Tips to avoid Wedding-Day challenges:

1.  Have all of the men and children that will be wearing tuxedos try them on at least the day before the wedding.  (Potential problems: wrong shirts, wrong vests, no bow ties, missing cufflinks, hems too short or too long).

2.  Have maps available at your ceremony with directions to get to the reception site.  This will save you and your parents from having to give directions numerous times to many of the guests.

3.  Call all of your wedding vendors at least a week before the wedding to make sure that they have your wedding on their calendars and their starting times.  (Potential problems:  A reception with no D.J., a florist that does not have the flowers there in time for photos).

4.  If you have a family member or friend acting as a videographer make sure that they have plenty of battery power and blank tapes.  Ask them to coordinate with the photographer as to where they will be standing during the processional and the ceremony so that everyone can work together for the best photos and videos.  (Potential problems: Battery power used up on the pre-wedding festivities and runs out during the actual ceremony, Video camera operator does not check with photographer and is visible in all of your photos).

5.  Bring an "emergency kit" (listed on another page on this site) with you on the wedding day.  Some ideas of what to put in it: safety pins, bobby pins, needle and thread, tape, a granola bar).

6.  Before you hire your DJ or band go to listen to them play at a reception to see if you like their style.

7.  If you have young children in the wedding you may want to "bribe" them with wrapped gifts that they will receive if they cooperate by performing well in the ceremony and smiling nicely for photographs.  The gifts may be just the extra push that they will need to be motivated to cooperate!  Also, you may consider having your flower girl and ring bearer sit down in a pew at the end of their walk down the aisle rather than actually standing on the altar for the whole ceremony.  This is usually hard for young children to do and they often will run around, lay down, or cry on the altar during your wedding vows.

8.  Make sure that the bridal veil is secure.  It is hard to enjoy your day when you feel like your veil is constantly about to slip off.  Also, when well-wishers hug you they will often loosen the veil.

9.  Make sure that your florist is aware of your photography starting time so that your flowers will be ready and available.  Also, ask if your florist will be staying to pin on flowers.  If not, let the photographer know.

10.  The bride and groom should remember to face each other during their vows.  This way the congregation can see you both and so can the photographer!  This is much better than keeping your backs to everyone and saying your vows to the Pastor/Rabbi/Judge rather than to your soon to be spouse!  Also, when you light your unity candle try to remember to leave some space in between the two of you so that everyone can see the candle being lit. 

11.  Consider doing a "unity sand" ceremony rather than a unity candle.  For this ceremony the bride and groom each pour sand into a vase from their own two smaller vases.  This eliminates the problem of keeping candles lit.

12.  Ask your baker if they freeze the wedding cake in advance of the wedding.  If so make sure that they have planned properly for it to be completely thawed for the reception so that your guests are not eating cake with ice in the middle of their slice.

13.  Only use an aisle runner if it is necessary.  Aisle runners rarely lay flat down the aisle - they often bunch up to one side of the aisle or the other and the wind can send them sailing!  People often trip on them during the processional, and they can be tough for the ushers to unroll which can resort in laughter from the congregation right before the bride makes her grand entrance. Consider having rose petals down the aisle instead.

 14.  If you plan to have a receiving line, the groom (and anyone else to still be photographed) may wish to remove their boutonnieres.  The flowers often become smashed and ruined from all of the hugging in the receiving line.  Also during the receiving line, be careful of makeup and lipstick from huggers being rubbed off onto the bridal gown.

 15.  When arriving at the location where you plan to "get ready" be sure to bring all of your essentials with you so that they are actually with you.  For example, don't plan on someone bringing your earrings to you, they may run late and you may have to delay your photography while you wait for one last item to be arrive.  (This actually happens to brides quite often).

 16.  A few more "getting ready" tips.  Waterproof mascara is often a good idea.  Even if you don't cry it will keep your mascara from smearing.  Always use - and keep with you - translucent powder.  The powder is one of the most important makeup items that you will use on your wedding day.  It will keep you from looking "shiny" in your photographs.  You may want to have your maid of honor do "touch ups" from time to time.  Especially during your photography session.  Also, be sure to use a hairspray that will hold for hours.

 17.  Be sure that everyone is ON TIME for the photography.  You may feel that plenty of time has been allotted, but actually every minute of that time is needed.  Plan to arrive early.  Delegate errands to other people.  Also keep in mind that if other people are taking photographs of you during your formal photography session, that while we wait for them to take their photos you are losing out on time that was planned for your professional photographs.

 18.  A hair and makeup stylist is a great idea to have you look you best for photographs, but they seem to take longer than planned about 99% of the time!  So, plan to be ready 30-60 minutes before you really need to be ready and it’ll work out just fine!

 19.  Try not to get upset about things that may go wrong on the wedding day, or things that don't go exactly according to your plans.  These are the things that you will laugh about in the future when you look back on the day.

 20.  For summertime weddings, bring a cooler full of water bottles for the family & wedding party.  Also, any time of year be sure to ask your limo company if they supply champagne for your ride if you are expecting it.  Many companies do not supply this service automatically.  Check if you should bring your own champagne glasses. 

 21.  If you are changing addresses after the wedding you may want to include a change of address card in with your thank you notes after the wedding.  This will save you from numerous calls and inquiries from friends and family wanting your new address. 

22.  You will want to assign someone to stand by the gift table to watch over the gifts and envelopes as they are dropped off at the wedding.  This person should then clear the table after the ceremony and remove the gifts and envelopes to a safe location to deter thefts.

23. Last of all, be sure to actually "live the day".  Plan enough time to get ready leisurely,  stop and smell the flowers in your bouquet, sit down and enjoy a piece of your wedding cake, dance and have fun.  Don't let your special day go by in a blur - enjoy it!!