Weddings are among the most complex events many people will ever plan. Couples often try to go the extra mile in an effort to make the day memorable for themselves and their guests. That pressure can make a wedding day feel a little frenzied. Thankfully, there are various ways to ensure the vibe of the big day is happy and not hectic.

Hire a wedding planner/coordinator
Leaving the nitty gritty to a professional wedding planner takes a lot of pressure off of couples. The renowned wedding resource The Knot says wedding planners are clued into everything there is to know about a wedding and they can be tapped to take care of just about anything on couples’ to-do list. 

Consider a package deal
All-inclusive resorts are popular vacation spots because variables like entertainment, lodging, food, drinks, and more is all taken care of, leaving vacationers with little to do other than show up and relax. Couples can apply that same approach on their wedding day. Host the ceremony and reception at the same site, which takes the potentially problematic issue of getting guests to and fro out of the equation. Some venues may even provide in-house vendors like photographers and florists. Such vendors’ familiarity with the venue reduces the risk of surprises that can derail wedding day schedules. 

Pick your priorities
Avoid getting bogged down on a million details by making a list of your priorities when planning. Couples can revisit this list a couple of days before their wedding so they remember what’s most important to them on the big day. This refresher can ensure couples don’t get too concerned if minor issues arise during their big day, helping them remain calm and keeping a focus on all the fun to be had during the day.
It’s easy for couples to feel a little overwhelmed on their wedding day. Some simple strategies can take the hectic out of couples’ wedding day and ensure they keep their focus on one another and their loved ones. 

For your wedding coming up, you will want to make sure that everything is absolutely perfect in every department. You will think about nearly every aspect, and you might even start overthinking certain things. It’s a significant part of your life and something that you’re probably looking forward to. When it comes to planning the wedding, you will leave no stone unturned. The good news is that it’s a day full of positivity and everybody will be happy for you throughout. Even if a few things go a little south, it won’t really matter in the grand scheme.


In this post, we are going to talk about ways to capture memories that have been created throughout this time. You will want to cherish this kind of thing for a lifetime, and there are lots of ways you can achieve this. Of course, there will be plenty of photographs, but it’s about more than just that. There are a few ways you can make the absolute most of your time and really remember things forever: 

Choosing The Right Photographer 

This sort of goes without saying, but it’s good to make the point. You shouldn’t just choose any photography because you could end up regretting this decision. You have to make sure that you are choosing somebody who is going to provide you with amazing photos. You will want to look back at this stuff and feel all the same emotions that you did on the day. If you work together with experts in Wedding Photography, you will be getting all of the best shots, and you won’t have to worry about the lack of quality.

Create A Dedicated List Of Shots And Plan Things Out 

Like with everything in life, you should make a plan of action when it comes to the pictures that are taken. Communicate with the photographers and come up with a dedicated list of the kinds of pictures you want. When you have this kind of plan in front of you, it’s just a case of carrying it out on the day. You will know exactly what to expect, and you will not be thrown into any awkward situations. 
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Utilize Tech And Create A Shared Storage 

It’s good to have a little system going whereby guests are able to take a look at the photographs that were taken. You could utilize cloud storage or create an exclusive page for those who were invited. This will only add to the closeness that you created during the wedding itself. People will get to see everything that went down once again and feel somewhat of a little community. 

Incorporate Personal Touches And Keepsakes

Of course, it’s not all about the photos that are taken. You don’t just need images that are saved in order to remember amazing times like these. You could also incorporate a sort of time capsule situation, whereby people put in gifts or certain other items. This can then be opened up again in many years to come. This is just one example of a personal touch - there are many different routes you can go down in order to create keepsakes. 

How to plan a winter wedding 

Weddings take place throughout the year, but some months have traditionally proven more popular times of year for happy couples to tie the knot. 
Summer was long known as the most popular season for weddings, but that trend has shifted in recent years. According to the 2020 WeddingWire Newlywed Report, 36 percent of couples get married in the fall, making autumn the most popular time to say “I do.” 
Though October and September are the two most popular months to marry, budget-conscious couples may want to consider getting married in winter. December, January and February are the least popular wedding months, but the experts at WeddingWire note that getting married during the slow season has its benefits. Vendors, including wedding planners and venues, may offer their services and facilities at discounted prices in winter to account for the slow season. And guests might be thankful to have a fun event to look forward to during a time of year when social schedules tend to be less busy.
Many wedding components will stay the same regardless of when couples walk down the aisle. However, couples may need to take a few things into consideration as they begin planning winter weddings.
• Avoid holiday weekends. Just because social schedules are not always so busy in winter that doesn’t mean couples can pick any winter weekend to tie the knot. The holiday season, which begins on Thanksgiving weekend in late November and lasts until New Year’s Day, is a hectic time of year for many people. Avoid holiday weekends like Thanksgiving and the weekends before or after Christmas and New Year’s Eve/New Year’s Day. These weekends already are busy travel times, so couples might not be able to get guest-friendly rates on hotel rooms, and some guests may already have plans to visit family. In addition to the December holidays, avoid the first weekend in February. That’s Super Bowl weekend, and many people may be reluctant to travel on the day of the big game.
• Research local weather. It’s impossible to predict the weather, but savvy couples can research local weather in the town or city where they’re getting married to determine when is the most travel-friendly month to host their weddings. Some regions get heavy snowfall in January, while others may be more susceptible to late winter snowstorms. Couples with a lot of out-of-town guests should choose a winter weekend where snowfall is unlikely so guests don’t have to endure travel delays on their way to and from the wedding.
• Purchase wedding insurance. Wedding insurance is a wise investment for every couple, but it can be especially valuable for couples tying the knot in winter. Each policy is different, but wedding insurance policies should protect couples’ investments if storms force local officials to declare a state of emergency that prohibits travel. Make sure the policy covers both cancellations and postponements.
Winter weddings can help couples save money. Planning such affairs may require paying attention to details that would not garner much consideration during other times of year. 

Weddings are great opportunities for people to gather and celebrate the melding of two families into one. Weddings are a melting pot, and while the ultimate goal is for all guests invited to mingle and have a good time, preexisting relationships may cause some wedding-day interactions to be strained. However, with careful planning and some best behavior on the parts of all involved, getting hitched can go off without a hitch.
It’s possible for guests who may have tumultuous pasts to keep the peace, but this also can be ensured through careful seating arrangements. This is just one factor couples need to consider when deciding where guests will sit and dine at receptions. It’s important to avoid some common mistakes. 
Mistake #1: Not having a seating plan. Let guests sit where they want and chaos may ensue. People may think they’re entitled to certain seats, may hop into seats vacated by someone getting up to use the restroom or any number of other scenarios. Seating arrangements also ensure everyone is accounted for across the room.
Mistake #2: Seating families separately. Unless there are rifts between certain family members, it’s best to seat parents and children at the same tables. 
Mistake #3: Trying to force new friendships. Avoid trying to figure out who will get along by creating a potpourri table. A cousin in a band will not necessarily want to sit next to your coworker who plays guitar simply because they have a shared love of music. A wedding is not the time to try to create new friendships. If it’s meant to be, they’ll connect in a more organic way.
Mistake #4: The dreaded kids’ table. Young children can probably get away with sitting at a dedicated kids’ table, although it may mean their parents have to interrupt their experiences by checking on their kids throughout the night. A bigger faux pas is to sit teenagers or twentysomethings at the kids table even if they seem like youngsters to you. Set a strict cut-off age for a children’s table.
Mistake #5: Being too strict in seating. It’s one thing to direct couples or singletons to specific tables, quite another to assign specific seats. Do not dictate exactly where at the table a guest should sit. Some people arrive early, others late, and it is up to them to work out how to arrange themselves at the table.
Mistake #6: Failing to get family feedback. Always check with your parents and future in-laws as resources about how to seat certain guests. They’ll likely know who will make the best table-mates, especially if couples are not familiar with everyone on the guest list.
Mistake #7: Not being aware of disabilities or needs. Be conscious of guests’ needs. An elderly relative may not be comfortable in front of the DJ table. A person in a wheelchair may need easy access to and from the reception room. It’s important to be mindful of these special needs.
A seating plan for wedding receptions is an important consideration so that every guest can feel comfortable. 

Various components combine to make weddings beautiful and memorable. Couples rely on photographers to capture the smiles and moments that helped make their events unique and to ensure the big day is remembered for years to come.
The trusted wedding resource The Knot notes that an internal study found that, among 27,000 couples who got married in 2019, an average of $2,400 was spent on a wedding photographer to document their big day. 
Couples who want to find the best photographer for their wedding day can ask several questions before making their final decision. 

What style do you specialize in?
Photographers may be able to shoot various styles of photos, but may specialize in a specific type. For example, some photographers specialize in photojournalism, while others may excel at portraiture. Going with a photographer who has the most expertise shooting the style you prefer will help produce the desired results.

Who will be shooting my wedding?
Certain photography studios have several photographers working under one roof. Just because you meet with one does not necessarily mean that photographer will be on site, unless it is specified in the contract.

Have you ever worked at my venue before?
Photographers may be familiar with several local wedding venues and houses of worship. A photographer who has experience working in the locations where couples will tie the knot and subsequently celebrate might produce the best results, but lack of experience with particular venues need not exclude other professionals. 

Can we see a full gallery of a recent wedding?
According to Brides magazine, unlike an album or a highlight gallery, a full gallery provides a better sense of a photographer’s style and attention to detail. 

Will photos be color balanced and retouched?
Skilled photographers are capable of capturing winning photos. But photos can be enhanced further in the studio with retouching software to bring out specific effects. Some photographers will polish all proofs, while others only will work on the images ultimately ordered. Confirm retouching details before signing the contract.

What’s included in the photo packages?
A detailed price list helps you compare one photographer to another and decide which elements are covered. Additional prints, having a photographer’s assistant, ordering albums for the parents, or ordering a large framed print can alter costs significantly. Explore all prices to ensure you’re getting the best value. In addition, consider how many hours of event coverage are included in the price. 

What is the payment timeline?
Photographers may accept deposits for their services but expect a different timeline of payment. Some may require payment in full before the wedding, while others may offer a payment plan that includes a final payment when picking up proofs or albums.
Wedding photography is one of the essential elements of a wedding and helps tell the story of couples’ special day. Asking key questions can help couples find a photographer who will produce the desired results. 

​Options abound when shopping for wedding reception venues

A wedding ceremony is a joyous occasion couples will remember forever. As couples walk down the aisle after making their union official, the focus then shifts to the reception, where a fun-filled night of food, laughter and dancing awaits.
Nothing can trump the ceremony in terms of meaningful moments, but wedding receptions tend to last far longer. That’s why couples devote so much effort to finding the right reception venue. As couples get to work on planning their post-ceremony party, they can consider a wide range of reception venue options.

Banquet hall
Banquet halls are perhaps the most traditional option for hosting wedding receptions. They’re also among the most popular, as the The Knot 2022 Real Weddings Study found that one in five couples had their wedding receptions at banquet halls. There’s no end to the options available to couples who want to host their receptions at banquet halls, which run the gamut from more intimate venues to larger sites that can host hundreds of guests. Some banquet halls offer various rooms and even different styles of rooms, from traditional to modern, all at one site. Because banquet halls are designed to host special occasions like weddings, couples may find they are an especially planner-friendly option.

Beach venue
Beach reception venues are not limited to coastal communities. Though oceanfront venues are an option for couples who live on a coast or those opting for destination weddings, even landlocked locales have beach venues along rivers and lakes. When considering a beach venue, couples should inquire about contingency locations should Mother Nature not cooperate come the big day.

Boat/yacht
Keeping with a water theme, couples may want to look into celebrating on a boat or yacht. This option can make for an especially memorable and unique experience, but it’s important to keep guests in mind before booking a boat or yacht for your reception. Some guests, such as aging relatives or loved ones with young children (at home or at the reception), may want to attend the reception but not stay for its duration, which is not an option on a boat or yacht. Others may be hesitant due to seasickness or another preexisting medical condition. If no such issues are likely to present, couples may find it hard to beat the ambiance of a reception aboard a boat or yacht.

Campgrounds
The Knot reports a surge in the popularity of campground receptions in recent years. A campground reception can be ideal for couples who love the great outdoors and prefer a less formal and more fun-focused reception. This option may require a little extra coordinating on couples’ part, as they will likely need to supply all of the food and beverages and may even need to arrange for guests to safely access the venue.
There’s no shortage of locations for couples to host their wedding receptions. Each venue is unique, and couples can undoubtedly find a facility that has what they’re looking for. 

Brides and grooms may pour over every detail of their weddings, but few components of the festivities may be as fun, especially for foodies, as deciding what the wedding cake will look like. Couples who want to deliver show-stopping visuals often express some measure of their creativity and personalities through statement wedding cakes.
Many couples now eschew the classic three-tiered white cake in favor of a dessert that garners instant attention. Whether the cake is brightly colored or hand-painted, a towering architectural marvel or shimmering in metallics, couples are opting to make a statement with their confections. Apart from clever cake-toppers, here are ways to stand apart when dessert is served.
• According to the Perfect Wedding Guide, a rising trend in cakes is to cover a white or naked cake with translucent glaze tinted in the couple’s wedding colors. This artistic expression can be especially stunning in boho-chic weddings.
• Statement tiers also are popular. The cake may be traditional in nearly every way, but couples then set the cake apart  by featuring an elaborate design or a different hue in one tier.
• Martha Stewart Weddings advises that more than just color can be used to make a statement. Lifelike sugar flowers can really set cakes apart. Guests may not be sure if they can consume all aspects of some cakes. But delicate sugar flowers taste as good as they look.
• Hand-painted tiles on a cake are another way to add panache. A bride and groom may be inspired by a  European vacation or the stained-glass effects of religious windows and want to add that feel to the tiers of the cake.
• Sometimes a statement comes by way of texture. Even an all-white cake can be dressed up with interesting textural effects. Ruffles, lace, embossing, and 3-D rosettes are different textural components that can be incorporated in cake designs.
• Couples also may want to tell their unique stories with cake. Individual tiers designed to reflect various milestone moments from the couple’s relationship can be quite engaging.
• Capitalizing on the trend of edgier weddings, couples may opt for darker hues on their cakes — even a black tier — or nontraditional geometric shapes to the cake itself or its design elements.
Statement cakes can really say something about the couple getting married. Much like other wedding elements, cakes provide a window into the minds of happy couples.  

Weddings may focus on the couples getting hitched, but weddings also are special thanks to the many family and friends couples involved in the festivities. Some of the more successful weddings are ones where couples honor their guests and let them know how much they appreciate. Couples can let their guests know how much they’re loved by incorporating these ideas into their wedding ceremonies and receptions.
• Arrange seats at the ceremony (if practical) in a circular pattern around you so that everyone can have a great view when you exchange vows.
• Create a bathroom convenience basket for both the men’s and women’s bathrooms. Stock items that might come in handy, like mouthwash, toothpaste, first aid items, spare pantyhose, hair spray, sanitary products, moisturizer, gum, and other niceties.
• Provide prearranged to-go boxes so that guests can take home tasty tidbits from the meal or dessert table. 
• Offer transportation between the ceremony and reception.
• Customize “do not disturb” door tags for overnight guests so they can ensure they get enough shut-eye after partying into the wee hours of the morning.
• Make sure the photographer takes photos of everyone at every table and then share those photos on a wedding website or via social media. Create a hashtag unique to your wedding so that guests can easily find the photos.
• Provide inexpensive slippers or flip-flops so that avid dancers can rest their toes in between songs.
• If valet parking service is not included, ask for an add-on so that guests get door-to-door treatment.
• Always be considerate of special needs by seating guests in places where they’re most likely to be comfortable. Keep elderly guests away from speakers and near exits to facilitate trips to the bathroom.
• Be mindful of all food allergies or requirements and have accommodations set up in advance.
• Honor those people who could not be at the wedding in a special way, including deceased family and friends.
• Include information about how guests can request songs at the reception. Pass on the information to the band or DJ.
• Encourage guests to get up and dance by making it fun. Put song lyrics from different songs on each table. When that song is played, that table has to join you on the dance floor.
• Remember to thank everyone for coming and follow up those in person sentiments with handwritten, personalized thank-you notes after the wedding. 

Weddings dot the social calendars of millions of people across the globe. Evenings are the most common time of the day to host a wedding, but that does not mean a daytime wedding cannot be a beautiful event and make for a party to remember.
Couples are increasingly customizing their weddings to be a reflection of their personal styles. One of the ways couples are customizing their festivities is by moving the wedding to various hours of the day that meet the couple’s needs. A wedding that takes place in the late morning or afternoon may be the perfect fit for some couples. Here’s how to navigate the specifics of a daytime wedding.

• Secure accommodations. An early wedding means guests may have to travel from afar the evening before to be able to attend the festivities. Daytime weddings can be complemented by working with a hotel or bed-and-breakfast to ensure guests will have a place to stay and get ready to arrive at the early wedding in time.

• Don’t be afraid to negotiate prices. You may find vendors are more amenable to price discounts or offering greater value for daytime weddings. That’s because demand for their services is reduced during the day. Similarly, venues may have more availability during the day than at night, and, as a result, they’re more flexible on prices, especially since brunch foods generally cost less than dinner entrees.

• Hire the right photographer. Be sure to contract with a photographer who is a pro at handling photos in daylight and natural light. While many photographers are skilled in any light, many are used to shooting in churches and venues with low lighting. Be sure to see picture samples taken during the daytime to gauge a photographer’s daytime experience and skill level.

• Employ color to add dimension. During evening weddings, lighting or candles help set the mood. Those same elements will be ineffective in daylight. Choose bright colors for your decor and flowers to brighten up spaces.

• Choose alternative entertainment. Chances are guests are not going to feel as comfortable dancing during daylight hours. Consider other entertainment, such as lawn games, karaoke or a comedian. A guitarist or pianist may be a nice musical touch.

• Plan food accordingly. Just because the wedding is early does not mean the food should be. Guests still will need to eat. If you are only opting for light appetizers and cocktails, be sure to mention this on the invitation so guests can plan ahead and won’t go hungry.
Daytime weddings can be successful with a little tweaking of traditional evening wedding planning.