Do's and Don'ts for Brides

I was going to write my own post on Do's and Don'ts for Brides but came across this great list posted by WeddingSolutions.com via WeddingSpace.com and thought I would forward on to you.

Your wedding will last only a few hours but will likely take several months to plan. That is why it is so important to enjoy the complete wedding planning process. This is a time to get excited, to fall even more deeply in love with each other, to learn more about each other and how to give and take. If you can handle your wedding planning with your fiancé and parents, you can handle anything! Here is a list of do's and don'ts when planning your special day. If you follow these suggestions, your wedding planning and your wedding day will be much more enjoyable!


DO'S
• Hire a professional wedding consujavascript:void(0)ltant.

• Maintain a sense of humor.

•Maintain open communication with your fiancé and with both sets of parents, especially if they are financing the wedding.

• Be receptive to your parents' ideas, especially if they are financing the wedding.

• Be flexible and keep your overall budget in mind.

• Maintain a regular routine of exercise and eat a well-balanced diet.

• Buy the Indispensable Groom's Guide, published by Wedding Solutions Publishing, and give it to your fiancé.

• Buy the Wedding Party Responsibility Cards, published by Wedding Solutions Publishing, and give a card to each member of your wedding party.

• Register for gifts; consider a price range that your guests can afford.

• Break-in your shoes well before your wedding day.

• Practice with makeup and various hairstyles for your wedding day.

• Check recent references for all of your service providers.

• Get everything in writing with your service providers.

• Assign your guests to tables and group them together by age, interests, acquaintances, etc.

• Consider drawing-up a prenuptial agreement and a will.

• Send thank-you notes as soon as you receive gifts.

• Give a rose to each of your mothers as you walk down the aisle during the recessional.

• Try to spend some time with each of your guests and personally thank them for coming to your wedding.

• Encourage the bride's parents to introduce their family and friends to the family and friends of the groom's family, and vice-versa.

• Toast both sets of parents at the rehearsal dinner and/or at the reception. Thank them for everything they have done for you and for giving you a beautiful wedding.

• Eat well at the reception, especially if you will be drinking alcohol.

• Keep a smile on your face; there will be many photographs taken of both of you.

• Expect things to go wrong on your wedding day. Most likely something will go wrong, and no one will notice it but yourself. Relax and don't let it bother you.

• Preserve the top tier of your wedding cake for your first year anniversary.

• Send a special gift to both sets of parents, such as a small album containing the best photographs of the wedding. Personalize this gift by having it engraved with your names and the date of your wedding.

DON'TS

• Don't get involved in other activities; you will be very busy planning your wedding.

• Don't make any major decisions without discussing it openly with your fiancé.

• Don't be controlling. Be open to other people's ideas.

• Don't overspend your budget; this can be extremely stressful.

• Don't wait until the last minute to hire your service providers. The good ones get booked months in advance.

• Don't try to make everyone happy; it is impossible and will only make your wedding planning more difficult.

• Don't try to impress your friends.

• Don't invite old boyfriends or girlfriends to your wedding, unless both you and your fiancé are friendly with them; you don't want to make anybody uncomfortable.

• Don't try to do "everything." Delegate responsibilities to your fiancé, your parents, and to members of your wedding party.

• Don't rely on friends or family to photograph or videotape your wedding. Hire professionals!

• Don't assume that members of your wedding party know what to do. Give them direction with your Wedding Party Timeline and the Wedding Party Responsibility Cards, available at most major bookstores.

• Don't assume your service providers know what to do. Give each of them a copy of your detailed Service Provider Timeline.

• Don't schedule your bachelor party the night before the wedding. You don't want to have a hangover on your special day!

• Don't arrive late at the ceremony!

• Don't drink too much during the reception; you don't want to make a fool of yourself on your most special day!

• Don't flirt with members of the opposite sex.

• Don't allow your guests to drive drunk after the reception; you may be held responsible.

• Don't rub cake in the face of your spouse during the cake-cutting ceremony; your spouse might not appreciate it!

• Don't overeat; this may upset your stomach or make you sleepy.

• Don't leave your reception without saying good-bye to your family and friends.

• Don't drive if you have had too much to drink!