Get the Most From Your Perfect Wedding Team

So you finally got that ring that you've been dreaming about since you were a just a little girl dressing up in your mother's veil. You've e-mailed photos of the rock to every person in your address book and bought all the wedding magazines on the shelf at the bookstore. (Or ours, at least. Good choice, by the way.) You've got a date set and the man of your dreams. Then it sinks in. You have to plan and coordinate all the details for the most important day of your life, all while keeping up with the Joneses at a full-time job. Uh-oh. How the heck do you actually make it happen? The local pros have chimed in to take the worry out of your wedding.

Cake Walk

Choosing a cake might be the tastiest part of the planning process, but it's hardly the simplest. You've got to estimate how many mouths you'll have to feed, how many layers, what flavor, what kind of icing, what filling and what shape the cake should be.

Beth Perry of Beth's Bake Shoppe and Tea Room outlines the steps you'll need to complete before you're ready to pick out the cake that will eventually be smashed all over your face.

• Make an appointment. Even if you're ready to discuss your cake options, the baker might not be. Schedule a meeting instead of just showing up at the shop. And try to make it at least six months before the ceremony.
• Figure out your theme. Before you can design the perfect cake, you need to know what colors you'll be using in the wedding. Also think about if you want any extra decorations, such as flowers.
• Do your homework. Most places will probably have photos of examples, but if you see something you like beforehand, clip it out and take it with you.
• Have a budget in mind. If you're trying to cut costs, consider a smaller formal cake with several sheet cakes on the side. It can be a lot less expensive that way.
• Don't forget the dude! The grooms usually get a cake, too. Theme cakes are in vogue right now, so if he's got a hobby or obsession, it might make a delicious dessert.

Fetching a Florist

Jennifer Grace Duran of A New Leaf says that if you choose the right florist, arranging the flowers for your wedding is a cinch. She says you should get started a least six months before the ceremony, and she offers these other tips:

• Have the style of your wedding planned before visiting a flower shop. Know if it will be a formal ceremony or a garden wedding and whether or not there's a theme. This includes color schemes, too.
• Know thyself. Make a list of your favorite types of flowers, as well as a few that you don't like. The more specific and comprehensive, the better.
• Have a budget. Choosing flowers that will be in season at the time of the ceremony will help stretch your dollar.

Your Photography Philosophy

A picture is worth a thousand words, but is a wedding photographer worth a thousand bucks? In a word: yes. As Jeremy Lawson of Hollister-based Big Smile Photography puts it, "Once the cake is all gone and the decorations are torn down, the picture is one of the few things you'll actually be able to hold in your hands forever." That's exactly why choosing the right photographer is so important. Jeremy's tips:

• Choose a photographer you can trust. It's easy for someone to
take a picture, but it's not so easy to make you feel comfortable for
hours as you pose and smile.
• Use the engagement photo shoot as a test run. It'll help you feel more comfortable with the photographer so things go smoothly on the day of the ceremony. And if things don't go well, you'll at least have some extra time to find a suitable replacement.
• You'll probably want to go digital. You won't be paying for expensive film, and having the option of buying digital proofs later can make choosing your favorite photos an easier process. Sometimes a customized and engraved iPod with your wedding photos can be included in your package. Also, make sure you know exactly what your package includes before the wedding day. Get it in writing, Lawson says.

Although it isn't as frequently used, hiring a videographer is another option to consider. Brandon Goodwin, who runs Citizen Media Group, says that he's careful about telling people that he does wedding videos because the phrase has such a cheesy connotation. Goodwin says it's important to view a full video by a potential videographer before committing, not just a 30-second clip. Goodwin is one of many videographers who are switching from cheesy videos to a more photojournalistic approach. The goal is to provide a video that looks more like a documentary about your special day than a poorly made home movie. Of course, he also admits that if you're on a budget, trusting a close friend with a camcorder to get quick interviews from everyone involved can make for a great, and cheap, keepsake.

Feeding the Masses

Metropolitan Grill Owner Pat Duran feeds hungry southwest Missourians every day at his restaurant, but he says catering is a whole other ball game. Here are his rules to follow when planning the food for the reception.

• Booking a caterer should be one of the first things you do. It's easy to change the kind of food or amount to prepare when the changes are made in advance.
• Plan your budget accordingly. Something you see on the menu at Metro Grill might cost $10 more when it's catered. That's because there are table settings and transportation considerations, and cooks and servers to pay along the way.
• Choose between a buffet and individual plates. Buffets are cheaper, but Duran warns, "The longer the food sits, the worse it tastes." Individual meals can be nice, but hiring servers can get pricey.
• Be realistic about RSVPs. The day of the RSVP is more or less over, and you don't want to run out of food when Aunt Gertie shows up unannounced. You might want to call some of the people you're unsure about in advance to get the most accurate headcount possible.