Case Study — From Brainstorming to Big Day: My Wedding Planning Journey Using Design Thinking

Debadarshinee Mohapatra
Bootcamp
Published in
26 min readApr 9, 2023

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A UX Designer’s Guide to Planning a Dream Wedding with Design Thinking

Hi everyone! I’m Debadarshinee, and I’m excited to share my Indian wedding planning journey with you all. With design thinking principles, I was able to create a wedding that truly reflected my style and personality. Join me as I take you through my journey from brainstorming to the big day, and how I applied design thinking principles to every step of the process. Whether you’re planning your wedding or just curious about the process, come along for the ride!

You might be curious, what is Design Thinking all about? 🤔

Design Thinking is a problem-solving methodology that emphasizes empathy, creativity, and experimentation. In this case study, I will demonstrate how utilizing Design Thinking allowed me to better empathize with others, identify their challenges, and develop effective solutions.

So you might be wondering why I decided to use Design Thinking to plan my wedding. It’s a fair question, as Design Thinking is typically associated with product design rather than wedding planning. But hear me out — as a UX Designer, I’ve been trained to think about user needs, pain points, and experiences. And let’s be honest, what’s more, important than a wedding — one of the most cherished experiences in a person’s life? So I thought, why not use the same problem-solving approach to plan my wedding? After all, at the heart of Design Thinking is empathy — understanding the needs and desires of the user. And who better to empathize with than myself and my partner (Sovan) as we embark on this journey together? So let’s dive into how I used Design Thinking to plan my dream wedding.

Design Thinking Phases ( In this case, the Test Phase was essentially the Implementation Phase since it was impossible to refine the wedding day any further. )

I approached wedding planning as I would any design project, Brainstorming ideas and iterating on them and gathering feedback from others. I involved my family and friends in the process, seeking their input and insights to create a memorable experience for everyone involved.

Problem Statement

How might we plan a dream wedding that meets our budget, accommodates our guest list, reflects our cultural heritage, and delivers a memorable experience for us and our guests?

I started by identifying the main user personas for my wedding — myself (Primary😎), Sovan and our guests. This allowed me to create a clear picture of what each person would need and want from experience. From there, I began the ideation phase, brainstorming and exploring different ideas for the wedding. I used journey mapping to understand the user experience of planning and executing a wedding. This involved breaking down the wedding planning process into smaller stages and identifying pain points and opportunities for improvement.

For example, during the venue selection stage, I realized that it was difficult to compare multiple venues as each one had different pictures and information available online. To solve this, I created a Notion document to maintain all the venue pictures in one place, making it easy to compare and make a decision.

Our Notion Document — ( Now with updated Display Picture after Marriage 🥰 — a sneak peek of our final look )

Another tool which proved to be extremely useful in my wedding planning journey was none other than Whatsapp 🎉. I created a group of trusted friends and family members on this platform to generate new and creative ideas. We discussed everything from decor to food to entertainment and came up with unique ideas that added a personal touch to the wedding. For instance, we decided to have a Sangeet night, which is a musical night before the wedding, and we shared songs through Whatsapp to ensure that everyone was up to date with the playlist. It was a great way to stay organized and communicate effectively with everyone involved in the wedding planning process.

I also conducted user research by talking to friends and family who had recently planned weddings, to understand their pain points and learn from their experiences. This helped me avoid common pitfalls and make informed decisions.

In addition to journey mapping, I also utilized prototyping to refine various elements of my wedding, such as invitation card designs. And of course, I couldn’t forget practising my bridal entry for the big day! By prototyping, I was able to see how different pieces fit together and make necessary adjustments, ensuring that everything would go smoothly on the day of the wedding.

Overall, using Design Thinking to plan my wedding helped me approach the process in a more structured and thoughtful way. It allowed me to stay focused on the user experience and create a wedding that truly reflected our personalities and values.

Alright, let’s dive deeper and explore each phase of my wedding planning journey using Design Thinking. I’ll walk you through my process, the tools I used, and the challenges I faced along the way. Get ready to learn from my experiences and perhaps even use these insights to plan your dream wedding!

👀Discovery Phase

The Discovery Phase is the first step of planning any wedding, and my wedding was no exception. As soon as my partner and I convinced our parents we knew we had a lot of work to do! The first step was to do some research and gather information about weddings. We started by looking at online resources, such as wedding blogs and forums, to get an idea of what was out there. As we began brainstorming for our Indian wedding, there were so many factors to consider. We started with the most important factor — the budget. We knew that setting a budget was crucial in determining what was feasible for us. We brainstormed ideas for budgeting, such as allocating funds based on what was most important, like the venue or catering, and researching cost-saving measures.

Next, we tackled the guest list. We knew we wanted to include everyone we loved, but we had to be realistic about the number of guests we could accommodate. We brainstormed ideas for narrowing down the guest list, considering factors like budget or venue capacity.

Father and I brainstormed on wedding plans and initial guest lists.

Choosing a venue🏟️ was another important aspect of planning our Indian wedding. We brainstormed ideas for venues, looking at indoor options as I didn’t want to take risk of rain with outdoor venues, proximity to the airport or train station for out-of-town guests, and overall ambience and aesthetic of the space.

As we started planning our wedding, we knew that decor, photography📸 & makeup were important aspects that would help us create and preserve our memories. We spent hours brainstorming decor ideas, scrolling through Pinterest and Instagram for inspiration, and considering different colour schemes and themes. We wanted to ensure that everything was perfect, so we looked for the best photographers with reasonable prices. We thought about what elements were most important to us, such as floral arrangements or lighting, and how they would enhance the overall ambience of our wedding.

🍲 Food is an integral part of any Indian wedding, and we knew we had to get it right. We brainstormed ideas for catering, researching popular regional dishes and considering options for vegetarians and non-vegetarians. We also thought about how we could incorporate local flavours and ingredients.

As we started to finalize our ideas for the different aspects of the wedding, we realized that many of the options we were considering were pushing our budget to the limit. We had to make some tough decisions about what was most important to us and where we could cut back. Ultimately, we decided to go for a simpler yet elegant wedding that would still make us happy without breaking the bank🥲. We focused on the elements that were most important to us, such as the venue & catering, and tried to find cost-saving measures for the others, such as decor & entertainment.

🎯Define Phase & 💡Ideate Phase

Wedding planning can be an overwhelming task, and, indeed, the lines between different phases can often become blurred. As I began the process of planning my wedding, I found that I was constantly discovering new things and generating new ideas. I started with a general idea of what I wanted my wedding to look and feel like, but as I delved deeper into the planning process, my goals and needs became more defined.

During the Define Phase, I used the insights and information gathered during the discovery phase to clarify my goals and needs for the wedding. I had to take into consideration various factors such as budget, guest list, venue, decor, catering, and entertainment. I had to define what was most important to me for my wedding day and what was feasible and what wasn’t. This helped me to identify key priorities and make decisions about what was most important to me.

Before diving into wedding planning, I wanted to clarify a few things to make the process smoother. I’ll also walk you through my journey of wedding planning and share some insights as a bride-to-be. So, I came up with some questions that helped me gain clarity and direction:

What is the overall budget for the wedding, and how will it be allocated?

What type of wedding do we want (traditional, modern, destination, etc.)?

What is our preferred wedding date and time?

How many guests are we planning to invite, and who are the must-invites?

What is our preferred wedding venue, and have we made the bookings?

What attire and jewellery do we want for ourselves and the groom, and have we started shopping?

What type of decor and theme do we want for each function?

Who will be our wedding planners, if any, and what will be their responsibilities?

What type of food and beverages will be served at each function?

What type of music and entertainment do we want for each function?

These questions helped me to establish a clear plan and vision for the wedding, which made it easier to communicate with vendors and family members. It also ensured we were on the same page with my partner and our families throughout the planning process.

Basic Information about the User Aka Me 👩‍💻
More about me🙃

During the Ideate Phase, I generated and evaluated different ideas and concepts for my wedding day using design thinking. I brainstormed ideas for Haldi and Mehendi functions, interactive activities like photo booths or dance lessons, and traditional elements like Mehndi artists or henna tattoos. I worked through challenges and considered different perspectives to refine and narrow down my ideas.

However, I found that the process of planning my wedding was more fluid than structured. I constantly found myself moving back and forth between different phases as new ideas and challenges arose.

For example, while shopping for my bridal lehenga, I was simultaneously considering ideas for my jewellery and accessories. Similarly, while finalizing my guest list, I was also considering the different entertainment options I wanted to incorporate into my wedding.

Journey Map 📍

After finalizing the dates for our wedding, the first thing we needed to do was to find a suitable venue. We started our search online, looking for venues in and around Bhubaneswar. We came across many beautiful options, but either they were out of our budget or were already booked for our dates. We decided to visit some venues in person and started our venue-hunting journey.

Finding the perfect venue for both the wedding and reception was quite the challenge!!!
We kept track of all the venues we visited and shortlisted by making a list and taking pictures of each one. This helped us to compare and finalize the perfect venue for our wedding and reception.

After numerous visits to different venues, from beautiful lawns to extravagant hotels, we still couldn’t find the perfect fit for us. Each place had some flaws — the food wasn’t good, the decor didn’t match our taste, the location was inconvenient for our guests, or the price was way beyond our budget. It seemed like we were running out of options and time. But we didn’t give up. We kept looking and discussing with our family and friends over WhatsApp, exchanging ideas and opinions. Finally, after a lot of hard work and persistence, we found our Wedding & Reception venue that ticked all the boxes we were looking for and also fit our budget. It was a huge relief and we couldn’t wait to move on to the next phase of planning our perfect wedding.

🛠️Prototype Phase

So, while planning my wedding, I didn’t follow a fixed prototype phase as every day was a discovery and we kept going back and forth between different stages. To start with the prototype phase, I began trying different lehengas to figure out what I wanted. I went to different shops in Bhubaneswar, as well as in Chandni Chowk, Delhi, and browsed through various online websites to get a better idea. Initially, I had a vague idea of what I wanted, but as I tried on different lehengas, I was able to narrow down my preferences and eliminate the ones that didn’t match my taste. It was a process of trial and error, but eventually, I was able to find the perfect lehenga that I loved and that fit my vision for my wedding day. Now let me take you through my lehenga and jewellery hunting journey.

As I began my hunt for the perfect bridal lehenga, I was filled with both excitement and nervousness. The internet had shown me so many beautiful lehengas, but when we visited shops in Bhubaneswar, I realized I had no clue what I was looking for. We went to two popular shops — Bhatia and Duhita & Manav (D&M), but none of the lehengas felt right.

Sharing my first-ever lehenga trial experience and exploring online options
Sharing my first-ever lehenga trial experience and exploring online options

Then, on 9th October, I went lehenga shopping with a few friends in Chandni Chowk, Delhi while I was in town for my friend’s wedding. Our main agenda for the day was to find the perfect bridal lehenga for me. It was raining in Delhi, and our cab booking was a nightmare, but we finally made it to the stores.

Chandni Chowk on the Day of Lehenga Hunting. The third picture is just after we got my Lehenga 🙃
Trying out lehengas!!

After trying on many lehengas, I finally found one. However, there was confusion among my sisters who didn’t like the lehenga as much as I did. This dilemma lasted until the last minute of our wedding day.

Finally found the one! 🥰 It’s like finding the perfect partner 😂!

After the lehenga was sorted, it was time for jewellery. I wasn’t very fond of it, but it was a necessary part of the wedding. I went with my friend Alisa, as others bailed out last minute. We had no prior experience with jewellery shopping, so we took the help of technology and shared pictures with my friends and sisters. With their help, we finally got all the jewellery needed for the wedding day.

Jewellery selection can be quite a task, but we managed to pull it off!

I went through a range of emotions during the wedding planning process, as you can see from my journey map. There were moments of confusion and uncertainty, as well as moments of excitement and joy. You can see this reflected in my photos, with the first few showing my initial confusion and the last one showing my happiness and relief after finding the almost perfect wedding attire.

Meeting these adorable doggos was just what I needed to de-stress and feel rejuvenated.
Delhi to Bhubaneswar with 7kg Lehenga 😅 and I was pleasantly surprised to receive a priority tag at the boarding gate, simply because I mentioned that I was getting married!

Looking back, I realized that finding the perfect bridal lehenga and jewellery was a journey filled with ups and downs, but it was also an unforgettable experience that I will cherish forever.

After finalizing the wedding venue, the next big task on our list was to buy our engagement rings and sherwani for the groom. We went to Tanishq with my parents to buy the groom’s ring and Sovan also joined us so that we could select the ring of his choice. Similarly, we went to Khimji with his parents to buy my engagement ring. With our rings sorted, we were one step closer to our wedding day.

Next up was finding the perfect sherwani for Sovan. We had a fair idea about the colour combinations and carried my lehenga blouse to get a better matching sherwani. We visited several shops including Manyavar, Swayamvar, and Utsav, but couldn’t find the perfect match until we reached Manish Creations. Clicking pictures were not allowed so we couldn’t ask for validation from anyone, but we trusted our instincts and found the almost perfect sherwani.

Overall, the process of buying engagement rings and the groom’s sherwani was exciting and memorable. We made sure to involve our parents in the process and trusted our instincts to find the perfect match.

After we had finalized the guest list and venue for our wedding, it was time to start thinking about the wedding invitations. We knew that the invitation would set the tone for the wedding, so we wanted to make sure it was perfect. We started by brainstorming different ideas and designs for the invitation. We wanted it to be unique and reflective of our personalities, while also being informative and easy to read. I sketched out some ideas on paper and did some research online for inspiration.

As we couldn’t take pictures directly we took pictures through WhatsApp video call. Once again WhatsApp won.

Once we had a few different designs, we decided to create prototypes of each invitation. We couldn’t print out our designs on different types of paper and cardstock to see how they looked in real life but just have faith. We also experimented with different fonts and colours to make sure everything was legible and visually appealing.

Iteration in the physical card and Final version of the E-invitation (Designed by me with a pet touch🐶🐱).

After creating the E- invite, I showed them to a few close friends and family members for their feedback. We asked for their honest opinions and suggestions for improvement. Based on their feedback, I made some changes and created a final version of the invitation that we were all happy with.

Next, we moved on to decorations. We had a clear idea of the kind of ambience we wanted to create for our wedding, but we needed to figure out how to bring it to life. We started by creating a mood board and collecting images and ideas from Pinterest and other sources to help us visualize the decor.

Just like with the invitations, we showed our decoration pictures to friends and family for feedback. We made some changes based on their suggestions and refined our designs until we had a clear vision for the decor.

Decoration options sent by our Decorator!

Choosing the right decor for our wedding was no easy feat. With so many options available, we found ourselves overwhelmed and confused. We asked our photographer for recommendations and went through countless photos, but we still couldn’t decide.

After discussing our ideas with a decorator, we realized our tastes and budget didn’t align. We didn’t want to compromise on something as important as the decor, so we decided to look for other options. Finally, after much searching and deliberation, we found a decorator that understood our vision and helped us bring it to life.

In the end, the prototype phase was crucial in helping us to create the perfect wedding invitations and decorations. It allowed us to experiment with different ideas and get feedback from others to refine our designs. It was a fun and creative process that allowed us to bring our vision to life in a unique and personalized way.

Things Done ✅ — Venue , Decor, Photographer, Bridal Lehenga, Jewellery, Groom’s Sherwani + accessories, Engagement Rings

Touchpoints — Phone, WhatsApp, Notion, camera, Credit Card, Google search, Google map, Safari browser, Phone Call

We realized there was still much to do and started logging everything into our Notion document. We started logging everything onto our Notion document and began researching and learning new things. Next on our list was makeup, which was also an essential aspect for us to consider.

My first ever make-up!! ( Me investigating makeup finishes to make sure it’s on point )

As someone who was never really into makeup, I found it to be a completely alien thing. So, I decided to take a trial makeup session to understand which products to use and which ones to buy. I ended up purchasing only the essentials from M.A.C cosmetics and watched countless makeup tutorials to learn more about it. I did some makeup trials on myself, my friends, and my boyfriend.

The next week, we began our search for the perfect wedding and reception makeup. We already had one salon in mind because they had approached us long back, but we didn’t have time then. So, we decided to go there. It was a chain salon in Bhubaneswar, and we thought it would be a better and safer option, considering its proximity to our wedding venue.

My make-up Trials!! 🙈🥲

As I got some time in between, I decided to learn how to do makeup. I invested my time in learning and practising makeup skills, and I am proud to say that I learned it in a very short period. During this time, I also researched why women wear makeup regularly and found it interesting to know the science behind it. I even read an article about it which was quite informative. As I grew more interested in makeup, I went with my friends to Lifestyle and tried out different makeup brands and bought some other makeup essentials, which was a fun experience.

An estimated 44 percent of American women do not like to leave their homes without makeup on.

Read more at: https://www.scienceofpeople.com/makeup/

Our Engagement day was approaching and we needed to buy our engagement day attires. I had no idea about sarees, so I asked my friend to help me. We went to several shops and finally bought from Kalamandir. Then we went jewellery shopping and bought from another place. Still, we had to buy matching bangles, but we couldn’t find what we were looking for. Finally, we went kurta shopping for Sovan and found the perfect match at Manyavaar after visiting several shops. It was important for the groom to look perfect too😅!

Behind the scenes of my engagement day — from shopping for the perfect outfit to capturing the final moments before the big day with Mehendi in my hand!
Our Engagement Day! 🥰

It’s interesting to notice that there’s a pattern in buying wedding attire. First, the bride’s attire is purchased, and then the groom’s attire is decided accordingly. After buying the wedding day and engagement day outfits, there were still reception, haldi, mehendi, and sangeet 🥶 outfits to be bought. My future in-laws wanted me to wear a saree for the reception day, so after researching and visiting multiple shops, We finally bought the saree from Mehers. It took some time to convince Sovan’s aunt, but we managed to buy the saree we liked.

Saree Shopping and Fun Times with Friends!!

The journey of going from knowing nothing about sarees to learning about different types of sarees, fabrics, and designs, and finally getting the one that I truly liked, was a great learning experience for me. It involved researching online, browsing through multiple stores, consulting with friends and family, trying on different sarees to see what looked best on me, and ultimately making a decision I was happy with. This process not only helped me understand more about sarees but also gave me a sense of satisfaction and confidence in my ability to make important decisions for my wedding.

I did pleat the saree by myself!! 😎
Jewellery selection for reception Saree!

After finalizing my reception attire, it was time to focus on the jewellery selection. I wanted to mix and match gold and imitation jewellery to create a unique and personalized look. But, this made it difficult to select the perfect pieces as I had to ensure they matched well together. I tried on multiple pieces of jewellery, from traditional designs to modern ones, to see what worked best with my outfits. After many trials, I finally found the jewellery pieces that I was happy with and that complemented my attire perfectly. It was a fun and exciting journey to explore different options and find the perfect jewellery to complete my Reception look.

Finally, Groom’s attire selection, after so many trials 😅!

It was finally time to look for the reception wear for the groom, and while we couldn’t take pictures while searching for his wedding attire, Most of the shops we visited didn’t allow us to take pictures, so it was difficult to remember all the options we had looked at. Luckily, we had our friends with us who helped us by taking pictures of reception attire. It was great to have their support throughout the wedding planning process, as we realized that a wedding is certainly impossible without friends. Eventually, we were able to find a great contrasting pair for my saree and the groom looked perfect in his reception attire.

Due to juggling a full-time job and wedding planning, I found myself experiencing burnout and struggling to find time to focus on getting my haldi and sangeet attire. It was overwhelming at times and made me question if I wanted to go through with the wedding. However, with perseverance and support from my loved ones, I managed to push through and search for the perfect outfits.

For my haldi and sangeet wear, I initially had a specific vision in mind, but as I tried on different outfits, I realized that my preferences had changed. I had to reiterate what I wanted and kept exploring different options until I found the perfect one that resonated with me.

Finding the perfect Haldi and Sangeet wear was quite a challenge. I still remember how we struggled to find the right shade of yellow and dark green I had in mind.

When it came to jewellery, I decided to try online shopping and ordered a few pieces from Amazon. I was pleasantly surprised at how well they turned out and decided to order more jewellery online. I explored different websites like Myntra, Nykaa, and Amazon to find what I was looking for.

For the groom’s haldi wear, we decided to mix and match different styles to create something unique. We went to different shops and looked at various options before finally deciding on a combination that worked well together. It was a fun experience, and we were really happy with how it turned out. We took some inspiration from online resources and added our personal touch to create something perfect for us. Overall, it was a great learning experience, and I’m glad we were able to mix and match styles to create something unique and special for the groom’s haldi ceremony

Things Done ✅ — Venue , Decor, Photographer, Bridal Lehenga, Jewellery, Groom’s Sherwani + accessories, Engagement Rings + Reception Saree, Jewellery, Grooms attire+ Haldi and Sangeet wear for Bride and Groom, Return gifts…..

Tools and Applications Used for Wedding Planning and Coordination

Touchpoints — Phone, WhatsApp, Notion, camera, Credit Card, Google search, Google map, Safari browser, Phone Call, Amazon, Myntra, Nykaa.. etc..

Implement/Test Phase

The Implement phase was the most exciting and nerve-wracking phase of my wedding planning journey. This is the phase where all the planning and decision-making finally come to life. It was time to put all the plans into action and see the actual results. There were many things to take care of during the Implement phase, such as coordinating with the caterers, decorators, florists, and other vendors to make sure that everything was running smoothly. I had to keep track of all the deliveries, setup times, and any last-minute changes.

House decoration for Haldi and Sangeet Function
Wedding Decoration

One of the most important things during the Implement phase was to ensure that the setup and decor matched my vision and expectations. I had to be on top of everything to ensure that everything was set up perfectly and looked amazing.

Haldi & Mehendi photoshoot
Mehendi & Sangeet( I was completely exhausted during the sangeet, and it shows in the pictures. But hey, I gave it my all and I think I did a pretty good job!)

Another aspect of the Implement phase was to ensure that everything was in order for the rituals and ceremonies. We had to ensure that all the necessary items were arranged, such as the wedding garlands, wedding trays, and other items needed for the rituals.

Wedding Attire and Final Look
I remember the Bride’s photoshoot! I had to sneak away from my family and strike different poses for the camera. But it was all worth it as it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

As the bride, I was mostly occupied with the wedding rituals and taking photographs, and that’s where the role of friends and family came in. They were a great help throughout the wedding planning process and especially during the implementation phase. On the day of the wedding, they took care of all the small details and made sure everything went smoothly. They helped in coordinating with vendors, ensuring that the decorations were set up correctly, and making sure that the guests were comfortable.

Wedding rituals From the Bridal Entry to Bidai. The Bidai moment was emotional for me. It hit me hard that I couldn’t go back to my own childhood home.

I added some North Indian wedding rituals, like the bride’s entry, to my wedding ceremonies, but some timeless rituals couldn’t be replaced. It was an amazing experience to blend our traditions and make them our own!

Cherishing the love and support from family and friends❤️. In the second pic, my friends ensured we had enough petals for the Haldi ceremony😊.

Apart from the wedding day, friends and family played an important role in helping me prepare for the wedding. They helped me with shopping, gave me suggestions on different vendors, and provided emotional support throughout the entire process. Overall, I am grateful to have had such a supportive network of friends and family who were there to help me through every step of the wedding planning process. Without them, I don’t think I would have been able to pull off such a memorable wedding.

⏩Post-Wedding Rituals and Formalities

After the wedding ceremony, there were still a few more rituals and events to attend to. The first was the reception from the groom’s side, which was a fun and lively affair. It was a chance for our families to come together and celebrate our union.

Reception Decor!
Reception Make up BTS!
Reception Photoshoot!!

The reception photoshoot was a bit chaotic with family members eager to congratulate us, but my partner and I were determined to get some pictures together. We managed to sneak away for a few moments and take some amazing shots. Looking back, I’m glad we didn’t listen 😁 to the commotion around us and focused on capturing the moment. It was worth it!

After all the wedding rituals and festivities were over, we had to focus on getting our marriage certificate. Initially, we tried to do it ourselves through the official government website, but unfortunately, the website was not functioning properly and we faced many technical issues. It was frustrating, and we were losing a lot of time and energy trying to figure things out. Eventually, we decided to hire an agent who could help us with the process.

Marriage registration login screen. I couldn't proceed only as it didn’t accept my password!
Handing over our documents to the agent for the marriage certificate after unsuccessful attempts to do it ourselves.🥶!

We didn’t do much research on the agent and ended up hiring the first one we met. We were already exhausted from the wedding celebrations & planning, and we just wanted to get it over with. While the agent did make things easier, we realized that we could have saved some money and time if we had done a little more research and hired a more efficient agent.

However, even with the agent’s help, we have not yet received the certificate. It has been a long and frustrating process, and we’ve had to follow up with the agent multiple times to make sure everything is in order. We’ve learned that getting the marriage certificate can be a time-consuming and challenging process, and it’s important to be patient and persistent in following up on it. 🤞

Challenge Accepted!! Just as Barney says from How I Met Your Mother😅

Challenges I faced during my wedding planning journey😥:

  1. Getting married is itself a Challenge😩!
  2. Overwhelming amount of decisions to be made.
  3. Balancing personal preferences with family traditions
  4. Staying within a budget while still having the wedding of my dreams.
  5. Navigating cultural and religious expectations.
  6. Managing the guest list and accommodating everyone’s preferences
  7. Dealing with vendors and ensuring their reliability and quality of service.
  8. Finding the perfect attire and accessories for my partner and me.
  9. Balancing wedding planning with a full-time job.
  10. Handling unexpected obstacles and last-minute changes.
  11. Dealing with burnout and staying motivated throughout the planning process.😅

🔑Key takeaways

Here are the key takeaways and lessons learned from my wedding planning experience:

  1. Flexibility is key: While having a clear plan is important, it’s equally important to be open to change and flexibility. This was evident in my search for a decorator and how I had to change at the last moment.
  2. Design thinking approach can be applied to any situation: I learned that the design thinking approach could be applied to any situation, even wedding planning. It helped me break down complex problems into smaller parts and find creative solutions.
  3. Trusting vendors and delegating responsibilities is important: Wedding planning can be overwhelming, and it’s important to trust your vendors and delegate responsibilities to avoid burnout.
  4. Friends and family are your biggest support system: Friends and family played a crucial role in supporting me throughout the wedding planning process, from helping me with dress shopping to taking care of last-minute details on the day of the wedding.
  5. Iterate on your ideas: My Haldi and Sangeet attire went through multiple iterations before I found the outfits. It’s important to keep iterating and making changes until you’re satisfied with the final product.
  6. I realized the value of taking breaks and taking time for myself during the wedding planning process to avoid burnout.
  7. I learned to delegate tasks to trusted family and friends to help with the planning process and to ensure that everything ran smoothly on the day of the wedding.
Memories❤️🥰

Overall, my wedding planning journey was a rollercoaster ride filled with highs and lows. But I learned valuable lessons that I could apply to other aspects of my life, and I’m grateful for the support of my loved ones who made my special day truly memorable✨.

Throwback to my bachelorette which was an absolute refresher and filled with unforgettable memories, all thanks to my amazing bridesmaids ❤️

💁‍♀️Tips for Wedding Planning

Planning a wedding can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be stressful. Here are some tips 💁🏻‍♀️ that I learned from my own wedding planning experience:

  1. Start planning early: The earlier you start, the more time you’ll have to research vendors and options, and the less likely you’ll be to feel rushed or overwhelmed.
  2. Stay organized: Use tools like spreadsheets/ Notion📝, checklists, and calendars📆 to keep track of everything you need to do and when it needs to be done. This will help you stay on top of things and not forget any important details.
  3. Set realistic expectations: Understand that not everything will go according to plan and be prepared to adapt as needed. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to make everything perfect.
  4. Ask for help: Don’t try to do everything on your own (I thought I could do everything by myself, but as a result, I often found myself burned out and overwhelmed). Ask for help from family and friends who can assist you in different aspects of the planning process.
  5. Take breaks: It’s important to take breaks from wedding planning and do things that make you happy. This will help you stay relaxed and refreshed.
  6. Prioritize self-care: Make sure to take care of yourself physically and mentally during the planning process. Get enough sleep, eat well, exercise, and practice stress-relieving techniques like meditation or yoga ( Though I didn’t do 😅). Pamper yourself with facials and massages so that you’ll be ready for your big day.
  7. Remember the big picture: At the end of the day, your wedding is about celebrating your love with your partner and sharing that joy with your loved ones. Don’t lose sight of that and try to enjoy the process as much as possible.
  8. Hiring a good photographer for your wedding is an absolute must. 📸
Last pic of the day with our talented photographers. Thank you for capturing all the special moments!

Working with my partner to plan our wedding not only made it less stressful, but it also brought us closer and strengthened our relationship.

Us ❤️

Remember, your wedding day is supposed to be a happy occasion. Don’t let the stress of planning take away from that. Just take it one step at a time and enjoy the journey!

In conclusion😮‍💨, planning a wedding can be an overwhelming and stressful process, but with the help of design thinking, I was able to find clarity and creativity amidst the chaos. By breaking down the wedding planning process into different stages and applying design thinking principles, I was able to approach the planning process in a more structured and systematic way. From defining my user persona to mapping out my journey, and from ideation to implementation, each phase of the wedding planning process was carefully thought out and executed. While there were certainly challenges and obstacles along the way, I was able to navigate through them with the help of my partner👨, family, and friends. It was truly an amazing experience to see everything come together and to celebrate our love surrounded by our loved ones.

Family and friends are the most important elements at a wedding ❤️

Overall, my experience with design thinking in wedding planning has taught me valuable lessons I can apply to other aspects of my life and work. It has taught me to be patient, stay organised, think creatively, and most importantly, trust the process.

🎉 Here’s a sneak peek into our wedding celebration! 🎥

Thank you so much 🥹 for taking the time🥲 to read my real-life design thinking case study. I appreciate your support and would love it if you could show some love by clapping (multiple times if you’d like!), leaving a comment💬, and letting me know your thoughts💭. If you have any feedback or would like to chat about collaborations, feel free to reach out to me on LinkedIn. Thanks again for reading and have a great day!

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