‘Girls Gotta Eat’ Reveals How to Plan a Dream Wedding Without Becoming a Bridezilla

What if being a bridezilla is not actually about being controlling at all, but instead is about being transparent, intentional, and collaborative? That’s precisely the perspective that wedding planner Jacquelyn Aleece brings to an episode of Girls Gotta Eat, hosted by Rayna Greenberg and Ashley Hesseltine.

Planning a wedding can feel overwhelming, and it’s so easy for brides to second-guess themselves. But Aleece, founder of The Wedding Plan & Company, has built her career on guiding couples through the chaos with a mix of expertise, empathy, and a knack for detail.

As Hesseltine herself points out, having Aleece in her corner as she plans her big day has made all the difference. “Aside from my fiancé, she’s the most important person,” Hesseltine admits, adding that her planner “made [her wedding] happen” in a way she never could have imagined.

How to Avoid Becoming a Bridezilla, According to a Wedding Planner

What being a bridezilla really means

Aleece’s clear explanation of the bridezilla dispels the stereotype, leaving women feeling understood and relieved. When Greenberg asks where Hesseltine falls on the bridezilla scale, Aleece doesn’t hesitate: “Literally a zero. Like absolutely zero. No, I genuinely mean that.”

She explains the difference lies in attitude and respect. “I consider bridezilla as people who are rude, nasty, mean, demanding, demeaning,” Aleece says. “Looking at all of the vendors in the service industry as ‘less than’ or just ‘the help.’”

Instead of focusing on being demanding, Aleece emphasizes the importance of knowing what you want and asking for it collaboratively.

Why communication matters more than control

For Aleece, the secret to successful wedding planning is about empowering communication with your wedding planner rather than micro-managing every detail. 

She praises Hesseltine’s approach, saying, “I think you have done a really great job of saying, ‘This is what’s important to us. This is the experience we’d love to give to our guests. This is the experience we’d like to have.’”

By articulating the kind of day she envisions, Hesseltine gave her planner the tools to make it happen without needing to nitpick. This balance—having a vision while also trusting the experts to deliver—is what sets a joyful bride apart from a stressed-out one. It’s about communicating your desires clearly, then stepping back and allowing your planner to use their expertise to bring your vision to life, rather than getting caught up in every small detail.

Bringing personality into every detail

Aleece’s wedding planning approach values personalization—and it goes far beyond picking colors or specific flowers. “We learn about your fiancé, we learn about you, we learn about your cultures, we learn about your families, we also learn about just your personalities,” she says. The goal is to highlight those unique traits and turn them into a wedding that feels like a true reflection of the couple, making them feel valued on their special day.

That’s why, for Aleece, a woman being labeled a bridezilla misses the point. Most brides want to feel seen and understood, and that starts with planners listening closely. “We’re listening for keywords like, where do you like to travel? What kinds of foods do you love? It’s not just ‘what colors do you like?’ That’s for an amateur,” she adds.

Weddings are stressful enough without adding the fear of being called a bridezilla. “There’s a huge difference between someone who knows what they like, knows what they want, has a vision, and is smart and understands how to ask intelligent questions about wedding planning, versus someone who crosses into demeaning behavior,” Aleece says.

In other words, clarity isn’t chaos—it’s the cure for it.

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