Is the prospect of planning a wedding overwhelming you? Do you just want to head over to Vegas and get married in one of those drive-through chapels? Wedding planning may bring a lot of stress, but you can do many things to make planning easier. Here are some ideas to bring the joy back to your wedding.

Before your wedding day be sure to practice walking down the aisle multiple times. Practice at your wedding venue, so you can see if the flooring works well with your footwear. This is how you will perfect your flow as you make the big walk.

When you decide who you want to give the speeches during the reception, ask them to read them to you so you know they are appropriate. For example, you would want to eliminate any jokes that apply to a very specific group within your guests in order to avoid anyone feeling excluded and to make sure the speech is well-received by all who attend your wedding.

Avoid starving to get into your dress. Just like an athlete who is training, starving yourself could cause dehydration. You may even faint while saying your vows. Instead, buy a dress with a corset back so you can take it in or out as necessary on the day of your vows.

Tie little decorative items into all the elements of your wedding decor. Whether it is a certain color used, or a special flower or even a special item such as doves, special touches help pull everything all together. Your wedding will be perfect when you add in the small details.

Look at samples of past work before hiring a makeup artist. Is the style pleasing to you? Consider doing a trial run before the big day. Your appearance on your wedding day is important, so you don’t want to regret your decision later.

You have to think about transportation when it comes to your wedding. Try having taxis or limos ready for people that don’t have rides back to the hotel after it ends. In addition, this benefits those who drank alcohol during the festivities.

If you are inviting your family members to your wedding at an exotic location, wee if they want to stay for the honeymoon as well! Everyone can save money by staying longer, as hotels will give you great discounts for longer stays. This will give them a day to remember and a vacation of their dreams, too!

Have a mid-afternoon wedding reception. Three or four o’clock is ideal. Alcohol consumption will be less during a day reception, which could help to reduce costs. What’s more, receptions that feature lunch rather than dinner generally cost less money, so you can funnel the savings into better food or some other part of the wedding.

Silk Flowers

Silk flowers are a great alternative to some of the different types of flowers that you can purchase for your wedding. You can buy your silk flowers well in advance of the wedding whereas fresh flowers have to be selected, arranged and delivered on the wedding day, which can be more stressful and problematic.

If dinner isn’t being served at your reception, you should consider renting comfortable furniture instead of having tables for everyone to sit at. Things like cushy sectional couches, chaises and lounges can provide a great way for your guests to interact. You can group the chairs into separate seating areas at the venue, plus the relaxed setting will flow onto your guest’s mood also.

Your plans for a wedding outside should always include a solid backup plan, in case it rains, or other unforeseen problems occur. It can be as simple as renting tents to accommodate the wedding party and guests, or choose a location where either an indoor or outdoor wedding is possible. Get proper installation of temporary walkways at the outdoor site to make sure muddy conditions do not end up soiling the shoes of the wedding participants or the guests.

Before meeting a wedding planner for the first time, do your homework. Take the time to visualize what your ideal wedding will look like by posting fabric swatches on mood boards, gathering images and inspiration just like professional stylists do. Anything that is special to you, such as items from magazines, can be used to convey your ideas to the planner.

Have your wedding’s theme match with all of the decorations. You’ll want to be sure things are bright, nice looking, and showstopping in the way of flowers to make your wedding a wistful and nostalgic one. Pink peonies and bright daisies are great choices to have at your wedding.

Plan group activities for those who are sharing your special day. Don’t make your loved ones just stand around and wait for the wedding to be over. Plan many different activities, from pie eating contests to bocce. Make your wedding a participatory event for all, and it will be both fun and memorable for everyone.

The groom must always make sure, prior to the wedding, that he has a tuxedo that fits properly. Ask trusted friend or family to give you an honest appraisal of the tuxedo you are considering. You will surely want to look your very best at your wedding and in your wedding photos.

Look at all of the options that you have in regards to flower arrangements. For flower girls, you can use ribbons for a more economical and simply elegant solution to floral wreathes. You can also use silk flowers instead of decorating with real ones. This is a much more cost effective option, and one that will leave you with more money in your pocket. Go one step further, and make the silk flowers pull double duty by using them at the reception too.

Don’t let wedding planning get you down! You may have a lot to worry about, but the advice in this article will make the work you have to do much easier to manage. Soon, you’ll be able to stop stressing about your wedding, and start looking forward to your big day instead.