Expert Wedding Planning: Tips and Tricks

The time spent preparing for a wedding is both thrilling and demanding. It's easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of tasks at hand.

When it comes to wedding preparations, every couple has their own distinct method and flavour. Both the wedding venue and the individual elements of the ceremony and reception can be focal points for some couples.

Whatever your strategy, there are plenty of opportunities to cut costs and maximise your returns.

It's not always obvious how to get started on all the wedding day preparations. Fortunately, there are a plethora of excellent resources available to help make the otherwise stressful process of organising a wedding more manageable. We've got you covered, whether you're looking for advice on where to find a cheap wedding dress or which vendors to use.

There are pieces of advise so crucial that any bride who is fortunate enough to hear them will think, "I'm so pleased someone told me that!" when they apply to her wedding planning.

If you're not sure if you've forgotten anything (or if you have everything under control), read on for some must-know planning tips.

To make your planning experience less stressful and more satisfying, we've compiled some helpful hints and advice from our seasoned planners.

1. GUESTS COME FIRST

Before deciding on a location, you should have a good idea of how many people you plan to invite. If you do this, you can rest assured that your crew will have enough of room to work. Plan on about 25-30 square feet of space per visitor. Even with the tables, the swarming wait staff, the music, and the dance floor, that's not a whole lot of room.

Before deciding on a location for your wedding, it's important to have a ballpark number of guests to expect.

2. INVESTIGATE WEDDING BLACKOUT DATES

Find out in advance whether your wedding date coincides with any major local events like trade shows, charity walks, or other gatherings that could cause delays or a lack of available hotel rooms. A list of upcoming wedding dates that could cause complications is provided.

Verify that there are no large events scheduled for the area that could cause traffic delays or a shortage of available hotel rooms before settling on a date. Event types range from trade shows to charity walks.

3. LISTEN TO MOTHER NATURE

Pay attention to the forecast and other potential disruptions. When the temperature inside a tent or a loft reception hall rises over a comfortable level, some guests have been known to bail early. There are other times of year when bugs like gnats, deer flies, and mosquitoes congregate in large numbers.

Guests won't appreciate being seated in a marquee on a hot summer day, so keep that in mind and any other potential weather-related consequences. Need help planning your wedding? Check out our list of Wedding Event Planners here. 

Consider insects, too. Even when they aren't at a wedding, gnats, mosquitoes, and horse flies are a pain. You may provide bug spray to guests or hire a pest control service.

The problem could be alleviated by renting pest control tanks or by providing insect repellent in the goodie bags given to guests. And if you're planning a sunset wedding, check SunriseSunset.com to find out the best time to exchange your vows. Not to mention, you should always be prepared with a backup plan in case the weather turns sour.

4. CHECK YOUR CREDIT

Sign up for a credit card with a rewards program and benefit from the high expense of weddings.

By charging everything for the wedding to one card, you can rack up thousands of rewards points, which can be redeemed for everything from free flights to discounts at your favourite stores (which could be used for your honeymoon).

It's a waste not to capitalize on the fact that weddings are expensive. Take advantage of a credit card issuer's generous rewards program, and use that card to pay for the entire wedding. You may earn thousands of points in little time at all, giving you the freedom to spend them on whatever you please.

5. PAY IT FORWARD

Follow the advice of one vendor to find another. If you ask your photographer or reception manager, they should be able to recommend a florist whose flowers will truly stand out and a band that always gets people dancing.

6. LIGHTEN YOUR LIST

Reducing the number of expected guests is the most effective means of conserving money. The cost of feeding your guests accounts for around half of your wedding budget, so cutting your guest list by only ten people might save you thousands.

The quickest method to save money on your wedding? Trim the list of invitees. Keep in mind that the cost of feeding your guests will account for half of your wedding budget. If each seat at the table costs $100, then skipping only one table of ten may save you $1,000.

7. ASK AND YOU MIGHT RECEIVE

Don't be afraid to negotiate little additions to contracts with vendors, like as an extra hour of cocktails. In order to guarantee the booking, most companies would rather not be too cheap.

Before you sign the dotted line, insist on an extra hour for cocktails or insist that your band bring in that Frank Sinatra impersonator.

When taking a reservation, most sellers would rather not have to worry about losing money than risk losing the business entirely (which might turn you off of them). However, they may become less amenable to compromise in the future.

8. MAKE A MEAL PLAN

The cost of feeding your guests during your wedding is an additional surprise. Make sure you are not obligated to provide the same food to your vendors as your visitors before signing any contracts.

the people who work on your wedding need to eat, too! Choose a hearty and delicious dinner for the wedding pros, and be sure to let your caterer know how many meals are required. Having them eat the same cuisine as the guests might be very costly.

There's a chance that if you don't, you'll end yourself paying for twenty more lobster tails. Instead of treating them to an expensive restaurant lunch, try treating them to something cheaper that will still fill them up. Wedding caterers need to know how many people they need to feed and what kind of food you want to offer at least two days before the wedding. This includes not just the wedding party but also the photographers' assistants and the band's roadies.

9. GET ORGANIZATIONALLY FOCUSED

Keep all of your vendor-related materials in one convenient location by using a three-ring binder to store emails, meeting notes, photos, and magazine clippings.

Save all wedding-related correspondence in one convenient location. Setting up a wedding-specific email address is also a great way to ensure you don't miss any announcements!

Create a unique inbox for wedding-related correspondence, and enter the contact information for key service providers into your phone.

10. TEND TO YOUR BAR

In order to maintain the lines to a minimum, you will need one bartender for every 50 people. An additional server may be necessary if a trademark cocktail is being served that cannot be prepared in advance or in big numbers.

11. LEAVE SOME ROOM IN YOUR WALLET

It's a good idea to set aside between five and ten percent of your wedding budget for any unforeseen costs or extras you'd want to have.

Follow this formula while planning your wedding budget: Spending breakdown: 48% to 50% on the reception; 8% to 10% on the flowers; 8% to 10% on the outfit; 8% to 10% on the music and entertainment; 10% to 12% on the photography and videography; 2% to 3% on the invitations and favours; and 8% on anything else, such as a wedding planner.

You should set aside an additional ten percent of your budget for miscellaneous items such as extra invitations printed due of faults, extra tailoring, umbrellas in case of rain, and ribbons for the wedding programmes.

12. DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK

When it comes to the details of your wedding, you can put your full faith in your providers. You should try new things when working with them, such as presenting a midnight snack as the first dish or scheduling a bridal portrait session instead of an engagement shoot.

The success of your wedding day depends on your ability to effectively communicate with your wedding team. Feel free to enquire about anything, from late-night nibbles to a photo shoot. If you tell them exactly what you need, they can determine whether or not they can meet your demands while staying inside your price range.

The most important thing is that you feel safe enough to express your desires openly. Their role is to advise you what is possible and what isn't possible within your wedding budget.

13. WAIT FOR A DATE

Last-minute preparations can sometimes be the best option. Your negotiating leverage increases as the date of your event draws nearer.

Most couples make their reservations six months in advance, but if you can wait even just a few months, you can save as much as 25 percent. Weddings on Fridays and Sundays often cost 30% less than those held on Saturdays.

Calling for available dates two months before your prefered time can save you up to 25 percent, as most people book wedding venues at least six months in advance. In addition, a wedding on a Friday or Sunday should be roughly 30% cheaper than a wedding on a Saturday.

14. MANAGE THE MAIL

Having beautiful stamps on your wedding invites is a must. However, not all stamps are readily available in substantial quantities at all post offices. Do not waste time searching; instead, buy them from USPS.com.

You can save a lot of time by purchasing your stamps online, and by weighing your invitations and other paper goods to determine accurate postage charges.

And before you mail everything out, make sure you weigh the invitation and any other paper products you plan to include so you can include the correct amount of postage. Inquire at the post office counter if you need to buy extra stamps for your irregularly shaped letters.

15. PREPARE FOR REJECTION

Ten percent to twenty percent of those you invite won't be able to make it. This figure relies on the percentage of your invited guests who are travelling long distances to attend your ceremony.

You should expect that between 10 and 20 percent of your invitees won't show up. Naturally, this is dependent on the number of out-of-town guests, the time of year, and the location of your wedding (destination weddings are difficult to attend) (some guests may have annual holiday plans).

16. MAKE A UNIFORM KIDS POLICY

Establishing your policy on children early on in the planning process might help prevent any misunderstandings. You can choose to allow children to join, establish a strict no-children policy, engage a child care business to provide daycare, or limit attendance to immediate relatives.

You can choose to have a kid-friendly wedding, a "adults only" wedding, a wedding limited to close family members only, or a wedding where a child care service is hired to provide childcare at the venue, a hotel room, or a family member's house during the festivities.

It's best not to allow some families to bring kids while not letting others, as doing so could cause tension (unless, of course, the children are at your bridal party).

17. PRIORITIZE YOUR PEOPLE

Creating a list can help when trying to narrow down the number of invited guests. Make a list of everyone you know, starting with your immediate family and continuing all the way down to your parents' friends and coworkers. If you need to reduce the number of attendees, you can begin with those at the bottom of the list.

Use the "levels of importance" method to narrow down your guest list. In order of importance, list your closest relatives and friends first, followed by the wedding party and any extended family members or cousins you wouldn't want to celebrate without.

Include their friends, neighbours, coworkers, and the like under that heading. Start at the bottom and work your way up until you've reached your target reduction.

18. TAKE IT ONE STEP AT A TIME

To avoid taking on too much at once and having things snowball around you, make a wedding planning timetable and follow it step by step in a logical manner.

Don't book a band or order a cake before you've decided on a venue; the same goes for confirming a date and deciding on flowers.

The preparations for a wedding involve a large number of tasks, some of which may seem insurmountable. Take tasks one at a time rather than trying to juggle too many balls in the air; you'll save yourself a lot of hassle and aggravation.

19. NO RING, NO BRING

You should think about the "plus-one" situation if you run out of room on your guest list. Use your imagination to create a makeshift seating arrangement in your head, complete with your single friend and their potential tablemates.

Forget about it unless it's a table of single people she knows well. You could want to make an exception if she will be sitting at a table with only couples (making her the odd one out) or a table with only strangers (where she won't know anyone).

If questioned why you aren't letting your single pals bring visitors, you can always point to space/money limitations or your parents' endless guest list.

20. RELEASE ROOMS

As soon as a date is decided upon, begin researching hotels in a range of pricing ranges. You can get a special wedding block at a discounted rate at several hotels for your guests.

It is possible to reserve a block of rooms at a discounted rate for your guests, with the option to release any unoccupied rooms back to the hotel.

With a month to go before the wedding, you can then release any unused rooms. You should refuse to sign contracts with hotels that include cancellation fees if you fear you won't be able to use all of the reserved rooms.

21. PROVIDE ACCURATE DRIVING DIRECTIONS

Make sure your wedding guests know how to get there quickly and easily. Inquire at the location about the best routes to take if you'll be driving to the party and provide those directions to your attendees via email.

The location of the event should be clearly communicated to guests. The directions given by online map applications are often inaccurate, and there may be a faster, less congested alternative.

Both wedding ceremony and reception venues should be able to provide you with printed or digital versions of suggested driving directions, and you should also test the routes out for yourself. Next, post the top ideas on your wedding website or send them to guests through email for printing.

22. KEEP A PAPER TRAIL

With in event of doubt, it is best to contact the relevant vendor by email and request confirmation in writing.

If you need to make any adjustments to your agreement that aren't usual, do it in writing or via email to the vendor. For example, you could write, "Hello, just verifying that you'll keep the venue open until 2 a.m. instead of midnight." Check out our ultimate list of Wedding Planners in Melbourne to help you organise a stress free wedding.

Don't think everything is set in stone; by the time the big day arrives, your sure contact may no longer be employed there.

23. SCHEDULE THE SETUP

Be sure to give yourself enough of time to have the venue ready and decorated. Be sure to confirm with the location when they may begin setting up if you'll be bringing in outside help. Investigate whether the wedding setup can be completed the day before, or early on the wedding day.

Setting aside sufficient time for preparation is essential. Inquire as to what time outside staff can arrive to begin setting up a venue you've rented. Have them do it the day before the wedding, or at least the whole day of the wedding.

24. LEARN ABOUT MARRIAGE LICENSES

Anyone can look up the licence requirements in your state online, but it's a good idea to phone the county clerk's office to be sure they're open on the days you need to get your application in.

A marriage licence may be needed in some locations but not others, so it's important to know the specifics.

It's feasible that marriage licences are only available on Thursdays between 2 and 3 p.m., even if the office is technically open from 9 am to 5 pm. So, make sure your mother and/or maid of honour have a copy of your marriage licence (just in case you lose yours during the final days before your wedding).

25. GO OVER GROUND RULES

In order to avoid any misunderstandings, it's best to enquire with the manager of the church or wedding venue about any rules that must be followed (if any).

Whether you are having your event at a house of religion, you should find out if there are any regulations that you and your guests must follow. Examples include not covering your shoulders and using a flash.

Is it inappropriate to use flash photography or show shoulder pads, for instance? Or, if you're planning on having an outside ceremony, can you put tent stakes in the grass (which is usually frowned upon)?

26. CLASSIFY YOUR CASH

Assigning a numerical value between 1 and 3 for each item in your wedding budget is a terrific approach to indicate their relative importance.

The wedding dress and the meal might be at the top of your list of priorities, while flowers and paper goods might fall to the bottom. This will help you prioritise where to spend money and where to save money.

The key to a successful wedding budget is stability. Make a list of the essentials, such as the music, your wedding dress, the invitations, the flowers, and the photographer, and rank their importance from one (most important) to three (least important).

Spend lavishly on priorities and economize where possible. (Of course, not everything has to be ranked first.) If a designer dress and gourmet cuisine are your top priorities, for instance, you might have to settle for less elaborate invites and smaller flower arrangements.

27. HELP GUESTS PAY ATTENTION

Take care that your audience can see and hear the presentation. If guests are seated more than 15 rows from the altar or podium, you may want to consider renting a microphone and a riser.

Be sure that no matter where in the venue your guests are sitting, they will be able to see and hear everything that is going on. Hire a microphone for the ceremony if there will be more than 15 rows of attendees.

Dependent on the tools employed, this might be as much as $100. Have your wedding planner or best man be in charge of coordinating the delivery and setup with the ceremony location. Looking for the Top Wedding Planner in Melbourne? Look no further and check out our ultimate list of Wedding Planners here. 

28. WRITE DOWN YOUR DIGITS

When your limo driver gets lost or you decide at the last minute that you want your photographer to shoot some candid images of the preparations, having their contact information on hand will be a huge help.

Keep a list handy, or keep a contact sheet with all of your vendors' information in your phone. In case of emergency on the big day, this is the spot to come.

29. CALL THE FASHION POLICE

It's not a good idea to shop for a wedding gown on your alone, because after a while, they all start to look the same. Instead, invite people you trust to give you an honest assessment, including family and friends.

Don't go dress shopping without a friend; after a while, every gown will appear the same, and you won't be able to remember which one you liked best.

But pick your companions wisely! Ask a trustworthy friend in place of your mother or sibling if they are unable to attend. Now would be a good time to find out which dress is your favourite.

30. BE REALISTIC WITH YOUR TIME

It will feel like you have a million things to do in the last month leading up to the wedding. So take a look at your list of tasks and strike at least three of them off (making sure they're not crucial!) You'll feel a lot less stressed out.

Look at that mile-long to-do list you've been keeping and, in the final month of your planning (or whenever you're feeling particularly hurried), cross three items off.

You're right, we do need to pare down. Not choosing a processional song or confirming final details with all of your vendors, even if you know they're important.

Tasks like hand-painting "Just Married" signs or preparing cookies for all of the welcome packages should be eliminated only if they are deemed excessive. Put them in the past by crossing them out and promising to forget about them.

Conclusion

Whether you're looking for advice on where to find a cheap wedding dress or which vendors to use, we've got you covered. Before deciding on a location, it's important to have a ballpark number of guests to expect. Find out if your wedding date coincides with any major local events like trade shows or charity walks. If you're planning a summer wedding, pay attention to the weather forecast and other potential disruptions. Consider insects - even when they aren't at a wedding, gnats, mosquitoes, and horse flies are a pain.

Reducing the number of expected guests is the most effective means of conserving money. Use a credit card with a rewards program and benefit from the high expense of weddings. If each seat at the table costs $100, then skipping only one table of ten may save you $1,000. Make sure you are not obligated to provide the same food to your vendors as your visitors. Having them eat the same cuisine as the guests might be very costly.

It's a good idea to set aside between five and ten percent of your wedding budget for any unforeseen costs or extras. Feel free to enquire about anything, from late-night nibbles to a photo shoot. Weddings on Fridays and Sundays often cost 30% less than those held on Saturdays. Call for available dates two months before your prefered time to save you up to 25%. A wedding on a Friday or Sunday should be roughly 30% cheaper than a Saturday.

You should expect that between 10 and 20 percent of your invitees won't show up. Creating a list of everyone you know can help you narrow down your guest list. If you need to reduce the number of attendees, start with those at the bottom of the list. Take tasks one at a time rather than trying to juggle too many balls in the air. You should refuse to sign contracts with hotels that include cancellation fees if you fear you won't be able to use all of the reserved rooms.

With a month to go before the wedding, you can then release any unused rooms. Make sure your wedding guests know how to get there quickly and easily. A marriage licence may be needed in some locations but not others, so it's important to know the specifics. Assign a numerical value between 1 and 3 for each item in your wedding budget. This will help you prioritise where to spend money and where to save money.

Hire a microphone for the ceremony if there will be more than 15 rows of attendees. Have your wedding planner or best man be in charge of coordinating the delivery and setup with the ceremony location. Don't go dress shopping without a friend; after a while, every gown will appear the same.

Content Summary: 

• The time spent preparing for a wedding is both thrilling and demanding.
• Both the wedding venue and the individual elements of the ceremony and reception can be focal points for some couples.
• Whatever your strategy, there are plenty of opportunities to cut costs and maximise your returns.
• It's not always obvious how to get started on all the wedding day preparations.
• Fortunately, there are a plethora of excellent resources available to help make the otherwise stressful process of organising a wedding more manageable.
• We've got you covered, whether you're looking for advice on where to find a cheap wedding dress or which vendors to use.
• when they apply to her wedding planning.
• If you're not sure if you've forgotten anything (or if you have everything under control), read on for some must-know planning tips.
• To make your planning experience less stressful and more satisfying, we've compiled some helpful hints and advice from our seasoned planners.
• Before deciding on a location, you should have a good idea of how many people you plan to invite.
• Plan on about 25-30 square feet of space per visitor.
• Before deciding on a location for your wedding, it's important to have a ballpark number of guests to expect. 
• A list of upcoming wedding dates that could cause complications is provided.
• Verify that there are no large events scheduled for the area that could cause traffic delays or a shortage of available hotel rooms before settling on a date.
• Pay attention to the forecast and other potential disruptions.
• Guests won't appreciate being seated in a marquee on a hot summer day, so keep that in mind and any other potential weather-related consequences.
• Consider insects, too.
• Even when they aren't at a wedding, gnats, mosquitoes, and horse flies are a pain.
• You may provide bug spray to guests or hire a pest control service.
• And if you're planning a sunset wedding, check SunriseSunset.com to find out the best time to exchange your vows.
• Not to mention, you should always be prepared with a backup plan in case the weather turns sour.
• Sign up for a credit card with a rewards program and benefit from the high expense of weddings.
• By charging everything for the wedding to one card, you can rack up thousands of rewards points, which can be redeemed for everything from free flights to discounts at your favourite stores (which could be used for your honeymoon).It's a waste not to capitalize on the fact that weddings are expensive.
• Take advantage of a credit card issuer's generous rewards program, and use that card to pay for the entire wedding.
• Reducing the number of expected guests is the most effective means of conserving money.
• The cost of feeding your guests accounts for around half of your wedding budget, so cutting your guest list by only ten people might save you thousands.
• The quickest method to save money on your wedding?
• Trim the list of invitees.
• Keep in mind that the cost of feeding your guests will account for half of your wedding budget.
• If each seat at the table costs $100, then skipping only one table of ten may save you $1,000. 
• Don't be afraid to negotiate little additions to contracts with vendors, like as an extra hour of cocktails.
• The cost of feeding your guests during your wedding is an additional surprise.
• Make sure you are not obligated to provide the same food to your vendors as your visitors before signing any contracts.the people who work on your wedding need to eat, too!
• Choose a hearty and delicious dinner for the wedding pros, and be sure to let your caterer know how many meals are required.
• Having them eat the same cuisine as the guests might be very costly.
• Wedding caterers need to know how many people they need to feed and what kind of food you want to offer at least two days before the wedding.
• This includes not just the wedding party but also the photographers' assistants and the band's roadies.
• Keep all of your vendor-related materials in one convenient location by using a three-ring binder to store emails, meeting notes, photos, and magazine clippings.
• Save all wedding-related correspondence in one convenient location.
• In order to maintain the lines to a minimum, you will need one bartender for every 50 people.
• It's a good idea to set aside between five and ten percent of your wedding budget for any unforeseen costs or extras you'd want to have.
• Follow this formula while planning your wedding budget: Spending breakdown: 48% to 50% on the reception; 8% to 10% on the flowers; 8% to 10% on the outfit; 8% to 10% on the music and entertainment; 10% to 12% on the photography and videography; 2% to 3% on the invitations and favours; and 8% on anything else, such as a wedding planner.
• You should set aside an additional ten percent of your budget for miscellaneous items such as extra invitations printed due of faults, extra tailoring, umbrellas in case of rain, and ribbons for the wedding programmes.
• When it comes to the details of your wedding, you can put your full faith in your providers.
• The success of your wedding day depends on your ability to effectively communicate with your wedding team.
• Feel free to enquire about anything, from late-night nibbles to a photo shoot.
• Their role is to advise you what is possible and what isn't possible within your wedding budget.
• Last-minute preparations can sometimes be the best option.
• Your negotiating leverage increases as the date of your event draws nearer.
• Most couples make their reservations six months in advance, but if you can wait even just a few months, you can save as much as 25 percent.
• Calling for available dates two months before your prefered time can save you up to 25 percent, as most people book wedding venues at least six months in advance.
• In addition, a wedding on a Friday or Sunday should be roughly 30% cheaper than a wedding on a Saturday.
• Having beautiful stamps on your wedding invites is a must.
• You can save a lot of time by purchasing your stamps online, and by weighing your invitations and other paper goods to determine accurate postage charges.
• And before you mail everything out, make sure you weigh the invitation and any other paper products you plan to include so you can include the correct amount of postage.
• Inquire at the post office counter if you need to buy extra stamps for your irregularly shaped letters. 
• This figure relies on the percentage of your invited guests who are travelling long distances to attend your ceremony.
• You should expect that between 10 and 20 percent of your invitees won't show up.
• Naturally, this is dependent on the number of out-of-town guests, the time of year, and the location of your wedding (destination weddings are difficult to attend) (some guests may have annual holiday plans).
• Establishing your policy on children early on in the planning process might help prevent any misunderstandings.
• You can choose to allow children to join, establish a strict no-children policy, engage a child care business to provide daycare, or limit attendance to immediate relatives.
• You can choose to have a kid-friendly wedding, a "adults only" wedding, a wedding limited to close family members only, or a wedding where a child care service is hired to provide childcare at the venue, a hotel room, or a family member's house during the festivities.
• Creating a list can help when trying to narrow down the number of invited guests.
• Make a list of everyone you know, starting with your immediate family and continuing all the way down to your parents' friends and coworkers.
• If you need to reduce the number of attendees, you can begin with those at the bottom of the list.
• Use the "levels of importance" method to narrow down your guest list.
• In order of importance, list your closest relatives and friends first, followed by the wedding party and any extended family members or cousins you wouldn't want to celebrate without.
• To avoid taking on too much at once and having things snowball around you, make a wedding planning timetable and follow it step by step in a logical manner.
• Don't book a band or order a cake before you've decided on a venue; the same goes for confirming a date and deciding on flowers.
• The preparations for a wedding involve a large number of tasks, some of which may seem insurmountable.
• Take tasks one at a time rather than trying to juggle too many balls in the air; you'll save yourself a lot of hassle and aggravation.
• You should think about the "plus-one" situation if you run out of room on your guest list.
• Use your imagination to create a makeshift seating arrangement in your head, complete with your single friend and their potential tablemates.
• Forget about it unless it's a table of single people she knows well.
• You can get a special wedding block at a discounted rate at several hotels for your guests.
• With a month to go before the wedding, you can then release any unused rooms.
• You should refuse to sign contracts with hotels that include cancellation fees if you fear you won't be able to use all of the reserved rooms.
• Make sure your wedding guests know how to get there quickly and easily.
• Inquire at the location about the best routes to take if you'll be driving to the party and provide those directions to your attendees via email.
• The location of the event should be clearly communicated to guests.
• Both wedding ceremony and reception venues should be able to provide you with printed or digital versions of suggested driving directions, and you should also test the routes out for yourself.
• Next, post the top ideas on your wedding website or send them to guests through email for printing.
• In the event of doubt, it is best to contact the relevant vendor by email and request confirmation in writing.
• If you need to make any adjustments to your agreement that aren't usual, do it in writing or via email to the vendor.
• Be sure to give yourself enough time to have the venue ready and decorated.
• Be sure to confirm with the location when they may begin setting up if you'll be bringing in outside help.
• Investigate whether the wedding setup can be completed the day before, or early on the wedding day.
• Setting aside sufficient time for preparation is essential.
• Inquire as to what time outside staff can arrive to begin setting up a venue you've rented.
• Have them do it the day before the wedding, or at least the whole day of the wedding.
• A marriage licence may be needed in some locations but not others, so it's important to know the specifics.
• So, make sure your mother and/or maid of honour have a copy of your marriage licence (just in case you lose yours during the final days before your wedding).
• In order to avoid any misunderstandings, it's best to enquire with the manager of the church or wedding venue about any rules that must be followed (if any).Whether you are having your event at a house of religion, you should find out if there are any regulations that you and your guests must follow.
• Assigning a numerical value between 1 and 3 for each item in your wedding budget is a terrific approach to indicate their relative importance.
• The wedding dress and the meal might be at the top of your list of priorities, while flowers and paper goods might fall to the bottom.
• This will help you prioritise where to spend money and where to save money.
• The key to a successful wedding budget is stability.
• Make a list of the essentials, such as the music, your wedding dress, the invitations, the flowers, and the photographer, and rank their importance from one (most important) to three (least important).Spend lavishly on priorities and economize where possible. 
• Take care that your audience can see and hear the presentation.
• Be sure that no matter where in the venue your guests are sitting, they will be able to see and hear everything that is going on.
• Hire a microphone for the ceremony if there will be more than 15 rows of attendees.
• Have your wedding planner or best man be in charge of coordinating the delivery and setup with the ceremony location.
• When your limo driver gets lost or you decide at the last minute that you want your photographer to shoot some candid images of the preparations, having their contact information on hand will be a huge help.
• Keep a list handy, or keep a contact sheet with all of your vendors' information in your phone.
• In case of emergency on the big day, this is the spot to come.
• It's not a good idea to shop for a wedding gown on your alone, because after a while, they all start to look the same.
• Instead, invite people you trust to give you an honest assessment, including family and friends.
• But pick your companions wisely!
• Ask a trustworthy friend in place of your mother or sibling if they are unable to attend.
• Now would be a good time to find out which dress is your favourite.
• It will feel like you have a million things to do in the last month leading up to the wedding.
• So take a look at your list of tasks and strike at least three of them off (making sure they're not crucial!)
• You'll feel a lot less stressed out.
• Look at that mile-long to-do list you've been keeping and, in the final month of your planning (or whenever you're feeling particularly hurried), cross three items off.
• You're right, we do need to pare down.
• Not choosing a processional song or confirming final details with all of your vendors, even if you know they're important.