What advice would you give to a couple planning their wedding now?

Hire professionals early, then sit back and relax.

I hired all of my vendors a year in advance and did absolutely nothing from July 2016-April 2017 other than order/send invites. It was the best thing I could have done. I trusted the people I hired and let them do their thing.

1. Buffet. Hunting people down for RSVP is hard enough, don't add a menu option to it.

2. It is your day, but let your mother/important figure have a couple victories also.

3. When wedding planning stops being fun, take a day off. That means no diet, no WW, no Pinterest, no vendors, no answering any wedding questions from your MIL.

Stay off PInterest

Research venues before you build a guest list

Research pricing for reasonable pros before you build a budget

Don't invite the near world

Don't use friendors

Do not self cater

Do not ask your guests to bring food or set up your space

Don't build your budget based on your guests paying for booze

Don't have a huge bridal party

Eliminate anything no one will notice; cute signs (including those carried by children), fabulous shoes, personalized anything, STD's, menus, programs, OOT bags, giant rehearsal dinners, rehearsals themselves, after parties, shuttles, day after brunches, elaborate entertainment, video (sorry), limos

And don't make wedding planning your full time job.

So far for me,

Don't buy things (STDs, etc) to early.

Budget

Say No thanks

If I were not deadset on having friends n family there...we would have have eloped with a dress/suit n photographer. Spending more $ on our rings n honeymoon

Plan to only spend 85% of budget...shit comes up or is forgotten about. Know that ~50% of budget=venue/food/bev.

Yea, it is a pretty broad question, but I just rec'd my wedding video so I'll give you some fresh advice:

GET VIDEO.

Even if it's just a 5 minute highlight video. Figure out a way to make it work with your budget. Watching us say our vows to each other had me crying more last night than it did during my entire wedding, and the images they captured when the photographer was taking his pictures gives it an entirely different perspective.

If I were Bill Gates rich, once a month I'd randomly pick an engaged couple and gift them a cinematography package. That's how much I think couples need to have their wedding day captured on film by a professional.

It's your wedding, don't let anyone change your vision!

Ignore the small stuff.

Talk to EVERYONE at the reception- at the very least stop by their table and say thank you for comming

Something people haven't said yet: budget for fees and taxes.

If you have $1,000 for the florist, tell them your budget is $800, because that other $200 will disappear if you need any kind of delivery or set up.

Seriously don't even stress. everything will fall into place on the day. and if not, thats not important, you getting married is the important part

go smaller. I had 177 people and I wanted bigger bigger bigger. But now that it's all done, it went so fast, I feel like I didn't get to spend the time with everyone that I wanted to, while also making sure I was dancing and having a good time like I wanted.

You're not weird or broken if you don't enjoy being a "bride". Some people take to the planning process like ducks (or swans) to water; other people just know that eloping is right for them. The rest of us fall somewhere in the middle.

Also: Depression during the planning process is not at all uncommon.

-Don't have so many people in the wedding party.

-There's no way to make everyone happy.

-Budget for Video

Don't get caught up in the whole "wedding" shit. It's a big party, treat it as such. Host it properly, and treat your guests well. Remember that at the end of the day, you will have a marriage and other relationships to deal with.

Don't get caught up in a very specific vision. As a guest, I don't care if you've been dreaming about getting married on the anniversary of your first date/kiss/whatever. I also don't care if you've "always envisioned an outdoor wedding." What I will care about is how hot/cold/wet/generally uncomfortable I am throughout the night. Sorry, but if the special date you really want is in July and you live in Arizona, you need to have it inside.

Don't wait to hire a coordinator or leave it out of the budget! Planning a wedding is stressful (but doable)- I'm three months out and realized I'm not going to be able to do everything the weekend of the wedding so I am hiring a professional outside of family and friends to coordinate.

Don't get caught up in the wedding industry BS. you don't need a welcome party, giant rehearsal dinner, welcome bags, getting ready photos, bridesmaids proposals, bridesmaid luncheon, afterparty, instagram-worthy bachelorette/shower, etc. just spend your effort and money making the actual ceremony and reception nice and what you want and call it a day.

If I could go back in time, I would definitely say NO to any family money contribution and have a tiny wedding that we alone could afford. It's not worth everyone having a say and at the end of the day, I would have been happier eloping.

Remember that at the end of the day you will be married, and all you need for that is your license, husband, officiant and witnesses. The rest is fluff.

Make a budget and go easy in the beginning because things will add up in the end faster than you can imagine. Don't let the small things stress you, they aren't worth it. And don't feel as if you need to go overboard: your family and friends are there to support you in your marriage, and if they aren't than they shouldn't be there.

Don't forget to have fun! Yes, the most important things are properly hosting and actually getting married. But you very well might be doing other things, too—picking flowers, picking a dress, picking linens, crafting—things that are special in their own right. Try to have fun with it! Don't do any extras that you personally don't find enjoyable. I personally enjoy hand-lettering signs and the wedding has been a great excuse to do that. If you hate hand-lettering signs, don't do it!

-Save up

-If someone offers you their property or backyard do your research on rentals first before you accept the offer

-have a backup in case mother nature decides to act up.

-Do not share ANYTHING wedding related on social media.

-give yourself plenty of time to find the right dress/tux

-it's worth it to hire a professional

-no friendors

-try to be realistic (sometimes your dream wedding is not doable under certain circumstances)

-make sure you keep in mind guests with disabilities when finding a venue

I'll have more advice after my wedding.