Photo Credit: Michael Anthony Photography
Hours on Pinterest. Stacks of glossy bridal magazines. Tried-and-true advice from your BFFs. #WeddingDecor becoming your surrogate BFF on instagram. Let’s be real — there’s no shortage of places to look when it comes to getting inspiration for your nuptials. But who better to scoop up stellar info and insight than wedding planners themselves? We tapped top wedding planners to spill their favorite nuggets of wisdom they wish they knew for their own special day.
1. Don’t go overboard on DIY projects.
“Try to limit the number of DIY projects you take on for your own wedding. While I certainly realize that doing things yourself can help to save costs, and every bride has good intentions when it comes to this, I also think we forget just how much work goes into them!” offers Christina Saldaña, Senior Manager, Wedding Specialist at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island in Amelia Island, Florida. “There is so much to do the weeks leading up to your wedding day, and the little projects simply become a burden. If you are a crafty person and truly want to add your own personal touch, by all means, you should. However, I would choose one or two thoughtful and impactful touches and leave the rest for others to take care of for you. Weigh out the options and costs to having someone else do your welcome bags or favors, and if it is reasonably priced, let them do it for you.”
2. Remember your guest list when considering venues.
A simple reminder, but it's very important to keep this in mind as you narrow down your venue selection process: “When looking at your guest list, make sure that your venue is the right fit for the number of people you are inviting. We chose a wedding venue that relied on only a certain amount of RSVPs; however, we had more RSVPs than expected,” shares David M. Handy, Preferred Planner, at The Nantucket Hotel + Resort in Nantucket, Massachusetts. Need some more help deciding on the perfect place to tie the knot? Here are 35 tips for choosing your perfect wedding venue.
3. Give family members a card to help organize photo-taking.
Make family photos less stressful with this smart tip: “For your family photos, create a ‘card’ for your [friends and] family members that you would like to have in your photos,” advises Melissa Woodley, Director of Events at Andaz Maui in Wailea, Hawaii. “There tends to be confusion about who you would like to have in your pictures, and if you are able to give them a small card (business card size) or token to let them know you would like them to stay around for pictures, it helps your photographer organize your family photos more quickly and lets your guests get to your cocktail reception sooner!”
4. Consider hiring a videographer.
It may seem like a splurge or unnecessary, but it could very well be worth it. “Being recently married just two years ago, planning our wedding was fun and easy. I work on multiple weddings every weekend, so what's the big deal?” jokes Enza Anastasi Sorbara, Event Designer at Enza Events. “The one thing that still bugs me today was thinking that video wasn't ‘that important.’ If I could give brides one piece of advice, [it would be to] hire a great videographer. They're going to capture emotions, funny moments, and record loved ones that may not be in your life one day.”
5. If you’re having a destination wedding, think local.
“It's amazing to explore the local traditions and culture and incorporate it into the wedding events, such as local cuisine, florals, or décor when having a destination wedding,” offer Erendira Carrillo, Manager, Weddings and Nancy Garcia at Hilton Los Cabos in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. “For example, peonies and hydrangeas are very popular bridal bouquet options, but these flowers need to be imported to Mexico and cost brides much more than traditional flowers, such as dahlias.”
“It is really helpful when doing a destination wedding to have all your events in the same resort to keep track of guests, like your welcome party, rehearsal dinner, and wedding reception,” advise Carrillo and Garcia. “This saves money on transportation and lots of craziness on the logistics of coordinating everyone arriving at the same time.” Want to get off the property? See if the resort or hotel can work with you to arrange special group excursions to keep things organized and easy for guests.
Next: More Tips from Wedding Planners ►
6. Wear the right shoes, ladies!
No amount of Band-Aids or shoe insoles will cure you from sky-high heels syndrome. “Think about you, your wedding party, and your guests comfort and safety, and provide information for the best footwear for your venue,” shares Michele DeRosa, Senior Conference Services Manager in Colonial Williamsburg in Williamsburg, Virginia. “Brick paths, gardens, vineyards, marble floors play havoc on Christian Louboutin ‘red-soled beauties.’ A cleverly-worded card inside your invitation will help your guests understand your venue’s terrain and help them make the right shoe choice.” Here are a few of our favorite comfortable (and fashionable!) shoes for your wedding day.
7. Don’t suffer from Pinterest-envy.
Or FOMO. Or get too swept up in any social media outlet, for that matter. “Pinterest is fantastic and great for collating ideas. However, avoid disappointment by being realistic and remembering that images are often digitally enhanced or created, so sometimes they are simply unrealistic to achieve,” says Collette Bridgewater, Wedding Planner at Chewton Glen in New Milton, England.
8. Have a backup weather plan.
Always. Even if you’re getting married somewhere with fairly mild weather, it’s super important to know your various options. “All brides before walking down the aisle needs to make sure a back-up plan is available, and the call to change an outdoor event to indoor needs to be at least four hours before the ceremony. This will give the décor team enough time to change venue,” says Monique Perez, Associate Director of Events at Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Beach Resort & Spa in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico.
9. Consider a fake cake.
Really! “Not everyone eats the cake! A great option is using a faux cake for pictures and ordering sheet cake for day of. Its fresher and less expensive,” suggests Natalie Angulo, Associate Director of Events at Hyatt Regency New Orleans in New Orleans, Louisiana.
10. Spend time making sure you pick a great photographer.
This can be achieved at any budget, and it's of paramount importance to pick a photographer that will complement you and your partner’s personal style. “It doesn’t matter if you have a budget-friendly or extravagant wedding; picking the best photographer is the utmost important thing,” says Alain Velázquez Meléndez, Romance Manager & Weddings Coordinator at Paradisus Playa del Carmen in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. “Letting the photographer know exactly what style you are going for can help a good photographer make [any wedding look good.]”
Next: More Tips from Wedding Planners ►
11. Ignore any ‘Debbie downers.’
Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. “Everyone will have an opinion about your wedding day. Ignore every negative comment or backhanded compliment. It is your wedding, not theirs. Don’t let haters spoil your beautiful memories of your perfect day,” Rosanna Craig-Sample and Jacqueline Powell, Wedding Managers at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.
12. Delegate!
Don’t be shy, now is the time to speak up when you need help. “Assign tasks to your bridal party, family, and friends. You do not have to take it all on yourself,” offer Emily DiBello and Molly Emond, Event Managers at Castle Hill Inn in Newport, Rhode Island. “Ask them to help you with favors, gift bags, amenity baskets, escort cards, etc. Alphabetize your escort cards by last name; organize place cards by table number!”
13. Do a sound check.
Is this thing on? Technical difficulties! Phrases like that should be avoided on your day of nuptial bliss. "Be certain that the sound system is working accurately so that you do not struggle to be heard,” says Kathy Marchenese, Wedding Planner at the Inn at Glenora Wine Cellars in the Finger Lakes Region of New York.
14. Make sure you consider hidden costs.
“I wish I knew that the gratuity was taxable!” laments Kerstin Famiglio, Sales Admin at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans. Always review all costs with your vendor and be sure to inquire if a gratuity will be included, and if so, what percent of the fee it will be.
15. Beware of ‘friendors.’
In addition to friends, also think carefully before hiring family members to provide services for your wedding. “Those 'friendors' might not be the best vendor fit for your own personal celebration. When planning your own celebration, hire vendors that best complement the style of wedding that best complements the two of you!” warns Lydia Redmond, director of weddings at Ritz-Carlton, Naples in Naples, Florida.
Next: More Tips from Wedding Planners ►
16. Let go.
“Things will go wrong, just enjoy your day. Five years from now, you won’t care that your uncle was late or remember that the DJ pronounced your maid of honor's name wrong. Take it all in stride and appreciate every crazy moment,” counsel Craig-Sample and Powell oh-so-wisely.
17. Spend some time thinking about lighting.
True and truer: Lighting can transform you wedding venue, and brides-to-be often overlook giving it a ton of thought. “Lighting is something that always goes a long way if you are limited on décor budget,” offers Angulo.
18. Code your RSVP cards for easy tracking.
This simple but brilliant tip can save you hours of time and more than a few awkward phone calls. “I listened to Pinterest and numbered my RSVPs, which came in handy! I had several that were either blank or filled out but no name,” says Famiglio.
19. Enjoy all wedding-related appointments.
“Make all of your wedding appointments fun, from visiting the venue, buying the dress and tasting the cake. Include your bridal party and parents as much as possible,” advises Sandra Flavin, Wedding & Events Manager of Adare Manor Castle & Golf Resort, in Adare Village, Ireland.
20. When in doubt, opt for simple décor.
“If I could do it over again I would make my décor as simple as possible with many vases and floating candles. It looks very romantic, and I would have saved a lot of money for my honeymoon. Flowers are very expensive and only last 24 hours,” says Perez.
Next: More Tips from Wedding Planners ►
21. Worried about your lipstick fading? Hello, lip stain.
“[I wish I] bought a lip stain instead of lipstick! There is no time to re-apply throughout the event,” says Sandy Howe, on-site Wedding Coordinator at The Highland Dallas in Dallas, Texas.
22. Have a game plan for your belongings.
This is a must-do: “In the excitement of the day, you can forget that you may need your wallet, phone or personal items at some point. Give someone the important task of packing up you and your partner’s personal items and keeping them for you. You want to end your special day in wedded bliss… not trying to locate your wallet,” share Craig-Sample and Powell.
23. Make your bridal suite a sanctuary of calm.
“I would suggest that the bridal suite be a place for the bride to have a moment of privacy and serenity before her big day. Often, the bridal suite is filled with her bridesmaids getting hair and makeup done or other pre-wedding preparation, which can lead to more stress and anxiety prior to the ceremony.” says Kristina Walstatter, Director of Catering Sales at The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach and The Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour, Miami in Florida.
24. Always attempt to assign tables for your guests, whether is it plated or buffet.
“I think many brides think this will be too much work and they don’t want headache of worrying about a seating chart, but it is time well-spent and ultimately can save you money — plus, it makes your guests feel special,” shares Saldaña. “If you choose not to assign tables to your guests, they find themselves walking around lost, wondering where they should sit, who they should sit with, and the whole process takes longer to get your guests seated and on to the other events you have planned for the evening. You will also likely need to have extra tables, to accommodate those that can’t find seats together anywhere else. When you take the time to assign tables (not necessarily seats at the table), you can purposely place guests together that you would like, make them feel as though you thought of them, and also set your event for the correct number of guests, saving you money on possible rented linens, chairs and centerpieces.” Behold: Your complete seating arrangement guide.
25. Be present in each moment.
We’re saving this friendly urging to savor the day for last: “The wedding day goes by so quickly and brides always comment on this the day after,” comments Flavin. “If you are well organized take at least three to five days before the wedding to start enjoying the build-up. On the day take time out for you and your husband at least 20 minutes — I usually recommend the best time to do this is while the hotel is taking the dinner order.”