The Wedding Planner Ireland advises:To begin your wedding reception seating plan, you will first need to know how many tables you will set up at your wedding reception, as well as how many chairs will be at each table. To find this out, contact your wedding reception facility and make sure to also ask them for a plan of where the tables will be at your wedding reception.

Although your seating plan should be prepared early, you shouldn’t finalise it until about two weeks prior to the date of your wedding reception.

Some couples suggest that they don’t want to tell their guests where to seat, if it is a very small party, you can skip the seating plan all together however for a formal dinner reception, The Wedding Planner would strongly advise couples to use a seating plan. Your guests should be able to quickly find their seat and with careful planning nobody will be left sitting by themselves!

Seat people with similar interests at the same table. Think of a unique and fun way to identify each table – maybe they are countries you have been together or places you will visit on your honeymoon or maybe after your favourite movies. Think of your shared interests and use these to label your tables.

Seat wedding guest of similar ages together.

Seat family members who don’t see each other often to help them catch up on the latest family matters. You should only seat family members together, if they like each other!

Use place card holders to help your guest find their seats.

Seat an even number of guests at each table.

Place your wedding reception guests who enjoy dancing close to the dance floor.

To avoid possible conflicts, divorced parents should have their own tables. Seat them separately with their respective family members.

Keep small children next to their parents.

Don’t wait until the last minute to decide who should sit at which table. Proper seating is hard work, and it requires careful planning. A site that might help is www.perfecttableplan.com.

Some couples go over board with wedding themes!

While wedding planning can be stressful and overwhelming breaking your wedding planning down into sections should have you well on your way to planning your perfect wedding.

First, choose your reception venue. Are you planning a large wedding, or a more intimate gathering of friends and family? Talk with your spouse to be and get an idea of what they want, as their concept of big or small may be quite different than yours. Once you have a general idea of how many guests you will have, you can then visit reception possibilities in the area that cater for that amount of people and talk with them about what they offer.

If you are open to the idea, ask about mid week deals.

Check dates available around your approximate date.

Talk to your priest, minister, registrar and see if they have availability on any of these dates. Then book both your ceremony and your reception.

Now have your date set.

Next choose the menu. Have a tasting of the menu choices at your chosen reception venue. The amount of courses and choices offered on the menu will affect the price per guest.

Photography is next as these get booked up early. View album choices and compare the prices of a few. It is good to talk on the phone or meet face to face rather than just booking by e-mail. The photographer will be sharing a lot of your wedding day so it is important that you get along with them. Consider creating your own album by sourcing your album through the internet and arranging your own photos.

The Wedding Planner in Ireland advises:

Research before your buy. The quickest and easiest way to research is by searching online. There are many Web sites dedicated do wedding dresses where you can get a ton of useful information about styles, designs, trends, etc.

Shop early! There is so much choice out there you will probably need several trips before making your decision. Often dresses need to be ordered several months before the date and need several fittings and adjustments

Keep an open mind while you shop for your wedding dress. Try lots of things on. Often the dress you thought you’d never like is the one that makes you look and feel the best.

                                                                                                    Leave time to get your

                                                                                                  dress finished !                     

Bring shoes with the same height as your wedding shoes and the underwear you intend to wear to the final couple of fittings so you can be sure seams, straps and knicker lines don’t show.

Don’t shop after you’ve bought. Instead enjoy the rest of your wedding planning journey.

Don’t give up! Finding your perfect wedding dress can take some time.

Don’t take too many people with you on your hunt for your wedding dress. Take a good friend or family member who likes shopping, knows your style, is honest and whose opinion you appreciate.