

When someone gets engaged, everyone asks the same things: “Have you picked a date?” “Do you know where you’re getting married?” “Have you looked at venues yet?” Questions like these can immediately send brides-to-be into a spiral of "OMG I can't believe I don't have everything planned yet" . This is the exact opposite of what you intended it to be. If you want to be a genuinely supportive friend (or bridesmaid), the goal isn’t to extract wedding details — it’s to make her fe

A bride’s guide to planning with your guests in mind. Most wedding advice tells you how your wedding should look . Very little talks about how it should feel . When I planned my wedding, I constantly reminded myself: I wasn’t planning a photoshoot. I was hosting people I love. So instead of starting with colors or centerpieces, I walked through the day like a guest and identified potential bumps in the road they might experience: Where should I sit? Do I know anyone? I don't