how to plan a wedding 20 tips you hadn't thought of

1. Plan Ahead – But on the Wedding Day let everything go, Eat, Drink and Be Merry, don’t worry about the little things that may go wrong like the cake knife going missing etc. No more planning.

2. Select an ideal venue for your wedding – Some venue’s may have noise restrictions, time constraints, they might have booked another event in the ballroom right next to yours. If you want the music loud select a venue that has no noise restrictions/sound ordinances and isn’t right next to another party where you hear their music and they hear yours.

3. Keep the photo booth and bar in the same area/room as the dinner and dance floor – The party goes where ever the bride and groom go so if the bar is outside and the photo booth is outside the party would follow the bride and groom to the bar/photobooth, the crowd gets spread out.

4. Use a wedding app or hashtag – Creating a wedding hashtag can make it easier to see all the photos from your wedding.

5. Don’t make guests wait – try to create the timeline where guests aren’t waiting more than 10-15 minutes for each event to keep the energy up.

6. Greet Each Guest – It’s important to connect with your guests, whether it is a quick greeting over a cocktail, at their table and on the dance floor.

7. Splurge on the Open Bar – While open bars can be pricey, there are ways to make it work on any budget. Consider offering just beer and wine or a few cocktail options if you need to cut back, but don’t ask family and friends to open their wallets.

8. Have a Signature Cocktail – Create one or two custom cocktails selected by you and the groom to add a personal touch. It can also save you money at the bar. Try to select a tasty drink for the ladies and a manly drink for the gentlemen.

9. Don’t plan too many events during the reception – Most wedding receptions have traditional events that must take place, the entrance, first dance, parent dance, toasts, cake cutting, bouquet and garter toss and exit. Do not add too many other events that will interrupt dance time.

10. Create a DIY Bar – Whether it’s an outdoor cigar bar, mashed potato bar, a build-your-own-biscuits bar during cocktail hour, or a sundae bar at dessert, your guests will love making (and eating!) their own treats.

11. Make sure your entertainment is right on the dance floor, not in a corner but definitely close to the dance floor. Of course, the entertainment is not the main focus of the day, but your guests will respond better if they can interact with the band or DJ.

12. Make sure your feet are comfortable. Every bride wants to have stunning shoes on the wedding day. Usually the most stunning shoes have a three inch heal and straps or a skinny toe. They look great for the ceremony and beautiful in photographs, but they don’t do well on the dance floor. Make sure to bring some flat shoes, sneakers or flip flops to give your feet a break.

13. Hire A Day Of Wedding Coordinator – One of best ways to ease the stress and to help make your wedding run smoothly is to have a day of wedding coordinator. He or she would be able to help with making sure everything happens on time, on point and in style.

14. Skip Traditions That Don’t Fit Your Style – Some brides don’t want to toss the bouquet or the garter, while others would prefer not to wait until the ceremony for their first look. If you’re a girl who just can’t image partaking in one of these traditions, don’t do it! It’s your wedding; you can skip what you want to.

15. Eat, Drink and be Merry! Your guests will take their cues from you. If you are eating, dancing and enjoying yourselves, your guests will too. When I see a packed dance floor, typically the bride and groom are right in the center of the crowd.

16. Serve Late-Night Snacks – Yes, you’re serving dinner and dessert, but those are typically devoured hours before the reception actually ends. And with couples extending their parties later and later, it’s likely that more than just a few of your guests will be thinking of a tasty late-night snack. Book a Taco Man, In-N-Out Truck, Food Truck or have your caterer bring out hand-held options like sliders and fries, mini grilled cheese, or coffee and donuts about an hour before the reception ends to revive revelers.

17. Give a Favor People Will Use – Trust us, people don’t want a framed photo of you and your new husband. If you’re going to spend the money on favors, select something that your guests won’t leave on the table. Mini bottles of bubbly, a yummy snack like cookies or popcorn, a treat they can enjoy once back at home like jam or syrup or a custom wedding mix CD by DJ Wrex are all crowd-pleasers.

18. Have a Photo Booth – Not only is a photo booth a fun activity for your reception, it’s also a great alternative for your guestbook or favor. The options are literally endless, but we love a great selection of props for your buddies to play with.

19. Stay together with your new husband/wife – You want to enjoy your special day with your special someone as much as possible.

20. Make a Memorable Exit – No one wants your wedding night to end, but since it has to, go out on a high note. Do a fun and festive farewell, like a firework show, sparkler exit, light stick or confetti send-off! Your guests will love it, and it will make for some amazing photos.