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A wedding planner has shared two red flags that she spots in couples as she works with them ahead of their wedding days. Planning a wedding can put so much pressure on couples, whether they have been together for only a couple of years or closer to a decade.

With many decisions being made, family dynamics at play and a lot of money being spent, its completely normal for wedding planning to cause stress and arguments between couples. Sian Morten Turner, a senior wedding planner at Macdonald Hotels & Resort's Frimley Hall Hotel in Surrey.

With years of experience and hundreds of weddings under her belt, Sian has spent countless hours working closely with brides and grooms in the run-up to their big day, and she says there’s one behaviour that immediately sets alarm bells ringing.

She said: “Couples who are equally involved in planning their wedding almost always have a smoother, happier journey to the altar. The biggest red flag I see is when one partner takes total control while the other seems completely uninterested.

“When one person sits quietly through meetings and shows little emotion or interest, it often comes back to bite. By the final planning meeting, frustration builds, arguments start, and that excitement you want before a wedding can quickly disappear.”

According to Sian, the situation can sometimes be made more stressful when parents step in.

She continued: “Well-meaning but intense parents and in-laws can add huge pressure. They sometimes overshadow what the couple wants, which creates tension and confusion. Suddenly, the wedding stops being about the two people getting married.”

Sian typically holds around four planning meetings with each couple before the big day and says open communication from the very beginning is key.

She said: "Wedding planning can be stressful, and a little bickering is normal. But most conflict can be avoided if couples talk openly from the start. When expectations are clear, there are no last-minute surprises or arguments over final details.”

Sharing her advice for couples preparing to say, ‘I do’, Sian added: "Couples also need to remember to prioritise each other and their wedding vision – not their guests, and definitely not their in-laws.

“We often see couples changing their plans because they’re worried about what guests will think. My advice is always the same: your wedding is about you.

"Treat the planning process as the foundation of your life together, put each other first, and keep talking.”