Regardless of whether you are organizing your own wedding day, or planning a friend’s wedding, you will find that the task can be complicated and time consuming. Fortunately, this article is packed full of some of the best wedding tips and tricks to help you to plan a very memorable day.

One thing to take into consideration is when you get married. The off seasons can save quite a bit of money that can be used elsewhere. The traditional season for weddings is May through September. You can expect to pay more if you schedule your wedding during this time. If you can’t plan your wedding at any other time, book your venue as soon as possible to get a great deal.

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. When deciding how much to spend, remember to include the cost of alterations.

Do not avoid eating just so your wedding dress will fit. Like a mixed martial arts fighter preparing for a fight, you will end up dehydrated and light-headed if you try to rush losing weight. Of course, you would not want to pass out as you are saying your vows. Rather, get a dress with an integrated corset so that it can be easily adjusted.

You don’t need a big, expensive, flashy wedding cake. Talk to your local bakery owner about something smaller, or pre-cut into individual portions. Many bakeries offer beautiful cupcakes with a variety of healthy fillings.

Tell your DJ about songs you like and songs you dislike. It could be a special song representing “old love”, a heavy metal song, or a country song. Be sure your DJ is well aware of your preferences in advance to avoid discomfort.

Luxury-loving and fashionable brides could choose to make their bouquet sparkle; try adding rhinestones, Swarovski crystals or even some diamonds. All this requires is some heat-fixed crystals or adhesive, small costume jewelry pieces, or an heirloom piece. Consistency is important in regards to stone sizes, cuts and the colors that sparkle, as all this needs to coordinate with your overall ensemble.

Try to practice walking down your aisle before a mirror that is full-length to see what you’re doing, especially if you plan on wearing heels. Avoid twisting your ankle as you walk down the aisle by wearing flat, comfortable shoes. No one can see your shoes under your gown anyway, but if you fall on your rear end, they’ll see a lot more than shoes.

Noon is the best time for a reception. You will find that people are not so ready to drink heavily during the day, which will cut back on the costs of an open bar. In addition, you can save money by serving lunch instead of dinner at your reception. You may be able to purchase a higher-quality menu at lunch time for the price you would have paid for dinner. Keep in mind that if you spend less on food, you can use the savings to pay for another service your wedding requires.

Find out if the lights at your reception venue are the type that can be dimmed. You will probably want to lower the lights for your first dance, but have brighter lights during most of the reception. Before committing to the venue, ask them about this.

Multiple course receptions should have treats on the table for guests to consume between servings. Get sugar roses in colors that match your theme, or perhaps some crisp crackers.

See if you can borrow a special item of apparel from a friend for your wedding ceremony. This can help you achieve a nice look, while also letting you focus money in other areas to make your wedding much better.

Choosing centerpieces for your reception tables can be a difficult and costly decision. Rather than spending a fortune on centerpieces that are almost as big as the tables themselves, keep them small and simple. This has the added advantage of not making it difficult for guests to talk to each other due to a huge obstruction.

A fusion menu with a few traditional dishes is a good choice. Change it up by including ethnic desserts, drinks, or any other foods that are being served.

It is critical that you carefully plot out every aspect of your wedding and the reception. You want all your guests to be excited and engaged.

Instead of forking over cash for fanciful floral arrangements, consider relying on potted plants to add a touch of green to your ceremony site. You can put them in decorative pots, or decorate their pots yourself with paint and ribbons. When the wedding is over, the guests can then take those plants home with them as a favor and have a constant reminder of the new couple.

Pick out a few special activities for the day, and use them to spice up the mood when needed. Don’t just let everyone stand around tapping their feet, waiting for something to happen. You can have competitions and games, or maybe a karaoke hour. You can make your wedding more memorable by planning activities that allow your guests to have fun and interact with each other.

Hopefully you have just received a mini-education on wedding preparations that you can use to put together a magnificent and memorable occasion. Put the advice you have learned in this article to use so that you can create a wedding that will be memorable for everyone involved.