Stop Right There! Top 5 Wedding Planning Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them) When Searching for Wedding Venues Near ME

Planning a wedding is one of the most exciting—and sometimes the most overwhelming—chapters in your life. With Pinterest boards bursting with ideas and family and friends offering well-meaning but overwhelming amounts of advice, it’s easy to feel pulled in a hundred directions. But after hosting countless weddings here at Celestial Farms, our modern barn venue in Clio, Michigan, we’ve seen it all—and we’ve learned what works, what doesn’t, and what couples often wish they had done differently from the start.

Whether you’re just getting started on your venue search or you're already deep in the planning process, we want to help you avoid common pitfalls that can add unnecessary stress, cost, and even disappointment. So if you’ve recently searched for “wedding venues near me” and found your dream venue (or are still looking), stop right there-and read this first.

Here are the top 5 mistakes couples make early on in the wedding planning process—and how you can sidestep them when searching for wedding venues near me.

Click Me to Book a Tour at Celestial Farms Today!

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1. Inviting Too Many Guests

It always starts with the best intentions: you want to include everyone you love and everyone you think would appreciate an invite. But before you know it, your intimate wedding has ballooned into a guest list that looks more like a class reunion (plus one)—and the costs are exponentially climbing.

Why It’s a Mistake:

More guests mean more of everything—more food and drinks, more tables, more linens, more centerpieces, more time, and definitely more money. But here’s the real issue: the larger the guest count, the harder it becomes to have a personal, meaningful and stress free wedding experience with your favorite guests. Couples often tell me about their wedding day when I mention I own a venue, and they always say they barely had a moment to sit down, let alone speak to everyone they invited.

At Celestial Farms in Clio, Michigan and other wedding venues near me, we’ve seen firsthand how smaller, intentional guest lists lead to more connected and enjoyable celebrations. You actually get to hug and greet everyone, enjoy your dinner, create memories and dance the night away without feeling pulled in a thousand directions.

Our Advice:

Start your guest list with your must-haves—immediate family, closest friends—and build out from there. Think about why each person is on your guest list. If the answer is “because my mom said so” or “they invited me to theirs,” revisit your priorities immediately.

This is your day, and it should feel like you. Not a crowd you’re hosting out of obligation.

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2. Not Hiring a Day-of Coordinator

This is a big one-crucial to the entire process. At Celestial Farms, we include a day-of coordinator in every wedding package, to assure every couple that celebrates with us has a stress free and memorable wedding experience from start to finish—it’s the key to making your wedding day smooth and full of joy. But not every wedding venue includes this service, so some go without and skipping it can lead to major regret.

Why It’s a Mistake:

Imagine this: the florist can't find the venue, the DJ is setting up on the wrong side of the barn, your aunt keeps asking where to put the programs and she can't find the table numbers, and your phone is buzzing nonstop. Meanwhile, you’re trying to stay focused and soak in one of the biggest days of your life. Not ideal, right?

Without a coordinator (that understands the venue perfectly) managing vendors, sticking to the timeline, and solving problems every 5 minutes before you even know they exist, all of that stress falls on you—or worse, your mom or best friend, who just wants to enjoy the day with you but now they are completely overwhelmed.

Our Advice:

If your wedding venue doesn’t include a day-of coordinator (like we do at Celestial Farms), hire one immediately. It’s one of the most worthwhile investments you can make for your wedding. A great coordinator will manage all the behind-the-scenes chaos so you can be fully present, sipping mimosas in the bridal suite and dancing with your husband at the reception—not worrying about whether the vendors are on schedule or the sparkler exit gets properly managed for the perfect shot.

We can’t emphasize this enough: your peace of mind is priceless.

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3. Overdecorating (or DIY Overload)

Pinterest is both a blessing and a curse. Pinterest brain is what I like to call it. It’s full of inspiration—but it often sets unrealistic expectations because these photos were carefully staged in the perfect weather at the perfect time of day, etc. and let's not forget we have AI affecting these things now. Many couples get caught up in the DIY whirlwind early on, thinking they’ll save a ton of money by making their own centerpieces or hand-lettering 100 name cards. Others fall into the trap of buying all the things months ahead of time… only to change their minds, buy too much and waste a lot of money.

Why It’s a Mistake:

At Celestial Farms, our space is designed to be naturally beautiful and photo-ready—meaning you don’t need much to bring the space to life. But time and time again, we see couples stress themselves (and their wallets) out by overdecorating, DIY-ing, or investing in tons of small details that either go unnoticed or don’t match by the time the big day rolls around.

There’s also the problem of storing all these items and setting them up. Who’s setting up 25 candle holders fresh out the box and 18 signs that need screws and anchors the morning of your wedding? Who’s taking it all down at the end of the night and transporting it back home? Often, it ends up being family members who should be relaxing and celebrating with you or getting home and in bed as they are exhausted.

Our Advice:

Rent everything you can. Borrow from your wedding venue (we offer decor options for our couples). Focus on impactful pieces, quality over quantity. And don’t commit to a decor plan too early—you’ll evolve as your vision falls into place in due time. Trust us, you’ll be grateful you didn’t buy those 45 mason jars on sale six months in advance.

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4. Not Setting a Budget

This one might seem obvious—but we see it and hear about it happening all the time. Couples start booking vendors and buying a ton of things before they sit down and map out a realistic wedding budget. Then the money runs out before the dress alterations and tux rentals are due, or the dream wedding photographer is no longer an option.

Why It’s a Mistake:

Without a budget, it’s easy to overspend early in the planning process and scramble later. It also leads to tough choices down the line—do we cut the dessert table we spent months thinking about or skimp on the DJ? Neither option feels good when you’re already committed to both.

A clear budget will give you freedom, not restriction. It allows you to make confident decisions, prioritize what matters most to you and your partner, and avoid the sinking feeling of financial regret after the honeymoon which is a horrible way to start a marriage.

Our Advice:

Sit down early—before booking anyone—and determine your overall budget. Then break it into categories: venue, food, attire, décor, photography, entertainment, etc. Include a “just in case” cushion for last-minute surprises and wants. And most importantly be realistic. And don't forget to ask vendors for full pricing, including taxes and service fees, so there are no surprises.

At Celestial Farms, we walk couples through their budget planning if they want or need us to and help them decide where to splurge and where to save. (Spoiler alert: peace of mind and great pics are always worth it.)

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5. Letting Others’ Opinions Dictate the Day

This one might be the hardest for our couples—but it’s also the most important.

You’re engaged. You’re excited. You announce your wedding plans—and suddenly, everyone in your entire life has an opinion. Your mom wants you to invite all her co-workers. Your second cousin thinks your guest list is too small. Your future in-laws don’t like the idea of an outdoor wedding ceremony. The list goes on, and on, and on...

Why It’s a Mistake:

Letting outside voices steer your choices will leave you feeling disappointed and disconnected from your own wedding. It can cause tension between family and most importantly you and your partner, it leads to regrets, and creates rifts when expectations aren’t met.

You deserve a wedding day and a wedding planning experience that feels authentic to you. Not one that looks like someone else’s dream day.

Our Advice:

Take a deep breath. Center yourself. And remember this: it’s your day.

You can listen to advice without following it in the end. You can say “thank you” and still go a different route. Set boundaries early in the wedding planning process, especially around big decisions like venue, guest list, and structure of the day. And if family dynamics are tricky, lean on your partner and your venue or day-of coordinator to help manage conversations and logistics. We often help our couples come up with ways to tell family and friends that the venue is responsible for this or that or we only allow this or that to take the pressure off of you.

The couples who have the best overall wedding experience at Celestial Farms are the ones who stay true to themselves and each other. Their weddings are filled with love, intention, and happiness—not stress or second-guessing themselves.

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Let us help you plan your perfect wedding day!

Planning a wedding is a journey that should be enjoyed. There will be moments of overwhelm and plenty of decisions to make—but avoiding these five common mistakes can help you stay focused, stress-free, and full of excitement for what really matters: starting your life together as a newly married couple in love.

If you’re still in the early stages of planning and searching for wedding venues near me, we’d love to show you around Celestial Farms. We’re not just a venue—we’re a team of passionate experts that helps bring your dream day to life with intention, guidance, and a whole lot of heart.

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Ready to start your wedding journey the right way?

Click Me to Book a Tour at Celestial Farms Today!

Contact us today to schedule a tour, ask all the questions, or get our complete planning checklist. We’re here to make sure your DREAM wedding day is as beautiful as your love story. Huge thanks to Angie from Angela's Angles Photography for the beautiful pictures featured in this blog.