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  1. Interview all of your prospective vendors carefully to ensure that your personalities mesh and you feel comfortable with them. A call to the Better Business Bureau is an excellent way to get a rating and the complaint history of vendors you may be considering.
  2. Prior to your ceremony, if using a unity candle, have someone pre-light each of the candles to make sure they will light easily at the appropriate time. Then immediately extinguish.
  3. At large weddings, receiving lines can be very time-consuming. An alternative would be going table to table to greet your guests at your reception.
  4. It is very important after your wedding ceremony to make sure the wedding party stays together as a group. Your photographer and videographer will have a much easier time when they don’t have to corral disappearing wedding party members.
  5. Try to limit the number of locations you visit for photos/video to 2 or 3. Too many different locations eat up valuable photo/video sessions by too much drive time.
  6. Having fun between your wedding and reception is a given. However, try to have a good time without too much drinking. The alcohol factor can set in very quickly on an empty stomach.
  7. Have your bakery place your wedding cake in the center of the dance floor instead of a corner. When you are announced into the room, go directly to the cake. Cutting it at this point will make for much better photos, video, and attention from your guests.
  8. If your toasts are made prior to the meal, your undisturbed tables will show much better for photos and video.
  9. Guests appreciate short and to-the-point toasts. Make sure ahead of time that the toasters will not be airing “dirty laundry” about either of you. This can be very embarrassing not only to you but to your guests as well.
  10. Music can make or break your reception. Select your band or DJ very carefully. If possible, make arrangements to witness them at another occasion before you engage their services. Also make sure your music selections appeal to all age groups attending your event.
  11. When selecting songs for your spotlight dances, make sure the songs are not too long. People lose interest in songs and dances that drag on and on.
  12. Small children at an evening reception can be a problem. They are not used to a late dinner hour, tend to be over-stimulated by all the festivities, and find the dance floor to be a great playground. The older generation will also have a hard time not being tripped up while walking or dancing.