15 Bridal Tips Every Bride Must Know

1. Send your photographer a wedding invitation in the mail so they can photograph the full set. This way you don't have to remember to bring it on the big day.

2. Potted plants make attractive table décor and cost considerably less than traditional floral arrangements. Check your local nursery for the best deals!

3. Have your chef recreate a secret family recipe to serve to all of your guests like Grandma's famous cannolis.

4. It's important to meet face-to-face with vendors, and if that isn't possible, then set up a Skype chat. Reading a potential vendor's facial and body cues will give you a better sense of their demeanor.

5. Come up with a creative name for your very signature cocktail. For example, name it after the place you met or combined name with parts of your first names.

6. Allocate 25% of the guest list to the bride's parents, 25% to the groom's parents and 50% to the couple.

7. Keep in mind that at the heart of every vow is the idea that you're making a pact. Your marriage vows should include three features: a declaration of love, promises for your marriage and personal touches.

8. The standard ballroom not your style? Find a location that's meaningful to you – place you met, parents’ house, place of your first date, the place he proposed to you, etc.

9. Have a piece of art made just for your wedding. Hire a painter or sketch artist to capture your first dance or ceremony as it happens. 

10. There's a wedding flower for every personality. For instance, sunflowers are fun and playful, girlie girls love peonies and free spirits swoon over wildflowers. What’s yours?

11. If you and your groom are from different cultures, serve food that 'marries' your heritages. Set up two buffets, each dedicated to food from one of the ethnicities/countries.

12. When it comes to capturing the details you've worked so hard to plan, it's key to have a list of the still-life shots you want: the cake, the centerpiece, your wedding gown on the hanger, place cards, bouquets and more.

13. Dot your centerpieces with a few dramatic flowers. Two or three elaborate blooms create a more expensive look, saving you about 75 percent over a piece completely filled with the same exotic flowers.

14. Before asking your parents and in-laws for help paying for the wedding, sit down with your fiancé and discuss your expectations. Make sure you get to a point where you both agree on your vision and how much it will cost.