I say it depends a lot on the type of wedding. Throwing a bunch of money at a wedding won't get you any brownie points, but if you and your spouse spend a lot of time on it, make it into a project, choose your own music, and things like that, it can be a bonding experience. Either that, or you get into so many fights that you realize it's better not to get married.
My husband and I had a lot of fun making our playlist, making lots of decorations, and we bought a giant roll of paper instead of tablecloths and set out boxes of crayons on the tables so the guests could doodle on the tables. My boss got ordained by The Church of Bacon so he could officiate the ceremony, and we put a lot of thought into our vows. We made absolutely sure there was nothing about monogamy in the wedding script. My aunt suggested the venue and paid for the venue as our wedding gift. A good friend of ours made the ring bearer's pillow. It was a bonding experience with our community as well as with each other.
A couple of years before that, my boss and his wife hosted a 3-day camping trip for their wedding. They rented out a big summer camp with cabins and a communal dining hall. Since I don't drive, I hitched a ride with my boss, and we stopped at a restaurant supply store on the way to get the food. Then, everyone at camp signed up for one cooking shift and one cleaning shift. The ceremony happened at the campfire circle, and it was very inspiring!
In short, I believe that hiring a wedding planner is one of the biggest mistakes a couple can make.
