Wedding Planning

Being a bride-to-be is a lot of work! While many women dream about their big day from the time they're little girls – picking out dresses, color schemes and themes long before they've even met their future husband – they tend to underestimate just how much time and effort it's going to take to plan their wedding and wedding reception.

Just remember, while the ceremony may seem much simpler to prepare for then the wedding reception, both elements require you to keep organized and plan ahead. The little details are the ones that are going to catch you up on your big day – and you don't want any mishaps (forget to pay the officiant, anyone?) spoiling things for you.

You're going to want to get everything in writing as you visit florists, caterers, DJs and all the other wedding services you choose to include. That means a lot of paperwork, and a lot of things to remember!

The key to great wedding planning, for both the ceremony and the wedding reception, is organization. Regardless of how you keep things on track, with a wedding binder, a well-documented date-book, or even a website, it's important that you keep things in order and easily at hand.

You're going to find yourself exhilarated, and sometimes overwhelmed, over the next little while. Planning for your wedding is one of the most exciting times in your life, and if you take the time and effort to do it carefully, you can avoid stress and the dreaded 'bridezilla' breakdown.

The Wedding Party

Your wedding day is a time to celebrate the devotion between you and your fiancé, as well as the love and commitment of your circle of family and friends. Those closest to you are going to want to be involved in your ceremony of commitment as a way to show their support of your relationship.

Your wedding party is assigned the task of helping you not only on the big day, but throughout all the planning and preparation, as well. It's important that you pick your wedding party carefully, and that you're sure your chosen few understand what is expected of them.

Don't be afraid to make your wedding party your own, regardless of what tradition says. Whether that means having a 'man of honor' or including your pets in your walk down the aisle, remember that this is your day and your wedding party should reflect your life as a couple.

Wedding Music

You want your big day to be one for all of your guests to remember, so your choice of music is going to be one of your biggest decisions!

It's not just the music for the wedding reception that you have to consider, either. The music at your wedding ceremony will set the mood, making it formal, romantic, fun or even offbeat. Most couples choose to have music in their ceremony, even if it's a simple soloist or wind instrument.

When it comes to the wedding reception, music can really make or break the party. There's nothing worse then the dreaded silence of a large group of people just milling around a room with no background tunes! Whether you're going to have a live band play or if you're hiring a DJ to spin your tunes, make sure that there's a wide selection available to keep your guests hopping throughout the night.

Wedding Photography

Photography is one of the most important things to plan for your wedding. Things are going to be happening so fast on your big day that you're going to want lots of photos and videos to keep and look back on. That's why many couples dedicate a large portion of their wedding budget to the wedding photography!

While there are several ways to save money on your wedding photography, don't sacrifice quality for price. It's better to try to scrimp in other areas before you give up your dream wedding photographer.

Make sure you plan out your wedding photos carefully. Do you want lots of formal shots, or are you more interested in the candid moments of your special day? Who do you want included in the shots? Do you have a special location in mind? Work out all the details with your wedding photographer or wedding videographer before you agree on a package price.