Go for Double-Duty Favours
Make your favours and your escort cards one in the same. From lollipops to Christmas ornaments, tag your favours with each guest’s name and table number and place them on the escort table. Other escort card, favour pair-ups: apples with tags tied to the stem; luggage tags with table numbers tucked inside; and miniature wine bottles with table number and name labels.

Give One Per Couple
If you wish to give more expensive, high-end favours but need to find a way to skim the fat, give one gift per couple by placing the favour between their two dinner plates, and tagging it with the couple’s names. For your single friends, stick with one gift per person. Great gifts for pairs: domino game sets, potted orchids, and bottles of gourmet olive oil.

Make a Donation
More couples are forgoing fun and foodie favours for charitable donations. Whether it’s a cause that’s close to your heart, such as a cancer research group, or a cause that you support, such as animal shelters, be sure to let each guest know of the donation by placing a note at each place setting or table for guests to read. To find the right organisation, do your research. Find out how your chosen charity spends donations — and make sure you receive a receipt for tax purposes.

Time It Right
If favours aren’t a part of your tabletop decor, pass them out to guests as they are leaving the reception, or have the doorman do so for you. Another way to make sure guests take home your wedding favour is to place each one in a small decorative bag filled with pretty tissue paper and have a waiter hand one to each guest as they exit. In cold weather, the coatroom attendant may hand them a bag with their coats.

Try DIY Favours
Perfect for the budget-pressed couple, and the crafty ones alike, consider making your favours. A few ideas: homemade jam in jars packaged with fabric and tied off with raffia; make homemade fudge and cut it up into bite-sized pieces; or give out sugar cookies, iced with your monogram. Keep in mind that DIY projects take time and energy to carry through. So if you decide to go for this option, get your closest friends and family on board with you to help — and have fun with it!

Where & How to Execute Colour
Where and how you use colour really depends on the mood you are trying to create. The best way to get started is to figure out what emotions you want your celebration to evoke. A peaceful, Zen-like retreat? A regal, romantic affair? A jumping, high-energy party? For instance, a vibrant summer yellow mixed with chocolate brown (think sunflowers and bees) is perfect for a country-chic wedding style; add gold to the mix, and the combination becomes more reminiscent of Northern Italy. As another example, leaf green paired with cantaloupe is pretty for a waterside wedding; but pair this green with copper, and you have a colour scheme that’s formal enough for a ballroom or an estate setting. If your wedding takes place in multiple spaces, each room can have its own colour scheme.

The Elements of Style
Your gown doesn’t have to be solid white, especially since colour accents are increasingly more available. A blue or red sash around the waist is striking and still very bridal. The groom and his guys can also sport colour in their ties or on their cuff links. But colour will be most prominently displayed throughout the day in the bridesmaid dresses. Some fervent folks might want to match the dresses to the invitation ribbons, the favour tags, and the bouquets but this isn’t the only way to define a style. Mixing and matching dresses in varying shades — pink and orange, or pale green and yellow — can sometimes make a statement stronger than uniformity.

Your invitations set the stage for the event, so remember that mood you want to evoke? This is your time to show it off. Coordinating the invitation colours with those of the wedding can be as easy as choosing a colour font, ribbon, or monogram or as elaborate as layering colourful cards.

No matter what colour you’ve chosen, chances are you’ll be able to find flowers in that shade — but that, of course, does not mean the blooms will be available or affordable. If your dream flowers aren’t an option, use neutral white flowers with centrepiece containers or other decor elements in your colour.

The cake is one of the easiest places to add colour — all it takes is the right mixing. The colour should reflect the other style elements used throughout the wedding. But when it comes to cake, your colour options are the most flexible. White icing makes a marvellous background for colourful sugar flowers, sugar-paste stripes or polka dots, or other effects. Fondant can also be created in any number of shades. For instance, a yellow and brown country-chic wedding might have a wedding cake iced in a light brown basket weave and topped with fresh sunflowers.

Ultimately, it’s more important to give something meaningful rather than something that matches, but it can be a nice touch to your favours package in your colour scheme. Use gift tags and ribbons to incorporate your colours into your favours. If favours will be left at each place setting, consider how they will look with your wedding linens and flowers.

New Ways to Use Colour
We should point out that overdoing it with a matchy-match look is entirely possible. (You don’t want your guests thinking, Um, yeah, lavender…we get it.) Begin with the five essential wedding elements (attire, invitations, flowers, cake, and favours) and see where you can — or should — add more colour. Then consider details, such as napkins, candles, signature drinks, your ring pillow, or your guest book, made from the same fabric and in the same colour as the bridesmaid dresses.

3. Booking hotel rooms too late.
Brides often leave blocking out hotel rooms for out-of-town wedding guests until the last minute. If you’re marrying during a busy time and you don’t investigate hotel availability in advance, you can end up with literally not a single room for your guests to stay. Your wedding will go on — but no one will be able to attend. Reserve rooms as early as possible. Begin your research up to a year in advance, and make sure your block is booked at the eight-month mark. Be sure to include hotel information in your save-the-date cards or invitations. This doesn’t mean you will have to pay for the rooms, you are just setting them aside — your guests can put down their credit cards when they call to book their rooms.

4. Inviting too many wedding guests.
Make sure your guest list and your reception site capacity match up numbers-wise. You can’t invite 400 people assuming only 250 will accept, because if you end up with 300 acceptances, you may have to turn 50 guests away at the door. Most wedding venues can’t just add 10 more tables — fire laws limit the maximum number of people allowed in any room at one time. Analyze your guest list from the get-go, assume 80% will respond yes, and limit your guest list accordingly.

5. Partaking in last-minute beauty treatments and crash diets.
Many brides think that scheduling a facial the day before the wedding will leave their skin looking angelic on their big days. Thinking of tanning the day before your wedding? Think again: you may end up with blisters instead of sun-kissed skin. Last-minute beauty treatments can lead to breakouts, mistakes or, even worse, serious infections. Same goes for crash dieting in the weeks leading up to the wedding — after all those gown fittings, your dress may not fit! Stick to a long-term beauty regimen with lots of rest, a good diet, and safe over-the-counter beauty products like sunless tanners. Save the heavy-duty beauty treatments for at least two weeks before the big day or you could risk ruining all the hard work you’ve done to make your wedding — and your photos — perfect (never mind putting your health and happiness at risk for the most important day of your life)!

6. Trying to go it alone.
If you are a bride lucky enough to have been offered help by friends or family members, by all means take it! Too many brides try to do it all — and this isn’t a good idea. Delegate and use all the resources that are available to you. When people offer to assist — like your mom, your future mother-in-law, or your best friend — find something for them to do, like researching a vendor or addressing invitations. On that note, it’s important to keep in mind that these volunteers are not hired help — be sure that you accept their contributions graciously.

7. Forgetting to focus on what’s important.
Keep in mind that you are getting married and starting a life together, not just planning a wedding. Brides, be good to your grooms. And grooms, be good to your brides! Some tension between the two of you (and among members of your family) is inevitable due to the sticky topics that weddings stir up, but don’t ever let things get out of control. Remember why you decided to take this leap in the first place!

First, include a map or add a link to Google Maps on your wedding website so that guests have an idea of where they’re going. As a safeguard, consider including a map from the ceremony site to the reception venue in your programs or your invites. For the day-of, create signage for each wedding spot (the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception) directing guests where to go. If it’s an outdoor wedding, make or buy a wooden sign and paint it with an arrow. For a more sophisticated soiree, consider using printed black-and-white-framed signage in a scripted font.

2. The Entrance
No matter where you wed, first impressions are essential. A personalized entryway will make your site more welcoming and help guests feel at home almost immediately.

If you’re having an outdoor wedding, hang leis of orchids or sun-catching glass ornaments on the surrounding trees. For a ballroom, have your florist create an escort card table arrangement with plenty of height so it’s the first thing guests see. A rustic affair calls for tons of lanterns lining the pathways.

3. The Escort Cards
When the seating is assigned ahead of time, you save guests the pressure of searching for a seat at the wedding reception. You also guarantee that your guests of honor (grandparents and close relatives) get a quiet spot while your rowdy friends from college sit closest to the dance floor.

Escort cards are extremely easy to personalize and an excellent way to bring in your wedding day colors — from calligraphed seating cards set atop a textured linen to apples tagged with each guest’s name or small personalized bundles of lavender tied off with string. Other ways to display escort cards: Pin them to a clothesline, post them on a board covered in color-coordinated ribbon, or incorporate them into your cocktail hour using personalized stirrers tagged with guests’ names.

4. The Guest Book
It takes more than setting out a couple of pens to make a guest book enticing enough to get all your guests to sign in. The trick is to show off your creativity in an inviting way.

Ask guests to contribute to a scrapbook by providing a Polaroid camera. Make a backdrop by hanging an attractive piece of fabric and then ask each guest, couple, or family to stand in front of it and pose. Have a close friend man the camera. When their picture is ready, they can pop it into the guest book and sign their names next to it. Or get your videographer involved and go for a live guest book reel by having each of your guests express all of their sentiments on camera.

5. The Lighting
The right lighting can help flatter any space and make you and your guests look great.

Use colored lighting to punch up a drab hallway. Pick a different yet complementary hue for the rest of the reception (use blue for a white wedding, amber for a pink celebration). Decorative hanging lights, lamps with patterned shades, or crystal chandeliers will transform a space from plain to extravagant.

6. A Game Plan For the Kids
Even if you love children, you won’t want them disrupting the ceremony or reception. Have a plan to keep little ones at their best.

At the ceremony, have an usher hand out coloring books and crayons. At mealtime, seat little ones with their parents so they’ll be in top form while eating. If lots of kids will be attending, setting up a nearby room with games, craft supplies, and DVDs guarantees that they’ll have a good time during the reception (as will their eternally grateful parents).

7. The Loo
The restroom is an often-overlooked space that, when given a little tender love and care, creates an unexpected wow. It doesn’t take much either — even the slightest bit of decor will perk up and personalize this space.

Add small bud vases of flowers, give the bathroom new “Ladies” and “Gents” signs, or splurge on some monogrammed towels in your wedding colors. To really impress your guests, scan childhood pictures of the two of you through the years, laminate them, and post them on the bathroom walls.

8. The Bar
The bar is a spot where most of your guests will probably spend a significant amount of time, which is precisely why it’s a great place to add a burst of color, which will boost the look of the room.

Serve some unique bar snacks like vodka-soaked watermelon balls in antique ice cream glasses, Grand Marnier-infused apricots, or ice cubes with a berry or another piece of fruit frozen inside. Consider printing your signature cocktail recipe right on your coasters or beverage napkins. Also, think about giving the bar itself a facelift: Ask your wedding planner to use bamboo, Lucite, or even laser-cut wood in a bold pattern for the front of the bar and use backlighting to create a stunning centerpiece for the room.

9. The Menu Cards
Menu cards designed to complement your wedding day stationery and coordinate with your signature colors will add a stylish extra touch to each of your place settings.

The menu cards can be as formal or informal as your reception. Place round menu cards in the center of each charger to suit a decidedly formal reception. A more laid-back wedding might call for the menu to be written on a chalkboard set up near the entrance. If you plan on serving a multicourse meal, consider giving guests mini menu booklets. They can even double as place cards.

10. The Cake Table
The cake table is often a main focal point of the reception space where many of your guests will congregate to take pictures. Keep in mind that an inadequately decorated display table can make or break your photos.

Create the perfect setting for your cake by keeping décor low to the table so you don’t detract from your main dessert. Consider using a monogrammed table linen in a complementary color. Or have your florist sprinkle small flowers in your wedding hues, such as bells of Ireland or freesias. To give it the royal treatment, set your cake on a riser at a ballroom wedding or cover it with a fabric-draped canopy if you’re having an outdoor party.

11. The Chairs
The right chairs and chair treatments can transform what was a hodgepodge room into something that’s elegant and refined.

Match your chair treatments to your wedding style. If it’s a black-tie wedding, cover every chair in rich, silk fabric and add a coordinating sash. For a wedding that’s outdoors, consider using simple chiavari chairs instead of the plastic folding kind. For a fresh twist, get colorful, patterned chair cushions in lieu of monochromatic ones. You can also use your chairs to highlight the season. Pay tribute to the time of year by decorating every one of the chairs with a miniature wreath for a winter wedding, or tie fresh blooms to each of the chair backs if you’re having a springtime affair.

12. The Exit
A stylish exit is the exclamation point to a great wedding day, not to mention your last chance to drive home your personal style. Take full advantage of this opportunity.

Rose petals are pretty but often overdone, so to end the night with a bang (literally), hire professionals to shoot off fireworks. If pyrotechnics are not in your budget, have your guests shower you with light from sparklers. When it comes to your getaway transportation, get creative: Drive away in a vintage car decorated with bright flowers; toss your hair into the wind on a moped; or jump into a sleek, stylish sports car. And don’t forget that “Just Married” sign.

Your Wedding Dress Style

Makeup SAVE This might come as a shock, but you shouldn’t look like a completely different person on your wedding day. Translation: It’s completely fine to apply it yourself or have a beauty-savvy friend help.

Wedding Dress SPLURGE Your dress — the dress — is a definite “spend” when it comes to your budget. Sure, you’ll save more money with a cheaper fabric and less beading, but those extra bucks are worth getting what you really want.

Wedding Veil SAVE Putting a huge dent in your budget so you can have the dress of a lifetime? We get it. Whipping out your credit card for a veil that’s almost the same price? Not so much. Stick with a basic design with minimal lace and beading to cut costs.

Wedding Shoes SPLURGE You might not need Manolos, but comfy shoes are a must. Go with a pair in a metallic shade that you can wear again (say, on your honeymoon).

Accessories SAVE Borrow a necklace, bracelet or earrings from the women in your family. Added bonus: If it’s a sapphire, you’ll have your something borrowed and your something blue! Now that was easy

Wedding Dress Alterations SPLURGE Even a couture gown can look cheap if it doesn’t fit properly, so don’t skimp on the alterations. Once you have the right fit in the bodice, there’s wiggle room with the hem. If you only need the dress raised an inch or two, wear higher heels — as long as you can walk comfortably in them!

The Flowers

Bridal Bouquet SPLURGE You shouldn’t settle for flowers you don’t love if you have your heart set on a soft bouquet of pricey peonies. Still looking to save? Have your bridesmaids carry bouquets of fringed tulips or garden roses to get a similar romantic feel with a much more reasonable price tag.

Flower Girl SAVE Instead of having her carry a posy or pomander bouquet, the youngest member of your bridal party can scatter rose petals in your wedding colors down the aisle. Better yet, buy fabric petals at a craft store. Your guests will be admiring the little lady too much to notice that the flowers she’s throwing are actually fake.

Centerpieces SPLURGE The centerpieces are a major part of your reception look, so if your venue has high ceilings and calls for tall arrangements, don’t downsize. Instead, choose locally grown flowers to cut down the cost, along with cylindrical vases, branches and even feathers to add some height.

Ceremony Chairs/Pews SAVE Adorn pews or chairs with small clusters of blooms and long ribbon every few rows. If your wedding is in an ornate house of worship, you might be able to ditch these accents altogether.

Alter Arrangements SPLURGE The altar is the focal point where you’ll exchange vows, which is kind of the whole point of the day. Spruce things up with two eye-catching arrangements.

Entryway Decor SAVE Instead of marking the entryway to an indoor ceremony with elaborate, expensive wreaths, hang pomanders from the door handles. You’ll only need two, and you can use them again at the reception to decorate the doors or hang from the front of your bridal table.

The Catering

The Bar SAVE An open bar, though a favorite of wedding guests everywhere (and why wouldn’t it be?), is expensive. Only offer wine, beer and a signature cocktail that matches your color scheme, like an orange-colored mango mojito or a chocolate martini.

Late-night Eats SPLURGE If you’re hosting an after-party, feel free to treat guests to burgers, fries, milkshakes or other yummy bites to keep the party going. This isn’t required, but they’ll love the laid-back menu.

First-course SAVE After chowing down on a few appetizers, guests don’t need a soup and salad. Cut out one of these starters depending on the season. For winter months, serve butternut squash soup, or go with refreshing greens for the summer.

Entree SPLURGE You could save money if you serve spaghetti as your main dish, but that’s just no way to start a party. To control costs, instead of letting guests choose from steak, chicken and fish, serve two or three options together: Think small filet mignon and crab cake or lobster tail on each plate.

Dessert SAVE Cake not your thing? Satisfy your sweet tooth by having a dessert table filled with cookies, macaroons and pastries, or an assortment of chocolate truffles. If you’re having a cake, skip the extra sweets completely or box them as favors for guests to take home after the reception.

Hors D’oeuvres SPLURGE You want your guests to eat — especially if your cocktail hour includes, well, cocktails. This is often a favorite part of the day for guests (who will likely be starving after the ceremony), so have food stations ready and offer passed bites as well. Oh, but you might not need that ice sculpture by the raw seafood bar.

The Wedding Cake

Cake Baker SPLURGE Your cake isn’t a DIY project, so if your best friend swears she can bake like a pro, unless she is a pro, take a pass. Not only do you want someone who knows what they’re doing, the cake also needs to be transported to the venue properly — as in, not in the backseat of a Jetta.

Tiers SAVE A six-tiered cake looks formal and expensive because, well, it is. Order a cake with fewer layers, or add faux tiers of frosting-covered Styrofoam if height’s a must. Then you can serve sheet cake in the same flavor and frosting to guests. Trust us, they’ll never know the difference!

Flavor SPLURGE Fancy fillings will cost you, so talk to your fiance about whether to spend on a fresh filling or to forgo fillings altogether. However, when it comes to your actual cake, don’t skimp and get a basic vanilla taste when you covet green tea, white chocolate raspberry or cappuccino.

Frosting SAVE While fondant has a smoother, porcelain look, it’s pricier and has a chewy texture and not-so-pleasant taste. Buttercream might not look quite as smooth as fondant, but it tends to taste better and, if done right, you can barely tell the difference in appearance.

Display SPLURGE Add drama to your display by going all out on a cake stand in your wedding colors, LED lights under the table or a mirror beneath the cake. Surround the stand with fresh flowers or create a glowing backdrop with votives. Another way to dress up your display: custom cake toppers! Order cute (and okay, slightly kitschy) figurines in your and your groom’s likenesses online.

Accents SAVE Sugar flowers may look pretty, but those mini, edible blooms take a lot of manpower to make, which will cost you. Go with a simple design (think: white icing dots or ribbon bands) and spruce it up with fresh blooms matching your bouquet.

The Reception

Table numbers SAVE Embrace your inner DIY diva and make these on your own. Personalize each table number with engagement photos, postcards of places you’ve been together or funny childhood snapshots.

Music SPLURGE Pick the wrong band or DJ, and you might as well just send your guests home after dinner. Music dictates the mood of your reception — not a task for amateurs.

Lighting SPLURGE A sea of hanging lanterns can turn a tent into a romantic venue. We also love spotlights on dramatic centerpieces and an ultra-modern, illuminated monogram projected on the dance floor.

Favors SAVE In lieu of favors, donate to your favorite charity on behalf of your guests. Print a note about the donation on your escort cards. Most guests will be happy to help a good cause rather than take home a mini frame or bag of almonds.

Photography SPLURGE You’ll cherish your photos from the wedding forever, so check out different photographers’ websites and choose someone who suits your style — even if they’re a little expensive. Our advice: Hire a photographer with an assistant so you have two roaming lenses on your big day.

Taking Sides
Ushers needn’t ask guests whose “side” they are on. (In Christian ceremonies, the bride’s side is the left side of the church when looking from back to front, and the groom’s side is the right; for Jewish services, it’s the opposite.) But should someone express a preference for one side or the other (many guests will say they are friends or relatives of the bride or groom), they should be seated where they want to sit. If one side of the family will have more guests than the other, ushers should try to even things out, explaining that everyone will sit together so guests can get the best view possible.

Who Sits Where?
Quick answers to your most frequent seating questions:

*Elderly guests should be seated near the front.

*Guests in wheelchairs or on crutches should sit at the end of a pew.

*The first four or five rows may be reserved for immediate and extended family (like aunts, uncles, cousins, and
godparents) and other special guests (like the parents of a child attendant) by tying ribbons across those rows.

*Immediate family is seated just before the ceremony begins. Siblings (if they’re not in the wedding party) are seated before grandparents and great-grandparents. They sit either in the first row with parents or in the second row with grandparents. Start seating with the groom’s side.

*If you have step-relatives, make sure ushers know who they are. Step-relatives should be escorted to their seats first — for example, step-grandparents precede birth grandparents. You may want to reserve a few extra rows directly behind immediate family for step-grandparents and stepsiblings.

*If the bride’s or groom’s parents are divorced, seat the parent who primarily raised the bride or groom in the front row with his/her spouse, and seat the other parent and his/her spouse in the third row. Alternatively, birth parents may sit beside each other in the first row, or they may share the front row with stepparents. Discuss this in advance to avoid awkward moments.

*The bride’s mother is always seated last at a Christian ceremony; the groom’s mother is seated just before her. (In Jewish ceremonies, parents stand under the huppah with the couple). The seating of the bride’s mother signals that the ceremony is about to begin.

*Brothers of the bride and groom usually seat their mothers; the head usher can do it if the brothers are in the wedding party, or a brother can seat his mom and then take his place with the other groomsmen.

Shelter & Travel
Though footing the bill for travelers’ overnight accommodations and flights isn’t your responsibility, you and your fiance should offer suggestions for how to find both (and tips on how to score good deals will no doubt be appreciated by guests). Be sure to put important details for airlines and hotels (website and street addresses, phone numbers, directions, and cost information) on an insert sent out with your invitations, or post it separately on your wedding itinerary or web page so guests can book their flights and rooms early and know how to get around once they arrive.
Recommend different places for guests to stay. Look for locations near your ceremony and reception sites, and start calling around about six months beforehand to check on large-scale availability for the days surrounding your wedding, and to inquire about special group rates. To get the best deal for your guests, reserve blocks of rooms at a couple of hotels. Keep your guest’s probable budget range in mind, and recommend both fancy fare for those flush with cash and a less expensive alternative for the budget-minded. For the best airfares, try getting in touch with the airlines directly. Inquire about frequent-flyer deals, special discounts, and group rates for those who may all be flying in from the same place.

Getting Around
Some out-of-towners will choose to rent cars (be sure to provide car rental info with your hotel and airline details), but for those who don’t, you’ll have to figure out how they’ll get to and from the wedding. Cover all the bases: organize a fleet of relatives that will act as chauffeurs, talk to the hotel manager to arrange for a hotel shuttle, hire a car or limo service, or rent a few vans or a bus.
It’s also a kind gesture to have someone pick up nondrivers from the airport — especially if they’re new to the area or get nervous traveling. Recruit volunteers for this: parents, next of kin, and friends are likely targets. Put together a roster of arrival times, and have trekkers greeted at the gate with signs bearing their names (be sure to let guests know you’ve arranged this, and clue them in on who to look for).

Surprise Treats
Comfort the jet-lagged and travel-weary with a little something left in their hotel rooms. Imagine their delight — walking into their temporary living quarters and discovering a basket of fresh fruit, a bouquet of flowers, a tin of local chocolates, or a bottle of chilled bubbly. What you choose to give depends on your resources, and can be as lavish as a free massage at the hotel spa or as simple as a plate of homemade chocolate-chip cookies. The purpose is to let guests know you appreciate their effort to join you for your special day.
Create welcome packets of relevant information (phone numbers of the families of the bride and groom, the names of the other guests staying at the hotel, nearby hot spots to check out) to leave in guests’ rooms with another copy of your wedding itinerary, plus local brochures and sightseeing maps. Enlist the aid of your wedding crew to assemble and distribute all these treats. Finally, add that finishing touch and pen a personal note thanking each guest for coming to celebrate with you.

Evening Entertainment
Leading up to the main event, you may have plenty to fuss over, but out-of-town guests may not. Don’t leave them in the lurch with nothing to do. If many guests are showing up the night before the ceremony, suggest ways they can stay amused while you hold the rehearsal dinner. Ask a friend or relative to host a gathering like a backyard barbecue or pizza party to help guests get to know one another. Or arrange to have everyone meet together at a restaurant or bar. Better yet, create a more casual rehearsal dinner, and open up the invite list to include everyone who might be around. For guests who like to entertain themselves, be sure to supply a roster of your favorite restaurants, shops, and local movie theaters as a thoughtful gesture.

Time In-Between
Though recommended, sometimes it’s not possible to have your reception immediately follow your ceremony. If there will be a lengthy break between your “I dos” and the party, or your ceremony is late in the day, try to come up with a game plan. During a lull, some people won’t mind going back to the hotel and kicking back. But others may be interested in touring your stomping grounds. If guests will have the morning free, suggest a game of golf or a visit to a museum. With lots of spare time between the main events, you could organize an excursion, such as taking a group of guests to visit nearby attractions or to see a movie.

Quality Time
Remember the reason that these intrepid travelers have come is to see you, so make sure they do. Pull them aside amid all the revelry for some one-on-one attention, or make it a point to tell them at the receiving line how much seeing them means to you. Raise your glass during toasting time to acknowledge those who have come from afar, and consider setting up something special for journeyers, such as a brunch the morning after the ceremony (if you aren’t already off to a magnificent honeymoon).

Saving Your Gown

Ink Spot
You were signing a prewedding love note to your groom, and your hand slipped? Beware: Removing stains from your bridal gown can be a pretty tricky business. Water or liquid cleaner could leave a mark, and bleaches can irreparably burn the fabric.
Fast fix: Apply a touch of hairspray to a cotton swab, then rub lightly over the stain.

Water Mark
Sweat, tears, even good old Evian can leave watermarks on your gown. Immediately blot any wet spot with a clean white towel to soak up excess moisture. Beware: Attacking spots with a hairdryer may spread the wet mark even further.
Fast fix: Run a hand-steamer over fabric to lift out the watermark; some fabrics can be ironed afterward. As a preventative measure, be sure to ask your bridal salon about using steamers and irons on your gown when you pick it up after your final fitting.

Makeup Mess
With all those kisses you’ll be receiving, it’ll be hard not to end up with makeup on your gown.
Fast fix: Don’t rub! Press a little club soda onto the spot, then sprinkle salt on top to soak up moisture. Let dry. If a hint of a spot remains, touch up with white chalk or talc.

Oil Stain
Whether from your perfume or a small bite of salad, a drizzle of oil can quickly ruin a pristine white gown.
Fast fix: Dip a cotton swab into cornstarch or talcum powder, then gently — but generously — apply it to the spot. The cornstarch or powder will absorb the oil. Wait 15 minutes for moisture to be absorbed, then dust off powder with a clean white towel. Repeat if necessary.

Blood Blotch
Did you prick your finger with a corsage pin and then touch your gown?
Fast fix: Wet a cotton swab with your own saliva, then gently rub it on top of the blood. The acids will break down the stain. Works best when the blood has not yet dried.

Stocking Run
Every bride knows that even the tiniest run in her hose can ruin an otherwise perfect ensemble. Okay, so you didn’t listen to us and don’t have three extra pairs on hand (or maybe you’ve run through them all already).
Fast fix: Carry along a bottle of clear nail polish to abolish your runs, as well as any that plague your mother or bridesmaids (just dab some on the end of the run), and consider stashing a couple spare pairs in the ladies room before the reception.

Looking Your Best

Broken Nail
Snag your finely manicured talon on your dress zipper?
Fast fix: Apply a drop of fast-bonding glue to the nail break, and position a tiny bit of unused paper from a tea bag on top. Then add another drop of glue. When it dries, file the paper down until you can’t see or feel the edges, then top with a third and final drop of glue.

Swollen Eyes
Afraid you’ll wake up wedding morning with eyes all red and puffy from a prenuptial-stress cry?
Fast fix: Sleep with your head propped up a few inches by a pillow to help drain excess fluid from the blood vessels around your eyes. If your peepers are still red and swollen when you awaken, flush with Visine and then relieve puffiness with cold, wet teabags to help tighten swollen tissue.

Lipstick on the Lam
Does your lipstick have a tendency to head south?
Fast Fix: Avoid feathering — and ensure long-lasting wear by filling in your entire lips with a lip pencil that’s the same hue as, or one hue darker than, the lipstick you plan to wear. This creates an adhesive surface on which to apply your color. When you’ve finished shading, apply lipstick with a lip brush for precise application, then line the outside of your lips. Last, remove excess color and smooth lip texture by blotting your lips with a tissue. Then add a dab of Vaseline to your teeth to keep them lipstick-free.

Sudden Breakout
Prewedding stress can wreak havoc on your skin, upping the chances of waking on wedding morning with a blemish.
Fast Fix: Cover a red pimple with concealer as close to your skin tone as possible. If blemish is dark, dab on a slightly lighter concealer with a small brush, then set with matching powder. If necessary, add a second layer of each. And remember, it’s okay if you don’t achieve total elimination. The point is to de-emphasize, not to remove. An overly concealed spot will only call attention to itself, which is not the goal you really had in mind. In case of an emergency — say a glaring cyst-like pimple just days before the big event — hightail it over to your dermatologist’s office for a quick cortisone injection.

Shiny Face
Do you and your groom have a tendency to shine under high pressure and hot lights? You’re not alone.
Fast fix: Come prepared with a small package of blotting papers, or keep a cotton handkerchief, loose powder, and big puff close at hand to banish perspiration or shine.

Razor Burn
Your guy tends to get terrible razor burn on his neck?
Fast Fix: Make sure his blade is clean and sharp, then instruct him to avoid pressing too hard on the skin, and also to shave with the grain not against it. Shaving in the shower can help soften stubble with steam. And an aftershave with ingredients like aloe and shea butter can help ease troubled dermis.

Shaving Nick
Hand slipped while shaving your leg? Worse, your groom got nicked shaving his face?
Fast fix: Splash the area with cold water, then apply a product that contains both alum (a hemostatic that helps stop bleeding) and potassium (an antiseptic that cleanses skin and closes up pores).

Conspicuous Tattoo
No matter how proud you are of the tattoo you sport on your right shoulder — and the pain you endured to get it there — showing it off during your wedding ceremony (even if the design features your groom’s name inscripted in a heart) may or may not be appropriate.
Fast Fix: Use a thick yellow-based medical concealer (companies like Covermark and Dermablend make heavy coverage makeup used for covering scars) for camouflage. Ideally, you should purchase this makeup product in three different tones: the first product should be a perfect match for your skin tone; the second should be one tone lighter; the third, two tones lighter. Begin applying from the lightest shade to the darkest. First, using a concealer brush, apply the lightest makeup shade over the tattoo to form a base. The trick is to keep the makeup only on the tattoo — not on the skin. Both a stiff brush and a fairly thick concealer will help on this count. Next, layer on the darkest shade and blend it in. Then gently blend skin-tone makeup over the top, and set with matching powder, using a puff.

Have a night out with the girls (or boys).
With all the “togetherness” of being a future bride and groom, remind yourselves you’re individuals too. Book a night out with your respective same-sex posse (again, no wedding talk). Hit the town like a swinging single and stay out past midnight. Take advantage of the fact that your future spouse isn’t around to do something with your friends he or she doesn’t like to do — we’re talking chick flick, batting cages, steak dinner, manicures. Then entertain each other the next day with tales of your exploits.

Go on a fancy date.
Chances are, for the past few months you’ve been scrimping and saving every extra nickel to supplement your funds. If you’ve done well, reward yourselves for your miserly skills by spending a little of that cold hard cash. Book a table at the fanciest restaurant in town and go for the full monty: fine wine, appetizer, entree, dessert, and after-dinner drinks. Afterward, stop in a local jazz club and catch a torch singer belting out inspiring tunes de l’amour.

Take a drive.
Reserve a weekend afternoon and head for the open road. Check out that little place a couple of towns over that you always mean to visit. Test each other’s map-reading skills. Play road games like, Who Can Spot the Most Out-of-State License Plates? Sing along to cheesy songs on the radio. Buy a souvenir at a highway truck stop. Stumble upon a romantic restaurant for lunch or dinner before heading home.

Mastermind a movie marathon.
There’s nothing like a good movie to transport you from reality to fantasy. Take the phone off the hook, rent a whole slew of films, and spend an evening in, snacking on popcorn and Sno-Caps. The trick here is to stay away from wedding-theme fare — sorry, this includes Father of the Bride — while keeping the romance theme going with a steamy story like The Lover. Or opt for the comic relief of a Jim Carrey or Eddie Murphy flick — laughter, after all, is still the best stress reliever.

Get in some game play.
Sometimes a little healthy competition serves to make you closer, right? Challenge your mate to a night of games: Pictionary, Scrabble, backgammon, even good old cards. If you own a Sony PlayStation 2, take the high-tech road to fun. Rather venture out? Head for the nearest bowling alley — or look into go-carts, ice-skating, and tennis tournaments for other fun and sporty activities to enjoy a deux.

Revert to childhood.
There’s nothing like a good amusement park to get you feeling like a kid again. Wake up extra early to avoid long lines, then get your fill of roller coasters, log flumes, and Ferris wheels. Challenge your future mate to a bumper car race. Fill up on cotton candy, funnel cake, and waffle cones. Take an old-fashioned photo. Then spend an hour or so trying to win a supersize stuffed animal to take home as a memento of the day.

Engage in an eat-a-thon.
If you both love to cook, compose a special theme menu for a romantic at-home date. Go shopping together and pick the freshest produce around (maybe there’s a farmer’s market near you) — and remember to include some aphrodisiac ingredients! Nab a bouquet and some candles to pretty up your table while you’re at it. Once at home, take time to really enjoy the meal prep process. Line up all your ingredients on the countertop and open a bottle of wine. And take lots of liberties when it comes to recipes — nothing’s better than creating signature dishes together.

Something Old: The bride’s parents pay for the wedding.

Something New: Every couple funds the festivities in different ways. Maybe your mom and dad want to pay for every single thing, but, unlike in the past where the bride’s family was expected to foot the whole bill, they’re in no way obligated to now. Grooms’ parents and the couples themselves chip in nearly as often as brides’ parents do. It just depends on your family’s situation. If you’d like your fiancé’s parents’ help, your husband-to-be will need to ask for it—not you, and certainly not your parents. Just remember: Whoever pays gets a say. If you know your mother-in-law will insist on an in-church ceremony if she contributes and you’ve got your heart set on exchanging vows on a sandy beach, you may be happier cutting your guest list than asking her to contribute anything.

Something Old: You must invite everyone with a guest.

Something New: If they’ll know others, skip the plus-one. It’s still polite (and very appreciated!) to invite guests’ significant others, but if you’re inviting a group of coworkers, for instance, and two or more of them are single, they should have no problem attending solo. Only when guests won’t know anyone aside from the couple is it mandatory to let them bring a date. It’s kind to invite attendants with guests too (they are shelling out big bucks for their attire!).

Something Old: Your registry should consist entirely of housewares for your new home.

Something New: You can register for anything from honeymoon hotel accommodations to skiing equipment. Guess what, Grandma? Lots of couples live together before they get married and may have all of the towels and blenders they’ll ever want. You can request upgraded versions of home items you already own, but nothing should stop you from creating a honeymoon or otherwise “untraditional” registry. These are your gifts, and you need to be happy with them! If you’re inviting a few Internet-less guests, including items from a brick-and-mortar store they can actually get to will help prevent a buildup of unwanted presents. But you should feel free to include a ping-pong table for your basement or the complete Sex and the City DVD collection on your wish list if you can’t use yet another kitchen appliance. A word of caution: Some of the older folks think that they know what brides and grooms really need, so they may get you an iron even if you haven’t requested one.

Something Old: You must wear a white gown.

Something New: Wear whatever you want! Sure, most brides go the white or ivory route, but for your wedding day attire, anything goes: from a cute cherry red flapper dress to a silver, slinky sheath to a (gasp!) black pantsuit. As long as you feel fabulous in your outfit, it can be any color or style. You can even skip the veil! Warning: Your fashion choices may wind up shocking your older guests, especially the ones who equate wearing white with “purity.” If you’d prefer that your look pleases the crowd but aren’t willing to go totally traditional, try working in a hint of color via a dress sash, your shoes, jewelry or a hair accessory.

Something Old: Your mom can’t throw your shower.

Something New: Anyone can throw your shower! People used to think it was rude for the bride’s mother to host a party where the sole purpose was for her daughter to get gifts. Other close family members, like sisters, were similarly forbidden from hosting. We didn’t get this then, and we don’t get it now, and luckily, today’s mothers of the bride are ignoring the passé etiquette. In some cultures and regions of the US, like Italians in the Northeast, the mother always hosted her daughter’s shower. So encourage your mom to throw yours if you think that she wants to! Your bridesmaids may be itching to throw a shower for you too, so make sure that they coordinate with your mom before they make any definite plans.

Something Old:You have to have a rehearsal dinner.

Something New: You can skip a rehearsal dinner. When couples lived separately before they got married and engagements were a few weeks long, not a year or more, the rehearsal dinner was the first time both sets of parents could meet. Since the mothers and fathers of the bride and groom would be responsible for introductions at the wedding the next day, they needed to see each other first! Having a rehearsal dinner is still smart when your and your fiancé’s parents aren’t acquainted, but if there’s no time or room in the budget, then it’s okay to skip it, especially if your ceremony rehearsal has to take place on a weekday or minutes before your actual wedding. It’s nice to treat out-of-towners to a welcome meal, or you can just gather your closest local friends and family for a prewedding dinner, but neither is required. Ask anyone who tells you otherwise if they’d like to plan and pay for it!

Something Old: The first time you see your groom on your wedding day should be at your ceremony.

Something New: You can spend every minute with your groom before the ceremony. We promise that it’s not bad luck if your fiancé catches a glimpse of you in your gown on the wedding day (or even before it, but why not surprise him if you both can hold out?). In fact, many couples who decided to wait until the ceremony to see each other would’ve preferred to have the inevitably emotional experience in private rather than in front of all of their guests. Photographers are happy to capture the moment you first see each other before the ceremony, so take photos then. That way, you don’t have to miss your cocktail hour.

Something Old: Ceremony seating is based on a bride’s side and groom’s side.

Something New: Guests can choose to sit wherever they want! It used to be that guests of the bride sat on the left side at the ceremony and guests of the groom sat on the right. Even now, plenty of your guests will go by this guideline to find their seats. But if your fiancé’s family is huge and yours is tiny, your ceremony will look a little weird if most people are seated on the right side. And at Jewish weddings, the sides are flipped anyway! (Gotta love when everyone winds up on one side at an interfaith wedding!) If you’re having ushers, ask them to direct your VIPs, parents, grandparents and the like to prime seats toward the front of either side and instruct your other guests to sit in any open seat. No ushers? No problem. Place a sign in the area where people pick up their programs and have it read, “Sit anywhere you like!” That’ll send the message loud and clear.

Something Old: You must walk down the aisle.

Something New: You don’t have to walk anywhere! Perhaps you’re a flats-wearing gal and your trip down the aisle may turn into a real trip in your wedding day heels. Or maybe you’d prefer to skip all the hoopla that’s associated with that long walk. Whatever your rationale, it’s your prerogative. Your groom is already going to be up at the altar; why can’t you be too? Who says that you have to have a processional at all? Yet, for Jewish weddings, it’s strongly suggested that brides (and grooms too!) walk down the aisle. That’s because they each make their way to the huppah with both of their parents. If you want to skip the walk but still want to honor your mom and dad, present them with flowers or other gifts during your ceremony.

Something Old: You have to leave for your honeymoon right after your reception.

Something New: You can go on a honeymoon whenever you want. Heading straight to your honeymoon sounds romantic, but it can be a logistical nightmare. Think it over: You’d have to lug your luggage from the ceremony to the reception and keep your passport and plane tickets in a safe place the entire day. But even if you’re the queen of organization, you’ll be so exhausted from your whirlwind day that you’ll want nothing more than to just veg out for a while with your new husband after the wedding. And that’s okay! When you take a honeymoon is entirely up to you two (and maybe your boss a little bit). No matter if you leave the day after or the year after, it’ll still be the wonderful, well-deserved vacation you always imagined it’d be.