January 6th

Photo credit: 

Carla Ten Eyck Photography

Tip of the Day: "Find five minutes (or more if you can!) at some point during the day to steal your groom away and step back to check it all out. Admire each other, the view, the venue, the décor, the music, the guests...all there for you two. Share your favorite moment of the day, steal a kiss, or giggle about your friend's silly dance moves. The rest of the day may be a whirlwind, but you'll never forget those five minutes!" says Shannon O’Neil from Cargo Creative.

Plus, check out 35 Romantic Ideas for Your Wedding Reception.

The Biggest Mistake That New Brides Make

outdoor wedding

One of the biggest wedding-planning challenges can be cohesiveness — presenting a consistent vision for your event from start to finish. As a wedding planner, I see brides (especially those who are newly engaged) struggle with this all the time. They've picked their venue, theme and dress...but none of the three really match.

Throughout the process of falling in love with gowns, flowers, linens, and all things wedding pretty, you might find it difficult to maintain focus and your wedding can take on a life of its own. So, how do you prevent this from happening? The good news is that by outlining key factors early on, it's totally doable to execute your big day without getting completely lost in the process.

I've put together some easy tips to help couples stay on track throughout the months leading up to their wedding. By no means do you have to follow these to a T. My hope is that you will find a way to personalize these steps and bring your vision to life in the most magical way possible!

1. Book your venue before anything else.
This is the one key piece of advice that I've shared with all of my clients throughout the years that hasn't changed. In your venue selection, you'll narrow down the search by finding out what you're stylistically drawn to and what reflects you as a couple. Your entire wedding vision will become more defined throughout this process.

January 5th

Photo credit: Etsy seller End Grain Wood Shoppe on Emmaline Bride via Lover.ly

Tip of the Day: Be flexible when it comes to your wedding date. "The hardest yet most important piece in the wedding-planning process is finding your wedding venue. Not having your heart set on one particular date will save you time and money. In the end, what’s necessary is finding the right venue that sets the tone for your special day," says Jen Bergmark from First Pick Planning.

Plus, check out 7 Steps for Setting a Wedding Date.

January 4th

Photo credit: 

iStock

Tip of the Day: When choosing or creating a fitness plan in preparation for the big day, keep in mind how busy you'll be in those last few months. The pros from The Bridal Body Shop advise: "Increase your chances of success even when the heat is on by choosing an activity that you can access easily and that you'll enjoy doing. Don't sign up for a gym membership all the way across town or take up running when you know you hate it! The ideal fitness routine should be flexible in time and duration so that you can always fit it in."

Plus, check out Real Brides' Incredible Shape-Up Stories.

January 3

Photo credit: 

Courtesy of Bachelor Boys Band

Tip of the Day: If traditional wedding music doesn't fit your style, consider having someone making a song for you. "There are many composers across the country that can write your ceremony music with your musical tastes in mind," says Todd Smith, co-founder of Abiding Harmony. "Whether that's a completely original piece or your favorite pop song re-arranged for string quartet and acoustic guitar, go with music that connects to you both on an emotional level."

Plus, check out Complete Guide to Wedding Music.

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