Choose your colors right from the start--but don't be afraid to change them later! "Everything must coordinate--the decor, the flowers, the bridesmaids dresses. If you find the perfect set of bridesmaides dresses at a price that makes your friends happy, remember that there are many ways they can be worked into your theme. Choose the flowers last--they're the most easily changeable to match the dresses. And they don't have to fit anyone. Make sure the bridal party is taken care of first. Everything revolves around that. Choose the tuxes last. There are fewer colors to worry about and they are easier to coordinate." --Emily Ennis, Classic Bride.

Make the cake the centerpiece of your event. "Always set the cake up in a location where the guests are going to notice it. Pay special attention to what's behind it, since the background will show up in all the photos that your guests and your photographer will take. Choose a cake that is so delicious that your guests will always remember it--smell and taste are two of the strongest senses that we have and will create a lifelong memory for them." --Larry Brown, Maribelle Cakery Cincinnati.

Planning an outdoor wedding? Never, never, never forget a contingency plan for bad weather. "I have seen so many outdoor weddings ruined by a sudden downpour, and am continually amazed by how many brides plunge on ahead with no backup plan, blithely hoping that their wedding will be the sunny one. Always rent a tent for the occasion. If tent rental just isn't in your budget, then, at the very least, rent a small, gazebo-style tent for the bridal party. If it looks like bad weather, most of your guests will think to bring umbrellas."--Tim Prues, Park Board wedding coordinator.

Never depend on your friends for pictures--make it happen! "Put a disposable camera on each table at your reception, then email your photos to your guests after the wedding, or put your favorite photos up on your own web page and email them the address of the page. Even if the guests bring their own camera, you won't believe how many people will forget to share the pictures with you, or be too embarassed to show them if they don't turn out well." --Ron Meyer, Meyer Photography, in Hyde Park.

Don't serve the food all at once."Food isn't about eating, its about socializing. Keep the food coming in waves so that people aren't just sitting and waiting for a meal. If there's a constant flow of little things to eat, people won't get bored. Don't forget a few vegetarian dishes since there are so many people now days who don't eat meat." --Fred Corteau, caterer.

Always assign one waiter exclusively to the bride and groom. --Bridget Horne-Nestor, wedding planner.

If the lighting is too bright, everyone will be tense, tired, and uncomfortable. "Turn out all the electric lights before the guests get there. Candles are incredibly cheap and a couple on each table will go a long way. You won't believe the difference in mood it will make. Often, it will turn a run-of-the-mill room into fairy-tale elegance. Use a small flood to spotlight the cake at the proper moment, then shift to the professional lighting after the bride and groom are announced." --Jamie Pinnock, lighting technician.

Table linens, napkins, china, silverware, and glass are a must. "Plastic cutlery and plates belong at a picnic, not a wedding. Don't even think about it." --Candace Shelton, hotel manager.

You will never please all of your bridesmaids when you choose their gowns. "There is always one who will hate whatever you choose--usually your sister. Pick what you like, it's your wedding." --JoAnn Tomasula, European Bridal.

Pay attention to the details. "It's the little things your guests will always remember, not the big picture. No gown, no matter how wonderful, will look complete without the accessories--veil, tiara, jewelry, along with a matching handbag for the reception. You may have the tallest cake or the most lavish flower arrangements in history, but your guests will remember how the diamond tiara matched the sparkle in your eye, or how the pearl tiara brought out the small pearls in your veil or gown." --Lindsay Brown, Isabelle Tiaras.