Your caricaturist will need a place to set up, and from there will be able to draw your guests by ones and twos for the evening. Have him draw a portrait of yourself and your intended to check the artists skills, style, and speed before you hire them for the full job (many of them will do this for free, but be prepared to payif necessary).

The portrait here is by Caricature King.

Opals come in a variety of shades, but the white opals, like those shown here, will match nicely with your dress and still offer you a flash of fire and color when the light hits them. Opals, like diamonds, have a bright inner fire and beautiful colors deep down, but you may find them more cost effective.

Another option is to give the DJ a wedding playlist. Make it long enough to last throughout the reception and then some, highlight the must-plays, and let him pick and choose from the available songs. Be sure to include a good mix of fast and slow songs, and then sit back and enjoy! Your DJ will control the order and keep the pace of the wedding just right, and you will hear nothing but your top choices all evening long.

This kind of problem is very common, especially when brides try to coordinate their own weddings. On your wedding day there is just too much to do to keep track of it all yourself while trying to get your hair and makeup done, get dressed, and stay calm.

Spend the time to create a detailed checklist, including everything you will need to bring, and a second list of every task that needs to be done, when, and who can do them. You will probably be updating these lists right up to the day of your wedding. You should arrange to have a calm, responsible person ready to take charge. Give this person your lists first thing on the day of your wedding, and try to forget about them. And maybe leave a cousin at the house until the last minute… just in case.

Creating your own centerpieces, for example, might sound like a great way to save money, but conduct a test run to find out how long assembling a single centerpiece takes. How many do you need? Now do the math. Do you really have THAT much free time on your hands THIS close to your wedding? If you do, or you think you do, still keeping in mind all of the other things that will need your attention, then go ahead. But start now. And work on them every day.

Last minute planning is the downfall of many brides. Don’t let it be yours, or you may have to be like one bride who stayed up the entire night before her wedding to finish the flowers, or another who had to send a relative back home to get the marriage license after the ceremony.

Whatever it is that sits in your mind as the must have for your wedding, consider that you may be able to afford the best after all. If you are willing to go with less expensive flowers, keep the wedding close to home, or compromise on the venue, you can save yourself a lot of money. Careful planning can save thousands of dollars, and this money can be spent on that one thing that would make your wedding perfect for you.

As yo plan your wedding, take into account your own values as well as your budget. If one of you is a recovering alcoholic, even a sip of wine is too much, and you should celebrate dry. If you both adore wine, it only makes sense to have it served as an option. Choose for you, not for those around you.

One thing you should always keep in mind, however, is that not everyone drinks, even if you enjoy it. Have plenty of non-alcoholic options available for those who are too young or who are otherwise uninterested in partaking. And enjoy!

From chemical damage to the wrong color to skin reactions, hair coloring is fraught with potential hazards. The best way to avoid them is to go for your hair appointment about a week out from your wedding. Any skin reactions will hopefully clear up in time, and any mistakes can hopefully be fixed, but your color should not grow out that fast.

It may be seen as overly cautious, but better than than having your wedding photos taken when your hair is accidentally blue.

Not all stylists are able to create these complicated braids, but there are salons or stylists who specialize in braiding. If you  have a Renaissance Faire nearby, you may have noticed a hair braiding booth there. Get a card, and you can book them for you and your wedding party.