One of the often-ignored topics in wedding planning is how to treat your vendors the day of the wedding, namely your DJ, Band, Wedding Planner, Photographer, Videographer or anyone that is present throughout the day of the event.  Although these people may not be on your guest list, it’s often common courtesy to at least assume they’ll want to eat a meal.  It’s something to think about as you make your guest list and submit your final head count for food.  You’ll also want to consider where the vendors will eat.  Will you have a table set aside for them that is part of the guest floor plan?  Will you have a table in a separate, private room?  Chances are good they’re only going to take a short break to eat, so choose accordingly.

There is one exception: when it comes to the officiant of your wedding, you should always count him/her and their significant other as an invited guest.  Send them an invitation like you would to any of your other guests. They’re the only vendor allowed to even go near the bar as well!  You definitely don’t want a drunk photographer taking your wedding photos.

Personally, I spoke to each of my vendors individually about their preferences.  I offered them the opportunity for one of the menu items and a seating arrangement.  In the end, all of my vendors preferred having a sandwich/condiments/hour d’oeuvres tray that they could quickly grab a bite from in a private section of the reception hall.  Whatever you choose, know that they’re all bound to be appreciative of your thoughtfulness (and maybe even do an extra-excellent job!).  Happy planning!

Everyone is trying to cut down on costs these days, especially when it comes to wedding planning.  Luckily, Wedding Paper Divas, along with our partner Beau-coup, has teamed up to form Resourceful Brides, a site dedicated to helping Brides find creative ways to save a buck when planning their wedding!  Plus, you can enter to win a total of $1000 worth of gift certificates from both companies.  Contest ends July 24th, so make sure to enter soon!

One tip that we’ve seen is to rent your wedding accessories instead of buying them.  I personally love this idea; Although having a special necklace or bracelet on your wedding day can serve as an excellent keepsake, you might not want to shell out for every piece of jewelry that you’ll be wearing.  From dresses to handbags, jewelry to hairpieces, rentals are available across the country.  Check out some of our favorites:

• Avelle (formerly known as Bag, Borrow or Steal) has a special section of their website dedicated specifically to wedding rentals.  From handbags to extravagant jewelry, they have everything you’ll need to make you feel like a princess on your big day.

• Adorn Brides offers rental jewelry in all shapes and sizes.  They even have matching sets for both brides and bridesmaids!

• Many brides opt to Rent their Bridal Gown.  Often, this will include shoes and a headpiece/veil.  Most of these stores are local, so I suggest doing a search in your local area for a bridal gown rental store.  One example is Fairy Godmother Gown Rentals, located in the San Francisco Bay Area.  They’ll even deliver your dress directly to your door!

When I was getting married, Wedding Programs were an afterthought in my planning.  As a result, I frantically purchased some okay looking programs online a few days before my big day to ensure that I had something ready to go.

Now, looking back, I realize that programs can be a great addition to your ceremony as they provide your guests with important information about what to expect during your ceremony.  Also, I find that programs are especially important when your ceremony features a religious or cultural tradition that many guests may not understand.

If you are looking for the perfect programs for your big day, you can find all of our wedding programs on Wedding Paper Divas.

Below are just a few of my favorite designs: