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Weddings are fun, but anyone who has ever planned a wedding might be happy to tell you about the horror stories of everything that went wrong. Unfortunately, this happens all too often no matter how well you plan or how experienced your resources might be. Planning the wedding doesn’t have to be like that, 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.

Any formal affair that entails hundreds of guests, designer gowns, destination travel plans, a celebrity style caterer, and additional custom touches, will take at least a year of virtual full time planning. For a smaller wedding of perhaps ‘family and friends’ ‘ under 50 people ‘ you’re still looking at two months, although a month (with lots of help) might be reasonable.

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.

You don’t need to do it all yourself. Learn to delegate. You’ll be surprised how things can get done if you choose some reliable friends, give them an assignment, and leave them alone. Almost everyone has a smart phone that can be used like a laptop ‘ if they have questions or want your opinion on something they can send you pictures, text you a question, or even take a video walking around a reception hall to see if you like it.

Even if you don’t have an artistic bone in your body, you can still print your own invitations. Specialty kits that include everything from paper stock to envelopes to ribbons and more can be ordered online or found in office supply stores. To save even more time, add an email address instead of having people mail those pesky little RSVP cards back. What was gauche even 10 years ago is now considered de rigueur. The same goes for wedding photos. Hire a professional wedding photographer to fulfill your needs.

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.

Make sure your transportation is in place a few days ahead of time. Review addresses, destinations, times, and even fees if applicable. If relying on friends, make sure they clean out their cars! Wedding dresses and Oreo cookie crumbs don’t mix!

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!