How To Plan A Wedding When The World Feels Like It's Falling Apart

We live in a time of constant contradiction. As we scroll through our feeds, it’s not uncommon to witness devastating global events - the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the war in Ukraine, climate catastrophes like the Texas floods - only to be followed moments later by videos of people sipping spritzes in Sicily or dancing barefoot at their dream wedding. The emotional whiplash can be overwhelming. And if you're in the midst of planning your own celebration, you may feel... conflicted. Is it okay to feel joy while there is so much suffering in the world?

If you’re grappling with how to plan a wedding when the world feels like it’s falling apart, you’re not alone. In fact, you're in very good company. This post is for the couples who are trying to honour their love and future while also holding space for a world that’s hurting. It's not about pretending everything is okay. It's about finding clarity, purpose and perspective amidst the chaos - and maybe even using your wedding as a force for good.

You’re allowed to feel conflicted

Let’s begin here: it’s okay to feel emotionally split. Planning a wedding is a deeply personal and joyful milestone - but it doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It’s entirely normal to feel excitement and grief in the same breath. You can be thrilled about trying on your outfit and simultaneously heartbroken over the news you read that morning. This is the tension of being human in 2025.

Rather than guilt, consider inviting in compassion - for yourself and others. Compassion allows us to feel deeply, hold multiple truths at once and move forward with purpose.

Why planning a wedding can feel so hard right now

We're living in a uniquely overwhelming time. News is no longer something you catch once a day - it’s an endless scroll. Our global awareness is higher than ever and so is our emotional load. What used to be localised now feels personal. Add in the pressure of social media perfectionism and it’s no wonder many couples are feeling uncertain or even paralysed.

It’s not that weddings have become more frivolous - it’s that the contrast between joy and pain has become more visible. But the truth is, weddings have always coexisted with world events. People married during wars. During depressions. During plagues. Love, in all its forms, has never waited for the world to be okay. And that’s not selfish, it’s an act of human resilience.

You’re not turning away - you're tuning into what matters

If you’re reading this, it’s because you care. That’s a beautiful thing. And planning a wedding doesn’t mean ignoring what’s happening in the world - it just means recognising where your influence lies. None of us can fix everything. But we can create ripples of kindness and impact within our own communities. We can show up for the people around us, live our values and support causes in meaningful ways.

Your wedding can still reflect that.

Practical ways to plan a wedding with heart

If you're looking for ways to align your celebration with your values, here are some ideas.

1. Make it meaningful

Take some time to reflect on what your wedding is really about. Is it about creating a space where your loved ones feel safe, nourished and celebrated? Is it about honouring your culture or building new traditions as a couple? When you clarify your “why,” the noise of comparison - and even some of the world’s heaviness - becomes easier to filter out.

Why does this wedding matter to you, and how do you want people to feel? Our free set your wedding priorities guide is a great place to start.

2. Give back through your celebration

You might choose to dedicate part of your wedding to supporting causes close to your heart. Here are a few gentle, meaningful ideas:

• Donate in lieu of wedding favours. A short note on guests’ place settings can explain where you’ve donated and why.
• Ask for donations instead of gifts. You can set up a charity registry or suggest guests contribute to an organisation you care about.
• Partner with vendors who give back. Seek out florists, caterers and creatives who use sustainable practices or donate proceeds to social causes.
• Include a moment of acknowledgement. A brief statement in your ceremony or speech (perhaps honouring those affected by recent events) can go a long way in recognising the bigger picture.

3. Reconsider the scale

It’s okay to go big. But if you’re feeling overwhelmed, consider whether a small wedding might suit you better right now. Intimate weddings can be just as powerful (in fact, it's a growing trend) with less waste, more venue options and more room for meaningful connection.

Alternatively, you could keep your original date and have a smaller gathering now, followed by a bigger celebration later.

4. Take a break from wedding planning (if you need to)

If the emotional load of the world and wedding planning feels like too much, it’s okay to pause. Put down the spreadsheets. Close Pinterest. Let yourself rest. There’s no shame in creating some breathing room. The date will still be there. The people will still come. The love will still grow. Sometimes, the most productive thing you can do is step away.

5. Curate your feed carefully

Social media can be a double-edged sword: a source of inspiration, but also a portal to stress, comparison, and chronic indecision. Curate what you’re consuming. Follow voices that uplift, educate or soothe you. Mute accounts that make you feel anxious or inadequate. It’s not ignorance, it’s self-preservation.

Try setting boundaries, like only checking the news at a specific time of day, or scheduling “offline” weekends. You’ll be surprised how much clarity can come with a little less doom-scrolling.

6. Celebrate as resistance, not ignorance

This is perhaps the most important reminder: joy is not ignorant. In times of darkness, joy is a rebellious act of resistance. It says: we will still love, still gather, still dance. That’s powerful.

Your wedding isn’t about turning away from the pain of the world. It’s about choosing to infuse it with something else. Laughter, beauty, connection and hope. And that might be exactly what your community needs.

Some parting thoughts

It’s okay if you don’t have all the answers. None of us do. But if you’re approaching this time in your life with intention, care and compassion - then you are already doing more than enough. Planning a wedding during hard times doesn’t mean ignoring reality. It means holding space for both heartbreak and celebration. It means letting your love be a light in uncertain times and keeping perspective as a way of honouring those less fortunate.

So plan your wedding, take breaks when you need, give back when you can and remember: your joy is allowed. And in fact, it might just be part of the healing.