HOW ABOUT SOME ADVICE FOR THE 2010 BRIDES?

I thought it would be nice if we used this thread to give some 'wedding planning' advice to the 2010 and 2011 brides. I know we havn't experienced our weddings yet but i'm sure we have already went through things that can share and there will certainly be plenty of things happening along the way.
We can add to the thread as things come up and the 2010/2011 ladies can also use this to ask their own questions on things they need help with.

HTH!

My #1 advice is:
DON’T RUSH! Sometimes you feel the need to book everything ASAP because of the fear that the vendor/hall you want will no longer be available. I remember my shock when in January I went to my very first photographer and he was already booked for my date. I got so nervous I started booking every vendor as fast as I could. Luckily I am very happy with all of my vendors but I sometimes wish I would have given myself some time to look at more reception halls

Advice #2:
Don’t be surprised when your bridesmaids/bridal party isn’t as excited or as willing to help with the plans as you thought they were going to be. At first everyone is happy and so willing to help but all that excitement ends QUICKLY. Don’t let it ruin the fun of wedding planning. This will all come to an end soon, so enjoy every minute of it.

Advise #3:
Don’t listen to too many opinions. It can make you second guess yourself and even make you change ur mind from having something you REALLY wanted. This day is about YOU -oh and fh too – Everyone has an opinion and that’s fine but make sure that the LAST decision is YOURS regardless of what friends or family might think.

BIG ADVICE:

dont let LIW get you nervous or upset....this site has women from all different backgrounds and it is diffult to determine the norm...we have a small budget but when i told relatives who live in the south, they freaked out!!! LI/NYC are difficult places to have a wedding, with expectations set very high and LIW is the place where everyones expectations come together...if you cant afford to have cry packs, then dont....dont feel as if you need to get everything done at once 8 years before your wedding. and dont feel as if you need to keep up with some of the girls on here. its your big day, not anyone elses

wow... alot is already covered.

ADVICE FROM ME: Know what you want and what you can afford. The bridal industry is huge and they're so many possibilities for styles, colors, etc. look through every bridal site, magazine, photos and identify what you look and how you envision your big day. Once you are sure about that, then visit vendors to see if they fit your style and budget. It's easier for you and your vendor if you know what you want. The biggest mistake is to see a vendor when you are clueless.

Also, don't be afraid to haggle....no need to pay full price....negotiate...at the end, vendors still make money.

Hope this helps

When you are booking vendors never settle for the first price they give you...negotiate if you can!


and like mady said......if you need to book something go head and do it.....people talk that ish about plenty of time...NO! cause thingsbook quick!

Once you book your vendors (hopefully because you feel confident in them) do NOT search for them on the message boards.. believe me.. I am seeing things that are making me second guess my decisions --even though I know I chose excellent vendors!!

Also - it may be GREAT to have all the 'extra odds and ends' but what everyone will remember the most is the food and music...so splurge on that.. and what you have after is the pictures and video - so don't skimp on that either!!!

When you FM other brides for help and feedback about vendors its nice when you introduce yourself or just greet us with a Hello instead of referring us to 'hey' then ask your question etc.... and do not even say thanks.

Sorry to post this it happen to me this week and it kind of annoyed me. I love to help and so do most of the brides on hear but rude fm can be annoying.

stick to your budget--it's just a wedding.

when i first started planning, i crunched our finances 3,000 times to find a way to pay for this elaborate beach wedding i was picturing at the time. as the months have cruised past and i've had to actually start paying for these things, i'm grateful that we stayed frugal.

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Posted by JKFris09

My advice would be take your time booking vendors and dont deal with too many at once. We set aside a month for each vendor and never felt pressured or rushed. So we made our decisions carefully

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I agree... do 1 at a time so you can focus!

Do not give up on things that you want- It is YOUR wedding, which will hopefully, only happen once- so try to work in everything that you have always dreamed of! Even if your budget doesnt allow- be creative and come up with an option that is easier on your pocket!

Lastly, enjoy this time and dont let people spoil it for you!