Congratulations on your engagement! As excited as you are for the upcoming nuptuals, you may also be very intimidated by the planning process. There is so much to decide and do. This article will give you tips on how you can get through the planning process and the big day itself and still have a great time.

Make sure that you meet your partner’s friends and family before you tie the knot with each other. This is a very important thing to do, since you are going to be spending a lot of time around them after your marriage. Ascertain that you get along well and try to work out any issues beforehand.

If you have guests who are traveling to a destination wedding, make sure that you give them gift baskets at the hotel they are staying at. This will help to show the appreciation that you have for them for changing their plans and traveling to be a part of your festivities.

Never forget that your wedding is YOUR day, so YOU need to choose the items you want for it. Decorations, cake, food, dress, shoes, it’s all up to you. Don’t let your friends or family get bossy and try to turn it into their dream wedding or you’ll regret that mistake for the rest of your life.

If you’ve been asked to photograph a wedding but are new to the job, your most important task it to create a shot list. Ask the couple what kind of photographs they would like you to take and then make a checklist to guide you through the wedding and ease your stress level.

Having a guestbook or reception video is an excellent way for each guest to be able to share their thoughts and memories with you. You can look back on it later as your relationship grows and remember all the people who are most important to you and how much they factor into your life together.

Want a novel idea for your wedding and reception? How about a cruise! More and more people are choosing to take their destination wedding and have it on a boat, and there are many great reasons for that. You’ll find excellent catering, an on-site bar, and they have all the decor and set-up items you need already on deck.

Planning a wedding means setting a budget; being successful in your planning means sticking to your budget. It is easy to add a few dollars here and a few dollars there when choosing vendors, venues and assorted wedding needs. A few dollars adds up and can carry you far outside your expected budget. Stick to your budget and you will thank yourself after.

Having the perfect wedding doesn’t have to be a dream. Even on a limited budget, there are a lot of things you can do to get the most for your money. Use the ideas that were given to you in this article to have a beautiful wedding and to enjoy the big day.