12 fabulous wedding tips from real brides

From budgeting tips to preventing beauty mishaps, our real brides dish out handy advice on planning for your big day. 

May & Andy, Her World Brides Dec 2014

1. "Instead of a pre-wedding photo shoot, we made time after the morning tea ceremony to take our pictures at the Singapore Botanic Gardens. It felt even more special as our emotions were on a high. It also helped reduce photography costs." - May Kong

Belinda and Thomas, Her World Brides Dec 2014

2. "If it has a long train or a poufy skirt, practise moving around in your gown. I didn't and felt clumsy when I was walking among the guests." - Belinda Teo

Claire Fong and Tammy, Her World Brides Sept 2014

3. "Search online for decorative themes and to buy wedding paraphernalia." - Claire Fong 

4. "Choose your bridal party wisely. You'll need people who can think on their feet, especially if something goes wrong at the last minute. It happened to us, but thank goodness my resourceful bridesmaid solved it quickly." -Eliza Phua 

5. "We set up a group on Whatsapp for our wedding party. It made things easier when we wanted to make changed to our plans. It also allowed everyone to get to know one another before the wedding, so that they would be able to communicate and coordinate better on our big day." -Edrea Hee 

Sabrina and Tim, Her World Brides Dec 2014

6. "If you're shopping for more unique items, www.etsy.com has really creative stuff. I went nuts with the flower girls' dresses, bow ties for the ring bearers, favours and decorations." - Sabrina Chua

Vararin and Ninnart, Her World Brides Dec 2014

7. "Don't try new skincare or makeup too close to your wedding date. I did and got an allergic reaction to some ingredients. Thankfully, my skin cleared up in time." - Vararin Kruavanichkit 

8. "To avoid last-minute emergencies, always have a to-do list on you." - Kimberly Naval 

Jenny and Willie, Her World Brides June 2013

9. "We saved a lot by going DIY, but we also saved on other issues like booking the venue over a year in advance, getting the flowers and the wine and flowers from wholesalers, and the cupcakes with a Groupon offer!" - Jenny Thong 

10. "Make note of guests with special needs, such as food allergies and limited mobility." - Gisella Anastasia 

Karen and Robert, Her World Brides Sept 2014

11. "If you're inviting guests from overseas, you should inform them about your wedding at least six months in advance to give them time to make travel plans. Your invites should arrive at least eight weeks before your big day." - Karen Yeo 

12. "Start saving early to avoid getting into debt to finance your wedding or honeymoon. Ensure that your credit limits are healthy- and you have enough cash on hand to make necessary payments." - Pearlyn Koh