​Planning a wedding can be very stressful.​
Stick to these rules and you'll do fine!​

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1) Set a date and a budget and stick to it. There is a perfect wedding​
vendor for every price range.​

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2) Ask for referrals from vendors you've booked, friends or family.​
Check with the BBB about a vendor's history. If names are given to​
you by a wedding vendor, ask them how they know about that person/company.



3) Planning a friend's, their own or their daughter's wedding doesn't​ make someone a professional wedding coordinator. Make sure you​ hire a professional at some point during the wedding planning process​ to make sure that you are on track, spending your money wisely and​ tying up all the loose ends properly. A wedding coordinator will save​ you hours on the phone with vendors and attending​ unnecessary appointments and let you free your time to do other​ things.



4) Set a timeline of tasks that you need to take care of. For example,​
you should book your reception hall 12 to 18 months out; your​
photographer 9 to 12 months out; etc.



5) The number on the guest list will increase or decrease your budget.​ A good rule of thumb is that if you won't be friends with them five​ years from now, don't invite them. However, you do want to invite your​ boss, appropriate colleagues, close friends and family. There will be​ guests that your parents will request you invite and you'll need to​ accommodate those requests.



6) Invitations should go out six weeks before the wedding. DO NOT​
PUT YOUR REGISTRY INFORMATION IN YOUR INVITATION. This is​ an etiquette no-no. Instead, direct your guests to view your website​ for more information.



7) Take a break from the planning. Have a quality date night with your​ fiancé where you don't talk about the wedding at all.



8) The rehearsal dinner should only be the people participating in the​ actual ceremony. However, you will have guests arriving a day early​ for your wedding and you can feel free to invite them to the rehearsal​ dinner if you feel inclined to.



9) Have an emergency kit the day of the wedding. A basic kit should​
have a needle and thread, stain remover, glue, nail polish, nylons,​
deodorant, toothbrush and toothpaste, hair pins, hairspray, double​
sided tape, comb and safety pins at minimum.



10) Eat! Eat! Eat! on your wedding day.



11) Relax and enjoy the process and the event. A wedding is not​
supposed to be stressful, it's a celebration of the love you and your​
fiancé share. This is where a wedding planner can come in​
handy. You only get married once -- I do this for a living! I know​
how to keep you calm, collected, under control and enjoying the​
process.



12) IF YOU BOOK A BAND: Get them to add a clause to their​
contract which states that they will not drink alcohol at your event.​
This can be handwritten and initialed by both parties.