Most upcoming brides don't have a fighting chance against the temptation to spare no expense in an attempt to make it a memorable day for yourself.  However, you can spend all the money in the world and without proper planning your day can go to crap quickly.  Make sure you sidestep these pitfalls and you will be well on your way to success.

Pitfall #1: Not Paying Attention To Your Budget.

Weddings are one of the biggest expenses you will ever incurr in your lifetime, and if you are not careful it can become THE biggest.  It is very easy to let your emotions grab hold of you and start making purchases before you've outlined your budget.  Things add up quickly and you do not want to spend all of your money ( or husband's money, or parent's money) without having all the things you need.  If you do not have the funds for deposits AND final payments your wedding will quickly change from a fairy tale into a horror story.  Most Vendors simply will not deliver on promised goods and services without payment in advance.  Simply Stated: Complete your Budget Outline first then keep a detailed record of what you've spent.

Pitfall #2: Choosing Your Wedding Gown Late.

Most wedding gowns are made to order, so you generally need to place the order at least 3 months in advance to ensure it is ready in time.  Even if you purchase off the rack you still want to give yourself a few months lead time for alterations and fittings; this includes bridesmaids and groomsmen. 

Pitfall #3: Pre-Wedding Beauty Screw Ups.

Do Not Have Any Serious Beauty Treatments Within 2 Weeks Of the Wedding Or Wedding Photos.  I REPEAT -- Do Not Have Any Serious Beauty Treatments Within 2 Weeks Of the Wedding Or Wedding Photos. You do not want to risk ruining your photos with botched chemical peels, deep tanning, teeth bleaching, hair coloring, Botox, Plastic Surgery, etc. You could end up with breakouts, blisters, green hair, orange teeth, lumpy bruised or swollen body parts. Do any major changes at least 1 month before your wedding to allow time for any mishaps to be corrected.

Pitfall #4: Not Knowing the Requirements for a Wedding License.

In most states marriage licenses are only valid from 7 to 60 days so if you get the license too far in advance it may be invalid by the wedding date.  However, if you wait till the day before the wedding you might be screwed because they take time to process or have a several day waiting period.  Both you and you future husband need to be there and have all the appropriate documents, doctor's visits and tests completed prior to your receiving the license.  If you are re-marrying ensure that you have your official divorce papers or they won't grant you a license.  KNOW THE REQUIREMENTS FOR YOUR STATE!

Pitfall #5: Not Having A Backup Plan

Anything can go wrong on the day of your wedding.  Weather is the number one thing that brides do not plan for and this one mistake alone can cost thousands of dollars not to mention it can cost you the memories that are priceless.  If you are planning an outdoor wedding make sure you have the option to move indoors, or a backup tent availiable, and/or heaters availiable in case it gets chilly.

Pitfall #6: Paying Incorrect Postage on Invitations

Before stamping any invitations get them weighed to determine how much you should pay in postage.  Most invitations are printed on custom paperwhich can vary in weight even amongst the same pack of paper.  When you do weigh it, make sure that you bring a few samples to weigh.  If you do not heed this advice you will end up with returned invitations with big red ugly "insufficient postage" stamped on the envelope.  I also recommend taking the time to actually go into the post office rather then just dropping them into the mailbox so they can "hand stamp" your invitations for you which guarantees you have the correct postage.

Pitfall #7: Inviting Too Many Guests, and Too Many Guests Inviting Themselves

Make sure you include Admit Cards for each invited person or you will end up with more guests then you anticpated.  It is always hard to figure out how many of the invited guests will actually show up.  Since your expenses directly correlate to the amount of people you are servicing, it is critical for you to plan effectively.  Assume that 75% of the people invited will actually attend.  It is always easier to pay for extra guests then to pay in advance for a certain number of guests that don't show up.

Pitfall #8: To Get A PreNuptial or Not To Get A PreNuptial

If you have family assets or children that you want to dedicate assets to the faster you get this taken care of the better.  This can be a touchy subject but it is better to take care of it well in advance of the wedding to avoid added stress or potentially damaging the entire event.

Pitfall # 9: Reserving Guest Hotel Rooms Too Late.

It is a nightmare finding hotel rooms for guests last minute not to mention expensive; let's not even talk about when a convention is in town.  So I recommend "Blocking" a group of rooms at a discounted rate for your out of towners 6 months to 1 year in advance.  Most of them will throw in a FREE honeymoon suite for you and your new hubby for free for your wedding night.

Pitfall # 10: Not Having Marriage Insurance 

Bad Weather, Natural Disaster, Death in the family - these are just a few things that can happen that is enough to put a damper on the happy occassion quite quickly.  Hopefully these things won't happen to you, this is why at the very least you and your fiance should sign all contracts together so that you share financial liability should your wedding need to be postponed, delayed, or cancelled.  Wedding Insurance is an even better safety net.