General Planning :

  • Make Your Own Personalized Wedding Planner -- Click Here to learn how.
  • Avoid Wedding Rip-Offs -- Click Here for more information.
  • Wedding Theme Planning - Ethnic Wedding Traditions -- Click Here for some great Theme tips.

Budget:

  • Define your minimum wedding requirements
  • Budget your "must have" items first
  • Don't Forget To Plan For Wedding Favors In Your Budget -- Click Here for favor ideas.
  • Write down EVERYTHING, both estimated cost and actual cost
  • Create a payment schedule for all contracts

Budget Trimming:

  • Reduce the number of attendants.
  • Reduce the number of guests invited to the reception
  • Hire a DJ instead of a live band
  • If you hire a live band, find one with fewer members
  • Have your flowers done by a local grocery´s floral department. Often the bouquets and arrangements will be half the cost of a regular florist´s.
  • Save Money By Giving Flower Seeds As Wedding Favors -- Click Here to read more about this

Ceremony:

  • How To Plan Your Wedding Ceremony Music -- Click Here to read the details
  • If you have children in the ceremony, tape a coin where you want them to stand. Tell them the coin is theirs after the ceremony if they stand still.
  • Create a personalized ceremony so it is more memorable. This is easy to do with the many wedding books available today.
  • Don't try to memorize your vows. You will be able to relax if you rely on the officiant to prompt you.
  • Don´t worry if you don´t have the same number of bridesmaids as groomsmen. There´s no rule dictating that the numbers be even, and having an uneven number will make things even more interesting.
  • If you´re lighting candles during your ceremony, be sure that there aren´t any decorative beads, ribbon or lace around the candles---they can easily catch fire.
  • Instead of having the minister face the congregation, have him stand with his back to the congregation so your friends and family can see your faces. Or have you and your beloved stand face-to-face throughout the ceremony instead.

Reception:

  • Working Out The Details Of Your Wedding Reception -- Click Here to read some great reception planning tips.
  • Wedding Reception Flowers and Decorating Accents -- Click Here for helpful hints.
  • Evaluating A Wedding Reception Location -- Click Here to learn how.
  • Provide finger food and drinks for guests while your wedding photos are being taken
  • If you can afford it, a professional MC will keep everything running smoothly. If you are using a DJ, he may be able to fill this role.
  • Be sure the Best Man and others you want to be sure to give toasts are aware of their role BEFORE the wedding. That gives them time to prepare. Remember, many people are afraid of speaking in public so the more preparation time they have the easier it will be for them.
  • Prepare a schedule for the reception, especially if you have a deadline for being out of the reception hall. You don't want to feel rushed when it is time to cut the cake, throw the garter and all those little last minute events.