Planning Your Wedding Without a Planner? Here’s What You Still Need

Elle Wedding Services
Jul 14
3 min read

Because DIY doesn’t mean doing it alone.

Many brides start their wedding journey with confidence and a clear vision. Thanks to Pinterest, Google Docs, and maybe a Type-A personality or two, it’s easy to assume that with enough time and energy, you can "totally "handle it all yourself.

And to be fair, a lot of you can.

But here’s the truth we’ve learned from working with hundreds of Nigerian and diaspora couples: even the most organized bride needs structure, support, and systems to stay sane. Because weddings are not just pretty Instagram moments — they are logistics, people management, vendor coordination, and real-time problem solving.

So if you’re planning your wedding without a professional planner, here’s a breakdown of what you’ll still need to make it work and how to avoid stress, confusion, and chaos on your big day.

A Planning System (Not Just a Pinterest Board)

Having vision is one thing. Turning it into a coordinated reality is another.

You’ll need:

A realistic planning timeline
A centralized checklist that breaks down what to do month-by-month
A budget spreadsheet that tracks estimates vs actual costs
A vendor tracker (who’s been contacted, booked, paid?)

Tip: Use tools like Google Sheets, Notion, or our i-Plan Toolkit to stay organized. What you really need is a dashboard, not just a mood board.

Clear Vendor Communication & Confirmations

Without a planner, it’s up to you to:

Vet and negotiate with vendors
Confirm service details, delivery times, and payment schedules
Be the point of contact for all vendor communication

And here’s where it can get tricky — many vendors work across multiple events, so assumptions lead to mistakes. A signed agreement, clear timelines, and detailed instructions are non-negotiable.

Tip: Create a shared wedding-day itinerary for all vendors with arrival times, setup details, and emergency contacts.

A Budget with Wiggle Room

It’s easy to underestimate costs, especially when planning from abroad or based on Instagram inspiration. Prices fluctuate, vendor quotes can vary, and “extras” add up.

What you’ll need:

A realistic budget with up to 10–15% extra for contingencies
Prioritization: decide what deserves a bigger slice (venue, decor, food, entertainment?) and where you can simplify

Tip: Let go of trends you don’t really care about. You’ll save money and mental space.

Reliable Friends or Family to Help — with Boundaries

If you’re going the DIY route, you’ll likely need friends, siblings, or cousins to help with tasks like dress pickups, guest coordination, or setup.

But here’s the caveat: Everyone helping must be clear on their role, and you can’t afford to have 5 people “in charge” of one thing.

Tip: Create a mini team: one logistics helper, one vendor contact, and one person you trust with last-minute decisions. Too many cooks? Recipe for confusion.

A Day-of Coordinator (Seriously, Don’t Skip This)

Here’s the big one!

Even if you planned everything yourself, you shouldn’t be managing phone calls, directing vendors, or fixing timeline issues on your wedding day. That’s a job for a day-of coordinator — someone who steps in to execute your plans, manage the schedule, and handle the inevitable curveballs (they happen at every event!).

What a coordinator handles:

Vendor arrivals & setup checks
Cueing the ceremony & reception program
Handling forgotten items, guest issues, or changes
Making sure you and your bridal party are where you need to be

Tip: Think of a coordinator as your project manager. You created the plan — now let someone execute it so you can enjoy your day.

Realistic Expectations and Mental Space

Planning a wedding is exciting, but it’s also emotional. Add in family dynamics, cultural expectations, and the general pressure to “pull off something amazing,” and it can get overwhelming — fast.

Without a planner, you’ll need to:

Be realistic about what you can do (and what you should outsource)
Create space to rest and disconnect from wedding tasks occasionally
Accept that not everything will go perfectly — and that’s okay

Tip: Set non-wedding days in your calendar. Protect your peace. Your joy is part of the planning as well.

Final Thoughts: You Can Do This — With the Right Support

You don’t need a full-service planner to have a smooth, stylish wedding. But you do need a structure. You do need clarity. And you "absolutely" need someone to help execute the vision on the day itself.

At Elle Wedding Services, we created our i-Plan Toolkit and Day-of Coordination packages specifically for brides like you — smart, hands-on, and capable, but in need of reliable support that works within your budget.

Whether you’re planning from Lagos, London, or anywhere in between, we’re here to make your process smoother, calmer, and more joyful.

Download our Engagement Starter Checklist to kick off your planning with clarity.

Book a free discovery call to learn more about our Day-of Coordination services.