11 Tips For Planning Your Wedding

Most people planning a wedding are doing it for the first time with little knowledge or experience in wedding planning. Of course, you want the day to be perfect and with all the things you have to think about it, can be quite stressful.  But, if you get organized and keep on track, your wedding ceremony can come off without a hitch.
Here are 11 most important things to think about when planning your wedding:

1. Budget.

Weddings are special. In fact, they are some of the most important events in your life. But, leaving you in debt at the beginning of your life together, just isn’t worth it. An inexpensive wedding doesn’t mean you have to give up on style. You can plan a wedding within your budget – you just may have to use your imagination more. So before you start, decide how much money you have to spend on this wedding and keep that figure in mind throughout the planning process.
2. Choose a Wedding Date.

The wedding date may depend on the desired wedding venue availability. Choose your venue and book a date with them. At this time discuss catering options to be sure of availability for that date. If you want an outdoor wedding reception, consider the weather for that time of the year and plan appropriately.
3. Size of the Wedding/Guest List.

Based on your budget and the venue, determine how many guests you can invite. You and your future spouse need to create a preliminary guest list and if the list is too long, then adjust the list as necessary. In addition decide how big your wedding party is going to be.
4. Wedding Ceremony/Reception Style.

Religious or non-religious, you are going to have to make a decision and then line up the church or location that you are going to get married at. That will also dictate the type of ceremony that you are going to have. If you go the route of a church or other official religious ceremony, it is going to much more formal.
5. Wedding Invitations.

Once your guest list is finalized, as well as the date and venue, it’s time to decide on wedding invitations. It’s a good idea to order your invitations at least 3 months prior to mailing them out to your guests. This will give you time to correct any mistakes that might have been made, as well as order reprints if you add to your guest list. It will also give you time to address all the envelopes.
6. Photographer/Videographer.

You will want to document the whole day as the bride and groom get ready for the ceremony, the reception and of course the bridal party pictures. You will want a photographer and videographer to preserve your special day forever. It’s a good idea to book them around the same time you book the venue.
7. Catering. Plan your menu.

If you’re having an informal wedding in your backyard you can go with something informal like a barbecue. You can choose a caterer or ask friends to pitch in and make dishes for the event. If you’re having your reception at a hotel or restaurant you would coordinate with the kitchen staff to plan the menu. If choosing an outside caterer, make sure that you know what type of food you want before selecting a caterer.
8. Flowers.

You are going to need flowers for the ceremony (sometimes these are reused during the reception as center pieces, everyone does it so don’t think you are being cheap), for the cocktail reception, for the wedding reception, bouquets, boutonniere’s and or corsage’s. Shop around for flowers. Prices vary widely and if you are smart you can save a lot of money.
9. Music will have to be arranged for the ceremony.

You are going to have to decide what you want played as the guests are arriving, the procession, at certain times during the ceremony, as the wedding party leaves and as the guests leave the church or hall. You can use live music or a DJ. This will depend on your personal preference and of course on your budget.
10. Centerpieces.

If you are not using flowers as centerpieces, you should consider hiring someone or do it yourself. Doing it yourself can save you a lot of money. Check the internet for ideas. You can start at places like my wedding favors.

11. Last but not least, DON’T FORGET THE RINGS!

One of the easiest ways to plan a wedding is to use planning tools that are available online. These tools will help you keep track of all aspects of the wedding, including managing your guest list, RSVP’s, budget, etc. You can even create your own wedding web site.

Keep guests posted on your special day at your own .com address from Wedding Tracker.

Getting Yourself the Perfect Wedding Gown

Now face it girl, your Wedding is the one day you want all eyes on you. It’s really a day of revenge ladies, a day to show all those nitwits who didn’t ask you to the prom exactly how gorgeous you are. A day to prove to your beloved husband-to-be that you too can look like a real knocker when time comes. And it all begins with the perfect dress.

Here is the thing. Every occasion has a get up, weddings have their dresses. You know all about the dress right, you have swooned over them every now and then when you walked past gown shops, and you have made time to envy the bride’s dress between dabbing your tears at every wedding ceremony you have been to. Well, here comes your chance to wear one at last! But let’s not panic; settle down, there is no place for impulsive behavior when it comes to buying wedding dresses. Get yourself a paper and a pen because here’s a list of everything you ought to do to get yourself the perfect Wedding Gown,

1) Step 1. Do your research. Spend time scanning all the wedding magazines you can possibly get your hands on. Use the net. Copy ideas which you like. Also make sure to note down the shops selling the designs, get their address and phone number.

2) Once you do that decide which shops you are actually going to visit. It’s always wiser to stick to shops which are in your neighborhood or are easily accessible. Before starting off to have a look however pen down how much you want to spend on the dress. Be practical, remember, special though it is, your wedding dress is only going to be worn once so there isn’t really any point in pushing your parents or yourself to the edge of bankruptcy in the process of buying it.

3) While selecting your outfit take into consideration the location and time of the wedding. If you mean to have an outdoor ceremony long heavy gowns might be a problem since they will get dirty easily. If the ceremony is indoors during say summer heavy georgettes or silk might turn out to feel like a furnace.

4) While trying out gowns be realistic about what looks good on you. You might have loved what Britney wore to her wedding ceremony and could have wanted a wedding dress exactly like hers, but guess what your bums might be just a teeny weenie bit bigger than the Pop star and may therefore not be the perfect sight in a gown like that. If you are a little on the plump side, face it, there’s no shame really, buy yourself a dress which doesn’t hug your body like a Scuba Diving suit. If you are stick thin pile on the layers to make yourself look fuller.

5) Make sure to check yourself out from all angles while trying on the gown. You don’t want to your back to look unflattering because that’s what the guests are going to look at for the majority of the time.

Finally of course buy a dress you feel comfortable and, of course, beautiful in. Your wedding is your day. So go knock them out girl.