Like any major event, planning makes it perfect. Planning a wedding is no different. There are more decisions and things to remember than just about any other event. Hiring a wedding planner certainly helps but if you are looking for a few Wedding Planning Tips to help you plan your own wedding, then read through the section below.
Wedding Planning Tip #1
Start early and don't get overwhelmed. While you should definitely take some time to simply enjoy being engaged, the key to successful wedding planning is to start early and stay organized. The sooner you have all of the petty details worked out, the more time you will have to enjoy the days preceding your wedding and the less stressed you will find yourself as the day approaches. Thinking ahead also provides you with the most options for dates, venues, and vendors, so as soon as you're ready, jump right in.
Wedding Planning Tip #2
Request a list of recommended vendors from the event coordinator at your reception site, from recently married friends, or from other people you know. Chances are, once they've been pre-screened, your interview process can be very brief. Once again, the sooner you book your vendors, the less difficult this will be.
Wedding Planning Tip #3
Pick a photographer that suits your taste. Determine what style of photography you like best. Generally there are two main types of wedding photography-traditional and photojournalism. Traditional wedding photography consists of posed photographs while photojournalism focuses more on telling the story of your wedding in candid and action shots. Your wedding photographer could be a specialist in one of the two types or he could dabble in both.
Wedding Planning Tip #4
Set a budget that's agreeable to both parties prior to planning the wedding. This will reduce stress down the road and help avoid arguments later, since the budget has been established and agreed to by both the future bride and groom.
Wedding Planning Tip #5
Break the "rules" if you have to in able to avoid stress. For instance, if you somehow don't have a wedding gown two weeks before the wedding, you can buy a white dress off the "prom" or "evening" rack at any department store and get on with life. The attendants can come to the mall with you and choose their dresses, or they can each wear their best dresses and carry white bouquets (white goes with everything!). If bouquets somehow slipped off the to-do list, grocery stores often do bouquets on little notice, or you can buy one dramatic blossom for each attendant and call the look "stunningly simple." If the reception caterer vanishes the day before the wedding, follow the example of the famous Washington hostess who ordered Popeye's fried chicken delivered (and was complimented on her wonderful cooking). As long as the law and, if relevant, the religious authorities, are satisfied, you can cope with anything else.
Wedding Planning Tip #6
Create a wedding planning website. You can incorporate everything into the site, including gift registry, RSVP from guests, music uploads,etc. Basically plan your wedding online, then leave the site active after the ceremony to view photo and video albums, and keep an active forum for you and your guests.
Wedding Planning Tip #7
Plan the use of unity and memoriam candles for your ceremony as a symbol of uniting two families together, as well as remembering lost loved ones.
Wedding Planning Tip #8
Use a "wedding checklist" (many samples of these are available online) to make sure you cover all bases in your planning.
Wedding Planning Tip #9
Don't forget the groom. Plan to keep him involved and prepared. Have him be responsible for half the guest list, help with picking a photographer and the band or DJ, keep him involved in the rehearsal dinner, and ask yourself - could he use some help with dealing with the guest greeting line, and maybe use a few dance lessons?
Wedding Planning Tip #10
Most people's lasting memory of a wedding reception is whether the food and drink was good or not. Make sure your planning takes this into account and gets it right. Remember, sometimes the quality of the food and drink served has little to do with the cost and more to do with the reputation of the caterer or the restaurant.
