If planning a wedding were easy, we wouldn’t see quite so many elopements to Vegas. Everyone knows planning a wedding can be complex and confusing; some planning tools recommend beginning two years from the date, some say you can do it in twelve or even six months; it requires attention to details you never heard of before (a ring needs its own pillow?!) and can demand the skills of a trained diplomat. Here we present some do’s and don’ts that every couple should take note of when planning their wedding.

Do

• Be inclusive. Let your family and friends offer their input! Just because they give advice doesn’t mean you have to take it, but getting different opinions and ideas will open your mind to what you want for your wedding, and what you don’t.
• Don’t just go with the first caterer, wedding planner or destination wedding company you find on the internet. Read reviews, call the companies, and ask them for references.
• Do it together. Your wedding should reflect your personality as a couple; doing it all alone, without input from your fiancé, is a no-go even if he says he trusts you to handle everything.
• Begin a fitness program six months before your wedding. It’s okay to start (or end) with a boot camp, but it’s important to implement healthy diet and lifestyle changes for the long term rather than going on an unhealthy crash diet to fit into the dress.
• Get professional hair and makeup done rather than relying on a friend, however close you are. She will likely be in your wedding party and will have her own duties to attend to.
• Practice your first dance. If there will be dancing and one or both of you can’t dance, it’s worth investing in some basic lessons, not just so you’ll look good on the video, but so you will feel good that you have properly honoured the day.
• Have an indoor backup plan if you’re having an outdoor ceremony or reception. At the very least, have a tent or gazebo on hand that will shelter the wedding party in case of sudden storms.
• Make sure your attendants know how to bustle your dress and have an emergency kit on hand with things like safety pins, tissues and band-aids for all the little scrapes you might get into.
• Invest in Spanx. You want to feel good from the skin on out.
• Feed your vendors, the band, and anyone else who is going to be at your wedding for 8 hours.

Don’t

• Stay up late the night before your wedding, no matter how tempting it is to stay up drinking with friends or your fiancé reminiscing.
• Go without a seating plan, unless you have under 50 guests who mostly know each other, or an extremely informal setting. For larger weddings, a well thought out seating plan is essential.
• Neglect personal grooming like tans, waxing, nails and other maintenance. All eyes will be on the couple today.
• Lose control of the wedding planning – this is YOUR special day, not your mother in law’s.
• Pick a reception location that is too distant from the ceremony. A long commute isn’t fun for anyone.
• Forget to include sufficient vegetarian options in your menu.
• Forget to eat. A couple of glasses of champagne on an empty stomach is all it takes for some people to crash and burn.
• Have your wedding registry at a place that few if any of your guests can afford.
• Neglect your guests at the reception. It may be annoying that you can’t just spend the whole time gazing into each other’s eyes, but there will be plenty of time for that later.
• Last but not least…don’t forget to have fun! The day will fly by so enjoy it to the fullest!