Words of Advice for the Traditional Wedding-Planner Beginner!

There is no 'Wedding-Planning for Dummies' instruction guide...from one bride to another - here are my top 6 recommendations for you to follow when decision making regarding your traditional big day!

1. Draw up a rough guest list of 'must be there' people - this will give you a rough idea of the number of guests to attend your wedding, (don't forget that all single or un-married adults count for two as you invite them plus their guest!)....the guest list is the single most important part as all other pieces flow from there. When you've settled on a guest list, run it by your parents and in-laws to see of any other necessary additions on their end!

2. The budget is influenced by the guest list, but shouldn't be the ultimate decsion-maker regarding who you invite. The guests are so essential to your day - don't leave anyone important out if you can't afford to have them there...just think of other alternatives to stay within budget. You can have a perfect, beautiful day on a budget. Come up with an affordable number...don't break the bank as after the day is over you want to enjoy being together instead of worrying about how to pay off wedding debts! There are a lot of little things that you cannot budget for, so leave a reserve amount in your budget for "other wedding expenses".

3. The venue for the day is such an important element as nothing else can be accomplished until you have those items settled. The venue dictates the tone of the wedding...everything from location, (will guests need hotel rooms?), to colour scheme. This all may seem nuts right now, but you'll soon learn how important these details are! The venue can consist of multiple sites as well, so keep distances between these sites in mind, (such as church and reception hall).

4. THINK ABOUT YOUR WEDDING PARTY IN DEPTH! First, tell your spouse not to ask people right away (aside from the obvious siblings) to be in his/her wedding party as their numbers help determine yours (and if they prematurely ask people there's no diplomatic way to retract their role...trust me!). These people will be in your pictures forever and in the memories of your wedding forever...think long and hard about who you want to remember! Think also of friends/family that will be able or willing to help out when you need an extra hand...believe me...you'll need some help!

5. Think about a date! People will ask you constantly when the day is and it can get pretty annoying (although it's sweet that people care!). Think about seasons of choice as the cost of your wedding will fluctuate accordingly. Typically, venues and vendors will have high-season and low-season rates.

6. Don't let anyone influence your decision-making process other than your soon-to-be spouse! The day should reflect the two of you and your personalities...trust me, everyone has an opinion on how your day should look!