1. Make the most out of your hair and makeup trial.

Have your trial before your bridal portraits, bridal

shower, or have a date night!
 
2. Take one completed invitation to the post office before you buy
stamps and mail them out. The weight can be more than one stamp
and you’ll get hundreds of invitations back if it is over the weight.  
3. Don’t count on any money “promised” to you until it is in your
hands. If someone backs out of paying for the cake, you could find
yourself in over your head when it comes to the budget.  
4. Only order one invitation per household, not per person.  
5. Bring 2 full invitations, including the envelopes to the wedding
and give them to your photographer for your details photos.  
6. Offering a late night snack? Only order enough for about ⅓ of
the guest count. Many people will not sick around to the end. 
7. Check to see if Uber or Lyft are in your area! If so, post
that information on your website and a sign at your
venue. No need to spend thousands on shuttles! 
8. Even if you aren’t having a seating chart, have place cards on
your head table so your MOH will sit next to you, BM next to your
groom, and all of the dates can sit in the correct place. Otherwise, it
will be chaos.  
9. Plan to ditch the heels! Heels for the ceremony are great, but
you don’t want to dance in them all night. Get some fun white,
sparkly, or bright comfy shoes for the reception.  
10. Instead of printing out 100s of menu cards or programs, just
have one big sign and place it on the buffet line or at the ceremony
entrance.
11. Repurpose your bridesmaid bouquets. Have your
coordination grab them after photos to place in vases
on the head table, bar, guest tables, etc.
12. Print out a small card and give it to your bridesmaids and
groomsmen at the rehearsal. On the card list the name and phone
number of your day of coordinator, when they need to be ready for
 photos and other important information, like time of toasts, when to
have their stuff out of the bridal suite.
13. If you want more time for photos, sneak out around sunset
with your photographer. You’ll only miss about 20 minutes of
dancing time, and you’ll get that golden hour light! 
14. Share your hashtag with your wedding vendors too! They’ll be
documenting your day as well, so be sure they post to your wedding
day hashtag. 
15. For a personal touch, fill your sign in and card table with
photos of you and your honey in pretty frames. 
16. Get a guest book that you will actual use and look at! A signed
photo, a wood piece you can hang up, or a photo book are all great
ways to do this.
17. To save money on invites, stds, and other paper
products, purchase a downloadable template off
Etsy.com (About $10) and use vistaprint to print
them. Vistaprint always has great deals and coupon
codes.
18. If you’re doing a buffet, ask your caterer to plate your meals
and bring them to the head table for you. If you join the buffet line,
you’ll be talking to guests all night and you won’t get to eat. 
19. If you’re worried about the formal dances and dancing in front
of people, tell your DJ to look out for some awkward eye contact and
he can fade out the song instead of going for the full minutes.  
20. Want more time for dancing? Have everyone give their toasts
at the rehearsal dinner you can save some time! 
21. When you’re ordering your cake, make sure you let the baker
know if you are planning on saving the top tier for your anniversary
or not. If so, you’ll need a little bit bigger cake.  
22. Have a private last dance while your guests go outside to prep
for the sendoff. Be sure your photographer captures it!
 
 23. Save your boxes during setup, or even bring a
few extra. Your family will need more than you think
when they’re packing it all up at the end of the night.
24. Have your officiant make an announcement at the beginning of
your ceremony to put the phones away!! 
25. While you’re getting ready for the wedding give your phone to
your MOH to screen your calls. Be sure they know all of the
important information so they don’t have to bother you.  
26. If you don’t want to see each other before the ceremony,
consider doing a first touch. You won’t see each other, but you can
still be with each other to calm the nerves. This is a great
opportunity to read letters to each other. 
27. Make a list of your must have photos for your photographer,
just keep in mind how much time you’ll have to get the photos.  
28. Have a cousin help call out the names for the different groups
of people needing to take photos after the ceremony. Since your
photographer doesn’t know who everyone is, this can help things
run efficiently.  
29. When you go to your fitting, take a video of the seamstress
doing your bustle. That way whoever is helping on the day of can
reference it and you can get to dancing!
 
30. The biggest way to cut costs is to cut your guest
list! You will save on meals, tables, chairs, linens,
centerpieces, alcohol and even the venue!
31. Have a sunday brunch to see your closest friends and
family before they catch their flights. This can help fight the
post wedding blues. 
32. Butting heads with your fiance? Sit down and write down
your top 3 items that matter to you the most. Then talk about
them and try to get on the same page where you can both
choose the things that matter the most to you and let the other
things get planned the other person. 
33. Create a mood board for your wedding. Take it to
everyyyyy vendor, so they are all on the same page.  
34. Don’t fly out for your honeymoon the morning after your
wedding. Enjoy some time for just the two of you and fly out 2
days after, to soak it all in. You’ll be too exhausted to enjoy it all
if you leave the night after.  
35. Having a sparkler send off? Order the 24 inch ones!
Anything shorter will not be long enough and if you get the 36”
ones, you’ll have a ton of drunk guests playing with fire for way
too long. 
36. Don’t get your sparklers from the firework stands! They
have too much smoke and your photos won’t be as pretty.
 
37. To save money on the bar, only offer a couple of
beer and wine options along with a signature
cocktail.
38. Don’t worry about the number of bridesmaids being equal to
the number of groomsmen. This does not matter! You’ll regret
adding someone to either side, just for the sake of numbers.
39. Ask your vendors for their recommended vendor list to be sure
you’re hiring the pros! 
40. If you’re getting married in the summer, accommodate your
guests! Have a water/lemonade station with some fans, bug spray
and sunblock that your guests can grab before the ceremony.  
41. If you’re getting married in the winter, accommodate your
guests! Have some blankets that your guests can grab before the
ceremony.  
42. Are kids invited to your wedding? Set up a kid station with
coloring books, crayons, kid friendly snacks, and glow sticks to keep
them occupied. 
 
43. Have your catering company make you to go
boxes for when you leave the reception- don’t forget
about some cake.
44. Stay organized! Google drive is your friend! Get a binder and
print out your contracts, keep your lists together, this will help
tremendously!
45. Plan to do the toasts 45 minutes into dinner. Your moh and
BM will be thankful to get it over with early and your guests will
actually be quiet and listen while they are eating.  
46. Write your thank you notes as your gifts come in the mail so
you get them out of the way. 
47. Instead of legit favors, have a popcorn or candy bar with cute
to go bags. This doubles as a late night snack and favors!
48. Don’t give your real rings to the ring bearer! Give them to the
best man and maid of honor. Have your ring bearer carry a
ceremonial box, or a ring pop instead.
49. Consider having your wedding on a Friday or Sunday. Most
venues and vendors will give you a discount for these off days.  
50. Consider getting married in the off season. Most venues and
vendors will give you a discount for these off seasons. In Texas
August is pretty slow! 
51. Let your bridesmaids show some personality! Choose a color
and let the pick their style. Definitely let them pick their hair,
makeup and jewelry! If your bridesmaids feel comfortable in their
appearance, then they are more likely to help out and have a good
time!
 
52. Plan 15 minutes between post ceremony photos
and the grand entrance so you can have a private
moment with just the two of you, grab some water,
and soak it all in!