Tour a Wedding Show or Bride Expo

Bride expos or wedding shows are a great way to evaluate multiple wedding suppliers and vendors in one spot and in one day. So, instead of calling around to different vendors or hitting the Philadelphia streets, you can simply spend a day at the bridal fair.

]The biggest company currently hosting bridal shows in Philadelphia is Bridal Event (bridalevent.com). They host events all over Pennsylvania and New Jersey and are known for large-scale bridal shows with hundreds of vendors. You can check their website for upcoming shows in the Philadelphia area.

Plan for Your Photographer

Philadelphia is the city of brotherly love, and wedding photo opportunities are everywhere. Whether you want to take your shots at the infamous LOVE statue or beautiful city hall, Philadelphia is a city that's brimming with history, tradition and romantic settings. However, remember to arrange your photo permits before you start shooting.

For example, to take pictures at the Longwood Gardens you need to fill out a permission slip, pay admission for each member of your wedding party and adhere to a strict no tripods and no lights rule. Other areas in the city, like Fairmount Park, also require permits, so plan ahead.

Get Online

Sometimes Philadelphia wedding planning can be overwhelming, so why not blow off some steam venting with other brides or doing your planning and shopping online. You can try a national site like One Wed (onewed.com) or something local such as PA Brides (pabrides.com) to find vendors or just inspiration.

Websites that offer forums or message boards are a great way to get referrals from other brides, bounce ideas around and find inspiration from these same people in the Philadelphia area.

Hire a Local Planner

Of course the "city of brotherly love" is home to piles of well-qualified wedding planners. So, if you need someone to take over the whole process or just a one-hour consultation to help with budgeting or other plans, check the yellow pages or the websites listed above for a recommended, local planner. Popular companies include The Wedding Factor, Megan Kennedy Events and I Do Wedding Consulting.

Check Out Philadelphia Wedding Magazine

Though only a quarterly publication, Philadelphia Wedding magazine is a great local resource that not only includes pertinent local articles but also advertisements for local vendors and service providers.

So, rather than waste your time on national publications that don't offer the local information you need, use this local publication as your Philadelphia wedding planning guidebook.

The city of Philadelphia is a spectacular location in which to celebrate the most exciting day of your life. Even if you and your guests are from out of town, there is beautiful scenery, historical significance, and a lot to take in - even well after your wedding ceremony.