| Most brides become obsessed with throwing the | | | | fresh, quality ingredients are used no matter what |
| perfect wedding. The bride-zilla persona takes | | | | the meal style. |
| over and can cause incredible pressure and strain | | | | Do not have a large gap between the ceremony |
| on all involved. What most brides fail to realize is | | | | and dinner. If you plan to take photographs, have |
| that the majority of details they fuss over, go | | | | a cocktail hour for your guests. No need for a lot |
| unnoticed by guests and are forgotten by the | | | | of food, but a simple and elegant cheese tray |
| bride and groom during the excitement of the big | | | | with fresh fruit and crackers will do. A friend of |
| day. | | | | mine also had a bowl of chocolate truffles for |
| Over the past five months I have attended six | | | | guests to snack on. Always provide a |
| weddings, and in the past three years nearly | | | | non-alcoholic option for guests. A wedding I |
| twenty. My husband and I are in our early 30's, | | | | recently attended had a wonderful bright yellow |
| and wedding bells have been ringing simultaneously | | | | old-fashioned lemonade dispenser surrounded by |
| for all of our friends. My own wedding was well | | | | exquisite glasses. A great treat on a hot day. |
| orgainzed but also incredibly fun and stress-free. I | | | | Also, best to start speeches during the meal. No |
| went swimming in the ocean the day of the | | | | one likes to be trapped after eating and spend |
| wedding, and except for a few details only we | | | | the next hour or two listening to long and |
| noticed, the event went off without a hitch. Five | | | | sometimes bad speeches. No one remembers |
| years later, we still have guests commenting on | | | | speeches, but they remember being kept hostage |
| how much fun they had, and how relaxed | | | | at the table. Also, under no circumstances do you |
| everything was. | | | | open the mike up to the room. I've seen what |
| Almost all of the weddings we've attended | | | | can happen and it's not pretty. If possible, choose |
| reflected the personality of the couple getting | | | | an organized and funny MC. This can take so |
| married, with simple details that made an impact. | | | | much pressure off the bride and groom and really |
| However, a few were extremely inconvenient for | | | | sets the mood for the rest of the evening. |
| guests and a nightmare for the bride and groom. | | | | 4. The Devil is in the Details: All of the extras such |
| To avoid the last scenario, here are a few tips to | | | | as the cake, flowers, decorations, music, and |
| streamline the planning process, reduce cost, | | | | guest favors can break the bank and create a lot |
| stress, and hopefully provide some ideas for | | | | of work for the bride. You need to simplify in this |
| memorable wedding. | | | | area because most of these details are not |
| 1. Size Matters: Keep the guest list as small as | | | | remembered and sometimes add little to the |
| possible. Editing the guest list will most likely cause | | | | wedding. For my wedding I actually did away with |
| the most headaches of the entire wedding | | | | a wedding cake, garter and flower toss. I don't |
| process. The size of the wedding will affect | | | | regret it but if you choose to stick with tradition, |
| everything from overall cost to how much time | | | | use flowers judiciously and opt for a very simple |
| you get to spend with friends and family. | | | | but beautiful cake. Centerpieces can be one |
| Between 100 and 150 is a reasonable and | | | | flower or candles and lanterns, use your |
| manageable number, but I've been to weddings | | | | imagination. Fewer flowers and decorations can |
| much smaller and they were lovely. A 300 or 400 | | | | reduce cost, transportation issues and wedding |
| person wedding is more like a convention and will | | | | day set-up time. |
| be outrageously expensive. Make some tough | | | | If you have dancing, make sure you hire a great |
| decisions, and remember you don't have to invite | | | | band that understands the audience demographics, |
| every cousin or allow guests to bring dates just | | | | or a DJ that will play requests. I had a wonderful |
| to pair them up. | | | | DJ that actually referred to himself as a 'dance |
| The size of the wedding party can also elevate | | | | motivator', and he wasn't exaggerating. |
| stress levels. I had one bridesmaid and my | | | | Two months ago I attended a wedding where |
| husband had two groomsmen. A large wedding | | | | the bride personally made her own favors. |
| party can increase costs, personal conflicts, and | | | | Individual cakes, thank you cards, and place |
| make the wedding seem cumbersome. Unless | | | | markers for each place setting. At the end of the |
| you have a great wedding coordinator, keep the | | | | night, most of these were left on the tables and |
| number small to avoid clothing issues, wedding | | | | no one really understood the amount of work she |
| day logistics and multiple thank-you gifts. | | | | put into them. One of the nicest weddings I |
| 2. Location, Location, Location: A convenient and | | | | attended simply had box of high end chocolates |
| beautiful location will be remembered and | | | | per couple and I thought that was great. |
| appreciated by guests. Access to good, | | | | Personally made CD's made nice parting gifts too, |
| reasonably priced accommodation is key. I have | | | | but take much more work. Guests only require |
| been to a few weddings at boat clubs and they | | | | something little as a thank-you, as they will |
| were wonderful. It's nice for guests to have an | | | | receive a note from you later on. |
| outside option if the weather is hot. A nice deck | | | | 5. Memories: I think this is an area where couples |
| overlooking water can't be beat. One wedding I | | | | make the biggest mistake. Skimping on a |
| attended even had an old fashioned trolley car | | | | professional photographer should never be done. I |
| take us from the chapel to the reception, which I | | | | can say this from experience. We had a family |
| thought was a great touch. | | | | friend take photos and they just didn't turn out. I |
| The location of the toilets is also something to | | | | can't stress enough that you will be happy about |
| consider. With all those toasts, a bathroom should | | | | this investment, and a videographer isn't a bad |
| be handy. Convenience is what a wedding guest | | | | idea either. Having a professional in this role will |
| remembers, and the more bathrooms the better. | | | | give you piece of mind and they will make sure |
| Stock each bathroom with a few essentials like: | | | | that Aunt Minnie wasn't left out, saving |
| gum, floss, hairspray, mints, small sewing kit and | | | | explanations down the road. Just be sure to meet |
| toothpicks. It's a small gesture that people notice | | | | with the photographer to let them know what |
| and appreciate. | | | | style you're thinking of. |
| 3. Eat, Drink and Be Married: You must feed and | | | | In closing, pick and choose your battles. |
| water your guests. There is no way around this. | | | | Sometimes it's better to save feelings and |
| However, depending on the time of day, it can be | | | | relationships than have a particular color or food. |
| done inexpensively but with class. An afternoon | | | | Know what you want and let all the other |
| wedding can lend itself to cocktails and appetizers | | | | distractions fade away. Use these tips as a guide |
| or a basic buffet can be great. A buffet allows | | | | and your wedding can be fun, stress free, and |
| guests to move around and there seems to be | | | | memorable. |
| more room for negotiating a price. Make sure that | | | | |