The simple fact of the matter is everybody can’t be seated at the same table — or can they? This does of course assume that the size of your wedding party is more than can fit around one table and even then some people might wonder why they can’t seated next to you rather than at the other side of the table.

Oh the stress of it all! — you certainly don’t need the stress when planning all the other aspects of your wedding but it is something that needs to be taken into account of with the help of your partner and also considering your guests preferences of where and whom they might like to be seated next to.

The traditional method of having a bridal party seated at a table at one end of the room and everybody else in rows facing them does not have to be adhered to and often there are alternatives where more people can feel like they are as important as everybody else at the reception.

Consider having the bridal party seated at a table in the middle of the reception with all your friends and family seated all round. This is one alternative that you might decide to use but the layout is entirely up to you in a manner that you find most suitable.

Rather than trying to mix up both sides of the family it might be better to keep the seating arrangements where people who are familiar with one another can be at the same tables. Once again this is just a suggestion as you might find that based on the personalities of the families and friends they might enjoy sitting with one another and get to know each other better.

You and your partner know the best answer to that one and it is something that needs to be discussed not only with each other but possibly also with some selected people who will be attending the reception to see what their thoughts on the matter are.

Make everyone feel important and be sure to circulate whenever possible to greet and thank everybody who has attended your wedding. Often with bigger weddings it is very easy to miss talking to someone so that is one area that you will need to pay special attention.

The highlight of the wedding reception is seeing how big the cake will be. Everyone wants to be unique and wow their guests. Since the wedding cake is a big expense, choose wisely.

Wedding cakes have gone from simple single or double-tiered creations to sweet confections that don’t even look like traditional cakes. Sugar can be manipulated into the shape of flowers, geometric shapes and jewels. It is amazing what they can do with some batter and frosting these days.

Before the big day, you’ll have to sample piece after piece of wedding cake. The last thing you want to do is leave it up to chance. Dream up your biggest and best design and then go in search of the perfect way to create it.

1. Find a baker who can meet your expectations. You are not there just to see if he or she can make your design but to test their mettle as a baker. A cake can look good but it also has to taste good.

2. Ask lots of questions. Whatever you want to know, don’t be afraid to voice it. How does the baker plan to create your cake? Will he use marzipan, fondant or ganache? He may have suggestions for the design but don’t accept them out of hand unless you really agree.

3. What’s the price? You don’t want to look cheap but breaking the bank is out of the question also. You might have to scale down your 10-tiered cake or get a couple of sheet cakes with the same icing to feed all your guests. A cake for a service of 200 can be expensive.

4. Ask for a design book. You might not have any idea of the style of cake you want. Your wedding colors are the only thing you know. A good baker has a book of past wedding creations and signature creations for their shop. They should also be able to ask a few questions and come up with suggestions for you from the information that you provide.

5. Will they deliver? You know about Murphy’s Law, right? Don’t ask your uncle with the large SUV to pick up the wedding cake from the shop. It is worth the cost to have the baker responsible for delivering and setting up the cake at the reception. If anything goes wrong on their part, you can get a refund.

It could be a simple yellow cake with butter cream icing in three tiers or a five-tier square cake with decorative sugar flowers. Either way, you want the cake for your wedding to meet all of your expectations and then some.

Most couples bring baggage to marriage...

You are not the first to be here. You meet someone that fills your heart and your head. For several months (or years) it seems you both are living in a cloud of bliss. The air is rare up there and you never want to touch the ground again.

Eventually there will be talk of an engagement and a wedding. You both have never been more in love. Unfortunately, when you are so enamored with each other, life issues don’t usually come up. Things like religion, sex, children, personal values and money are nowhere in the equation at this time. To that end many wake up one day after several years of marriage wondering who this person is that they married.

Pre-wedding counseling is a solution to the nightmare of divorce and unhappy marriages. Counselors know that your love overshadows everything else at the early stages of your relationship and their job is to make you aware of the issues before entering into a lifelong union.

The Counselor – Counseling is usually done by a minister or priest. Most people marry in a church and it is sometimes policy for the couple to engage in counseling before they are allowed to walk the aisle. If you are going for a non-traditional wedding, your counselor can be a licensed family therapist who has experience with pre-marital counseling.

The Sessions – Counseling sessions can range from one or two to an entire course. It is up to the counselor and the couple. The couple and the counselor meet alone to discuss issues that are important to a marriage like the ones mentioned earlier. It is necessary for couples to sort out their individual thoughts on these and other matters to see if they are compatible at the deeper levels of a relationship.

The Outcome – A firm foundation secures the home that is built upon it. That is the goal of pre-wedding counseling – to build firm foundations. The time to discuss children is not after three years of marriage when the biological clock is ticking. Money issues can’t wait until the well runs dry.

The goal of pre-wedding counseling is not to break up couples but to get them to see the big picture of their lives. Think of it as another part of your wedding plans.

1. Plan ahead and save money. It is usually a rule of thumb that the earlier you plan anything, the better the deal will be. For a wedding abroad, getting the ball rolling as soon as possible gives you time to handle all the particulars. When you can’t feasibly visit the location to check on things, it’s not a good idea to leave anything to chance. A year in advance is not too soon for a wedding on foreign soil.

2. Who is coming? Granny may be able to come a few states away for your wedding but another country? Before spending a lot of money on the ceremony in Bora-Bora, check to see how many people can afford to make it. Look for package deals that include airfare for your guests. All-inclusive resorts provide activities, food and drinks included to lower the cost of their stay.

3. What are the wedding laws there? Things may not operate the same way in tropical destinations. Investigate policy regarding marriage licenses, the wedding officiate and any fees the locals charge. If the wedding takes place at a resort, you’ll have to schedule in advance for the ceremony.

4. Find a reputable wedding consultant. You don’t want to handle this yourself. Choose someone you trust to suggest where to hold the wedding and how to handle everything that goes with it. Wedding consultants who have handled weddings abroad work with travel agents to get deals for their clients and their guests. Ask family and friends for referrals. Ask as many questions as you need in order to pick the wedding consultant that is right for you.

5. Be open to change. Winter weddings are magical and spring weddings are beautiful. Despite the romantic notions you conjure up in your mind, getting married abroad may require you to be a little more practical. Choosing the off-season saves money as well as avoids the crowds that populate resorts and foreign destinations during the more popular times of year. Also, a weekday wedding might be required depending on what country you are in. these changes won’t affect the important parts of your nuptials but it will save your pocketbook.

Getting married in a new and exotic location can be quite exciting. Know what you need to do beforehand so there are no surprises on the big day.