[surferguy]

Here goes my advice:

Stay away from late summer weddings - early summer for the win. Our wedding was very craft intensive which took a lot of our time. I would have hated to be completing crafts in the middle of summer. All that stuff can happen during the winter when it is ####ty outside.

Pintrest has really cool ideas.

We got married on Vancouver Island on a regular weekend. Our wedding was about our guests - I do not like the statement of "its your day, it is about you" It is true in some manner but the biggest thing on the wedding day are the people that will be there. Respect them and do everything in your power to make sure they have fun.

Best man and Maid of Honor only.

Suits - no tuxedos - they are tacky.

We were married on a saturday so on the friday night we held a mixer for everybody that was actually a funny money casino (we built all the games) people could then drop their money (with their name on the back) into draws for wedding weekend related things like:

- first table to eat at the reception
- a pro photo with the bride a groom
- a dance with the bride
- instant song request
- front row seats to the ceremony
- two seats at the head table
- a rum with the groom and his father
etc

Make your own decorations - I am a crafty type so buying most things was out of the question.. we used rocks moss and driftwood as our table center pieces. all collected locally and left locally.

Buying anything from Micheals is a sin - if you have to do it - make sure you have a internet coupon for 40% off.

We went ipod for a DJ

we built a photo booth and had that set up for the night with a heap of props from our Halloween tickle trunk. We left it set up all night so our guests could sneak away to have a photoshoot.

again our theme was to make sure our guests have fun. We hit that out of the park and got married too.

We also made our own video invitations for our guests. It took time but everybody got their own invitation via youtube - personalized. Big hit with everyone - no cash spent.

Be frugal as the day will be stupid expensive -

most weddings are the same as the next - try to break the mould and you and your guests will have a great time

Lastly - find the problem amily member and take them aside and tell them that you will absolutely put up with zero politics. The decisions you make are made for a reason, i found that setting the ground rules right from the get go work well for us.

Congrats and have fun!