1) Get all deposits/contracts in writing and give them the ol' legal eagle eye - there have been some threads about people not being able to get their $ back due to a change or because of a verbal agreement, even with months of notice.
2) Make sure that your wedding/reception music more than complies with any noise ordinance. We have been having issues w/ cranky neighbors (who just need to eat more prunes IMO) calling the po-po at other 30-A locations.
3) It is more hot, breezy, and humid here than you realize. Plan all clothing, hairdos, make-up, and tailoring accordingly. An ice pack wrapped in a towel is a must have pre-ceremony and so are those little blotting papers and a handkerchief wrapped around your bouquet (for sweaty hands). Not eating or drinking enough water can also cause trouble.
4) The words Rosemary and wedding will both add $ to your costs, so prioritize and decide what is important to YOU. This day is about you and your spouse so decide what is special to you and what you want to spend money on - noone comes to a wedding for the food, flowers on the beach don't last long, noone knows if you got your dress on sale, and your mothers/in-laws have decades more of input. If you try to please everyone, you will end up pleasing noone and getting very frustrated.
5) You are the person getting married, not the group's dietician, babysitter, travel agent, fashion designer, or fairy godmother. It is your wedding and your decisions. People can have input, but it is YOUR WEDDING, so Aunt Tilly can arrange her own ride from the airport and call for more towels, the bridesmaids will wear what YOU say and do their hair how YOU say and like it, the vows/ceremony will be what you want - even if Great Uncle Humbert has always wanted to officiate and the demon twins want to be flower girls and Gina has a friend who does great things w/ fake flowers......
6) The things you do that reflect your personality are what people remember - not the chef flown in from NY to make the fruit shaped sorbets (which were basically popsicles) or that unique idea from Martha or the bridal mag - that every bride then does that season. :roll:
7) Assume everything will go wrong and plan accordingly - then you will have fewer surprises on the big day. Have a bad weather plan, travel plans w/ wiggle room & insurance, a dress/undergarments that are adjustable and comfortable, a reception w/ a HC stall (even then going to the bathroom is hilarious) and a friend/relative you trust (who is not a memeber of the wedding party) taking care of details in addition to your wedding planner so you don't have to.
8) Take breaks from the chaos/stress. Have times when you do NOT talk about the wedding for 24 hours, and also schedule massages or similar relaxation time. The planning can consume you until you are so sick and stressed you wonder why you wanted to get married and you cannot say something w/o using the W word - even if you were a perfectly normal low-maintence girl beforehand.
9) Have the bachelor/bachelorette weekends several weeks removed from the wedding and ban cell phones.
10) Have a great time! It's your wedding day and no matter what happens, you will still have a great day and all of the little things you went crazy about beforehand you won't even notice during the wedding/reception.
I vote SB44 as a wedding planner.
THis sounds like a good job for you!
