Wedding DONT'S

I can guarantee that as you plan your wedding, you'll receive more than enough advice from everyone telling you what to DO. But what about the DONT'S? Well, here are 10 "wedding don'ts" to help you avoid common pitfalls:

1. DON’T create a wedding for others at the expense of your personal desires and responsibilities. A wedding is an event intended to bring people together. But more than anything else, it is about uniting two people together for life. As you begin planning your wedding, try to focus on creating the kind of celebration YOU want, and not one you think other people will expect you to have. Yes, it’s important to consider other people’s feelings. But don't make choices to please others if they will make you unhappy. And definitely don’t spend more than you can afford just to "keep up with the Joneses." When the reception ends... the debt remains. So, don't enter your newlywed life with financial stresses.

2. DON’T invite people just because you think you have to. Simply put: each additional guest means an increase in cost. If you have a specific budget limit, you reduce your ability to spend on other items each time you increase the headcount. For example, more guests can mean fewer flowers or a less extravagant menu. On your wedding day, be surrounded by those who you care about most and not by people that you hardly recognize.

3. DON’T be late. This rule applies to the bride, the groom, and everyone else involved in the wedding. Yes, it's your day. But don't make others miserable. Try to start your wedding on time. If you don’t, everything will run behind schedule, and that can create real problems at your reception location. If locations or vendors end up working later than originally scheduled, you may find unpleasant overtime charges added to your final bill.

4. DON'T worry about things going wrong. Any good event planner will tell you that not everything goes right all the time. This is the real world and “stuff happens.” Keep your sense of humor and a flexible attitude. There’s no point in panicking the morning of the wedding. Minor problems will probably occur and no one will even notice (remember, your guests don't know all of your plans anyway. So they won't know if something went wrong or was missing). If a big problem is looming, there’s probably little that can be done about it at this point. The show must go on, so why worry? It helps to hire a planner so that you can focus on what is really important – vowing to love and be with your spouse forever. Let your wedding coordinator take care of the final details. And you just relax, smile, and enjoy your special day.

5. DON’T forget to send thank-you notes. When you receive a gift from a shower or the wedding, you should send out Thank You notes ASAP after the wedding day. The general guideline is 5 weeks. Make sure the notes are simple but personal.

6. DON’T include things that don’t matter to you. Observing wedding traditions can be nice, but they aren't essential. You don’t have to have a flowergirl and ringbearer (or even adult attendants) if you don't want to. Maybe you’re a bride who finds the garter toss ritual embarrassing...if so, skip it. There's no law that says you can’t walk yourself down the aisle and give yourself away. Create your own traditions!

7. DON’T forget to eat. Famished, fainting brides and grooms are a bigger problem than you might imagine. Don't skip breakfast because it might be your only meal of the day. If jitters have your stomach in a knot, try to eat a few saltines. Many couples are so busy visiting with guests at the reception that they barely get a bite of their own reception menu. Not eating can make you cranky at the least; and cause you to faint at the worst. So, eat a meal before the wedding (especially if you're going to drink), and try to eat at the reception too.

8. DON’T spend too much time with any particular guest. It may be difficult, but you should make it your goal to spend at least a few minutes visiting with each of your wedding guests. The only way you’re going to make it through the crowd and still do all the other things you’re supposed to do (have your first dance, toasts, dinner, and cut the cake) is if you push yourself to be brief with each guest. You can always circle back later and spend some extra time with your favorite people.

9. DON’T let guests drink and drive. An open bar is a nice thing at a wedding, but give your bartenders free reign to cut people off to ensure their safety. Nothing puts a damper on a wedding day like alcohol-induced drama. Drunk people get in fights, say embarrassing things, and even get in traumatic car accidents. Have business cards for local taxi companies on or near the bar or pre-select a few volunteers to serve as designated drives. It only takes an instant for the memory of your wedding celebration to be scarred by a tragic accident.

10. DON’T forget what it’s really all about. Your wedding day will pass quickly. All the months of planning will be realized in just a few short hours. Guests will ooh and aah over your beautiful gown; they’ll marvel at the lovely flowers; they’ll enjoy the delicious reception menu you organized so carefully. But, ultimately, all those things are just a part of the party. A wedding is the celebration of something much more important: the decision two people make to join together and live their lives as one. Amidst the fanfare of your wedding day, try to remember to take a moment or two and gaze across the crowd. Share a smile between the two of you, and commit yourself to finding a way to bring those smiles back to your faces everyday.

And above of all.... DON'T forget to have fun and enjoy the day!


Some information gathered from: http://www.weddingchannel.com/ and http://www.theweddingwizards.com/