Mistake #1. Spending too much money.



Weddings are expensive, but a lot can be done on a little.

The first thing is to remember what a wedding is for. Everyone loves a party, but the purpose of your wedding is to seal the bonds of commitment with the person you love in front of friends and family.

This could be done at the Hilton, and this can be done in a park. I recommend deciding on a budget and sticking to it.

One of my favorite cost cutting tips, skip the videographer. For $2,000 they are not going to give you much that a friend pointing a camera in the right direction could not do.

Mistake #2. Not spending enough money.

I know, I know. I just said the opposite. However, there are some things you should not skimp on. The primary of those is wedding photography. I know these days with the explosion of great cameras that everyone can afford, the temptation to save $1,000 to $4,000 by getting a friend or relative to take the photos is great. Don't do it! Go without flowers before you go without a great professional photographer. You just won't get the same results without a professional, and your wedding will never come again.

Mistake #3. Too many people

A wedding is a sacred ceremony, and it is a party.

Your first guest list should be everyone you want at what may be the single most sacred, holy, and religious moment of your life. Thinking about it this way should make it easier to decide who you do and don't want to invite.

The next group of people you want to invite would be people you would normally invite to a party. However, remember that your wedding reception is not a normal party. In a normal party, the host or hostess is the most important person, but they are not the absolute center of the universe. At your wedding, you will in fact be the center of the universe for the day. Everyone will judge their experience in reference to you. You know yourself better than I do. If you are ok with the undivided attention of 400 people, go to town. If however, just the thought of needing to hug that many people gives you the willies, than you might want to plan accordingly.

Mistake #4. Room to crowded.

This one is related to #3, but it is not the same thing at all. You could have 500 people in a room that can comfortably hold 500, and not be too crowded at all. But in a lot of weddings, the room can hold just as many people are as in it, and you can't walk. The bride and groom need to be able to walk around and greet people, and if you can't make it because the room is stuffed, well, there is a problem.

Ask the manager at your venue what the room is like with tables set up for your number of guests. You might need a bigger room.

Mistake #5. No time with new spouse.

Your wedding day is a jam packed rush and blur. You get ready all morning, have a ceremony, photos, reception, before you know it you are collapsed in a heap wondering what happened. But what happened is you joined your life with the person you love most in the world in front of God and your community.

Take a minute or 10 to let that sink in. After the ceremony, before the pictures or drinks or toast or congratulations, spend a few minutes alone with your new spouse. Let the sacredness and the love and the newness of it sink in before jumping in to focus all of your energy on all of your guests.