“How are you going to plan a destination wedding for 150 people in just four months?” one friend asked. “You’re not hiring a wedding planner? How will you handle everything?” another chimed in. “No wedding designer? How will you make sure everything looks put together?” a concerned colleague added.
My answer? A little creativity, a lot of determination, a healthy dose of optimism, plenty of perseverance—and ChatGPT. That’s how.
After getting engaged last November, I spent months wrestling with a common dilemma for brides in their late 30s: skip a traditional wedding to focus on starting a family and “real life,” or live out the Pinterest and Vogue Weddings-inspired dreams I’d been collecting for years, surrounded by our closest friends and family. Eloping or having a small wedding wasn’t an option for us—our circle of loved ones is practically Italian in size. And as someone who works in the wedding industry (I lead social and brand partnerships at Minted), the idea of anything low-key or anti-bride just didn’t fit my personality or my love for all things bold and beautiful.
My job has given me plenty of experience helping celebrity and influencer brides define their style and bring it to life through stationery, so I’d been thinking about my own wedding long before I was even engaged. But when I decided to plan the whole thing in just four months, I knew I’d need support—while also pushing myself, much like I used to cram for exams the night before and still come out on top.
I thought about hiring one of the talented planners I’ve met through my work, but as an event management major who’s organized large-scale events throughout my career, I’ve always wanted the chance to see if I could pull it off myself. (I am an Aries and an oldest daughter, after all.)
That’s where my AI assistant came in—my maid of honor, creative partner, fashion historian, weather forecaster, travel agent, and personal organizer all rolled into one: ChatGPT.
While some brides use AI to stretch their budgets or negotiate contracts, I found it most helpful for refining my creative vision and diving into the details with the speed and precision needed to make this happen in just four months.
First up: where to have our November wedding? My fiancé and I are both Italian-American and had always dreamed of a 17th-century Tuscan or Sicilian setting to start our lives together. We looked into that first (remember, I only had four months!). Another idea, especially as New Yorkers, was to recreate his parents’ wedding with a ceremony at St. Patrick’s Cathedral and a reception at the historic Explorer’s Club. But we soon realized a trip to Europe would be too difficult for some key family members, and despite our best efforts (and a few prayers), St. Pat’s was booked until January.
So I turned to ChatGPT, chatting with it like I would a friend. I asked for destinations that were easy for older guests traveling from the East Coast but still felt like a wedding paradise. The clear winner? Bermuda. Had we ever been or even thought about vacationing there? No. Were we curious? Absolutely.
Like any good creative partner, ChatGPT got to know my style through our conversations (it picked up on my love for the Slim Aarons and Truman Capote’s “Swans” aesthetic). The first venue it suggested, Cambridge Beaches, was perfect. Built in 1923, this historic cottage-style hotel sits on a private 23-acre peninsula, with buildings and architectural details dating back to the 17th century. It’s a quiet, elegant retreat once frequented by royalty and figures like Henry Ford—exactly the kind of timeless, intimate setting I had in mind.When I realized the flight would only be two hours for most guests, I knew I’d found the perfect venue. I may not be great at long-term planning, but in moments of decision, I have the confidence of a Fortune 100 CEO.
Once I confirmed our ideal date was open, I dove back into research. What’s the chance of a hurricane hitting the island this November? About 0.5%. A tropical storm? 1–2%. When should I schedule my Botox and CO₂ laser treatment to look my best? One and two months before the wedding. What perfume did Grace Kelly wear at her wedding to Prince Rainier? Creed Fleurissimo. What phase will the moon be in on our special day, and what does it symbolize? Waning gibbous—representing reflection and gratitude. (I made a note to add a letterpress illustration of the moon phase to our after-party menus.)
I even used ChatGPT to figure out my color season. After uploading a selfie, I learned I’m a “warm spring.” I shared my guest attire mood board and brainstormed how to describe our reception dress code: “island formal.” I looked into Italian and Southern American wedding traditions and tried to fact-check a warning from my facialist, Svetlana at Mario Badescu. She’d insisted—while applying my glycolic peel—that I shouldn’t wear gold or pearl jewelry as a bride, citing something about tears and sadness. I had to know more.
Once I felt confident I wouldn’t invite bad luck by wearing pearl earrings during the ceremony, I turned to my AI assistant to help tell a story through my wardrobe. I’d always imagined a vintage-inspired narrative and settled on a British theme. Through my research, I discovered designers like Caroline Castigliano, who designed the seashell-colored vintage gown I found at Vionette Bridal. I also revisited favorites like Matthew Williamson, who designed my second look—a sheer, nude, celestial ‘90s gown with silver chain details from Circa Vintage in London. That led me to a 1950s Pucci robe for getting ready (since Williamson once designed for the brand) and a ‘90s Temperley London beaded gown to complete the story.
The border of my letterpress invitations was inspired by the floral embroidery on my wedding gown’s bodice, reinterpreted with an oceanic theme. It featured seven iridescent pearls in clamshells to symbolize our seven years together, and illustrations of three fish species—suggested by ChatGPT—to represent me, my fiancé, and our dog.
From mocking up the invitation border to share with our in-house designer, to calculating the exact dimensions and quantity of custom block-printed table linens from artisans in India, ChatGPT proved as useful as my own ability to ask the right questions.
As the wedding day draws closer and my to-do list—and carbon footprint—grows, I’ve noticed a few drawbacks to relying on AI. ChatGPT delivers answers, right or wrong, with the same unwavering confidence. Without critical thinking, you might end up believing the sun sets at 4:23 p.m. when you know it’s really 5:23. My advice? Use your brain. Outsourcing tasks is helpful, but as the saying goes, to err is human—and AI makes mistakes, too.
Despite its flaws, ChatGPT helped bring my creative (and sometimes delusional) wedding ideas to life with little compromise on sentiment, detail, or personalization. If you learn to prompt it well, you really can have your cake and eat it too. And in my case, I certainly will.The wedding cake will be cannoli-flavored, decorated in Lulu DK’s style with edible seashells. The design was imagined by ChatGPT and will be created by our resort’s baker.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions Using ChatGPT to Plan Your Wedding
1 What is ChatGPT and how can it help with wedding planning
ChatGPT is an AI tool that can assist with generating ideas organizing tasks and answering questions For weddings it can help with timelines budget suggestions vendor ideas and even writing vows or speeches
2 Is it free to use ChatGPT for wedding planning
Yes the basic version of ChatGPT is free There is also a paid version with additional features but the free version is sufficient for most wedding planning tasks
3 What kind of wedding tasks can ChatGPT help with
It can assist with creating checklists brainstorming themes drafting emails to vendors writing ceremony scripts generating guest list ideas and suggesting songs or decor based on your preferences
4 How accurate or reliable is the information from ChatGPT
ChatGPT provides helpful suggestions but its not always 100 accurate Always doublecheck details like vendor availability pricing or local regulations yourself
5 Can ChatGPT create a full wedding plan or timeline
Yes it can generate a customizable timeline or checklist based on your wedding date size and style Youll still need to adjust it to fit your specific needs and confirm dates with vendors
6 What are the biggest benefits of using ChatGPT for wedding planning
It saves time offers creative inspiration helps organize ideas and reduces stress by breaking down tasks into manageable steps
7 Are there any downsides or risks to relying on ChatGPT
Yesit may suggest outdated or generic ideas and it cant replace human judgment for important decisions like contracts or emotional nuances Always use it as a tool not a replacement for research
8 Can ChatGPT help with writing wedding vows or speeches
Absolutely It can provide templates romantic phrases or full drafts that you can personalize to sound authentic to you and your partner
9 How do I get the best results when using ChatGPT for wedding planning
Be specific in your prompts For example instead of help with budget try suggest a budget breakdown for a 100guest rustic wedding in
10 Does ChatGPT consider cultural or religious traditions in wedding planning
It can incorporate traditions if you specify them in