I have only been around a few weddings in the works and only one was really a large one. But the thing I think that seems to cause the most trouble is that things are not done until the last minute. The photographer or music (DJ or Band) likely do not do last minute things so be sure that you have reserved and confirmed the services in the interim. If you wait until the day before the wedding and find out that the photographer forgot about your appointment and went on vacation, as you are madly dashing to Walmart to buy 2 dozen cameras so you can have a novel "self photographed wedding" where the guests take all the pictures, you will deserve the quality of photography work you get.

The pictures seem to me to be the single most demanding thing. They are the documentation for the wedding and are what the wife will look at years in the future when she is trying to explain to herself again exactly why she married her husband!

Music is equally over looked and important. Looking over a music play list does not need to be one of your wedding day items to do. It should be totally planed to the note up until the reception. At that time it is nice to offer requests if the DJ or band has the material at their disposal.

First, thank you for the new board. I think it is needed.

Second, I just returned from the windy city where my nephew just got married. The bride and groom are grad students there and planned and carried out their own wedding.

Everything went off with out a hitch, well almost. They could have used a wedding planner. Whither you use a professional or a close friend, they will handle your wishes at this most exciting time when even the large items get over looked.

A wedding planner or a close friend will know your wishes and how YOU want the wedding to go. A wedding planner will make suggestion from their years of experience.

Thanks so much for this new Forum KK. I have heard many many requests for one.

KK! Thank you so much for this forum!


OK...As far as pictures go. Although it has always been tradition for the bride and groom to NOT see each other until the ceremony, over the years it's become accepted to have most of the wedding photos taken in advance, before the wedding...there are two good reasons for this:

1) Often, after the wedding, the bridal party is so emotional that people have lost their makeup from crying

2) Professional photos take alot of time...hours in some cases, to get "just" the right pictures. This will often delay the arrival of the bridal party to the reception.

I've done alot of weddings...and whenever some of the pictures were done in advance, it really helped. Obviously the photographer was there for the toast, cake cutting and reception, but the pictures that the couple will share and display will be of them at their best.

DJ's can make or break a reception. Best to talk to the Catering Coordinator of the venue you're using, and get recommendations based on the success of previous weddings.

A little tip !!

Wedding photographers are nortoriously over priced for the work they do....

Shop around for price AND professionalism... With the advent of Digital cameras and printing, the actual cost of pictures are way lower....

I was recently married, and it went without a hitch.

I re-confirmed my photographer one month before the wedding, and 2 weeks before, I faxed her a list of all the photos that I wanted her to take. Many wedding magazines offer photo checklists so you'll know what direction to give your photographer.

My disappointment was the flower arrangements on the table. They weren't the right color, but it was minor and I was the only one who knew it wasn't right.

I did ask one of my friends to be my wedding coordinator. She actually did an awesome spreadsheet timing out the entire wedding. It really helped keep everyone on schedule. In return for her work, I'm volunteering to be her wedding coordinataor next summer.