Unfortunately, many people experience too much stress during wedding planning to enjoy what should be one of the happiest times of their life. Here are some pointers for you to use to get the most out of your wedding.

Religion is an important element of your wedding and married life. You should talk about religion not only with your fiance but his family as well, to build understanding between you.

Should you want to cater the food yourself, look to wholesale stores like Sam’s. This will allow you to save loads of money. See if your friends can chip in for food costs.

Going online to purchase your wedding dress can save you a small fortune. However, you should make sure that you order it well before the big day in order to allow time for any alterations to be carried out should they be needed. For example, you may purchase your dress for $100, but you need to spend an additional $200 on alterations. Make sure the costs are included in your budget.

Don’t starve yourself silly just to fit in a wedding dress. You will want to look nourished and hydrated on your wedding day. Of course, you would not want to pass out as you are saying your vows. Instead, buy a dress with a corset back so you can take it in or out as necessary on the day of your vows.

When selecting a makeup artist for your wedding, be sure to see the makeup that they have done in the past. Do you like the style of the make up? Make sure that this is the style you desire. You will want to feel comfortable with all parties involved.

You need to provide the DJ at your wedding with some songs you want to hear, but you also need to give him a list of all the songs you do not want to hear on that day. There is probably one song from your past that you no longer like. Make sure your partner knows about this too.

Practice walking down the aisle in front of a full-length mirror to make sure you know what you’re doing, especially if you’re going to be wearing heels. Flats may be a better choice if you think you may hurt your feet. It’s a pretty simple exchange there to ensure you’re not going to fall.

Instead of spending a bundle on a monolith wedding cake, consider a multi-tier design with mini-tarts or cupcakes. Times have changed and despite the oddness you may feel based on tradition, guests tend to prefer this and it saves not only money but also prevents waste. Those who were invited will grab them at will and consume them rather quickly as opposed to wrapping the pieces they grab in a napkin and forgetting it.

Be sure to have a place for your guests to wait and mingle while you are taking your photographs. Pictures of the bride, groom, bridesmaids and groomsmen can be snapped in advance. You will want to respect everyone at the ceremony and reception.

You’ll want to be able to dim the lighting at the wedding reception. This might seem like a trivial detail, but you want to be able to lower the light for your first romantic dance as a married couple and increase the lighting for other moments of the reception. Discuss this with the venues you’re considering before making your final choice.

As you plan out table arrangements, you should avoid seating an odd number of guests at each table. Instead, each table should seat an even number. As well, consider grouping tables by the ages of guests. This way those at the tables will have more to talk about.

Even if your dress is picked and already paid for, it is a good idea to keep it safely at the shop until the big day. By putting it in your closet, it could get wrinkly or get stained. If the bridal shop holds it, you will have a clean, pressed dress for your ceremony.

If you have the budget, consider a cruise as the venue for your wedding and just invite those who are dearest to you. By doing this, you can be on your honeymoon as soon as the ceremony ends. Some cruise ships offer special wedding and honeymoon packages.

If you’re having an outdoor reception, tell your caterer. The food you serve will need to be kept at certain temperatures to be safe, or will need to be shielded from wind and flying debris. A pretty cover is recommended for foods at outdoor weddings, to keep them fresh and free of debris or bugs. Keep a small refrigerator around to cool drinks down.

Make sure that you have a great looking wedding by being sure everything is in order, including the flowers. To make the whole room peaceful, go with a retro theme that includes colorful flowers. Bright flowers are ideal for many situations.

Apply this advice for a well planned wedding that gives you enough time to relax and remember why you are getting married in the first place. Your life with your loved one begins with your wedding, and it will go a lot better with a little planning.