Tips for a Bride to Be:

I meant to do this post a LONG time ago, but never got around to it, til NOW! :)

From experience from my own, my sister's, and cousin's I really feel like I can share some helpful Wedding tips!

Wedding Tips Part I:

Tip1: Start with a Wedding Binder
-You'll have everything in one place.
-Less likely to loose something.
-Holds inspirational photos, clippings, or websites.
-Has a place for information for vendors/bridesmaids/groomsman and phone numbers!

Tip 2: Inspiration
- Look through magazines (Tear out or make copies of things you like)
- Go to The Knot.com, a great place for ideas (print out images you like)
The inspiration goes for Everything! Cut or print out dresses, flowers, tuxes, tables, cake, chairs, food, anything and everything you would like to see at your wedding!....And put Inspirational clippings in your BINDER!

I showed just about EVERY vendor pictures of what I wanted, with a few tweaks.
It helps get your point across, which is important because you want to make sure you are on the same page as your vendor is and vice versa.

Tip 3: Information
-Get all vendors information - Name, Address, Email, Telephone (and 2nd Telephone#)
-Compile a list of vendors to give to your maid or matron of honor, your wedding coordinator, and someone you trust but that is not in the wedding party .
Giving this list of information out a couple of days/weeks before the wedding will help insure - you the bride will not be rustling through your binder on your wedding day. Also your Maid of Honor or Wedding Coordinator can take care of things with out YOU actually having to know what is happening. (Ex: The caterer hasn't shown up and is 30 mins late......one of the chosen people with your list, can call or drive to their business and see if they need help or locate them!)

Tip 4: Reserve
- As soon as you narrow down your venues and vendors...BOOK IT! The sooner the better, photographers and venues book up quickly!
- Go over contracts and information. Make sure the venues don't have any rules you can't abide by, EX: must be catered by the venue facility, or no DJ/ Alcohol allowed. If you can't avoid or work something out, find another venue!
- Also reserve your rentals. Ex: Tents, tables, chairs, linens, silverware, plates, glasses, dance floor etc.

Tip 5: Coordinator
- Hire a Wedding Coordinator, if not for the planning process, just for the Wedding Rehearsal and Wedding Day.
- Things will go over more smoothly for your Coordinator to give directions to your family and friends rather than yourself, especially if you hire a professional.
- I had a great one and would highly recommend booking a coordinator for the wedding and rehearsal.

Tip 6: Quadruple Check
- Absolutely quadruple check your Marriage Certificate!
- True Story: My Husband (then fiance) go to our local civic office to obtain our Marriage Licence. We proceed to fill out the forms, then we return them to the counter. The lady types in the information, prints a sample off and tells us to look over and verify our information. Our names, address', birth dates, and socials were correct. It wasn't until after our wedding, our Preacher who was signing his name on the certificate points out that my Husband's ethnicity was wrong on the form. I thought, what? we looked over that entire form. Also, not to mention the lady typed it in with my Husband standing there. So just make sure you double check every inch of that form AFTER they print it out! Some information is in fine print.
-Also quadruple check your new information on your new Social Security card and Driver's License. My maiden name consists of names that can all be First, Middle, and Last names. During my experience changing my name on my Driver's License, I had to correct the lady three times in effort to get the correct name on my new driver's license. Quadruple Check! :)


That's all of Wedding Tips Part I !