Before you even start your day make sure you don’t go to bed too late the night before.  People often have their RD the night before and I think that is a mistake.  If you can, have it two nights before so you are able to have a quieter evening the night before your wedding.  All too often I see people exhausted at their wedding, or feeling a bit under the weather.

On your wedding day decide how you want to spend the morning and with who.  Don’t worry about who’s feelings you are going to hurt.  When it is time to get ready only invite the people who are closest to you and who will be able to help you get ready into the room.  Ask someone to have an emergency bridal kit with them so they can help you with whatever is needed.

This bride needed her dress to be sewn and luckily her mom was prepared and able to help.  Things to think of having in your room:  music, water and some WHITE wine, healthy snacks, a full length mirror, all of your clothes, have your flowers delivered there so you can enjoy them, and some of the people you love.

One of the most important things to do is hire a wedding planner for AT LEAST the day of planning!  There are oodles and oodles of details that you have taken months to plan and on your wedding day you should not have to coordinate how they all come together.  Trust me on this one.  A wedding planner is worth their weight in gold on your wedding day.  They will make sure all of the vendors arrive, that they have everything they are supposed to, and that they set up where they are supposed to and follow the timeline that you have meticulously set into place.  Most Montana Weddings are outdoors and need someone to make sure that they ceremony site is set up properly, that the guest table is where it is supposed to be and that the reception area is looking like what you had envisioned.

Once the wedding starts there is coordinating between the caterer, the band, the venue, and the photographer that needs to happen.  Sometimes flowers and chairs have to be moved from the wedding site to the reception area and the coordinator takes care of all of these details.

The crazy thing about a wedding is that it takes a long time to plan but in reality everything comes together within a few short hours.  Those hours are filled with questions and decision making.  Don’t take on the role of doing everything on your wedding day.  This is the time to delegate your vision to someone else.  Choose a coordinator who’s personality you like and who is proficient at getting things done quickly and beautifully.

I have seen a family or friend take this on and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t.  In my opinion your wedding day is not the time to take a gamble.  You have worked hard to plan your wedding.  Spend just a tad bit more money to insure that you enjoy every minute of your day!  You can thank me later ; )

Wow what a wedding!  Everything was perfect down to the very last detail.  Becky and Derrick were married June 12, 2010.  Their ceremony was held in the Evangelical Free Church <http://www.efcb.org/> , and their reception was at the historical Baxter Hotel <http://www.thebaxterhotel.com/> in downtown Bozeman.  Becky’s gorgeous flowers were done by the Posie Patch, <http://www.posiepatch.com/> Genevieve from Time of Your Life Event Planning <http://timeofyourlifebozeman.com/> helped make the day run smoothly, and Deirdre from Indulgence <http://indulgencemontana.com/> did Becky’s stunning makeup (I hope I didn’t forget anybody).  I had such a hard time choosing which pictures to post, because I wanted to post them all!  Jennie Lynn Stanley <http://blubirdimages.com/index2.php> assisted me as well, and she totally rocked the camera! Here are a few of my favs from the day…this couple is gonna knock your socks off!  Congrats again Becky and Derrick!

Thank you Cali for taking the time to put this blog together with your lovely photographs.  http://calisparingphotography.com/blog/

It is official next years issue will focus on how to make your weddings dreams become a reality.  Our second issue is going to be filled with information that you, your family and friends can use to make your wedding planning flow more easily.  Making your dreams of your wedding day turn into a reality can sometimes be stressful, instead we can help make it an enjoyable experience that you can share with the people who are closest to you.

If you would like information regarding advertising in our publication or web site please be in touch with molly at info@montanaweddingguide.com.  She will gladly fill you in on all of the details and answer any questions that you might have.

If you are planning a wedding for next year keep your eyes out for our next edition which will be available in early January!

A sweet wedding photographed by Chieko Horn, of Nashan Photographers at Chico Hot Springs.  Get more details about the bride and groom and their plans when we host it in our real weddings section soon.