Wedding Planning Tips

Your wedding is the red letter day that every girl dreams of - and most guys view with trepidation and dread! The key to creating an occasion that is memorable for all the right reasons (not the wrong ones) is to plan your celebration meticulously, well in advance.

From the start, always keep in mind the central purpose of the day itself. You will be exchanging formal vows with that very special person with whom you've decided to spend the rest of your life, in front of family and friends. All the other wedding day celebrations flow from this central focus.

It's perfectly possible to have a truly magical wedding on a shoe-string, if you go about it in the right way. The total wedding nightmare is to find yourself slipping into expenditure which is beyond your pocket.

The way to avoid this pitfall is to set the budget firmly right at the beginning, making sure that both sides of the family are fully aware of the situation - and then stick to it.

There is a direct correlation between the number of guests you invite and the cost of your wedding. If the budget is tight, limit the number of guests so that you leave enough to afford the trimmings - the wedding dress and wedding flowers, etc, that make the day unique.

Maybe you're the lucky bride. Daddy has an open chequebook - nothing is too good for his little girl. You can have exactly what you like - all of it - from the chocolate fountain to the firework display. Beware the terrible temptation to say, "I want everything!"

Do remember that on your special day expectations will be high. Additionally, there are two disparate families to keep happy. The desire for absolute perfection will inevitably tend to make your wedding day not only a joyful, but also a stressful experience.

So, don't try to build too much into your day. Unwanted distraction and exhaustion will be the result. Instead, create a celebration you can really enjoy. Settle on the key elements and do them really well, with plenty of style.

Keep a steady hand on the flow of champagne and wine. A couple of glasses of champagne enhance a celebration - three or four (and maybe more) can take the icing right off the wedding cake. It is mistaken largesse to offer your guests unlimited alcohol.

Your wedding celebration should be a day of joy and happiness. However, everyone - bridal party and guests included - will be nervous on such a special day. If a glass is offered, it is likely to be taken and drunk without thinking. The wise host plans alcohol consumption in advance and limits the amount offered to guests at the drinks reception, during the meal and particularly during the speeches. Make sure that plenty of water is offered to everyone along with the wine.

Planned in this manner, your wedding will be full of smiles and fun, thoroughly enjoyed by all, and looked back on in the future with fond memories.