A wedding is easily one of the most memorable occasions in the human experience. The loving relationship at the core of a wedding has a great deal to do with its memorability, of course, but careful planning and hard work make a huge difference, too. Here are a few tips that can help make a wedding even more memorable:

Before you get married, make sure you discuss the subject of children with your prospective mate. Having this discussion beforehand will avoid any disagreements after you’re married.

Keep your outdoor wedding decorations simple, at all costs. You will want to be the central of your wedding and too many decorations can take away from this. Keep your decorations very neat and ornate, but make sure not to go overboard, in order to allow your guests to maximize their experience.

For your first song as a couple, use something that is not only popular but has a lot of meaning for you and the person that you love. Play the first song that you ever danced to or a song that reminds you of that person to make the best of this moment.

It is important for brides-to-be to stay calm during the wedding planning process. Many women get stressed out when planning their wedding, and end up taking their frustrations out on those around them. Take a deep breath and remember that this is one of the most important events of your life, so you should be happy.

To ensure that you make it down the aisle with ease, be sure to try on your wedding shoes and wear them for one to two hours – at least twice – before the big day. This is especially important if you are unaccustomed to wearing heels, or if your feet are prone to swelling. It will also help you to decide if you need to add strap or heel cushions to your shoes to prevent blisters.

If you’re going to have children at your wedding, consider them when you choose your menu. If the items you really want to have aren’t palatable to children, include some child-friendly items in a quantity that matches the number of children attending in your order to your caterer so they will be considered, too. Don’t forget drinks!

Aim for a mid-day reception. Doing this, people will likely drink far less alcohol and keep your bar tab lighter. Post-lunch receptions usually cost less, too. The money saved here can be used elsewhere.

Call the hotels which are local to your wedding venue to see if they have group rates and bulk availability of rooms for out-of-town guests, and the bride if she so chooses, at least six months in advance. Calling this early can get you some excellent discounts, especially if you put some money down at the same time.

Every wedding is special and unique – even more so than the two people whose union calls for the occasion. Many people contribute to a truly memorable wedding in ways great and small. This article offers just a few humble suggestions to assist the whole loving community of helpers that do their part to put together a great wedding.