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There are plenty of tips and tricks for you to make your wedding planning easier and save you time and headaches. It’s going to be okay, just keep that in mind.

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What Should a Bride be Doing on the Big Day?

Relax, everything has been organized and is on track.

Nothing ever goes exactly to plan, expect that and let it go. It’s time to get ready and you want to look your best.

The wedding dress

The wedding dress - What Should a Bride be Doing on the Big Day?

Get it out of the bag to air and hang it out of the way so no-one will spill something on it or step on the hem. You’ll be able to see which areas need to be steamed.

Food.

Food - What Should a Bride be Doing on the Big Day?

 

Arrange to have some catering sent in. Low blood sugar on top of nerves is not a good combination. Pre-order food with very little sugar (sugar crashes aren’t good either).

Alcohol.

Alcohol - What Should a Bride be Doing on the Big Day?

Yes, I know, sipping a lovely Mimosa or a glass of icy champagne is delicious to have while all the getting-ready is going on. I would caution against that; you really don’t want to be stumbling up the aisle and slurring your vows. If you must, then restrict you and your bridesmaids to only two drinks and well-spaced.

Emergency kit for the bride.

Things do happen, just be sure to have this on hand. Ask your chief bridesmaid to get it together and hold on to it. We’ve put together a list of what you should have in your kit.

Safety pins and bobby pins that are closest to your hair color. They are always handy for stray hairs. A small sewing kit and scissors for emergency tears or hem issues. Band-aids, dental floss, gel or hairspray and deodorant, all for obvious reasons. Nail polish and remover in case there are issues with your nails.

Toothbrush, toothpaste and breath mints to keep you minty-fresh throughout the day. Anti-static spray to keep the dress from sticking to your legs or stockings. Portable phone charger to keep your phone charged. Anti-blister stick in case your shoes are rubbing painfully.

Make sure you take your kit with you on honeymoon, you can put the kit in your toiletry case. You never know what you may need in an emergency.

This is your day, you’re in love and getting married! Take a deep calming breath and enjoy everything.

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How to Plan a Wedding on a Budget

Make your wedding fabulous without breaking the bank.

Make your wedding fabulous without breaking the bank - How to Plan a Wedding on a Budget

You might be tempted to invite everyone you know on your guest list, don’t. Trim your list down at least three times. Then see if you’re happy with it. Ask family and friends to offer help with skills or talents instead of wedding presents.

What about the reception?

What about the reception - How to Plan a Wedding on a Budget

Find a family-owned restaurant in your community and ask the owners to cater your wedding. And they will almost always go the extra mile to make your wedding special and are often more understanding of your budget restrictions.

Go easy with the flowers.

Keep the flowers simple but elegant. How about a single flower for each bridesmaid and a very small bouquet for the bride? If you know someone with a flower garden, you can actually make your own bouquets the day before.

Make your own invitations.

You can make very classy invitations on your own with a good printer at home. Find a very classic font and simple text. It will look stylish and won’t cost much at all. Or look for sites that also offer cheap wedding invitations you can order from home

Borrow stereo equipment or use your own,

Rather than hiring a DJ, just use your own home stereo equipment, or equipment you borrow from a friend. Put speakers around the dance floor area. See if you have a friend who might want to make a playlist for you.

Stock the bar yourself.

Alcohol is always a big expense at a lot of weddings. Instead of opting for a full open bar, for instance, you can save money offering just beer and wine, or a free cocktail hour followed by a cash bar.

Buy bridesmaids dresses off the rack – and on sale.

Buy bridesmaids dresses off the rack – and on sale. - How to Plan a Wedding on a Budget

If you want to save on bridesmaid dresses, buy dresses on sale. Or instead of buying new dresses, ask every bridesmaid to wear a particular color dress they already own.

Choose affordable wedding rings.

Choose affordable wedding rings - How to Plan a Wedding on a Budget

Wedding bands symbolize your commitment to each other. But they don’t have to cost you a fortune. Titanium, sterling silver, and other materials are less expensive and can be personalized for even deeper meaning.

Plan a simple honeymoon.

A huge, over-the-top honeymoon might sound like something fun to brag about, but it’s far cheaper to stay closer to home.

You could even just hop in the car and spend a week or two touring all of the local sights you’ve never had time to see until now.

Whatever you do, just enjoy this time together.

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Tips and Tricks for a Stress-Free Wedding Day

A good tip to help you is to design a timeline and stick to it.

Ten – Twelve months before the wedding

Decide on a budget and decide how many people you want to come. Set up a wedding file or Pinterest board and choose your bridesmaids. Choose and book the venues. Decide who will officiate and now start working on the guest list.

Eight months

Research and book a photographer/videographer then find and hire the DJ or a band. Decide on your dress – are you going to have it designed and made for you? Off the shelf? Off the internet? If you go the internet route, find what you like and order it now. Select and book caterers and start thinking about the wedding cake.

Six months

Buy, or have the bridesmaids dresses made. Invitations to be designed and send out ‘save the date’ notices to your guest list. Meet the wedding cake makers, check their portfolios and social media pages and book the person you selected without delay.

Book the person/s who is going to do the flowers and think about what types of flowers you’ll want for the ceremony and for the reception.

If you’re buying your wedding dress from an internet site, it should have arrived by now, if it’s not what you ordered send it back and make another plan. If it is what you were expecting, it may need alterations. Find someone reliable to do them.

Four – Five months

If you’re going to have a rehearsal, book a venue. Decide who is coming and who is paying for this. Confirm the photographer and if you budget can allow this, book him or her to come to the rehearsal for a couple of hours or so.

Meet with the caterers and decide on the menus and decide on what will go into the gift bags for the guests. Find out from your friends with children if the children will also be attending. Try and get answers on how many will be coming (and what ages).

Three months

Finalize adult and children’s menus and get the invitations printed. Book childminders and organize a play section for the children at the reception venue. Purchase the guest gifts and bags and then delegate the packing of them.

Two months.

Send out the invitations. Fittings for your wedding dress and your bridesmaids’ dresses should be happening now. Be sure to check on the groom’s suit, and the groomsmen’s attire.

One month

Final dress fittings and the groom and groomsmen suit fittings. Confirm make-up and hair bookings and don’t forget to get the marriage license. Keep a list of the RSVPs. Email friends who haven’t RSVP’d and give them a prod to answer.

One week

If you’ve gone the wedding planner route – sit down with him/her and go over the plan.

Finalize the number of guests expected and send the list to the caterers.

Arrange to have the wedding cake picked up and then plan what the day of the wedding will be for you. Who will be helping you get dressed and calming your nerves?

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