Don't forget to tip your wedding vendors! Just when you thought you were within your budget...it's common to tip some wedding vendors. Some vendors include gratuity in their fee but many will leave it up to you. While it isn't necessary to tip the officiants, you may donate money to their organization. The list includes catering staff, deejays and musicians, makeup artists and stylists, wedding coordinators, photographers, florists, videographers, site staff, delivery people, seamstresses and drivers. If a stylist comes to your home or the wedding site, tip as you would at a salon, but in general, makeup artists and hair stylists who own their own businesses are not tipped. If the service is exceptional, for example, the photographer is going above and beyond the call of duty, a 5% tip shows appreciation. You may hand out tips in envelopes at the wedding or reception with cash or a check or add the additional amount to the final bill.

Photo courtesy of Martha Stewart Weddings

Don't forget to preserve your wedding dress after the big event. If your wedding dress is stain free you may wait until you are home from your honeymoon and the gifts are all opened and put away. But, if your dress has some serious stains like red wine then it should be taken to a professional within a few days after the wedding. The sooner the better! Otherwise, instead of a cleaning it could end up being more of a restoration process which could be very costly. So choose a place that specializes in preserving wedding gowns or a dry cleaner who specializes in wedding gowns. Avoid cleaners that offer a set price for all dresses. Different fabrics and embellishments require special cleaning methods. Some dresses are more labor-intensive to clean and will cost more than others. In general, you can expect to pay several hundred dollars for the entire cleaning and preservation process. After cleaning, the dress should be stuffed with acid-free tissue paper and placed in an acid-free corrugated cardboard box. Decades from now, your dress should look as beautiful as it did on your wedding day!!!

Photo provided by The Memory Journalists

Now that you are married and have partied it up with your family and friends, the guest want to take part too! A great way to let them do that is with a Bon Voyage. As you and your hubby leave, what will they throw on you as you depart from your wedding reception? Rice? Bird seed? I think not! You can designate someone to pass out small bottles of bubbles or little boxes of butterflies to each guest. You decide... Do you want to be kissed by bubbles or butterflies? If it is an evening wedding Sparklers can also be a very fun farewell!

Photo courtesy of SparklersOnline.com

Introducing...the couples bridal shower! Traditionally, the bridal shower was a women-only function, but this tradition like so many others is being given a new spin by many engaged couples. Once the groom's responsibilities regarding his fiancee's shower were to "get her there on time" and "pick her up afterward." My, how things have changed! One aspect of a coed shower is that it opens up lots of possibilities with regards to the nature of games that are played and the type of entertainment that is provided. The fact that the bride and groom and friends and relatives from both sides can participate, makes the new tradition of he and she showers a really nice ritual to explore. We've been to a few couples' showers and they're loads of fun!

Photo courtesy of Photo Card Designs

Whether you have dreamed of a wedding in a small historic church or a beachy Carribean destination, the reality of a destination wedding may not be as difficult or expensive as you think. Actually, having a destination wedding can be more cost-effective than a traditional wedding. You won't have the large reception bill, because you are more likely to have much fewer guests. A destination wedding can be like a mini-vacation with your closest friends and family. Spending the day on the beach the day before your wedding, instead of running errands can be one huge advantage to any bride. Most hotel resorts offer wedding destination packages. Want to spend less, opt for a less expensive location. If it's something you have thought about, at least check out your options before you decide. It might be just what the wedding budget and your sanity ordered!

Photo courtesy of Karisma Hotels

This wedding tip comes directly from Tiffany, our Dynamite Weddings Tips and Trends expert. Tiffany loves to share her own wedding experiences with our readers. This is a good one!

"We were told by many newly married couples, that on our wedding, we may not have enough time to eat all our dinner. These thoughtful friends suggested we pack an ice chest of cheese and crackers, yummy snacks and water and/or wine to have in the hotel room. Thank goodness we did! I was starving when the wedding was over. Not to mention, it was fun hanging out snacking and enjoying a bottle of wine with my newly announced husband and reminiscing over the night's events. So pack a little ice chest Brides and Grooms-to-be! We were really glad we did!"

Photo courtesy of Port Angeles

Looking for something a little different for your guests to throw instead of rice or bird seed? Flower pedals are a delicate and creative thing to have tossed on to you and your hubby as you depart. We suggest using paper cones to hold the pedals. The cones can be made of fun materials like maps, sheet music, yearbook pages, love poems, photo collages, or even gift wrap. You can pick paper that ties into your wedding theme. Make sure to choose petals from flowers that also go with your bouquet. If you use Hydrangeas in your bouquets or centerpieces, then use Hydrangeas in the cones for guests to toss.

Photo courtesy of Accent The Party

Your reception is a party, a celebration and it should feel like one! \When your guests are parting down, enjoying cocktails, boogying on the dance floor or just visiting with other guests, a photo booth can be a fun feature to mix it up! We guarantee a photo booth will be a hit at the reception and will get lots of use! Some companies even have an attendant at your wedding reception to customize each photo with a date and title for you. So check out all your photo booth options!

Photos courtesy of Rental Photo Booths

Make your wedding reception memorable with food stations for your guests to choose from. Food stations are like mini-buffets where the food is endless...who doesn't love that! Not only do food stations allow your guest to sample foods they wouldn't usually try, but they get your guests mixin' and minglin'. There are many options to choose from. Whether you like Sushi, Italian, Thai, Mexican, a carving station with prime-rib, a childrens' food bar or espresso bar, you can put together a great ensemble with the help of your caterer. Pick a few and have a ball with it. The variety is very fun and satisfying. We know you and your guests will be thrilled with different types of food stations at your reception!

Photos courtesy of FoodForks.com

Dear Monica and Marvin,
I am getting married this Summer and I am wondering if I need to have wedding programs printed for my guests? My best friend says yes, of course! But I'm not sure how to handle this task. It seems so daunting on top of all the other things I have to do to prepare for my big day! Help!
Signed,
Overwhelmed Bride

Dear Overwhelmed,
Great question! No, you don't have to have wedding programs. However, it is a great element to any wedding, especially if you are having a big wedding party and there is a lot going on during your wedding. For example, if you chose, readings, songs, prayers, etc. it would be a great way to tell the guests what they will be seeing and witnessing and whom they are hearing. Wedding programs are one of the little details that add that extra special something to your big day. They are not only a record of your ceremony; wedding programs help guests feel included and understand what is happening. They also introduce your bridal party. And of course, they'll look beautiful in your scrapbook! You can keep the program very simple and we bet you even have a close friend or relative who would be willing to design it for you! We hope this helps.
Good luck!
Monica and Marvin

Photos provided by The Memory Journalists