What are some tips or advice on planning a successful wedding?

Finally, we started booking things. In order to keep from becoming overwhelmed, we focused on one item at a time and would work on that one thing until it was booked and then move on to the next thing. Make sure when booking vendors you get everything in writing and do your background research on the vendors before you sign the contracts. Read reviews. If they seem TOO perfect, that may be a flag. If you’re not sure about a vendor, go with your gut and look elsewhere. Keep all of the contracts in a binder. Being organized is a key part of a stress-free planning experience and wedding day.

Remember it’s about the two of you as a couple, so choose things that reflect you and make you happy, but that you also want your guests to have a good time (if you want your day to be memorable in a good way). Good food and a good DJ are two pretty key elements for this, typically. A good DJ knows how to keep people out on the dance floor & get everyone involved. We also had a photo booth for favors, which our guests loved.

Remember that if you want something fancy, you may have to opt for a longer engagement in order to comfortably afford it or cut back in order to have a shorter engagement. We had a long engagement, had a wonderful wedding that was exactly what we wanted and everyone had a great time.
– Chosen by Asker

The most important tip when planning a wedding is to stay happy, calm, and realistic.

Remember why you’re organizing this special day: it’s NOT so that you can amaze all of your friends and family by having the most extravagant/expensive “party” on the planet; you’re having this wedding to unite yourself with the person you love most in the world and you’re inviting those closest to both of you to witness your very intimate union. Don’t ever forget this.

“Bridezilla” is a term that no one finds endearing. In fact, becoming a Bridezilla can result in the irreparable loss of those that are most important to you. What you might think is “just until the wedding is over” can and will likely stretch over into the long term. Think about that before bringing your parents into bankruptcy your and reducing your bridal party to slavery. The wedding is one day out of your life: maintaining your relationships with your loved ones will last a lifetime.

Which leads me to an important point: Don’t try to take this on yourself! There’s a reason wedding planners exist and it’s not to try to steal from your budget. Wedding planners have relationships with catering companies, venues, florists, you name it… With those relationships, come discounts and exclusive hook ups. Hire a really good wedding planner and you and your family will be less stressed and you’ll have the wedding you always wanted for less than you’d think.

Overall, the most important thing you can do is to be happy and smile. Congratulations to all of you that are engaged and reading this. Best wishes to you and your future lives together.

Start early on any ideas you might have, and take along your fiance doing and going to places together. If your parents would like to contribute on the wedding dress then talk over with your fiance.Also go to the nearest library and get a planner how to make that a special day will be. Without adding so much cost. If one of the bride maids can sew all the dresses so be it, choose the season of the wedding.
If his parents would like to get his ring is fine. But plan ahead without the hassles and less frustration. Do shop where is your budget. Don’t go to the most fancy store. Sometimes David’s Bridal boutique has a special on wedding dresses for one hundred dollars, ask, ask when will you have your sales.

Communication, communication, communication!

Weddings are a precursor to the rest of a couple’s life, where a couple has to find a common ground in order to make decisions concerning the wedding ceremony and the reception. I’m currently engaged and planning a summer wedding this year, and we are definitely putting our heads together in order to come out on top.

Another thing is to try to make things as affordable as possible. Instead of having a live band or a wedding DJ, I am inviting three of my close friends who happen to be DJs. They are equally skilled in playing for over three hours (one DJ per hour). Friends who are florists, photographers, videographers, etc. will save you a TON of money as well.

Also be sure to invite friends who were with you through thick and thin. You will save more money by inviting maybe 30 friends who were with you through all the tough times in life, and not invite all 7 of your Facebook “friends.”

Most importantly, smile! You married the one you love! Enjoy life! Yay!

Source(s):
Current personal experience

Most important advice: Don’t let the wedding wreck the marriage. Remember above all, that the marriage is the important thing and everything about the wedding is secondary. The marriage is about you and your intended, your relationship, how you make decisions, how you will get along together in good times and bad. Make sure that the process of getting married is a positive part of learning about those important things….. and don’t worry too much about the seating, the DJ, the flowers and the menu. …..and unless you plan on having your parents and your in-laws play a decisive role in everything you two plan to do together for the next 50 years, make the decisions that are important to you….. yourself.

Remember that the most important part of the wedding is the MARRIAGE. If you honor the lifelong relationship that is being formed on that day, everything else will fall into place.

This is true whether you’re planning a $1,0 extravaganza, or whether you just plan to have a very simple wedding with only the closest family. If it’s focused on your relationship with your spouse, and working out the details together, the rest is insignificant.

(P.S. Of course, the relationship with your spouse also includes relationships with those people who are important to him/her!)

Family.

It’s one word, but it goes a long way. You don’t need people you barely know at a wedding, having just family and a few friends at a wedding can save an immense amount of money, and at the same time, be the most memorable thing you’d ever do in your life.

You don’t want that one friend, who is a good friend and all, but gets drink and could possibly crash ‘your’ night, so keep the wedding as a family thing, and make it where you want it to be, well in most cases, where the bride wants it to be seeing as if she more so wears the pants when it comes to these events.

It should be pre planned. Not a few months, more than a few months is when the date, not at a last minute thing or eloping. It needs to be planned to perfection for the bride’s sake.

More money should be spent on the honeymoon rather than the actual wedding, it’ll just be the two of you, and no distractions, no kids, work or anything so the honeymoon is just as important as the wedding.

Weddings are different for everyone because its this one special day where YOU get to decide where it should be held at, YOU get to choose who’s on the guest list and what their attire should be, and YOU get to plan all the fun stuff that comes after the wedding! Whether it’s a private small one out on the beaches or a grand procession with all your loved ones there and supporting you, it’s up to you in how to plan your wedding.

Early planning can never go wrong. Make sure everyone on the guest lists receives an invitation well ahead of time and take some time out to pick that fairytale dress you’ve always wanted. You can customize the decorations and cake to your liking and finish out all the small details.

However it will turn out to be, your wedding will sure be a day to remember. 🙂

Remember the reason why you’re getting married in the first place: you are the 2 most compatibly in love people, and you are ready for a new chapter in your life to be written.

Your wedding day is pretty much the only day in your life where everything really is about you, and take that day to thank everyone you love: family, friends, colleagues, who have made the difference in your life.

May it unique. May it your own. May it about the moment you very first fell in love. Make it about the tears of joy, the tears of the past, the inspiration for the future, and the moments you will cherish forever.

Good luck to all getting married!

Make sure you have the number 1 people in your life whether its your

1 Mom
2 brother sisters cousins aunts
3 friends
4 family

Make the day worth living for have all of the people in your life that care about you and remember its just 1 day and it wont predict your whole life you also have to have a clean location and and its has to represent you in terms of wedding themes you have to relax during this day because it is the biggest day in your life but its not the most number 1 important day. It doesn’t have to be fancy just have everyone you love and care for there with you . As long as you have the people that you love with you there is nothing more important or priceless than your companions.

Your wedding day is special for you, your friends and family. Some things are beyond your control, but there are several things you can plan.

Location is your first priority. With your partner, determine where you want to celebrate your big day. Will it be traditional or modern? religious or personalized? formal or casual? Where will we have the reception? How many guests will we have? Hometown or destination? Once you find out the type and size place you want start looking for places that fit the bill.

Date is next. Consider when your location is available and whether seasonal changes affect whether the location will work. Give yourself and your guests –especially your wedding party– plenty of time to plan ahead and buy their outfits. Also consider where you want to spend your honeymoon; you’ll probably take it right after your big day.

Now to guests. Fine tune your guesstimate from step 1. Contrary to popular belief, inviting more people than you can accommodate is not wise. It better to leave room for adding guests than to turn people away. Send out those invitations quickly so friends can plan ahead and buy your wedding gifts.

Reserve a pastor or otherwise qualified person. Find someone who knows you. Get to know them and learn any words of wisdom you can. This special relationship helps seal your vows in a personal and meaningful way. Ask how much they receive for weddings and double it (paid the day of the ceremony with a card or gift).

File the paperwork. Set a date before the wedding to get your license. Make sure the registrar’s office will be open and what you need to bring.

Delegate the responsibilities. The rest is all details. Each of you take care of the other preparation for food, decorations, ceremony music, entertainment, etc. Let your wedding party, parents, siblings, friends, and family help out too.

Planning a successful, memorable, and fun wedding is much easier with a multistep plan to get you through the process. In the beginning planning phase gather some friends and family together and have a “planning party” or luncheon. Ask these trusted people for advice and help while letting them know what your dream wedding and goals are…

1. Make a “to do” list. Write down everything you can think of and leave space for extra. Let people chime in and jot down notes.
2. Write out a timeline. Give yourself plenty of time to do fittings, etc. Ask for advice from people who have been married for ideas. Remember to give yourself extra time for the unexpected.
3. Designate someone as your “blow off” person. No, you aren’t going to give them the cold shoulder, this is the person you’ll talk to when you get too stressed. This person could be a Mom or a friend who can’t be a bride’s maid.
4. Designate bridesmaids and see what everyone wants to help with. Choose responsible people. Even if you don’t pick bridesmaids early on start thinking about it in the initial stages.
5. Use the party to discuss budgeting ideas. Come up with three budget levels for the wedding and write budgets for each after you have some ideas but use the “planning party” phase to get advice on current costs. Discuss the budgets you have lined out with your significant other or parents (if they are paying) and choose one that best suits your needs and goals.

After you have these basic steps completed there’s only two things to really keep in mind until the big day.

1. Stick to the Budget! Yeah those lilies look great but can you afford another $20? Fudging a little won’t hurt but try to stay within $1 of anything on your list. This will save you a lot of stress, shoppers guilt, and problems later on. If budgeting is hard for you take a responsible friend or family member who can rein you in.

2. Relax and be Flexible! It’s likely something will go astray somewhere. Big or small the key is to take a deep breath and call your blow off person for advice and to vent. Don’t sweat the small stuff! The more you worry, the less fun your big day will be.

Remember what the wedding is really about – two people sharing a life together. It isn’t about impressing family or friends. It isn’t about going in debt to put on a show for others.It isn’t about having a ‘special’ dress because it’s expected of you. It isn’t about following traditions that mean nothing to you. It is about making a very special day for you and your partner – about expressing your love for each other and your decision to share your lives. It means underlining for each other, exactly what you mean to one another, and pledging your support to each other – for better, for worse, in sickness and in health.

On a personal note, we are celebrating our 59th wedding anniversary this year – and I’m as much in love with him today as I was the day we married – maybe more, because I know him so much better.

Always have the most powerful people there and know them by name and of course lots of family. The cake should be elegant and the dance beautiful, plenty of servants, a exquisit gown, a band that can play universal music and of course, the father and the bride dance is a must. That’s just the reception. The wedding: it should be memorable, elegant in the brides eye. Traditional is always a good way to go. A loving but audience appealing kiss, but this won’t happen in this case. Walking down the isle without incident is the most important part. Heals are funny like that you know, lol.

been there done that myself so now its a little easier for me to answer this question. First: be organized. Know what you want and write it down (flowers, dress style, shoes etc) and cut pics and articles out so you have things to compare them to if needed, later on..( Ex: does this shade of red on your bouquet of roses match the shade of red you want for the bridesmaids dresses etc.). THE BIGGEST AND MOST IMPORTANT THINGS GET BOOKED FIRST, SUCH AS CHURCH AND RECEPTION VENUE… I used to buy the Bridal Magazine every month and use some the of question/answer section as a guide for advice and ideas. Second: remember, ITS YOUR DAY! everybody is going to think they have the best advice and they know all about weddings but Dont feel like you have to go along with whatever you truly dont want to. (and it doesnt matter whos paying for what..its still your day!!) Third: You’ll find that you cant please everyone! If “susie Q” is mad cuz shes not the maid of honor and you chose someone else, then gentily tell “susie Q” that if shes doesnt think that she will be comfortable being included (as whatever her part is in the wedding) that you will have to ask her to excuse herself from being a part of your wedding party. You shouldnt have to worry all day about whether this girl is going to be difficult or not, all day cuz shes not the part in your wedding that she wanted to be…Fourth: Enjoy your day with your new husband!! your wedding pictures will speak volumes as to how stressed out you were…or not. hope this is of some help and good luck in your new journey!! =)

Source(s):
personal experience

Weddings are HUGE events, even simple ceremonies. They’re huge stress-inducers, but there is, in piece of adivce that can make the difference: DON’T SWEAT IT!
The problem is that we expect the greatest day of our lives to be perfect, but nothing is perfect. The more focused we become on making that special day special, the less attention we pay to what’s really happening. THAT’s when things go wrong. Pull yourself out of it. Take a deep breath and relax. If the cake is a little late, stall. Request a song that can distract the guests. Crack a joke to break the tension. Panic only makes things worse.
Remeber that the road to perfection is really the road to chaos.

Source(s):
Life.

It’s not easy to prepare everything for the wedding. It needs time to prepare everything to make it perfect. First thing you need to check is the location of the wedding and how guest you have. It is important that your guest is comfortable ( meaning the place has a good ventilation) next is the food. Don’t just consider your family or relatives. They are your guest so consider them . If they want the food or not. What is important is your wedding is not only for you and your spouse. You are sharing the most important day to the public

In today’s uncertain economy, it is unwise to shift hard earned savings immediately to a high paid designer, decorator, planner or caterer. Yes, it is a special day! Yes, it should only happen once! Yes, you want it to be a day to remember! I understand, so do a lot of divorced people who said it would last.

If you are independently wealthy, then money is no object. If your father is paying for the wedding and he is independently wealthy with money that he didn’t have to work hard for either, than go for it.

But, If you are paying for your own wedding, or are paying on time, think of this….
having $10,0 or more in the bank is a gift from heaven. A new couple needs everything to start a new life. It is more important to have food, clothing and shelter guaranteed to you each week. If you have a home, not an apartment, but a home, condo or townhouse that builds equity, you are starting out well. If you have $10,0 in the bank that you don’t need to spend on anything, you are starting out well. And if you have 4 to 5 years to love one another ALONE, travel carelessly, earn your educational degrees and plan for retirement, you will be light years ahead of your friends and peers.

Today, people are willing to spend a year planning a lavish wedding for their friends and relatives to attend, yet fail to spend any time planning the marriage. They feel it will just work out on its own. They feel it will work out “dreamy” since they love each other more than “those other couples” who get divorced right away.

If you plan a smaller wedding, with a simpler honeymoon (domestic travel) and save your money for the marriage, and home, you will have “choices” later. Choices to travel, buy nicer clothes, get an advanced degree, nicer furniture and a car that you can depend on every winter.

Spare the lavish wedding. They only benefit the florist, the gown designer and the caterer. Your marriage is never guaranteed by having a fancy wedding. It is not as practical as having a home of your own.

Source(s):
Old married couple who had to pay for thier own wedding.

As a recent bride I can say that the key to a totally kick *** wedding is this: As a bride, don’t get caught up in the details while planning and especially on your special day, enjoy it, have fun and get lost in the romance of it all. For all the grooms out there and those who are close to the bride; support her in her decisions, be helpful in making decisions when she asks for your help (telling her “what ever you want” is not helpful). Most of all assure her that everything is going to go without a hitch and that it will be beautiful. Be merry and joyful, everyone loves a good wedding!

I’m planning one this year! To be married October 1st at the San Diego Wild Animal Park! I knew nothing about it and now I feel I know everything. List the things you want in priority, if you are on a budget this will greatly help! The website yelp.com is also FANTASTIC for reviews of wedding vendors like photographers, cakes, etc. I wouldn’t go too over the top with anything, and if you have things you specifically want I would remain firm yet calm about them so you don’t become a “bridezilla”. The wedding planning can be stressful, don’t be afraid to ask for help from your parents, your bridesmaids, heck, even your mother in law! Also if there is family drama let the photographer know so there are no awkward moments when it comes to taking photos. Most women also stress about their weight, and go on crazy diets. For me it’s about eating right and working out, and still being ME. You don’t have to alter yourself for your wedding. Choose a venue both you and your partner will love, it will make all the difference on that day. Also if you are on a budget I’d avoid doing unnecessary things like a chocolate fountain, or a candy buffet (yes I’ve seen that), keep it simple, your guests will still enjoy it. Another tip is to hire a wedding coordinator for that day. It really helps relieve the stress of everyone getting there time, etc. Enjoy it while it lasts! I hope this helps 🙂

It’s one day, a day YOU will remember, more so then your guests. So plan your wedding not a wedding for other people. I say this because most weddings I have been to have been blended more so when you have 4 weddings in a summer to go to. I still can’t remember who’s colors where for what bride and groom. I bet the bride and groom do…

Plan your wedding the way you want it. remember your the one that gets to look back and have the memories. your guest will to but they won’t be as important as your memories. make it count.

If you don’t have the money to do what you want down size your dream a bit and or wait to get married until you have enough money. Remember why your getting married, a longer engagement won’t change how you both feel about each other.

I had a 2 year engagement and a wedding blow out. we had yard games and moon bounces and a dunk tank to dunk the groom and bride. Needless to say it wasn’t your typical wedding I didn’t want that i wanted a fun wedding.
I state this because marching to your own drum beat is hands down better than marching to someones Else’s drum beat.

Source(s):
Also to add to get hubby more involved don’t ask open ended questions. Ask them
do you like this one or that one. you will get a better result from him then asking him what type of center pieces do you like.

Edit: please don’t pick mine for the points I could care less about them but due share this info to someone who is getting married thanks!!

Try to include as many people as you can. Put them in charge of anything you can think of. This will save you the expense of having to hire someone and will also make them feel more special and valued. Look for people with special talents like piano playing. Be sure to send thank you cards to everyone who helped.

Table centerpieces make great gifts to helpers!

Shop around for better prices but be sure to read the reviews! Ebay is a great place for wedding shopping. I got my bouquet set for cheaper than I could have made it myself and it is beautiful and the lady was very helpful. You can get flowers, bubbles, vases, and much more to help lighten the financial burden.

Check around to see if friends or family have a dress you can borrow. My aunt offered my hers and it fits perfect and I couldn’t have picked out a dress I liked more in the store – plus it was free!

Rather than setting one shade of a color as your color, choose a color in all shade. This will help you match the flowers, dresses, decorations, etc.

Source(s):
I’m busily planning my own wedding.

The best thing a person can do is start off with a plan. You cannot be successful with anything if you have no plan and the last thing anyone should do is get married without one.

My wife and I planned out everything, but as a team. We picked a nice place that was affordable and I picked out a photographer, who is a friend and a friend who is a chef ($7 per meal per person and they ate good food) and we saved a lot of money this way. Our entire wedding for 1 people cost us only $2,5.

Getting married is a big deal, one of the most important things a person can do to damage a marriage is to start it off deeply in-debt because of a wedding. Another thing I recommend is getting pre-marriage counselling, just so both parties know what they are getting into and how to manage. Remember, you are no longer me and you, but us and we.

Set a budget and stick to it.
Decide what you as a couple want for your day and make sure that is what you get. Other people should fall in with your plans, not the other way round. It’s your day not theirs.
Have a list of guests you really want there and a second list of people you would like to invite but can’t afford to. Send the invites early and give a deadline for replying, then if someone can’t come you can invite people from the second list. Just don’t tell anyone about the 2 lists and no one will be offended.
Plan everything and make a schedule of when things should be ordered, delivered, paid for etc.
Choose your second in command wisely. A good chief bridesmaid and best man can take a lot off your hands in the build up to the wedding. e.g. ringing people who haven’t replied to invites
Distribute tasks to helpful friends and make things easier for yourself. They will love being involved and do their best to make your day go well.
Don’t forget to take the stickers off the soles of your new shoes.
Relax and enjoy the wedding day. You are surrounded by people who love you.

Weddings get stressful and overwhelming easily. Try to focus on the reasons you are getting married and what it means to you more than the day itself.

It is so hard to try to make your dream wedding happen, and so frustrating when things don’t go as planned. Try to pick the top 3 things that are more important to you in your dream wedding and just focus on making those 3 things happen.. the rest will come together, and that leaves you to focus on your loved one you are about to begin your life with, and your friends and family who are there to support you.

Keep a notebook, with date tabs sticking out on post it’s. For example Florist needs deposit by 5/25, that way you keep all of your people from dress maker to florist to photographer straight on who needs what when and you don’t have to keep it all in your head.

If you can get married on a weird day you get amazing price breaks. Due to some common numbers between my husbands birthday and mine I HAD to get married on 7/12…it was mandatory for me…it was a Wednesday that year though. When I called around for quotes and everyone realized it was a week day wedding I got several hundred dollars off from the DJ, photographer, minister, rental space…etc. it was an odd day to be married on so everyone cut me a deal because it wouldn’t interfere with their prime days of Friday-Sunday.

Just remember you can plan all you want, something will get messed up, and it is okay. No one knows that the roses were suppose to be buttermilk yellow and not canary yellow, but you! They were still beautiful flowers!!!! And word to the wise, if you are doing an outdoor wedding using artificial flowers in some spots that are prone to wilting will be a life saver!

Keep a cool head
Make lists
Consider options you might not have thought about,
Be open to suggestions but don’t be bullied into doing something you don’t want,
Ask for help but don’t let anyone run you over,
Consider letting some tasks go that others are capable of doing for you
Remember what the occasion is, a wedding, not a competition or a roller derby
Expect some things will not work out as planned and so be flexible
Don’t place so much importance on any one thing that you lose sight of what it is your are planning
Count to ten before exploding
Laugh at least once a day
Love the worst or most outrageous gift you receive – it will give you lots to talk about in years to come
There is no such thing as perfect – consider that your mantra
Nothing will ever be the worst thing that could possibly happen
And remember, even if all the wrong things happen, the invites didn’t get out on time, the limo doesn’t show, the bridesmaid is being witchy, the dress gets stained, you can’t find your shoes, the church is under construction without you being told … they all happen, and not just to you … remember, that you are marrying someone you love and want to share your life with. And if truth be told, this ceremony is wonderful if it goes right and the makings of stories if it goes wrong. But if you took all that ceremony away,, if the worst of all things happened, you would still marry them, you would still stand in front of a minister and profess your love and devotion.

Your wedding is your and your fiance’s day, to celebrate your commitment and love for one another. No matter how you choose to celebrate that day be sure its your way, but to keep each side of the family happy offer a part of the wedding planning to them. May is be the rehearsal dinner be planned by your parents or the bridal shower be hosted by your fiance’s family, find a way to let them shine as well.
My husband and I eloped and had our day just to ourselves. Our families lived in different states, so we took this opportunity to let our parents shine by offered each side the chance to host their own reception. The events turned out great and both sets of parents felt needed and happy that they where able to bring their own flare to our celebration. Plus we got two receptions ; )

Get everything sorted out then sit down somewhere quiet and think hard and long about what you are about to commit to.if you can stand having someone always willing to take someone Else’s side against you ,if you are willing to put up with someone snoring all night long ,being miserable ,not changing there mind ,always being in the right ,moaning if you come in a little bit late and worse for wear ,if you can see yourself putting up with all that then your in trouble ,tell them you’ve decided to take a sabbatical on the idea for at least 20 years and book a ticket to Hawaii single and 1 way.

Source(s):
LIFE

Answer hidden due to its low rating

The outcome of a successful wedding will undoubtedly work if you are with the right partner.

However, I feel the main tip is not to panic, and to relax.
It’s not just like a party where your guests are the main priority. This is a celebration of your love and commitment to your significant other and will be the one time when you are completely in the spotlight. – Make the most of this! If you are happy and enjoying yourself, your guests will too.

Forward planning is vital. Go for what you want, not how much it costs or to suit other people.
Pick your favourite dress or suit, pamper yourself. Invite your most cherished friends and relatives and get a high quality photographer to photograph the event so you always have something to look back on.

Above all, enjoy yourself. A wedding is an exciting bringing together of two people and two families through love, friendship and life commitment. It should be a day you will cherish for the rest of your lives 🙂

Answer hidden due to its low rating

For a successful wedding, my family always buys the bride a nice, fancy white dress to her liking. We give the bride 4 dresses for her to pick one out.

Then, for the groom, he has to pick out 3 lovely outfits which is a suit–Either blue, black, or white. Later then, he gets a nice soft black box that’s fuzzy. He has to put the ring inside.

We always try hard to get them ready for a nice wedding. We make their hair—but first, they pick out 2 selections. If they don’t like the choices, we pick out other choices.

After they’re almost ready, we decorate the Wedding room with nice white banners and light blue turtledoves on the main banner for two of the corners. There’s going to be food and chairs that’s made by ourselves rather than buying.

We get a limo driver and a limo with bells at the back of the limo and a sign that says, Just married.

We invite everyone we know—Friends from school, relatives, brothers, sisters, anyone we know. We also have something special for the married couple.

We make them a lovely house to live in and give out money for them for a nice life.