Here's my first Hodgepodge of Great Planning Tips!

Here's my initial Hodgepodge of Great Planning Advice!

* Indispensable Tip...PLEASE do not wait to book your vendors! I got 3 calls last nite and this morning

- I was highly recommended by their friends as a DJ. Only problem, I'm BOOKED all 3 dates! 1 in June, 1 in May, 1 in September, and almost another on 11.11.11 (it opened up late for me). If you know what you want for your wedding, book it a year before! You may even get a better price! Please don't let it linger - it's your one big day to get it perfect.

If price is an issue ask if you can give a few $$hundred now, then trickle more money in over time (I allow this). Reserving your vendor NOW is the key

*Tip for brides who want to save $$$...
Found a great way to do save-the-dates: I found a listing on Ebay, for $10 they design and personalize your card, adding your photos and your own wording, then send it to you as an image. I had mine printed at Winkflash for about 5 cents a piece. They came out great and sooo inexpensive! (thanks to Ashley Mitchell for this tip)!

*Planning Planning Planning! Find a Vendor (especially DJ) who will sit with you about a week before the wedding and PLAN the wedding reception with you! We knew the photographer was leaving at 10 pm last nite (Ferrigno Wedding at Waterview in Monroe), so we planned beforehand to hold the Cake, Anniversary Dance, Special Dance with brother, and bouquet BEFORE 10:00, so we got all the important pix.

There's Nothing more important than Proper Planning before the Wedding (see my Wedding Coordination Worksheet in the Docs section of my Facebook "Help for Brides" page (http://www.thectbride.com/)!

*Photography - Check all your potential photographers albums...each photographer has a different style (classical, modern, absurd, whatever); make sure you enjoy his style before you hire him. If you want Classic photos and she's artsy, there'll be a conflict! Also...

Ask if YOU own the rights to your pix, or if the photographers retain the rights. The Difference? 2 years from now when you want another album you'll have to pay the photographer to print your own pictures! Remember to also get references for THE Photographer Shooting your Wedding (not just the "company" in general.

* Take the Off-Season Specials (if you can) for Vendors. I drop my price to $700 for Weddings in January, February. Most Wedding Venues and Vendors do!

* Book Weddings for the weekend after Valentines Day - not only will you get a special "Off-Season Discount", but the venue will probably already be decorated with flowers! Same with a Christmas Weekend Wedding!

* Beware of Car Salesman posing as Wedding Vendors (DJs included!) - they'll use an old sales ploy to get you to pay top dollar...

Ask them how much they charge for 5 hours service (I charge $900, includes lights and everything!). You'll never get an answer. The ploy is to "charm" you, and question you to find the most you would pay for their services (even "scare" you into believing that other vendors NOT charging Top Dollar are somehow faulty, and "You would never risk paying less for your Big Single Day, would you?"

They have a Top Dollar in mind, and a Middle Price, and finally what they are willing to charge that still makes a nice profit. They'll throw the Top price at you. When you balk, they'll give you a "Special Deal" at the middle price. Finally (if you cry), they'll offer the low price. 80% of brides pay Middle toTop Price. If you somehow get the Low Price, they'll hit you with add-ons ($300 to play the Ceremony, $300 for lighting, $200 for Air-Guitars and Glasses, etc. Caveat Emptor! In any "Negotiation" be prepared to walk away and find someone else, or pay top dollar