by: Jeff Lakie

Weddings are a lot of fun, but they can also be a lot of hassle and a lot of stress. In many cases, just a week or two before a wedding, the stress is so high that the bride and groom joke about eloping. By this point, there are so many people involved in pulling off the most significant event of these two people's lives! Everyone has the best intentions and always wants the very best for the bride and groom but the phrase "many hands make for light work" does not always apply to weddings.

Here are some tips and tricks that will help you get hitched without a hitch:

· Find a person to help you plan your wedding. When the bride's parents and the groom's parents are planning most of the wedding, problems are sure to arise. Instead, find a trusted friend to plan the wedding and to be the primary contact for anyone who has ideas or suggestions. This will help avoid changes being made by someone without alerting other people.

· Set a budget. Add 25%. If you are paying for your wedding, expect to pay this. Weddings are notorious for having last-minute surprise expenses pop up.

· Remember this phrase and you will increase the enjoyment of your wedding: you can't please everyone! Remember that this is your wedding and the two of you are the ones who can make the final decision. You don't have to wear blue to honor your grandmother. You don't have to have tulips in your bouquet because those are your mother's favorite flower. You don't have to serve steak because that's what your dad likes to eat. This will be your wedding and you want to remember it fondly, so make your own.

· Tradition is good but your enjoyment is better. Remember, your wedding should be an expression of your love for each other, and not a tribute to age old tradition if that is not who you are.

You will look back on your wedding for the rest of your married life. For too many people it can be a miserable time because too many people unintentionally spoiled it. If you follow these helpful guidelines, you will find greater enjoyment in your wedding today and in the memories for years to come.