Most couples step into their engagement expecting excitement, celebration, and maybe a little wedding planning stress. What they don’t always realise is that this season is more than just booking venues or writing checklists.

Engagement is a threshold.

A liminal space between who you’ve been and who you’re becoming together. It’s not just a countdown to your wedding day, it’s a passage, a doorway into marriage. And like all thresholds, it can feel disorienting, tender, even overwhelming at times.

If you’ve ever thought, “Why do I feel so stressed when I should be happy?” or “Why does planning bring up so much?” you’re not alone. That’s exactly what makes this season sacred.

Why Engagement Feels So Intense

On the surface, it looks like logistics: guest lists, budgets, venues, timelines. But under the surface? Engagement stirs up so much more.

Old patterns like people-pleasing or perfectionism can rise to the surface.
Family expectations and cultural traditions suddenly weigh heavy.
Your identity begins to shift: you’re no longer “just dating,” but not yet married either.

It’s no wonder that so many couples search for wedding planning stress help. Because it’s not just about the tasks. It’s about navigating growth, change, and the unknown.

When couples tell me they’re overwhelmed planning a wedding, I remind them: Of course you are. This isn’t just logistics. It’s transformation.

My Threshold Moment

This is something I deeply understand.

For years, I was caught in patterns of people-pleasing—especially in my personal life. I sought approval, I softened my edges, I dimmed my voice for the comfort of others. It wasn’t until burnout hit me at 40 that I began peeling back those layers.

That season was my own threshold moment. I had to face uncomfortable truths about what I wanted, what I valued, and the difference between living authentically versus living for approval.

It was messy and vulnerable but transformative.

And that’s why I hold this work with such reverence. Because your engagement is also a threshold. It’s asking you to pause, listen, and align so you don’t just plan a wedding, but step into marriage with integrity and strength.

How to Cross the Threshold With Intention

So how do you move through this season with more ease and less overwhelm? This is where mindful wedding planning comes in, not as another checklist, but as a way of honouring the process.

Here are some soul-led yet practical practices:

Pause + Presence
Create intentional pauses. Whether that’s a quiet walk, journaling together, or simply closing the laptop for a night. Rest is not wasted, it’s what keeps you connected.
Find Your North Star
Instead of starting with a checklist, ask: What are our shared values? What makes a wedding feel like us? This values-led wedding planning will guide every choice with more clarity.
Rituals of Becoming
Mark this in-between space with rituals. That could be lighting a candle when you talk about the wedding, journaling your hopes, or sharing gratitude before bed.
Boundaries as Love
If people-pleasing is creeping in, remind yourself: boundaries protect your relationship. Saying no can be an act of love.

Reframe Stress as Growth
When you hit a tough moment, pause and ask: What is this teaching us about marriage? Many challenges are practice in communication, compromise, and care.

Reflection Prompts

To help you navigate this threshold, ask yourselves:

What am I learning about myself in this season?
What do I want to carry into our marriage, and what do I want to leave behind?
How can we honour this time, not just rush through it?

Your engagement isn’t just a waiting room before “real life” begins. It is real life. It’s a season of growth, of learning, of becoming.

This threshold is preparing you, not just for your wedding day, but for your marriage.

And you don’t have to cross it alone. If you’re craving support, spaciousness, and clarity, this is exactly why I created offerings like The Pause (a one-off reset session) and The Wedding Wayfinder (a four-part coaching journey). Both are here to hold you through this threshold with calm, care, and connection.