Whether you are planning your own wedding or helping plan a relative’s wedding, you have likely found that wedding planning is time-consuming and stressful. Fortunately, this article is full of handy wedding planning tips that apply to a wide variety of scenarios.

When wedding planning, think about what alcohol you want to serve, how you want to serve it, and try to be cost efficient. Having an open bar may cost a lot, especially if it is available throughout the entire day. With only a quick question, your venue should be able to provide you with their alcohol serving options.

The pictures you will have taken on your wedding day are meant to be a memento of your happy day for a lifetime. Even though it can me costly, your best bet is to have a professional photographer take your pictures so you get the best quality possible.

Makeup Artist

If you will have a makeup artist, make sure that you have seen their previous work and like it. This will help you to rule out make up artists whose styles do not mesh with your own. Make sure that this is the style you desire. You don’t want to find out an hour before the ceremony that your makeup artist has a look planned that you hate.

Transportation is an important thing to think about. You should have taxis and limos to take people home when it’s over. This is a great idea for people who drink.

An overabundance of flowers on reception tables causes trouble. Oftentimes, those flowers are simply in the way for your wedding attendees. Also, you must consider that a guest may be allergic to the flowers. Instead, you could place candles (non-scented) on the table tops to add a romantic feel to the reception.

Take the time to look at the work of different photographers before committing to one. You never want to hire a photographer who doesn’t fit your style. To find some talented photographers near you, look for reviews online or see if friends or family can recommend anyone.

Practice walking towards a full length mirror to ensure you know how to do it, especially if you are not used to heels. If you are worried about a twisted ankle, choose attractive flats instead. Losing the allure of heels will pay off if it saves you from taking a nasty spill.

Your guests shouldn’t have to hang around while your pictures are taken. Many of these pictures can be taken before the wedding so that you don’t waste a minute of your reception time. In order to reduce the length of time that the guests need to wait for the bride and groom to arrive at the wedding reception, the bride and groom should also be photographed with their parents in advance.

If you are hosting a destination wedding, your guests may appreciate receiving a basket of vacation goodies in their room on their arrival. Include maps, cameras, hats, disposable cameras, or guides on local attractions that they may want to visit. Additionally, you may want to include a local restaurant guide so that your guests know where to eat.

Consider placing your colorful cake on a piece of fabric or tablecloth in a coordinating color. You can opt for patterns, solids or heavily textured fabrics, such as silk, satin or velvet, to add visual interest and tie all elements together.

For help with your wedding, you can find local vendors on Craigslist. Always have a face-to-face meeting with anyone you hire off of Craigslist prior to giving them any cash.

Ask your close friend if you are able to don their items for your big day. This can help you achieve a nice look, while also letting you focus money in other areas to make your wedding much better.

For couples that enjoy traveling, look for wedding items and decorations that reflect this interest. Invitation can be designed to resemble a travel brochure, boarding pass or vintage postcard. Prop open a leather vintage suitcase and display family photos, wedding programs and party favors.

If the couple’s families are from different cultural backgrounds, both sides can be honored by incorporating traditions, foods, decors, or rituals from both sides. Everyone will be happy with this compromise.

Make sure that your wedding is planned down to the smallest of details so there will be no unexpected surprises. You want to draw everyone in, and make all of your guests remember this joyous occasion.

Remember that you’ll be in a different environment than you’re used to–you might not be able to find your favorite flowers if your wedding destination’s climate is very different than the climate in your home state. Speak with people who are in the area where your wedding is located to find out what blooms are available to you.

Tell your caterer if you plan on having an outdoor reception. Some foods may spoil quickly on hot days, and other dishes may not fare well in strong wind. You may want to tell your caterers to brings some stylish covers to preserve certain dishes. You could even run an extension cord and plug in a bar fridge to keep beverages refreshingly cold.

Use the information in this article to help organize your wedding ceremony, rehearsal and reception. This will give you the ability to plan your wedding and have it go smoothly and memorably; you’ll have the day of your dreams!