We have had such a great time getting to know this wonderful lady and getting amazing wedding tips from her! Here is the last set of tips from Samantha!

1. Before you book a venue, take everything into consideration

While management of details is a large part of the planner's role, should you decide to book a venue on your own and/or hire a planner after you have already done so, you will want to pay careful attention to understand the details written in the contract. Many venues have hidden expenses that aren't necessarily clear up front. For example, will you need to rent "rain plan" tents in order to accommodate all of your guests in the event of inclement weather? Can you pick and choose your own vendors or do you have to use their in-house or approved vendors? Sometimes these vendors could be more expensive than the ones you would book if you weren't restricted to a list. Understanding all of these kinds of considerations is vital to maintaining your budget, as well as being fully satisfied with your selections. 

2. Don't procrastinate

Again, this is seemingly obvious but commonly overlooked. That being said, think ahead! Spend time up front thinking through what you can do now that will save you time and stress during the final month leading up to the wedding. With so many details and "to-do" items that can only be taken care of during the last month, planning adequately for these considerations early will make your life so much easier down the road--and you will definitely thank yourself!

3. Don't try to do it all

With endless blogs, Pinterest postings, and bridal magazines out there, it's easy to get overwhelmed with so many ideas. At the end of the day, you simply can't do it all! Wedding coordinators can sit down with you to help you take all of those ideas spinning around in your head, and ultimately, narrow them down into the wedding you've always dreamed of. Once you have established the design concept, the best advice is to stick with it!

4. Soak it up!

The actual wedding day goes by SO fast!! Try to enjoy every minute. Build in special moments for you and your new spouse! Maybe opt to have a "first look" where you see each other just before the ceremony for photos. This can create a special time for just the two of you to spend together right after he sees you for the first time. Another example would be having 15-20 minutes where you and your spouse enjoy your first meal together as a married couple while your guests are finishing up cocktail hour. This might be the only chance you get to eat! A final idea (and one of my favorites) is to have a "last dance" in the empty ballroom with just the two of you as all your guests line up to prepare for your farewell. Whatever you decide to do, make sure you cherish every moment of the day you've both waited so long for. 

If you missed the other parts of this series, check them out on our blog. And for more info on Samantha, visit her website!

www.samanthaelizabethevents.com

Thank you Samantha for so many wonderful tips! Show some love for Samantha in the comment box below!