Wedding Planning Tips Before Heading To The Bangor Wedding Show

First and foremost for brides is the dress. It has to be perfect! A flattering fit and yet comfortable enough to wear for a few hours. It's a good plan to have an idea of what you're looking for ahead of the shopping trips. But keep an open mind! A style you didn't think you'd like might look perfect!

And while we're on dresses, let's talk about the bridesmaids dresses. Be kind to your attendants. Don't put them in hot pink feather boas! Make sure the dresses are flattering to the women. And that may mean differing the styles slightly for women who are built differently.

You may think the dress is the most important, but your new hubby will be standing next you, so he has to look great! Like the dress, a tuxedo that fits well and is comfortable enough to wear for a few hours is a must.

That goes for all the tuxes, including the groomsmen. And be sensitive to the guys when it comes to your colors. If you're making the bridesmaids wear pink and purple, maybe go for a classic tux of black/white/gray rather than putting them in pink vests.

With the dresses and tuxes, you have to think about accessories. Everything matters, from jewelry to footwear. Again, make sure it's comfortable, because you're going to wear it for a while. The guys are pretty easy because the shoes usually come with the tuxedo. But you might want to issue a reminder about black socks.

For the women, it's a bit more complicated. The jewelry should complement the dresses. Shoes that are flattering and easy to walk in. If the heels are too high, you risk someone falling. And don't forget the whole 'something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue!'

And this is probably a good place to talk about invitations. They can be pretty expensive, so decide how fancy you want to go and if you want to do some of them yourself. Some people are even setting up wedding websites, with all the details available online!

Many of the details will depend on where you're getting married. Some churches will limit the amount of decorating that you can do and whether or not you can throw rice. So check with the folks at the venue before you make too many plans.

Flowers can be expensive, so you may want to plan carefully. Keep the centerpieces at the reception simple so you can have fancier bouquets for the bride and attendants. Or vice-versa!

Where does everyone sit? Do you want to pick sides for the family or just have everyone sit where they wish?

Rings - who's going to carry them? And how will they carry them? If you have a child ring bearer with a pillow, make sure they're tied on. But don't make the knots too complicated or you may have a moment of panic at the altar!

Who's your photographer? If you're hiring a professional photographer, they'll go over all the basics with you. But if you have a family member or friend doing the photos, you'll want to review your preferences like whether you want pictures during the ceremony. And make sure the gear is secure. At my second wedding, the photographer bumped the camera at the start of the ceremony, so our whole video is sideways!

Rice, Bird Seed, or Bubbles? Again, totally up to you. Many couples have gone to bird seed because rice can be dangerous to birds. And others have skipped the 'throwing' part of the event and opted to give everyone bubbles to blow!

There are so many pieces that need to be decided upon to make a successful reception. It's not just a matter of renting a hall and hiring a DJ.

First, the venue. You want it to be the right size, the right price, and offer as many of the services you need as possible. If they can provide the food there, it will save you the job of hiring a caterer. Bonus!

Then, there's the food. Sit down dinner or buffet? Do you want appetizers? Little wieners or meatballs? Do you want to offer a vegetarian item? Cash or open bar?

Linens! What color do you choose for the napkins? And do you want the tablecloths to match or be a complementary color?

DJ or band? Popular music or strictly country? Mostly upbeat or a mix? First dance song? Bride/Father dance music? Groom/Mother song? Do you want to be announced as you enter the room?

Cake. This is a big one. What flavor? How many tiers? Do you want a cake or cupcakes or both? What cake topper do you want to use? And what about when you cut the cake - what utensil will you use? When do you want to cut the cake?

Seating charts. Ugh! Probably the toughest part. You can have assigned seating or just assign the head table and let everyone figure it out from there. It sounds like a lot, but most venues can help you find your way through all the steps.

For many, the honeymoon is as important, if not more important, than the wedding. That's a decision you and your future spouse will need to discuss, up front. Do you want to invest the bulk of your budget into the wedding and then have a local honeymoon? Or do you want to go a little easier on the wedding budget and head for someplace exotic?

Whichever way you decide to go, there are plenty of folks who can help you plan. Find out ahead of time if you need to do anything special before heading out. If you're going overseas, you'll need immunizations. And, of course, you need a passport these days just to go to Canada!

Pack your bags ahead of time and make sure you have someone watching your house while you're gone. The wedding night should be for relaxing with your spouse, not deciding which toiletries to pack!

Remember, there will be lots of folks at the Bangor Wedding Show to help you with all these details and more! The show runs from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday at the Spectacular Events Center in Bangor. Don't miss it!