Whether you are planning a wedding for the first time or whether this is your second time to the altar, there’s a lot to do and a lot to plan. Planning a wedding can be overwhelming and hectic but it can also be fun and exciting. The following are some tips and tricks to help make the planning process a little less daunting and a lot more enjoyable.

1. HIRE A WEDDING PLANNER
Whether you would like to plan the entire wedding yourself or whether you need help and guidance during the planning stages, hire a Wedding Planner to assist you. It will be the best money you ever spend. So many couples think they can do all the planning themselves, and that may be true, but on the day of the wedding you need to have a professional present who can take care of all the details. Having a wedding planner on the day of your wedding will alleviate a lot of stress. Not only will she guide you through the day but they will be the liaison between you and everyone else involved in the wedding. 

2. PLAN IN ADVANCE
Try to keep the morning of the wedding clear. All preparations for the wedding, other than hair and make-up, should be done in advance. Manicure, pedicure, hair color and waxing should all be done prior to the wedding, not on the morning of the wedding. Your wedding day will go by faster than you can imagine. If you try to plan too much for the morning of the wedding, you won’t have time to sit back and take it all in.  

3. HAIR & MAKEUP
Whether you are getting your hair and makeup done professionally or doing it yourself, it’s important to add a buffer and allow for extra time. It’s easy to fall behind schedule early on in the day. That’s ok. Allow yourself at least 30 minutes from the time you finish hair and make up to the start of photos. This will allow you time to get dressed and maybe even grab a nibble or a drink. 

4. ASSIGN A PHOTO DESIGNATOR
It’s important to advise your family and friends of their designated photo times. Make sure they know where to be and when so that on your wedding day you are not wasting time during the cocktail hour trying to gather everyone for photos. Consider designating someone ahead of time, perhaps a family member or close friend who is familiar with everyone, to gather the necessary people for photos. 

5. BUSTLING YOUR DRESS
Make sure someone knows how to bustle your dress. Have your mom, friend or bridesmaid go with you to a fitting to learn how to bustle the train. Make sure that whoever goes with you to your fitting actually tries to bustle the dress themselves, not just watch how someone else does it. Watching how to do it is easy but actually doing it can be tricky so make sure they practice. Don’t leave it to the day of the wedding to figure out.

6. SEATING CARDS
The traditional seating card is great but not for an outdoor wedding. If you’re having an outdoor reception and you plan to assign seating, avoid the simple trifold card. Why? Just imagine a bunch of seating cards being blown off the table by the wind. Instead, consider using a seating chart, chalkboard or mirror. If you do end up using seating cards, make sure you alphabetize them in advance. There is nothing worse than scrambling to put two hundred seating cards in alphabetical order just hours before the guests are to arrive. 

7. RSVP CARDS
RSVP by e-mail has become widely popular but many people still like the traditional reply card. If you choose to go with a reply card, don’t forget to number the back of the card, not the envelope. The number on the back of the reply card should correspond with the number of each guest on your guest list. This will not only help you figure out which cards might be missing but it will also help you decipher the difficult-to-read responses. 

8. DON’T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF
No wedding is ever perfect. Things happen. Be prepared and know that you can’t control everything. Seating cards will go missing, photos will run behind schedule, ceremony start time might be delayed, the flower girl may refuse to walk down the aisle, or you may have forgotten the marriage license at home. So what? Life happens. What matters is your marriage. Stay focused and know what’s important. You are marrying the love of your life and about to embark on the greatest journey of your life.  Relax and enjoy the ride!

Raquel Sananes Grad is the Principal Event & Wedding Planner of RSG Events. For a worry-free affair and all your event planning needs, contact Raquel. 416-398-0217 or raquel@rsgevents.ca