1. Ask your friends to work on your wedding day; to do anything...cook the wedding reception food, be your officiant, take photos, act as a wedding DJ, be your planner or DOC, make centerpieces. Your friends and family want to celebrate and you should let them be guests, no matter how hard they protest. (The single exception is for anything that can be done WAY ahead, like calligraphy. And you should pay them. And get a contract)
2. Have a cash bar (which, in many states, including New Jersey, isn't even possible) or GASP a dry wedding. Adults want a glass of wine.
3. Make your bridesmaids carry some weird item; a pinwheel, a book, a clutch. It only looks good on Pinterest. They'll hate it.
4. Do a potluck. Can you say food poisoning? Again, in NJ and many other states, venues require insurance and sometimes food handling licenses. And who wants 14 bowls of potato salad?
5. Do your own makeup. This is one of the few days that you'll want to look great on film and in person, for hours. Heat, tears, wind and time can take a toll on your looks.
6. Stuff Mason Jars full of baby's breath and bring them to your elegant venue. Trust me, it doesn't work.
7. Skip a honeymoon. You might not need it right away. (in fact, I think it's nice to have a second great thing to look forward to!) Take at least a mini-moon to the New Jersey Shore, a cabin in the woods, a neat little B&B. Relax; you deserve it.
8. Skip a DOC. A good day of coordinator will save you time, money and stress. (We have our faves in NJ and NY; just email us!) You do not want to be the 'go-to person" on the day': you want to be the couple!
9. Design and self print your invites. There will be a typo. They will look weird. Unless you're really talented.
10. Compromise on everything. In weddings, as in life, you can't always get what you want, but you can have SOME of what you want. Prioritize, put your money where it matters to you and cut there rest. But not the wine. I believe I mentioned that.
2. Have a cash bar (which, in many states, including New Jersey, isn't even possible) or GASP a dry wedding. Adults want a glass of wine.
3. Make your bridesmaids carry some weird item; a pinwheel, a book, a clutch. It only looks good on Pinterest. They'll hate it.
4. Do a potluck. Can you say food poisoning? Again, in NJ and many other states, venues require insurance and sometimes food handling licenses. And who wants 14 bowls of potato salad?
5. Do your own makeup. This is one of the few days that you'll want to look great on film and in person, for hours. Heat, tears, wind and time can take a toll on your looks.
6. Stuff Mason Jars full of baby's breath and bring them to your elegant venue. Trust me, it doesn't work.
7. Skip a honeymoon. You might not need it right away. (in fact, I think it's nice to have a second great thing to look forward to!) Take at least a mini-moon to the New Jersey Shore, a cabin in the woods, a neat little B&B. Relax; you deserve it.
8. Skip a DOC. A good day of coordinator will save you time, money and stress. (We have our faves in NJ and NY; just email us!) You do not want to be the 'go-to person" on the day': you want to be the couple!
9. Design and self print your invites. There will be a typo. They will look weird. Unless you're really talented.
10. Compromise on everything. In weddings, as in life, you can't always get what you want, but you can have SOME of what you want. Prioritize, put your money where it matters to you and cut there rest. But not the wine. I believe I mentioned that.