How to Plan a Wedding with Confidence, Heart, and a Little Humor

Photo Credit: Julia Rebecca Photography for Anne and Ben

A small note from the heart. The images you see here belong to the beautiful couples who have celebrated their weddings at High Peaks Resort and allowed us to share their photos. They are not from my own day. And truly, that feels right, because this story is not about me. It is for you and the joyful journey you are stepping into.

Can I let you in on a little secret, just between you and me?

I started planning my wedding long before my husband ever proposed. Long before he met my parents. Honestly, long before he and I were even an us. Somewhere between high school daydreams and my years as a luxury event planner, the sketches of a future celebration took shape and never really stopped.

By the time he slipped the ring on my finger, the notebooks were ready, the spreadsheets practically opened themselves, and every idea I had been collecting over the years finally had a place to land. It was thrilling in a way only lifelong dreams can be, yet it carried a wave of emotion I did not fully expect. Even with my nearly photographic memory for completely random details, I quickly learned that planning your own wedding brings its own emotional weather system. Beautiful. Joyful. A little overwhelming at times. And completely worth the journey.

In the process, I noticed patterns that held true for every wedding I ever planned and for my own as well. No matter the size or style, every celebration comes down to two essentials. Knowledge and confidence. If you hold on to both, everything else becomes possible.

Photo Credit: Zach Murphy for Nancy and Zak

Know Your Budget and Know Your Flexibility

There are two numbers that matter. The number you hope to hit and the number that represents your maximum comfort zone. Your wedding does not need to be extravagant to be extraordinary, but every choice you make will tie back to the budget. And because unexpected expenses show up for almost every couple, a built-in cushion gives you room to breathe.

Think about the little surprises that can pop up. The florist may call with news that the exact flower you wanted is suddenly out of season weeks earlier than usual. You may find yourself running out for extra candles or escort cards the night before the wedding because a last-minute guest decided to join the celebration. A beloved child or cousin might surprise you with an unexpected growth spurt right before the fittings. Sometimes a seamstress discovers that your dress needs more tailoring than originally predicted. Sometimes the shuttle meant for guests has a flat tire at the worst possible moment and a backup vehicle needs to be arranged quickly. These things do not ruin a wedding day but they do require a budget with a little give.

When you know your target number and your comfortable ceiling, you can pivot with far less stress. A small cushion can feel like a life raft when the wedding week starts to pick up speed.

Pro Tip

DIY can be wonderful and meaningful, but it is not always the most economical path. Event planners often have access to wholesale pricing, trusted vendors, and efficient processes that save both time and frustration. When you factor in supplies, trial and error, and the hours spent assembling everything, the project you thought would save money may not be the bargain you imagined. Explore every option instead of assuming the least expensive approach is the one you do entirely on your own.

Photo Credit: Zach Murphy for Nancy and Zak

Build a Team You Trust

Even the smallest wedding has moving parts. Local laws, timelines, logistics, emotions that shift by the minute. Whether your support system is a wedding planner, an event day coordinator, your cousin squad, or your best friend who knows how to keep you grounded, having help transforms the experience.

Think about the quiet magic of a good team. A planner might keep track of vendor contracts, manage deliveries, and build a timeline that keeps everything running smoothly. An event day coordinator might confirm the ceremony chairs are exactly where you envisioned them, bustle your gown with superhero speed, or cue the DJ so your entrance feels flawless. A trusted family member might take charge of greeting the officiant or walking grandparents to their seats with care. A maid of honor might be in charge of keeping everyone hydrated, making sure bouquets get into the right hands, or calming nerves with a well-timed joke. Even something as simple as putting one cousin in charge of gathering the family for portraits can save you a surprising amount of stress.

You do not need a giant team and you do not need a formal hierarchy. You simply need people who can take small but important tasks off your shoulders so you can stay present in the joy of the day.

Pro Tip

Weddings are deeply personal. When people care about you, they care about your day, and sometimes caring a lot means offering opinions you did not ask for. Show appreciation. Compromise where it makes sense. Stand firm where it matters to your heart. And if your budget allows for a planner or coordinator, lean into that support. Their only goal is to help you build the happiest day of your life with clarity, honesty, and experience.

Photo Credit: Paul Saunders Photography for Morgan and Ignatiy

Picture the Experience You Want

Ask yourself: What kind of day do you want to remember forever? Elegant and formal. Bold and glittering. Intimate and rooted in family. A lively celebration where the dance floor never rests. An elopement for two. Or a unique blend of everything that feels like you.

Maybe you imagine a classic black tie celebration with soft candlelight, towering florals, and a string quartet playing the moment you walk down the aisle. Or maybe you see a whimsical woodland wedding with greenery draped across tables, mismatched vintage glassware, and the quiet shimmer of fairy lights at dusk. You might gravitate toward a retro mid-century style with clean lines, rich colors, and a playlist inspired by your favorite vinyl records. Some couples lean into a full party atmosphere with neon signs, late-night snacks, and a dance floor that never takes a breath. Others fall in love with intimate gatherings where handwritten vows, family recipes, and meaningful traditions take center stage.

The possibilities are endless, and none of them need to fit neatly inside one category. Your theme is simply the feeling you want your guests to carry home. When you understand that feeling, the puzzle pieces begin to fall into place. The décor, the music, the menu, the attire, the venue, the pacing of the night, even the photography style all start working together instead of competing for your attention.

At High Peaks Resort and Lake House, couples have an incredible range of backdrops that support any vision. The mirror-like surface of the lake, the sweeping mountain views, the bold and modern Lake House aesthetic, the bright and airy spaces inside the Main Resort, the cozy glow of waterfront rooms. With so many styles in one place, the canvas is yours and our team is here to help you paint it.

Pro Tip

Dream big, then get creative. My family is enormous and spread all over the world. I wanted a joyful, quirky party where everyone felt like a rock star, but that was not realistic for a single event. Instead, I planned a celebration for my closest circle and visited individual family members for more personal visits. Focus on the feeling you want to create, then build the day that supports it. It is amazing how flexible and joyful the process becomes when you center the experience, not the checklist.

Photo Credit: Julia Rebecca Photography for Anne and Ben

Hire a Photographer You Trust

Memories are the true legacy of a wedding day. Your photos will bring you back to the moment in a way nothing else can. This is not the place to cut corners or experiment. Choose someone whose work resonates with you and whose presence feels comfortable, because they will be with you through every quiet breath and every joyful whirlwind.

It is tempting to picture your family and friends snapping candid photos all night and imagine those pictures feeling heartfelt and charming. And some will be. But here is the honest truth. Unless your cousin moonlights as a photojournalist, they will unintentionally catch you mid-blink, mid-chew, or at an angle that defies the laws of flattering lighting. They will take dozens of photos of the exact moments you wanted to remember, yet somehow miss the moment entirely. They will be so busy soaking in the night that their attention will drift. And you deserve better than hoping someone captured a moment on their phone.

A professional photographer does not just take pictures. A professional anticipates. They read the room, track the emotional beats, adjust to shifting light, and capture the sweet in-betweens that you may not even realize happened. They are documentarians of joy and guardians of the memories you will treasure for decades.

When choosing yours, do more than browse a handful of highlight photos. Ask to see full galleries from multiple weddings. Every photographer can produce a few stunning shots for a portfolio, but full galleries tell the truth. They show consistency in every lighting condition. They show whether the style you love is present throughout the day or only in the curated moments. They show how a photographer handles action, emotion, portraits, details, movement, reception lighting, and the chaos of a dance floor at full speed.

Look for galleries that resemble your wedding. Indoor ceremonies. Outdoor lakeside sunsets. Winter celebrations with low natural light. Bold and colorful receptions. Intimate gatherings with gentle, quiet moments. Ask yourself whether the photos tell a story that feels like the one you want to tell.

Most importantly, choose someone whose presence makes you feel calm and natural. You will spend more time with your photographer on your wedding day than with almost anyone else. Trust and comfort show up in every image.

Pro Tip

Tell your photographer what has meaning for you. A small detail, a piece of jewelry, a handwritten note, a hat worn by someone you love. My mother was a small label fashion designer and her hats were a signature of who she was. Since she could not be with me on my wedding day, I asked the women in my family to wear her hats in her honor and my photographer captured each one. Those images will hold a world of meaning for me.

When I look back at my own wedding day, I remember the feeling more than the timeline. I remember the way the room shifted when the music started. I remember the faces of the people I love. I remember the small moments that were never on the checklist but mattered more than anything else. That is the heart of a wedding. Not perfection, but presence. Not staging, but meaning.

No matter how you envision your celebration, you deserve a setting where your ideas feel supported and your joy feels at home. At High Peaks Resort and Lake House, our team understands the balance between planning and feeling. We understand the pacing of a great reception, the comfort guests need when traveling, and the way a beautiful backdrop can elevate even the smallest moments.

Whether you picture a lakeside ceremony, a modern Lake House cocktail hour, or a lively reception that carries late into the night, our venues offer a sense of place that transforms a wedding into a memory. And when your friends and family are traveling from near or far, our group room blocks make it easy for everyone to stay close, celebrate fully, and enjoy the Adirondacks together.

Your wedding is a story you will tell for the rest of your life. Let us help you create a setting that reflects your style, welcomes your loved ones, and gives you the freedom to savor every moment. At High Peaks Resort and Lake House, we are honored to be part of the beginning of your forever.