Planning a wedding can take an enormous amount of time, energy and effort. From choosing invitations to finding the perfect dress, this major life event comes only once in a lifetime for many people. The information in this article is designed to help you in making sure that every detail is taken care of in the most economical and efficient way possible, whether your guest list includes 10 or 1,000.

A few days before your wedding, get all of the jewelry that you are planning to wear professionally cleaned. This will help you to sparkle more as you are walking down the aisle, illuminating the beauty that you possess. Find a great jewelry cleaner and improve the quality of your stones before the wedding.

At your bridal party, try to make things as fun as possible with the people that you love. Have manicures and pedicures done to reward the people who made the biggest impact in your life. This will help to keep things casual as well, so that the mood is set for the party.

If you are going to have an open bar at the wedding, make sure that there is someone to monitor the people who are drinking so that no one goes overboard. Also, everyone who purchases alcohol should have to show identification to be served. This can limit any accidents at the wedding.

When thinking of what to give your guests as a wedding favor gift, consider who you’re inviting. If half your family are recovering alcoholics, then a bottle of wine is probably not a good idea. If they’re diabetics, then candy won’t work, either. Choose something they’re likely to keep as a memento and not throw out when they get home.

Use more than one camera when photographing a wedding to be prepared for any shot. It’s nice to have two different settings, for example one wide angle lens and one long lens so you can get photos of varying aspects of the same shot. It also allows you continue taking photos even if one of your cameras dies.

If you do not want a traditional wedding cake, consider individual-sized cakes. Many bakeries offer beautiful cupcakes with a variety of healthy fillings.

The worst thing that can come out of a wedding is a huge debt. Don’t overlook your budget when choosing items for your big day. If you are cash-strapped, look for savings like having your family cater the event or do all the photography. At worst you can ask for cash in lieu of gifts to help offset the costs.

Follow this advice from star stylists before red carpet appearances: A week before your wedding, put on your head-to-toe big day look (hair, makeup, shoes, dress) and have a member of your wedding party photograph you. Pictures don’t lie, and you may find an opportunity to tweak or update your look that you might otherwise not have thought of.

No matter how large or small, your wedding is an event that you want to be perfect, right down to the smallest detail. Whether you’re getting married for the first time or the third, a wedding still takes months of planning and preparation. The time-saving tips contained in this article can guide you in making the smartest choices and help you to avoid any last-minute emergencies.