A lot of people resist the urge to pay thousands of dollars for a wedding planner and choose to go the DIY route and plan their own weddings. If you fall into this category and are planning your own ceremony, check out these helpful tips below and make that special day, one you can be proud of.

If something goes wrong on your wedding day, don’t freak out! My cake fell over on the way to my ceremony, and both the best man and woman were unable to attend. In the end, those people are no longer in my life and my new best woman was a cake decorator who was able to fix the cake. It will always work out!

For the woman who is about to get married, don’t skimp on the dress. This is your day to shine, to look the most beautiful you have ever looked before, and to be decorated with unending compliments. So go buy that expensive dress you have always dreamed of wearing on your wedding day.

Find out before your wedding ceremony when and where you are permitted to take photographs. Some venues won’t permit flash photography at all, while some officiants don’t want anyone taking photos while they are conducting the ceremony. If you find out the rules ahead of time you can plan out the shots you are allowed to take beforehand.

Vintage or antique place settings are a perfect addition to a retro or period-inspired rehearsal dinner or reception, but they are also extremely expensive. Instead of spending days trying to track down a complete set, consider private rental companies that, for a modest sum, rent out entire place settings, silverware, and serving utensils.

Here’s a fun tip – practice your wedding kiss! You want to make it sincere and not sexy, not too short but not too long. NO TONGUE! Practice how you’ll hold your partner’s face, if you choose to, or where your hands will be otherwise. You only get one shot, so you’ll need LOTS of practice beforehand!

Do not let your bachelor or bachelorette party end too late at night. Many people are sleep deprived the day of their wedding because they stayed up too late the night before. You may even want to consider having your bachelor or bachelorette party the weekend prior to your wedding.

Make sure that you wear comfortable shoes on your wedding day. You will be standing throughout most of the ceremony and dancing for most of the reception, so you do not want to neglect your feet. This does not mean you have to get ugly shoes, just get comfortable, attractive ones.

Part of the planning for a destination should include checking out the typical weather for the time you want to get married. It’s not recommended to go to Bermuda during hurricane season, for example. Try to plan for a time where the weather is guaranteed to be sunny but not too hot.

For both brides and grooms, it is important that you do not drink too much at your wedding reception. Although a few drinks are okay, getting drunk will just make you not remember your day and could cause you to do or say something that you are going to later regret.

If you love the idea of adorable flower girls sprinkling petals across the aisle before your big entrance, you can still achieve this look for less by opting for faux rose petals and silk blooms. Fresh petals can easily set you back a few hundred dollars, but faux roses look nearly identical; after all, they will be trampled underfoot shortly.

Buying locally can save you tons of money and help your community’s economy, too. Choosing local vendors means you won’t be charged for the extra distance they have to travel, which is especially important when it comes to catering. Using a local florist also means that you will receive a fresh bouquet on your wedding day.

In order to prevent excessive stress during the months before the wedding, ensure you have allowed plenty of time to plan the wedding. It takes a lot of time to interview and select florists, photographers, and caterers, etc. In general, the larger the wedding, the more time you will need to make sure everything turns out perfectly on your wedding day.

Flowers are not only a beautiful touch for the wedding attire and decor, but they can also be selected to add personal meaning. When designing a bridal bouquet, include flowers that have positive and optimistic connotations. Flowers like crocuses, hyacinths, and daisies are all associated with innocence, hope, and young love.

Going the do-it-yourself route can really put a lot of pressure on you to pull off a stellar event, whether you’re the one getting married or just the one planning the ceremony. Always make sure that you’re seeking advice on how to simplify the process. Use what you’ve learned here and plan a great wedding.