Hiring a planner was one of the best decisions I made. We only had six months to plan our destination wedding, and our planner helped alleviate unforeseen stress and issues that arose. I also had a Mehndi party, which is a traditional Pakistani pre-wedding ceremony, and the whole weekend came together beautifully as an extended celebration with our family and friends. Planning during the pandemic also taught me to let go of expectations and be flexible when things didn’t go as planned. Having this mindset allowed me to slow down and be present; to take in as many special moments as possible.