If you have never planned a wedding, you may quickly feel that the process is overwhelming at best, and maddening at worst. It may not even matter if you are planning the event for yourself or for a dear friend. The following advice will make it easier for you to create a memorable wedding that will come off without any snags.

Wedding Gown

One way you can cut hundreds of dollars from your wedding budget is by purchasing your wedding gown online. However, make sure you do this early enough that there is time to make any needed alteration to the gown. You want to make sure that you think about other expenses that you might not commonly think of, like having the wedding gown altered, which can cost extra money. Be sure to work the additional cost for alterations into your overall budget.

Of course, the focus of your wedding should be on the person whom you plan to marry. This lifelong decision should not be rushed. Think hard about this person and what things in your life you can’t do without, as well as the things that will drive you up the wall.

Take a long time to write your vows, as this is something that is very important towards your husband or wife. Keep in mind that your marriage is a strong bond between two parties that must both compromise and sacrifice. Express your love for the other person in your vows.

If you want to dance during the reception, make sure there is enough room! If you want to dance at your wedding, make sure you have the room to do so, and if you do not, simply move some of the furniture out of the way and shake your tail feather!

Instead of traditional floral bouquets, brides can adorn their bouquet with diamonds, rhinestones or other gems. This can be done with the addition of adhesive or thermally attached crystals, smaller pieces of costume jewelry and maybe even a cherished heirloom. To avoid clashes with other parts of the bride’s wardrobe, ensure that the size, color, and cut of the stones are consistent.

This person should be able to tote around all of your things for you. They may be able to help you as you gather the family for a group shot.

If you are hosting a destination wedding, your guests may appreciate receiving a basket of vacation goodies in their room on their arrival. Have items in them like disposable cameras, hats, sunglasses and tourist maps of the exciting places that they can visit. Providing a restaurant guide will fill your guests in on all of the best places to eat in the area.

A midday reception may be the perfect way to cut costs at your wedding. Alcohol consumption will be less during a day reception, which could help to reduce costs. Lunch receptions are usually cheaper than dinner ones, and you can use this to either get better food or apply funds towards another aspect of the wedding festivities.

A fun way to add a personal touch to your wedding is to ask a friend or family member to officiate the ceremony. While having someone special officiate makes the ceremony truly yours, it also has the additional perk of allowing you to redirect the money for something else, such as flowers. Check your local laws to ensure that this does allow you to have a legally binding marital union, some locations need you to use an official ordained in a church.

If the couple getting married has a strong love for travel, try to incorporate design elements that reflect this in the planning and decoration process. Place cards or invitations can be designed in the style of a bus ticket or postcard. A vintage leather suitcase can be propped open to display wedding programs, family photos, or favors.

After reading the above tips, your understanding of how to plan and host a wedding successfully should have increased, and you can now adapt and expand your new found knowledge to plan a personal wedding day. These tips can help reduce your stress for planning a memorable wedding for the groom and bride.