AND IF YOU PREFER TO READ, HERE'S THE SUMMARY OF THE PODCAST EPISODE!

Now, I know not everyone is a die-hard football fan, but stick with me. The Super Bowl isn’t just about touchdowns and halftime shows—it’s about preparation, teamwork, and making sure everything runs flawlessly under pressure. Sound familiar? That’s exactly what wedding planning is all about.

Before we really dive in, let me ask—are you a football fan? Which is your favorite? The game, the halftime show, the commercials, or the food? Or maybe you’re just listening because you're in the midst of planning your wedding.

Personally, unless my team is in it, I’m in it for the halftime show and the commercials. 

Either way, this episode is for you if:

• You’re a wedding planner who wants to lead a strong team.
• You’re a couple who wants a stress-free wedding.
• You believe that preparation is the key to success.

Because just like in football, a winning wedding day is never a solo effort. It’s all about having the right players in place and a solid game plan to bring it all together.

First, let’s start by breaking down the biggest similarities between the Super Bowl and a wedding day. 

 

Game Day = Wedding Day

Months—sometimes even years—of preparation lead up to this one high-stakes event. And when the day finally arrives? There are no do-overs. No second chances. Every moment counts. That may sound dramatic but it’s 100% true.

Think about all the planning, the logistics, the decisions that happen behind the scenes. It’s easy to watch a Super Bowl game and forget about the months of strategy and training that got the team there. The same is true for weddings. Guests arrive, see the beautifully set tables, hear the music playing, and enjoy a perfectly timed ceremony. But what they don’t see? The countless hours of preparation that made it happen.

Just like NFL teams spend months studying their opponents, practicing plays, and making sure every detail is accounted for, wedding planners and couples do the exact same thing. There are venue walkthroughs, menu tastings, timeline revisions, seating charts, vendor coordination, and so much more. Every single piece has to be mapped out, rehearsed, and ready to go.

And let’s be honest—both the Super Bowl and a wedding day come with an incredible amount of pressure. The stakes are sky-high. This is it. All the work, energy, and investment lead to this one moment where everything needs to come together.

And when the big day arrives? The work isn’t over yet. You need to start executing that well-laid plan under pressure. The ability to make real-time adjustments is crucial, whether it’s a quarterback changing the play at the line of scrimmage or a planner adjusting the timeline to accommodate unexpected delays.

 

The Team Behind the Scenes

Beyond the plan though, next let’s talk about the team. And despite what may have been the first thing to come to mind, a football team isn’t just made up of the players on the field. Behind every great team is an entire support system of head coaches that are calling the shots, coordinators adjusting plays, assistants tracking every detail, trainers keeping players in peak condition, the medical staff ready to jump in if something goes wrong, and even the water crew making sure no one goes down from dehydration. Every single person on that team has a role to play in making sure game day runs like a well-oiled machine.

And weddings? They work the exact same way.

From the outside, guests only see the finished product—a beautiful venue, a smiling couple, a seamless ceremony, and a party that feels effortless. But what they don’t see is the team of professionals behind the scenes making it all happen.

Within the wedding team, you’ve got the wedding planner acting as the head coach, making sure the entire operation is moving in the right direction. They design the game plan, coordinate the key players, and set everyone up for success. But on the wedding day itself? They step into the quarterback role, calling plays in real-time, making last-minute adjustments, and ensuring everything runs smoothly under pressure.

Then, you have the coordinator or assistant managing the play-by-play, ensuring the schedule stays on track (I usually have 4-6 people with me to help on a wedding day). 

Then there are the vendors—the star players—each bringing their unique talents to the game. The florist, the caterer, the photographer, the DJ, the venue staff—each one has a job to do, and when everyone works together, that’s when the magic happens.

Now, picture trying to win the Super Bowl without a head coach. No one is calling plays. No one is making last-minute decisions. Total chaos. I shudder at the thought!

Or imagine a football team with zero communication between the offense and defense. The quarterback thinks they’re running one play, but the linemen have no idea. Players crash into each other, the wrong person gets the ball, and the whole thing falls apart. That’s what happens when wedding vendors aren’t on the same page. 

If the photographer doesn’t know when the first dance is happening, they might miss the shot. If the caterer isn’t looped into the timeline, dinner might not be ready when guests expect it, which then delays the DJ (and makes you miss your golden hour shots!)

A single breakdown can throw everything off balance. And let’s be honest—when something goes wrong at a wedding, guests don’t notice the tiny details; they notice the stress. They can feel the tension when the flow isn’t right. They can tell when something is missing even if they can’t tell what that is.

That’s why it’s so crucial to build a strong wedding team that knows how to communicate and problem-solve. It’s not just about hiring talented vendors—it’s about making sure those vendors know how to work together seamlessly.

A championship team wins because every player understands their role, trusts their teammates, and knows how to adapt. And the same goes for weddings. When your vendors are in sync, when they trust each other and collaborate effortlessly, that’s when you get a wedding day that feels flawless.

 

Executing Under Pressure

Now let’s talk about the pressure. Wedding planning is the fifth most stressful job in the WORLD, for a reason! Because even the best teams, with the most detailed game plans, still face unexpected challenges. Just like in football, wedding days come with intense emotions and unpredictable challenges. No matter how much planning goes into it, something unexpected is bound to happen. Maybe the weather suddenly takes a turn, and the outdoor ceremony has to be moved inside. Or maybe a zipper breaks on a bridesmaid’s dress minutes before walking down the aisle.

The best wedding teams—just like the best NFL teams—aren’t going to panic. They stay calm, think quickly, and adapt on the fly to keep everything moving forward. A great quarterback doesn’t crumble when a play falls apart. Instead, they scan the field, adjust their strategy, and make the best decision in the moment. That’s exactly what wedding pros do when things don’t go as planned.

At the end of the day, it’s not about avoiding challenges—it’s about how you handle them. The key to success is trusting the team you’ve built, staying flexible when things don’t go exactly as planned, and keeping your eyes on the bigger picture. Because just like in the Super Bowl, when the final whistle blows, it’s the experience and the memories that matter most.

 

BUILDING A CHAMPIONSHIP-WINNING WEDDING TEAM

So how do we create a wedding day team that’s set up for success? We start by making sure each player knows their role and plays to their strengths. 

 

The Quarterback: The Wedding Planner

First, your most important role on the wedding day—the quarterback—is your wedding planner. While they’ve spent months acting as the head coach, creating the strategy and assembling the right team, on the big day, they step onto the field to execute the plays, call audibles when needed, and keep everything moving forward seamlessly. Just like a QB scans the field and adapts to changes, a wedding planner anticipates challenges and pivots as needed to ensure the couple’s day goes off without a hitch.

At the end of the day, the best quarterbacks—and the best wedding planners—know that success comes down to preparation, adaptability, and clear communication. They know when to step in and take control and when to let their team do what they do best. And most importantly, they never lose sight of the ultimate goal: making sure the couple has the most incredible day of their lives.

 

Your Vendors Are Your Star Players

Let’s talk about star players next. Your wedding day’s star players are your vendor team. 

The photographer is like the wide receiver, catching every important moment with precision and grace. The caterer is the running back, delivering the goods and keeping everyone fueled for the celebration. And the DJ or band—our cheerleaders—are bringing the energy, setting the tone, and making sure the crowd stays engaged and excited.

I could go on and on with these analogies, but I think you get the idea!

 

Couples: Be the Owners, Not the Coaches

Now, let’s talk about the couple. The best wedding days happen when couples trust their team to do what they do best. Think of yourselves as the owners of the team, setting the vision and then letting the professionals take care of the execution. Just like a team owner doesn’t micromanage every play on the field, couples should focus on the big picture and enjoy the process and the day rather than trying to worry about every detail on the day itself. That’s what you have your planner for! 

 

THE POWER OF COACHING: WHY EVEN THE BEST NEED GUIDANCE 

Now, let me take a quick moment to talk to my wedding planners listening. Even the best teams in the world have coaches. Tom Brady had Bill Belichick. Michael Jordan had Phil Jackson. Serena Williams had Patrick Mouratoglou. The greatest athletes in history didn’t just rely on talent—they had someone in their corner pushing them, helping them refine their skills, and guiding them toward the championship.

And the same principle applies to running a wedding planning business.

 

Why You Need a Wedding Planner Coach

Think about it—just like elite athletes, top wedding planners don’t succeed on talent alone. They need strategy, support, and expert guidance to reach the next level.

Maybe you’re spending too much time on tasks that could be automated. Maybe communication with vendors isn’t as clear as it could be, causing unnecessary stress on wedding days. Or maybe your pricing model isn’t sustainable, leaving you working twice as hard for half the profit.

This is where a coach comes in. A coach identifies those weak spots and helps you fix them. They provide an outside perspective, offering strategies, tools, and techniques to help you work smarter, not harder.

The wedding industry is always evolving—trends shift, technology advances, and client expectations change. If you’re not continuously improving, you’re falling behind. The best planners, the ones who book high-end clients, aren’t just relying on experience. They’re actively learning, adapting, and investing in their growth.

That’s the power of coaching. It keeps you ahead of the game, helping you refine your business, improve your pricing, and elevate your client experience.

Just like an NFL coach studies game tape to fine-tune plays, I have my own coach that helps me strategize, think big, and scale my business so I can continue to grow professionally and personally.

But, you may not know this, but I also mentor other wedding planners. I help them fine tune and streamline their processes, strengthen their leadership, build a team, and create a thriving business that is fulfilling, rewarding and, most importantly, profitable!

If you’re ready to take your business to the next level, I would love to support you, too! Head here to check out my coaching services. 

 

CONCLUSION

Let's go over the key takeaways: just like the Super Bowl, a wedding is all about preparation, teamwork, and executing a solid game plan. Success isn’t a solo effort—it takes a strong team to bring a vision to life. Couples should focus on the big picture and trust their wedding day ‘coaches’ to handle the details. Trust me, everything will go smoother if you do!