We know that it takes a happy combination of events and planning to produce a “perfect” wedding. Here are a few tips from TriniWeddings.

• If you are concerned about a guest list that has gotten out of hand and is too long for your taste or budget, assemble an unedited list of names (potential guests) and ask everyone involved to rank the names from most to least important. If when you check the “most important” names, it falls within your budget or is close, thank everyone and settle the list. If the numbers are still off, then ask people to cut a designated percentage from their lists. Take stock of the new total and see if the process needs to be repeated.
• Some people make an “A” List of Guests and then a “B” List. After someone from the “A” List declines, they then invite someone from the “B” list. Please do not consider doing this because it ends up being an after thought. Your invitations have been out there, have been discussed and the person who is receiving their own after everyone knows that they were not originally invited. It is very “Kardashian”! and shows poor taste!
• To determine the size of the site you’ll need for your reception, be sure to investigate the parking facilities and the rest rooms as well as the size of the hall. The rule of thumb for toilets is that there should be at least one for every 25 guests. The parking lot should accommodate one parking space for every two guests.
• Always have at least one attendant assigned to your gift table at the reception even if you are not planning to open and display the gifts there. You would be surprised at how many gifts go missing. Money gifts should be kept in special receptacles and secured. When I am leaving a wedding I always make sure to hand the money gifts to the Mother of the Bride or another person designated by the couple. People seem always to forget to make transport arrangements for the gifts and the cake and at the end of the wedding there is a mad scramble to ask people to help with transportation.
• If parents and stepparents are contributing money for your reception, it is much better to pool the money in advance. Then no contributor will demand to take control of how the money is spent. If someone feels strongly about “sponsoring” a particular wedding expense, it is far better to know that up front so that you can work with that person to accommodate preferences.

For more helpful advice, call 868 624 4015 or email info@triniweddings.com for answers to your most perplexing situations.