Sure, weddings are happy occasions and fun fill events. Usually. Ask anyone who ever planned a wedding ‘ hers or a client’s ‘ and she’ll probably be able to share some absolute horror stories of things that went wrong. Planning the wedding needn’t be rife with problems, though.

What is vital in planning any wedding is to allot a reasonable amount of time for the size of the festivities. In other words, if you want to hire a caterer who has his own reality TV show, and you want a gown designed by Vera Wang, plan on 12 ‘ 18 months at a minimum, not to mention you must plan for the exorbitant costs.

The dress can be a problem all by itself. Too many women tend to design their wedding dresses in their heads, and then try to find the exact one. Weeks and months of dress shopping frequently end up in tears and utter disappointment. In today’s world not many people have this kind of time and many brides are therefore looking for options. These options include renting a dress, buying a used one, or just foregoing the official wedding dress altogether and choosing cocktail attire. Let the bridesmaids do the same thing.

No one can make all the necessary wedding plans all alone. You need help. You need to have at least a few people to rely on. Delegate! If you’re into micromanaging everything, technology can help. Smart phones can show you pictures of flowers, videos of churches and halls, and even photos of wedding cakes. Let someone else do the legwork and you can still make the final decision.

For invitations, save time and money by doing your own. These aren’t cheap home made reproductions; these are beautiful high end pieces. Kits can be found online and in local stores. Do yourself a favor and forget those little RSVP cards that no one uses anyway. Give people an email address they can respond to. What may have raised eyebrows a few years ago is considered industry standard and acceptable today. The same goes for wedding photos. Hire a professional wedding photographer to fulfill your needs.

If you have happen to not be a fan of those old fashioned and boring and usually inedible sit down dinners, too often interrupted by photos and music and other distractions, save yourself a small fortune and opt for something much more fun and enjoyable. Wines, cheeses, sushi, finger sandwiches and dips can be much easier, and people can eat whenever they want. Cut down on liquor expenses by setting a cappuccino bar with pastries, too.

Formal sit down dinners are cumbersome, error prone, and rarely appreciated. With photos, dancing, talking, and catching up with family and friends, many dinners remain untouched. Opt for something just as elegant but easier on the budget and probably more enjoyable. Wine and cheese receptions are quite popular, as are desserts only with a coffee bar set up instead of a full bar.

Double check last minute details 48 hours ahead. If you are hiring a limo service, go over addresses, times, destinations, and pricing. Get cell phone numbers for the drivers if possible. If you are relying on friends and family, make certain that cars are equipped to handle the number of passengers assigned.

To avoid additional problems, request that guests not bring gifts to the reception unless it is being held at your home, of course. This eliminates the need to move them again.

Professional wedding planners strive to make all weddings momentous and unforgettable. Their extensive services include hiring a Toronto wedding photographer, booking the banquet hall Toronto, and ordering the Toronto wedding cakes. Let your wedding mark the start of a long and blissful married life!