So the experts have given their advice about how to plan the perfect wedding, now it’s time for the former brides. Points North Editor Julie Hostetter and Managing Editor Bre Humphries both recently planned their dream weddings in Atlanta and have a few tips to share with budding brides.

Advice from Julie, married Oct. 25, 2008
In my opinion, photography is one of the most important and treasured reminders of you wedding day. Don’t scrimp and do careful planning that includes:

• Brainstorm about photography: Think about what photos you definitely want on your wedding day, make a written list, and then share them with your photographer. Don’t assume the photographer will get the photo you want. Even when you do plan ahead, think about the big picture. I requested lots of photos of my niece who was a flower girl. I forgot to specifically mention my nephews. The result was tons of photos of my niece and very few of my nephews!
• Consider photographers with assistants: Two heads are better than one, and that is true for photographers as well. I told my photographer that I wanted a photo from behind as I walked down the aisle with my dad on my arm. It seemed like a romantic shot. Trouble was, to get that shot, he didn’t get many of my bridesmaids or any of my flower girl walking down the aisle or even my hubby-to-be waiting patiently! If there had been two photographers there, we would have been covered from all angles.
• Schedule a bridal portrait: Before the big day, book a bridal portrait session with a mock-up of how you want your hair and makeup done on your wedding day. You will see how you look in the photos and can change anything you don’t like with your hair and makeup. Also, you have two chances, instead of one, to create beautiful outdoor photo opportunities and even can display your photos at the reception.

Other helpful tips include:

• Create a wedding Web site: This is a great way to keep your guests informed about the big day, introduce the bride and groom and pass on travel information. There are many Web sites that offer easy-to-complete templates at a reasonable cost or for free. Visit www.theknot.com for more information.
• Get a head start on Thank You notes: When you receive gifts in the mail before your wedding, don’t wait, send out Thank You notes immediately. It’s much easier to spread out the writing of notes over time, and you will have less to worry about after the honeymoon, not to mention avoiding hand cramps from writing so many notes!
• Let Mother Nature be your interior decorator: If you would like an inexpensive way to enhance your ceremony, purchase some leafy ferns and palms to dress up the altar or ceremony site. Afterward, you can donate them to the church.
• Plan for sore feet: Be sure to purchase slippers for the Bride and Bridesmaids so you don’t find yourself dancing the night away in your bare feet. You can even find colors to match your Bridesmaid dresses so your guests won’t know the difference.
• Pack a “reception bag”: Keep all the items you plan on taking to the reception in a bag or box, such as your cake server, champagne glasses, family photos, favors, etc. and make someone specifically responsible for it. That way, you won’t forget your 200 customized wedding napkins at home like I did!
• Meet and greet: I know it’s a whirlwind of a day, but take a special a moment to greet each table before they get up for dancing and mingling. That way you will ensure you say “hello” and “thank you” to every wedding guest.

Advice from Bre, married Sept. 26, 2009

• Be prepared for the possibility of rain. In a perfect world, the clouds would part and the sun would shine on every bride’s big day, but contrary to popular belief, it is possible to have the perfect wedding in less-than-perfect weather. (I should know, I said ‘I Do’ during a torrential downpour after Atlanta flooded last fall.) If you’re planning an outdoor wedding, have a back-up plan, of course, but also prepare yourself emotionally. If rain is in the forecast, do not check Weather.com every 10 minutes (it’s like an emotional roller coaster) and, if you do have to resort to Plan B, don’t let it rain on your parade. We moved my ceremony from the gardens at Neverland Farms in Cleveland, Ga., into the venue’s covered, open-air pavilion and the effect of hundreds of white lights reflecting off the ceiling and the sound of rain pitter pattering against the roof was simply magical. I couldn’t have been more pleased. One final suggestion if you do have to change plans last-minute – make the decision to move your event with plenty of time to spare, so everyone involved (your bridal party, your videographer, etc.) has a chance to learn their way around the new site and your guests aren’t left waiting for the set-up change.
• Plan an engagement photo session. Engagement photos are a great chance for you and your fiancé to get the feel of working with a photographer before those all-important wedding photos. They’re more casual and you can choose an environment you’re comfortable in. Plus, if you have to move your wedding inside like I did, you’ll feel better knowing you’ve already got lots of great romantic shots of the two of you together. And you can use them in your wedding materials, too. We used our favorite close-up on our invitations and even incorporated a nice artistic shot into our 8 _ x 11-inch program, which we framed at the wedding instead of handing out individual ones – a cost-effective and environmentally friendly option, and now we’ve got this beautiful memento from our wedding on our mantel.
• Make sure your family knows when and where photos will be taken. Most photographers will request a list of family members and special guests that should be included in wedding pictures, but your photographer can’t be responsible for finding everyone on the big day – and neither can you. This is especially true if you plan to take pictures in all the excitement after the ceremony. Trust me, all those cousins will scatter fast, and it’ll be hard to gather everyone together in a timely manner. And don’t just think about the people you want in your pictures, think about specific combinations as well. I have several photos getting ready with my mom, and several of my walk down the aisle and my dance with my dad, but not a single shot of just the three of us together.
• Designate someone to keep up with the marriage license. This little piece of paper has to be signed by your pastor on wedding day, and it’s likely the last thing on a bride’s mind, so pick someone responsible to keep tabs on it. Ideally, this should be taken care of before the ceremony begins so your mom doesn’t miss the cake cutting while she’s finding someone to retrieve it out of the car during the reception. (Another note about marriage licenses: If you complete pre-marital counseling, you get a discount on the fee, and counseling is something else I recommend whole-heartedly, not only for the price cut, but also for the conversations and bonding it generates between you and your future spouse).
• Relax, soak it all up and enjoy yourself! This is one piece of advice I heard over and over again, so I took it to heart, and I’m so glad I did. Too many brides describe their wedding days as one big fog. I remember mine like it was yesterday, and it was one of the best days of my life.