Top Ten Things Every Bride Should Know

#1 - Budget is a top worry for brides.

* You may not have any idea what a wedding costs, so you may need to do some research first before you set your budget. Decide first on the one word that you would want to describe your wedding: elegant, fairytale, relaxed, intimate, fun, “bling”, cheap, traditional, etc. Whatever word best describes your vision for the wedding will set the tone for your budget. Make sure that you set a realistic budget from the term you’ve selected. If you want a fairytale wedding with 400 people and have set yourself a $6000 budget, realize that this may take some trimming from certain planning categories. Once you do set a budget, set priorities in order of importance decided by you and your fiancé. Track your spending according to your priorities.

* Once you’ve decided on what size & style wedding you and your fiancé want, make sure to plan ahead. Brides are planning further out, up to 18 months in advance, so plan ahead to guarantee you get the vendors you prefer.

* Drawing up and trimming down the guest list is one of the top worries of brides (per Peggy Post). Have discussions in advance about guest size and sticking to your plan.

Photo courtesy of Allison Stahl Photography

Top Ten Things Every Bride Should Know - #2

#2 - How to choose your vendors.

*Find Vendors you can trust: Ask for referrals from other vendors, friends, colleagues.
Remember that cost and value are not the same thing. What are your priorities when it comes to the vendors you’re selecting? Professionalism, experience, chemistry, entertainment, day of attention.

*Vendors can send a sub-contractor: Make sure the vendor you meet with initially will be there wedding day, not a sub-contractor.

*Have a list of your vendors with contact (cell phone/alt #) info. on the day of. If you do not have a wedding coordinator for the day of, make sure to give copies of this information to keep participants: best man, maid of honor, all vendors involved. You do not want yourself or your fiancé to have to be worried about tracking down their information on the day of.

Photo courtesy of Sharpe Photographers

Top Ten Things Every Bride Should Know

#3 - Have a Plan B: Weather Happens

Regardless of the season you choose, weather can change at anytime. Check your Farmer’s Almanac to know what the weather predictions are during your wedding. The Farmer’s Almanac can also tell you when sunset is, so you can plan your ceremony and photos accordingly.

Photo courtesy of The Memory Journalists

Top Ten Things Every Bride Should Know

#4 Vendors can disappear!

I'm sure you've all heard some horror stories of vendors closing up shop with no notice and leaving you in the lurch. Watch those purse strings and make sure and pay by credit card so that you have documentation and have a recourse to get your money back!

Top Ten Things Every Bride Should Know

#5 - Take a sample invite to the post office before mailing.

Verify your invitations postage - don’t underpay and get your invites returned by merely slipping assumed postage on the envelope. Odd sized envelopes may need extra postage!

Photo courtesy of Allison Stahl Photography.

Top Ten Things Every Bride Should Know

#6 - Venues can hold multiple weddings per day.

How many events will be held at your venue in the days leading up to your wedding and after? Find out if you'll be running into other brides in the hallways. It's can be a bit awkward. Make sure that you will have ample time for vendor set-up/tear down and removal of gifts, flowers, etc.
Photo courtesy of Sharpe Photographers.

Top Ten Things Every Bride Should Know

#7 - Be cautious: Vendors can refer other vendors for incentive.

* Some vendors employ the practice of referring other vendors for kickbacks (possibly a percentage of the sale, $50/referral, etc.)

* Some vendors charge other vendors to be on their preferred lists.

Photo courtesy of Profinish Design

Top Ten Things Every Bride Should Know

#8 - Get contracted turn around times on goods.

For those vendors guaranteeing you delivered purchased goods, get a contracted delivery time. This doesn't just include vendors delivering goods the day of the wedding, but also your photographer, videographer, DJ, etc. You receive your video, pictures and any music compilations after the wedding date, so be sure to get a guaranteed written completion date.

Photo courtesy of Sharpe Photographers

Top Ten Things Every Bride Should Know

#9 - Some vendors are not licensed to operate. (Verify that your vendor team is licensed to operate.—caterers, bakers, limo/transportation.)

*Ask to see licensing and certification from any vendor. Ask them: "What kind of licensing and certification do you have? May I see them please?"
(Verify that the license and/or certificate is valid and not expired.)

* Caterers (including bakeries) are required to have a valid health permit. They must be operating from a permitted food establishment, NOT a private residence.

*Food Licensing: You can contact Environmental Management Department, based on the county the vendor's facility is located. They will provide you with recent food inspection reports for said vendor. (For example: Sacramento County lists their detailed Food Inspection Reports at: www.emd.saccounty.net/ .)

* Included in this licensing issue would be employee background checks and requirements.
"What kind of background check to you require your employees to undergo?" (An example of this would be a transportation company employing someone with a history of drinking and driving.)
"Do you require your employees to complete any certification/licensing classes?"

* Check with the Better Businesses Bureau to make sure that no complaints have been filed against your vendor. (Know that anyone can file a complaint, so be sure to ask the vendor's side of the story regarding said complaint.)

Top Ten Things Every Bride Should Know

In yesterday's Wedding Class, Dynamite Weddings taught "The Top 10 Things Every Bride Should Know". We wanted to share 1 item each day for those that wanted the full notes or were unable to attend. In the spirit of The Top Ten, made so popular by David Letterman, let's start with #10:

#10 - Remember the real reason this wedding is occurring. (This one is not only addressed to the bride and groom, but all involved.)

* It's easy to get wrapped up in all the details of "a wedding", but remind yourselves this is not just a wedding, this is your wedding which is taking place to join together you and your partner, lover and friend, who compliment each other in a magical way. Don't let the planning overshadow your reason for wanting to marry this person. Take time out to enjoy each other: date nights, day trips, etc.

* This wedding is a celebration of the love and union of you and your fiance. Choose friends to participate in your wedding that can appreciate that. Your friendships may be tested while planning your wedding involving your friends. We hear more sad stories about a Bridesmaid-zillas than we do about Bridezillas. Make sure that you are choosing people for your wedding party that you can count on throughout the entire process. If you wouldn't trust them with a key to your house, then I probably wouldn't trust them to hold the wedding ring. Be careful picking friends that have a tendency to make every event about themselves or have a habit of being inappropriate. If you want those friends to be involved, give them a job that makes them important, but not in the limelight. Have them be in charge of gathering family members for pictures or making sure all the gifts, flowers, etc. make it out of the venue at the end of the reception. There's a job for everyone, just choose wisely!

Check back for #9 tomorrow. If you have some suggestions to add to our list of "Things Every Bride Should Know", please email Nicole @ info@dynamiteweddings.com . If you want to comment on the ones listed, please do so. Soon-to-bes are eager to learn from others' experiences.

Be sure to check out The Memory Journalists' blog, a Dynamite Vendor, who also taught a class yesterday, "Looking Your Best on Camera". Jennifer will be posting a tip each day from her class.

Photo courtesy of Sarah Maren Photography