All a wedding really needs is a minister, a bride, a groom, and love. All of the other things, while they can add to the experience of the overall day, are added stresses and distractions. Follow the advice in this article, so you can focus on what is truly important on your wedding day.

Remember to consider how you would like the alcohol at your reception served, and how much it will cost. Keeping an open bar doesn’t come cheap, but keeping it open for an extended time can be even more costly. Ask the venue you’ve chosen for the reception which options they have available to you, and what the cost would be for each.

If you’re doing your own catering, Costco is a place that can save you a lot on wedding food. Shopping wholesale when it comes to food helps you get the necessary items at a much cheaper cost. See if your friends can chip in for food costs.

The pictures you will have taken on your wedding day are meant to be a memento of your happy day for a lifetime. Hire a professional to take your photographs even if it costs a little more as you’ll be able to rely on the fact that your entire day will be captured properly.

Even if your gut tells you otherwise, you should never commit to a wedding photographer without considering several other options. Having a photographer take pictures you do not like would be a shame. To identify good local photographers, solicit advice and referrals from family and close friends.

Instead of choosing an expensive, towering wedding cake, choose several tiers of mini tarts or decadent cupcakes. These arrangements are typically much cheaper and convenient. Guests are able to take a cupcake when they leave, if you put them in a fancy take-out container.

If you have a destination wedding, offer a basket full of goodies delivered to guests in their rooms. Include gifts that are sure to be useful while on location at the wedding, like sunglasses, tourist maps, disposable cameras, hats, and pamphlets that detail all of the best attractions in the local area. A local restaurant guide is also a great thing to include in the basket because it can help them to find great places to eat.

Always guarantee full control of a lighting system at the venue, particularly the ability to dim or brighten the output. While this may appear trivial, you want to have this option, perhaps for your first dance, then brighter for the remainder of your ceremony. Before committing to the venue, ask them about this.

To have a good wedding, you really only need to have a few certain elements. A lot of things that you may think are important to include in your wedding are actually optional. These things can be a nice addition, but they also add unnecessary stress that takes focus away from happiness this day entails. When you follow the guidelines set forth here, you can create a wedding day that everyone can enjoy.