Uncommon Tips for a Successful Wedding

The internet is full of pages with wedding tips. So why would you read this one? Because we looked for a few things that haven’t been said, and a few things that can make your reception the most memorable ever. The success of any event is in the details. Here are a few often-overlooked details that can make the difference between success and disaster:

• Never take your sister shopping for your wedding gown. No matter what you pick, she’ll hate it. Do take your Mom. You will be surprised at how similar your tastes will be! Don’t take your groom, even if you feel you are being modern or trendy by including him. Guys have the worst taste in gowns. They will always pick whatever shows the most skin.



• Never choose a chocolate cake for the bottom layer of your wedding cake. The bottom layer is the one you cut for the feeding ceremony at the reception. Do you really want to have stains on your gown and teeth when everyone is snapping pictures?



• When comparing the cost of an indoor wedding with an outdoor wedding, factor in the tent. Always rent a tent for an outdoor wedding. Sure, it will cost a couple of thousand more, but why risk ruining the most important day of your life. Have you ever seen a wedding ruined by rain? We have. It isn’t just the ceremony that gets ruined. It’s the cake, the gowns, and the pictures. There’s just too much to lose if it rains!



• Get the groom involved in planning and shopping (except for the gown), even if you don’t think much of his taste.



• Never go to the cake tasting without some of the following: the groom, the groom’s parents, your parents, your best friend, maid of honor. On the other hand never, ever take children to a cake tasting. You are picking cake flavors for adults. Children just gobble up all the cake, making it difficult for the adults to choose between different flavors.



• You and your mother will disagree about something. Tactfully make sure your mother understands that this is your wedding. Wherever possible give in on some small detail if it makes her happy. Most mothers will give in on major points.



• If your aunt or someone else offers to prepare your wedding cake you are in trouble, even if she “has made wedding cakes in the past”. Creating and displaying a cake is a job for an experienced professional, not your Aunt Matilda. You must get out of this potential disaster without offending. The best way is to suggest that you want your aunt (or whoever) to enjoy the ceremony and not have to work. If she persists, suggest that she prepare a smaller cake for the rehearsal dinner, or maybe a groom’s cake.



• Never have your wedding gown dry-cleaned before the wedding. We have seen buttons melted off and fabulous gowns ruined. Small stains can be removed by hand. Ask anyone who does alterations for advice.



• Don’t try to do everything yourself. For a large wedding, delegate the work to individuals or teams, and then support them in getting the work done with follow-up calls to see how things are going. Never assume anything and double-check everything. Have someone in charge of a backup plan. What if the florist doesn’t show? Do you have a friend who can run to the local Sam’s club for flowers? What if it rains? Do you have big umbrellas to get from the church to the car?



• The wedding gown is one of the biggest purchases of a wedding. Choose a reputable salon and never buy your gown on the internet. Most of the big gown manufacturers have warnings on their websites about counterfeit gowns that fall apart before the wedding day. If you buy in a shop, you can even call the manufacturer of that gown to make sure the shop is a legitimate dealer for that gown company. A reputable bridal salon is the best place to get advice about what length of gown, train, and veil is right for the venue. Don’t take the advice of friends on this important matter!



• On the other hand, the internet is a great place to buy accessories and smaller things for your wedding. Take advantage of all the tiara, veil, and party favor sites. They don't have to be ordered months in advance and they don't have to fit!



• Finally, remember that everything will not go as planned. At least one thing goes wrong in every wedding, so don’t obsess about it and just enjoy the day.