Whether your friends planned a bachelorette party the night before the wedding or you plan to drink throughout the rehearsal dinner, the last thing you need is to wake up with a headache, puffy eyes, and the worse is an upset stomach. Do yourself a favor and skip the drinking.

Skimping on food choices.

 Work with your caterer in advance to set a menu that is within your budget. Why choose filet mignon as the entrée if it means you’ll have a limited portion size. Food is the one place where it’s best not to cut corners. Instead of a plated meal, go with heavy appetizers or food stations with no cocktail hour. This cuts down on cost and you will get more food for your money.

Asking all your friends to be in the wedding right after you are engaged.

       You shouldn’t ask anyone to be in your wedding more than seven months prior to your wedding. SET YOUR BUDGET FIRST, and then determine the number of attendants according to your budget. In my opinion, two out of seven attendants you asked to be in your wedding the minute your engaged will most likely cancel when its time to purchase there attire. Choose your attendants wisely.

Making a commitment to the first supplier.

 Do not make the mistake of booking the first supplier you speak with. Compare prices and service offered, and then make a decision. By comparing prices, there may be a professional partner who can offer you a better price and service than the first.

Hiring a friend as your wedding photographer.

 It is best to hire a professional Photographer instead of having amateur photographers. Your wedding is one of the most important days in your life. The last thing you want to do is look back at blurry pictures or pictures of random objects. Most professionals offer different packages at affordable prices. Start looking early as you have plenty of time to find the right photographer.

Wasting Money.

 The wedding industry is an industry that is rapidly growing. While there is a lot of good advice from people who are trying to profit from it, be careful you’re not spending money where you don’t need to. Whether it’s being talked into buying a second wedding dress for the reception or having a limousine when your wedding and reception are in the same location, consider the costs and your budget.

Not setting a realistic budget.

 Dealing with money usually causes more stress then anything else in the planning process. One of the most important things you can do while planning a wedding is to set a REALISTIC budget.

In my opinion, many brides become stressed over the cost of the wedding. They loose sight of the joy and happiness of this time. Don’t let money put a damper on what is the most memorable time in your life. Set a budget and stick with it.

 By J. Sean Brown

Sean is principal and owner of Creations By Brown.

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Consider creating a honeymoon registry instead  of gifts – Escape to a perfect location for honeymoon. Ask your guests to support you!

Benefits of a Honeymoon Registry:

• Choose what you want to do on your honeymoon
• Select the gifts that are prefect for you – the couple
• Create complimentary wedding sites and share your wedding details
• Invite and share your wedding news with family and friends
• Relieve stress from spending extra money on honeymoon items
• Reduce your honeymoon expenses by an average 30% 

You’ve found the place for the perfect honeymoon or wedding spot! Browse through our sample honeymoon registries for suggestions on all the wonderful items your friends and family can give you as a wedding gift. Design your custom wedding registry from ideas we’ve showcased or include your personalized honeymoon wishes. Create a stunning honeymoon registry and wedding website ~ you’ll be on your way to the honeymoon of your dreams. Go to http://ultimateweddingnetwork.honeymoonwishes.com/

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Only Black Bride and Groom & TLC will have the exclusive wedding coverage and interviews celebrating Niecy Nash’s celebrity wedding bash!

Order this special episode at Black Bride and Groom, “Celebrity Weddings Go Fabulous” .  In the special edition, you can:

View in depth pictures and photos of the wedding day.

Read his/her stories that will inspire brides, grooms and people of color to succeed.

Listen to real audio interview with Niecy for helpful wedding tips to making your wedding fabulous.  

Read about Oscar Joyner’s celebrity wedding.

  Special Retail $5.99

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1. They aren’t as expensive as you think.

One of the best reasons to choose a destination wedding is the cost factor.  Check out these numbers: in 2009, the average cost for 100 guests at a destination wedding was $17,000.  Compare that with the same number of guests for a traditional wedding; average cost is $25, 000 and you can easily go much higher.  Most likely you won’t have 100 guests travelling to Mexico for the nuptials. Destination weddings tend to have a smaller, more intimate guest list.  Your expenses could be far lower than this.

2. The world is your limit, literally.

You can tie the knot almost anywhere that strikes your fancy.  While beach resorts are the most common, you’re only limited by your budget and imagination.  Have you always dreamed of a castle in France?  How about a vineyard in Northern California?  A rocky Maine coast?  Your fantasy wedding can be in any of these locations or wherever you can dream up.  What place in the world is special to you?  Think beyond the usual and have your destination reflect that.

3. Fashion: Your dress needs a destination.

If your idea of perfect wedding attire involves a flowing white dress with flowers in your hair, it might play better on a beach than in your local church.  If you fancy a stronger cut, elegant ball gown dress, this would be perfect for an English castle.  Pick the right destination at the right time (hint: not the Caribbean during hurricane season) and you’re all but guaranteed good weather.

4. A destination wedding can double as a honeymoon.

Choose your setting wisely since the backdrop for your wedding typically becomes the honeymoon locale as well. It’s also going to be a vacation spot for your invited guests.  A resort is a great choice as it will have many activities to occupy them so they won’t be left to their own devices for the whole weekend.  Once your group arrives, you can plan as much or as little as you like to entertain them.  Group dinners, volleyball tournaments, local sight-seeing trips- all can be arranged.

5. You can make big planning decisions and let the little stuff go.

With a destination wedding, there’s much less hassle involved with the planning.  Not for brides who need to micromanage, but if you’re laid back and tend to go with the flow, this is a welcome bonus.  Many of the popular Mexican and Caribbean resorts have dedicated wedding planners who will take care of the small details, leaving you to just show up and enjoy your special day. 

TIP: Leave it to the professionals

A travel agent can be your best friend should you choose the destination wedding route.  Your agent will coordinate all of the details for your chosen locale.  Everything from the marriage license to airfare for your gusts will become her problem, not yours.   She will field all of the inevitable questions and queries from your invitees and act as the intermediary with the staff at the wedding venue.  Don’t worry- all of the decisions about the ceremony and the day will be yours, but you’ll avoid handling the extraneous, tiresome incidentals.  Brenda Washington- O’Neale is the owner of With This Ring Destination Wedding and Honeymoon Travel Agency- 1306 Glenn Street, Homestead, PA 15120 ( 412-461-6832) bwoneale1@hotmail.com or www.withthisringevents.vpweb.com. Visit us of Face book at With This Ring Destination Wedding and Honeymoon Travel Agency.  We will be participating in the Wedding Clickers Bridal Shows at the Monroeville Convention Center on April 10 and on September 18^th with David Tutera .

Photo courtesy of With This Ring Destination Wedding and Honeymoon Travel Agency

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We’re back – better than ever! The National Black Bridal Association (NBBA) was developed to meet the needs of the African American community. NBBA is an internal state support chapter organization dedicated to raising the bar of wedding excellence. We welcome all professionals regardless of color or culture.

Our Mission: Our mission and goal is to raise the level of excellence by centralizing the buying power of the African American wedding industry and community while bringing together world class professionals and organizations.  The NBBA consists of a “top notch” group of specialized service/product providers who are willing to assist in achieving cultural and successful wedding experiences.

Sign up to receive your NBBA news and updates.

How We Support Our Community:

Our recommendations, tips and best resources are complimentary to our brides, grooms, parents, wedding attendees and guests.

Central our ‘Buying” Power – By centralizing our resources; we can increase the value of our dollars to purchase products or services. Couples can rest assured that our members will deliver the highest level of customer service.

Positive Influences - We create and elevate the experiences of the cultural wedding market with national marketing, alliances and magazine campaigns.

Sharing Best Practices – Our members and industry experts provide proven knowledge to empower small to large businesses catered to the multicultural wedding market.

Excellence in Education – Through our programs, we provide tools and processes to execute business performance and success for companies and business owners.

Great Collaboration & Mentoring – We encourage high collaboration with fellow partners and members by creating  regional networking opportunities, conferences and workshops.

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Media executive Oscar Joyner, son of “The Tom Joyner Morning Show’s” own Tom Joyner, married Alem Gola in a day-long multicultural celebration on Oct. 9  presided over by Bishop T.D. Jakes, with special performances by award winning artists Yolanda Adams, Eric Benet, Tamia, Mike Phillips and Doug E. Fresh.

Joyner, president of Reach Media Inc. and executive producer of the nationally-syndicated “Tom Joyner Morning Show,” and his wife, a TV and film actress, hosted more than 350 guests at the historic Plymouth Congregational Church and a series of receptions and concerts at The Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables.  View more photos here.  View video of the wedding.

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Here at the NBBA, we are committed to providing the best resources and professional recommendations to our brides, grooms, parents, wedding guests and attendees.

Overall, we can:

• Provide “Best In Class” Vendors and Service Recommendations.
• Connect you directly with qualified wedding professionals of color.
• Offer wedding tips, stories, how to articles with free subscriptions to Black Bride and Groom Magazine & NoirWomen.
• Showcase your “real weddings”, beauty, tips and stories.
• Offer advice and counsel from state chapter members.

Sign up to receive your NBBA news and updates.

Plan Your Wedding

Register Your Wedding – Register to receive newsletter updates and to be matched with qualified wedding professionals.

Submit Your Wedding

Send Your Photos and Story – We’d love to read and share your wedding story. Send us your photos and a tell us why you want to get married. Photos should be sent as minimum 300 DPI to info@nationalnbba.com.

Send Your Wedding Video – We are always looking for wedding photos to inspire other brides and grooms. Send your videos to: info@nationalbba.com.

Win Free Honeymoon – Register your wedding  and win a chance for all inclusive and expense paid trip on 2011.

Resources for Planning

Certified Wedding Planners – View the list of professionals who are well trained to become your partner in your local area.

Invitations - Visit our affiliate partner to receive great discounts.

Sign up to receive your NBBA news and updates.

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• Understanding the 10 Essential Steps for Service of Business Excellence – Complimentary – Members, $30 - Non-Members
• Top 10 Tips to Financial Success for a Wedding Planner – Complimentary – Members, $30 - Non-Members
• “ I Need New Ideas and Concepts” – What’s Working , Why Not? Roundtable – Complimentary – Members, $30 - Non-Members

Dates: TBD.  To register, send us your an email at: info@nationalbba.com

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