If you have been part of a big wedding, I guess you will have your do’s & don’ts in your own wedding and what I am definitely sure is you will always want a better one. Some of us do not take wedding planning seriously and then we end up disappointed & stressed after your big day. Let us say I have been to a perfect wedding and a worst wedding. Last night, I was thinking a topic for my wedding article and my friend (who has the worst wedding I know) called me asking for something. Then poof I decided what will be my next topic. Here are the list of things you should avoid prior to your wedding planning and during your wedding day:

1. Wasting Money. It is fine to have party every night however should make sure you are not the one who will pay the bill. I know you just have your engagement and this deserves a lot of celebrations but when you take a look at how much you spent after those parties, it is enough to pay your wedding vendors. It is a common mistake newly engaged couple do prior to wedding planning. In my friends’ case, she wasted 30% of her wedding budget and that is not a good thing to start her wedding planning.
2. Comparisons. When you have been to a fabulous wedding you tend to compare how better it was and how worse will be yours. Think about it, every wedding will be different from the others. You will always have different foods, guests, themes and locations therefore you cannot completely copy anyone’s wedding. And your goal is not to make it like theirs but something we will remember for the rest of our lives.
3. Disregard Weather Forecast. Weather must be considered on wedding contingency planning. You must be updated on the current weather forecast to be prepared. You do not want your guests to be wet, right? Making sure you are on the right place at the right time is a big part of your wedding planning.
4. Get Drunk. Getting drunk will totally ruin your wedding day! When you think you cannot take it anymore just do not pick that glass and just enjoy the show. It is recommended not to drink your wine unless they requested it and if you think you have it then just stop.
5. Forget About The True Essence of Wedding. Wedding is not just about settling down. It is not about having the best wedding in town or how beautiful your partner is. It is a celebration of two hearts become one. It is about signing the contract with your partner in front of God and this day will always be the day where you decided to carry the responsibility of a husband or a wife.

Avoiding this things will not give you a perfect wedding. Let us face it, there will be no perfect wedding and there will be no perfect husband and wife however having an idea on what to do prior and during your wedding day gives you an edge over couples who just want to have a wedding without planning. The thing is, this will be your own wedding and you are the star of the story.

By Jenna Bron

Well, the answer could be to hire a wedding planner. Once upon a time it was only the rich and famous that could afford to do this. But these days more and more couples are using the services of a wedding planner.

Although the idea of hiring a wedding planner sounds like a costly one, they could end up saving you money because they have contacts with suppliers and vendors. At your first meeting you will give your planner an idea of what you want for your wedding day, and although they will offer advice, your decisions will always be final.

They will organise everything for you including the reception venue, the entertainment, the catering, the photographer, the wedding cake, the flowers, the cars, in fact almost everything that goes to make up a wedding. You will be kept up to date every step of the way so you will always be in complete control.

So you can see that by using a wedding planner you can be certain your wedding day will be perfect. All you need to do is let her know what your budget is, and present her with your wish list. Then you can relax and look forward to a wonderful wedding day without any stress.

By Jennifer T. Collins

To make your wedding ceremony a good memory, the best way is to take good photos of it. However, as a marriage ceremony usually lasts a whole day, it can be a difficult and heavy task for a photographer to take good-quality photos without having rest. It is both a trial for the photographer’s physical stamina as well as for his or her patience. If you are a wedding photographer, the following three tips might help you to take good photos.

1. Use a digital camera instead of a film camera.
   Among professional photographers, there is an ongoing debate as to whether film camera or digital camera can produce better photos, and the majority of photographers incline to favor film cameras. However, photos in a marriage ceremony is not all about art; it is different from taking other types of photos in that it requires tremendous amount of work and people-you need to work from morning to night and take photos not only of the bride and bridegroom, but also of their parents, their friends, the reception, etc. In view of this, it is a far better choice to choose a digital camera instead of a film camera.
2. Ask your clients about their personal tastes.
   As a photographer, perhaps you tend to take photos which you think are beautiful. However, you should always remember that in a marriage ceremony, you are taking photos for your clients rather than for yourself. Therefore, before the ceremony you should ask them about their opinions as to what kind of photo they like and how many they would like to be taken, etc.
3. Make sure that there is enough light.
   Light is an important factor in taking good photos. Therefore, when your clients decide upon a date for their ceremony, check the weather on that day. If it is sunny, then you do not have much to worry about; however, if it is rainy or even cloudy, in order to take good photos, you might need to prepare a few pieces of equipment to make up for the light.

By Maria Berkeley

Within nine months to a year of a wedding several things must take place. The couple should announce the engagement to family and friends and select a wedding date. By giving people plenty of notice they will make sure they can attend. The longer a couple takes to do this the less likely it is that guests can rearrange their schedules.

Hire a coordinator to help with the planning process and to make sure everything runs smoothly. Decide where the ceremony will take place, if it will have a theme, and how many will receive invites. Figure out if the event is casual or formal. Decide what time of day it will take place-during the morning, afternoon or evening.

It is important to decide how much money can be spent on the event, and how bills will be shared. Purchase a planner to write down and remember any appointments and find a way to organize and track payments.

Decide whether or not children are welcome. Reserve the ceremony location and any officials, priests, rabbis or ministers. Also book the location for the reception.

The bridal gown should be selected and ordered. Pick out color themes. Make sure that the necessary passports, visas or other documentation is on hand for traveling or marriage licensing.

When the big day is six to nine months away, further preparations are necessary. Caterers, photographers, musicians, bands, videographers, and florists should all be booked. Select the wedding party and let them know their roles.

Bridesmaids and flower girls need to be identified and their attire chosen. The bride and grooms mothers also need their outfits selected. If not already done, gift registries must be made at this time.

Four to six weeks prior to the ceremony, fit the bridesmaid dresses. Reserve rentals, book decorators, finalize the guest list and order invitations. Finalize details for the rehearsal dinner and honeymoon night.

Make sure guests traveling from out of town have proper accommodations. Begin shopping for gifts for the wedding party, fiance and parents. Buy appropriate accessories for bride and bridesmaids. Order the bands.

When the ceremony is two to four months in the future, take engagement pictures and pick out a wedding cake. Book wedding day transportation, address and send invitations, book hair and makeup appointments, and get a marriage license.

If these plans are followed, most of the important details will be completed on time. All that remains are a few finalizing steps such as picking up, dropping off and wrapping items. Do not forget to notify the post office you will be gone to have mail properly taken care of.

By Marcelo Oleas