Wedding is the most important event in one's life but the fact remains that this wedding will be the one which will give you a maximum of stress and a whole lot of sleepless nights.

The reason being that generally wedding is such a grand affair and there are so many aspects to a wedding that it will be impossible to find one such thing which you can leave to others. Yes without doubt you will need the help of others but then since it is your wedding you will have to make the maximum effort and try not to get stressed out.

Here are some of my wedding tips so that you can enjoy the wedding planning process as opposed to having to gloomily do everything.

Timing is of essence so make sure that you start planning the wedding very early and that will mean that start planning the wedding probably a year in advance. This assumes all the more importance if you are having a destination wedding.

Wedding dresses is another thing which will take time especially the wedding dress for the bride. So start searching for a wedding dress as soon as your engagement is done and it will give you sufficient time for searching a good dress and getting the alterations done.

Next make sure that you have sent the save the date cards to all the guests and also you have finalized the guest list.

If you are planning on taking the help of a wedding planner then make sure that the wedding planner is available to you in time. Almost all the good wedding planers have booking well in advance of two years so make sure that you finalize the dates of the wedding based on the availability of the wedding planner.

Then if you are planning on having a wedding at a distant place then try to fly there at least once and see for yourself what kind of hotels are available and even if that place has wedding packages available. That is a must as the destination weddings will generally cost you a lot more. Also an important point to note is that ask for wedding coordinator at the wedding day and talk to him or her on a regular basis regarding all the arrangement to be done.

Arrive at the venue a few days earlier and that way you will be able to take care of any last minute wedding arrangements.

When you are getting married, you want to make sure that you have the right look everywhere. This will include all of the accessories that you wear along with your dress. You want to make sure that you are accentuating all of the body when you are walking down the aisle. You may find that picking the right wedding accessories is not as easy as you may think.

The one thing that you want to do is make sure that you are wearing the right jewelry that makes your dress and you stand out. You will want to choose these items carefully. You have to consider many things. You need to think about the neckline that you have on your dress. There are different necklaces that you will have to choose from, which can be difficult. You want the right style that will fit with the neckline of the dress. You can try on different necklaces with your dress before you go out and find the one that you will wear for your big day.

The earrings are another big part of wearing the right accessories for your wedding day. You want to wear earrings that will go along perfectly with your dress and hair. You want to make sure that you are wearing earrings that will accentuate your face and go along perfectly with your necklace if you are wearing one and the other jewelry that you have on too.

You may want to think about the color of stones that you will want to have in your jewelry. You can choose from many different things. Think if you want to have colored stones, clear, or diamond stones. Some women like to fancier looks to their jewelry when they are walking down the aisle. Others like to have a simpler look to their wedding accessories.

You may also want to see about wearing some jewelry that you may have had passed down to you by a special family member. This would make the day more special and you will have something that meant something to others with you on your special day. This is a great way to use something that has been in the family for many years as well as have something, which means a lot to another person in your family. You will feel blessed to be able to have something so special on your wedding day. You will also be saving some money at the same time.

The shoes that you wear for your wedding day is important as well. You will want to consider a lot for this accessory as well. Think about the height that you want to have for your shoe. You will want to have enough height that you are not too tall for your groom. You want to be eye level or less with your groom on your wedding day. If you are already tall, you do not want to make yourself any taller than he is.

Think about the color that you want your shoes to be. You can choose to have something in the same color as your dress or you may also want to have something that is similar but a shade or two lighter or darker. You can have them encrusted with beads on them or have other decorations that will make your shoes stand out.

Think about the style of shoes that you want to wear for your wedding day. You will be able to choose from strapless, open toed, or closed toed. You may also want to think about the comfort of your shoes. Remember that you are going to be wearing your wedding shoes for a long time and you will have to dance and walk around in them. You want something that will make you feel comfortable and look your best as well.

Houston, we have a problem. No bride wants to hear those words, but people do make mistakes in planning their wedding. Wedding planning mistakes can be costly, stressful and time consuming. Here's some top wedding planning mistakes and how to avoid making them.

Assuming your parents will pick up the cost of the wedding. Today's wedding couples are older and have been on their own for a long while. Mom and Dad are getting ready to retire. Don't expect them to foot the bill on a $30,000 wedding. Before you start planning your wedding, sit down with your parents and ask if they are planning to contribute towards the wedding costs and if so, how much. Don't expect that your parents will pick up the costs of the reception and his parents the alcohol, DJ and flowers. They may not be in any financial position to help you out.

Overspending your budget: You have a budget for a reason. Its the sum of money you have available to spend. With the current state of the economy, it doesn't make sense to overspend and and start your marriage in debt.

Being disorganized. Disorganization will make you crazy and stressed out. Its so easy to buy a wedding planner book or wedding software and keep records of your wedding expenses, guest list and the thousands of details you need at your fingertips.

Letting your guest list get out of control. Most wedding venues have space limits and you'll have budget constraints that will force you to keep your guest list to a target number. Threre will be a certain amount of guests that won't be able to attend, don't assume they won't attend and over invite.

Not hiring professionals. Too many couples in their zeal to cut their costs, will use an uncle to take pictures, a cousin to bake the cake, an aunt to help cook at the reception. A professional will make sure your pictures are well composed, perfectly grouped and the memories of the wedding will endure. The biggest regret I hear after the wedding is that they couple wished that they'd hired professionals to get the job done the way they envisioned.

Not making decisions in a timely manner. There is a certain amount of time it takes to execute a wedding. Wedding pros book up years in advance. Wedding venues book in advance. And it takes 16 to 20 weeks to order a wedding gown. If you don't make a decision, you risk disappointment. The church or the reception hall you wanted will be booked. The photographer is booked. You didn't allow time to get your dream dress. Make a decision, book your vendors and stop shopping. If you don't make a decision, another bride will make it for you.

Continuing to shop after you've purchased something for your wedding. (Just in case you might like something better.) This goes hand in hand with not trusting your decisions. Once you've purchased something, stop shopping, cross it off your list and move on. Trust your instincts Your first impulse is usually the best decision. If you continue to shop, you'll stress yourself and the others around you. Move on!

Trying to trump a friend or a family's wedding. Weddings aren't a competition. They are a joining of two people in marriage. The reception is a party. It is a milestone in your life, but you don't have to outdo your family, friends or friends you only know from the Internet wedding chat boards. Have the wedding YOU can afford.

Allowing wedding stress and wedding planning overtake your life. Wedding planning is stressful and it can take up a good part of your life. But your focus should be on the marriage and not the wedding. When you find yourself becoming stressed and turning into a Bridezilla, take a deep breathe, take a day off wedding planning and do something for yourself. Take the dog for a walk, do some aerobics or Pilates, get a massage, spend quality time with your fiance. And don't talk about the wedding. You'll feel renewed and ready to tackle the next job.

Trying to do everything yourself. In wedding planning, you have to learn to delegate. You can't do everything yourself, nor does anyone expect you do do everything yourself. You need to keep on top of your wedding tasks, but allow others to help you.

Failing to keep in touch with your vendors. You need to contact your vendors periodically to make sure everything is on schedule. Confirm times, dates and check their progress.

Not reading the fine print before you sign the contracts. Ask questions before you sign anything so there aren't any unpleasant surprises later. Make sure you are on the same page before you sign and make your deposits. And then continue to keep in touch with your vendors.

Take time to laugh and enjoy the planning process. Have a happy wedding and marriage.

You surely want beautiful flowers for your wedding day. However, it is important that those gorgeous flowers fit into your budget. You need to figure out ways that you can have exactly the flower settings you want without having to pay a great deal of money. Well, you are in luck as this article will offer you some great budget tips to help you when looking for the perfect flowers for your wedding.

Okay, lets get started. The first thing you need to do is prepare your budget for wedding flowers. Once you have your budget, take a trip to your local florist and let them know what your budget is. Be sure to let the florist know that your budget is firm. This will help you to keep your budget on track.

Try to use flowers for your wedding that are in season. This is one small trick that will help to make the overall price less costly. Try sticking with domestic flowers such as lilacs, lilies or daffodils for your wedding as they are perfect for weddings and are less expensive. Stay away from imported flowers as they usually cost an arm and a leg!

Don't forget to inform the florist that your budget is inclusive of flower delivery and wedding setup. Be weary of additional charges for these items as they are often in the small print of wedding florist contracts. Be sure to get written receipts for all deposits and payments that you have made as this will help you to stay informed and be more in control of the situation.

Instead of your bridesmaids carrying bouquets, why not have them carry a single flower? This adds a touch of class and saves you much money too! Another tip is to take care of as many of the flower arrangements as you can yourself. Let the florist take care of the tedious work such as corsages while you handle the less demanding wedding flower decorations.

Why not plan to have your wedding inside of a beautiful flower garden? You will already have all the beautiful flowers surrounding you and you will save lots of cash in the process. If you decide on a church wedding, keep to smaller flower arrangements. Your goal should be to enhance the beauty of the church, not take away from it. Keep your flower arrangements small, sweet and in good taste. This adds an air of elegance yet can be rather inexpensive..

You may want to have the bridesmaids carrying a single flower instead of a bouquet. You will find that this is a simple yet elegant look that will save you a lot of money. You will find these to be a great look as well as fitting into any budget. You can save money as well by taking care of the flower arrangements yourself. You can have the florists take care of the corsages to save money.

Why not grow your own flowers for your wedding? Garden wildflowers are an excellent choice for your wedding. You can grow wildflowers in just about any area and they can provide a special, unique look for your wedding. If you do decide to go this route, be sure to allow them enough time to grow so they are mature in time for your wedding.

Finally, don't be afraid to ask questions of your florist. Be sure to confirm exactly what everything is going to cost to avoid any unexpected situations. Confirm delivery schedules and allow ample time to approve flower arrangements designs created by your florist. Be sure to set aside extra time when preparing your wedding floral arrangements. After all, its your wedding and your special day!

The food newlyweds prepare for their guests on their wedding reception can make or break the whole celebration. If the menu is made up of forgettable cooking which tastes like cheap take-out, it will only ruin the feel of the wedding in general.

It is always wise to venture towards something memorable and contemporary. Use the power of imagination. Don't be afraid to be daring and feature food that tantalizes the guest list's senses.

1. Comfort Foods

Who says comfort foods can't be a wedding reception menu? Clearly, anyone loves macaroni and cheese. You can also have pizza with gruyere and cheese. Hamburgers that are mini sirloin and having blue cheese are also comfort food staple. These can be served family style. It sets a festive and relaxed mood at the reception. Why do you think they're called 'comfort foods' in the first place?

2. Have a Theme

Most of the time, it's the obsessive compulsive kind of individuals who tie everything together. They base their catering menu on the season and theme of the wedding.

For example, you can have apple-maple glazed chicken and a pumpkin cheesecake for dessert when it's a wedding in fall. You can have lemon grilled salmon with fresh vegetables if it is a summer wedding. You can also have a menu composed of favorite dishes of the family members.

3. Appetizers and Cocktails

Do you want to be different from the usual five course meal? If yes, your wedding will be different from the traditional kind by basing the reception on appetizers and cocktails. This leads to a variety of presentation ideas.

For example, you can serve the drink of your choice at the drink section and serve it with shrimps. Go for the appetizer you wish will be appropriate for you and your significant other. Soon enough, the stimulation of culinary works are flowing because of the eye-catching appetizers and cocktail section.

Conclusion

Just remember that the catering sets the mood for the entire affair. You should also put into consideration the guests at your wedding. What food do they like? You can make the menu original and tasty by not over-spending. Just be mindful of your budget.

When getting ready for weddings, many women think the bigger the event, the bigger the makeup. Well not so. Below is a list of the most common mishaps innocently played out at the hands of excited event-goers.

1. Too much makeup—yes, the wedding is a big celebration but try not to make your face as grand as the excitement. Less is more.

2. Stuck on trends—okay, unless you’ve been asleep for the past few years, you know that glitter is big. But 5 years from now you want to look at photos that have a timeless, classic and neutral face. Don’t date your photos with super shine! Go with matte, neutrals.

3. Makeup that isn’t you—If you never wear a stitch of makeup, don’t walk down the aisle or show up at a party looking like you lost a fight with a Drag Queen. Look like you, only fresher.

4. Look-a-likes—gone are the days when bridesmaids all resemble big matching rosettes atop a cake. Let your wedding party keep their individuality and wear looks that suit them. Don’t give everyone bright purple eye-paint to match the purple dresses. Work with a range of harmonizing colour families.

5. Forcing the unwilling—classic are the Moms of brides and grooms who go “under the brush” to please the bride, only to be upset that lipstick feels funny on their usually bare lips. Don’t force anyone to be made up for your event; you’ll create needless stress for yourself also.

6. Changing routines—too many brides rush out and get facials, tans and teeth whitening a week before the wedding. Skin erupts, gums flare up, and tans can peel off like wallpaper the morning of the nuptials. Stick with your regular skincare, eat well, exercise, have lots of water and sleep, and less caffeine.

7. Forgetting supplies—any makeup artist who tells you your face will last the whole day of your big party with NO touch-ups is selling a dream. You will need blotting papers or powder to control face shine before photos, lipstick to reapply and maybe sealer to prep for all those celebration kisses, a little liner or eye shadow to refresh after tears, and always waterproof mascara.

8. Wrong look—many people take pictures out of magazines and request a look that doesn’t suit them or is too sultry for their Victorian theme (the smokey eye and the pale JLo lip are common requests.) Match your look to the feel of the event and to suit your face.

9. Over-dew!—I haven’t met a bride who didn’t want a “dewey” shining cheek. The challenge is that it can look greasy in photos. Stick with a little highlighting on cheekbones or eyes, but not whole face.

10. Gloss crazy—leave the gloss for calmer events. Big events mean you kiss a lot and dance like mad. You end up with your flying hair stuck to you, and your mouth stuck to everyone else. Keep lips creamy or matte.

Digital cameras offer the amateur photographer a great opportunity in wedding photography. The quality of photos made possible by digital photography is astounding. Though it is a good idea to leave the professional photos to the hired wedding photographer, you can still make the best of your opportunity. After all, when are all your friends and relatives going to again be all dressed up and gathered in one place?

Some Tips:

· Consider your background before snapping your photos. Sometimes amateur photographers focus completely on the subject without taking a look at the negative space behind and around the subject. Is there a lot of clutter? Is there too much activity and distraction that will be included in your picture if you snap and shoot now? Try to find a place where your subjects have calm, unobtrusive backgrounds.

· Be aware of glare from eyeglasses. The glare from eyeglasses can cause a big bright spot in your photo and make your subject unrecognizable, but there is no need to have anyone remove their glasses. All that is needed is just an adjustment. Have the person tilt their head down and then to the side, adjusting until the glare is gone.

· A great time to take your photos is at the reception. The cutting of the wedding cake, the throwing of the wedding bouquet, and uncle Billy cutting a rug are all great moments for taking pictures.

· Make sure that you know the quality of your digital camera flash. There may be range limitations for capturing your subject in dim lighting.

Look for colorful wedding accents to include in your photos. Arrange guest by the sanctuary before leaving for the reception. Include colorful flowers in your photos. Digital cameras produce great, colorful photos so take advantage of the festive wedding décor!

The bride will wear her gown only once and that is during her wedding day. It is thus funny how this piece of clothing can take much of the bride's time and attention, not to mention the wedding budget.

But since your wedding gown is one major factor that can make you look really beautiful during your day, you have to exert every effort to choose the best dress that will enhance your features and your physical appearance.

Here is a guide to some of the most important factors that will help you choose the perfect dress for your wedding.

Invest time in choosing your gown

Unless you don't really care what you are going to wear when you march down the aisle, it would probably take you a long time to decide on which design and length of gown you are going to wear for your wedding. It is best to invest some time in choosing the gown so that you do not feel pressured into choosing one that you do not really like. If you have a long amount of time available for wedding planning then nine months before the day should be fine. Shorter than that period would place you in a rigorous position considering the fittings, changes in your preferences and the sewing process itself.

Cut out photos of gowns which have caught your interest

The bride's choice of dress is usually patterned after the gown of her favorite actress or famous personality. If you are fond of looking at wedding gown designs featured in magazines then cutting out these photos and showing them to your dressmaker would help the latter picture out what you like.

Determine the wedding theme

In most cases, the theme of your event would be the deciding factor when choosing your gown. A formal occasion with all the pomp of a royal affair would often require a floor length gown. However, if you are holding your event outdoors then you can choose a shorter and less formal dress.

Determine your height body type

Are you short or tall? Tall women can get away with floor length wedding gowns. However, shorter brides should opt for dresses with shorter hems to show some legs and enhance their height. On the other hand, your body type will also be a big factor to consider when choosing your gown. An empire waist gown cut just below the breasts can hide an otherwise bulging tummy. On the other hand, loose fitting gowns without structure can make you look fat.

If you want to look your best during your wedding day then be honest with yourself and choose colors, design and fit that would enhance your appearance. There are ways to hide flaws and enhance your best features but make sure you talk to your designer about your want and preferences even before choosing your wedding gown.

Planning a wedding ceremony is a huge and nerve wracking task even for the most calm and collected bride-to-be. In order to maintain sanity while you try to plan every detail of what may just be the most memorable day of your life, you need to focus not just on the details of your wedding, but also on the state of your well-being.

You don't want to get to your perfectly planned wedding day and find out that you are a stressed out mess. So while you are planning, keep in mind the following suggestions that just might help keep a bride calm and cool until the big day.

Tip #1 - Hit the Gym

Keeping up a regular exercise program prior to the ceremony will not only insure that you look stunning in your wedding dress, but will also give you amazing stress relief. A great cardio, pilates or yoga workout is a terrific way to clear your mind and get those creative juices flowing as you work out every detail of the wedding ceremony; from flower arrangements to seating arrangements.

Tip #2 - Relax With Your Favorite Music

A great way to relieve the stress of planning your big event is to listen to music. A terrific way to settle down when you are feeling pressure building up is to play some great music. You might even give yourself the energy to finish up the planning and paperwork regarding invitations if you listen to music that reminds you of those first few dates with your husband-to-be.

Tip #3 - Spoil Yourself at the Spa

Stress does nasty things to the skin. Pamper yourself at the spa with a relaxing facial, and get those hands and feet primped for the big day. A facial will not only make your skin look terrific, it is also an awesome way to relax.

Tip #4 - Make Time for Your Friends

When it feels like preparations are about to make you snap it is probably the perfect time to put a pause on the planning and spend a little time with your friends. Go for coffee, or a glass of wine, or even a chocolate sundae. Spending time catching up and laughing with good friends is an excellent way to relieve stress.

Tip #5 - Consider Canning the Wedding Ceremony and... Eloping!

If all of the planning still has you stressed out and miserable, perhaps a traditional wedding ceremony is not your style. Consider the possibility of canning all of the pomp and circumstance and settling for a much simpler wedding. All that is really required is a bride and groom, a couple of witnesses, and an officiator.

Although eloping takes away the formality, it also eliminates the stress. But regardless of how lavish you decide to make it, remember to spend time mentally preparing yourself for this commitment, and allowing yourself to fully enjoy your wedding day.