What are/were your top five most important aspects/elements when planning your wedding?

I am interested in learning more about what is (or was) most important to you when planning your wedding day? Was it the time shared with your guests, each other, food, entertainment, money, etc. What elements made (or will make) your wedding an event to remember? Look forward to hearing from you.

OK, I may not be so credible since I've had 2 weddings (neither marriage ended well), but I'll say...it was:

1) The families. Or the lack of them. Or their opinions. Everyone doesn't have to get along, but if either spouse's family either (a) avoids the wedding entirely or (b) says, "He's your problem now," I'd say RUN AWAY. Your spouse's family should embrace you without being overly grateful for or surprised at your arrival.

2) The vows. Don't promise to do anything you won't do. Think about what "sickness and health, better or worse, and richer or poorer" mean and discuss this with your prospective spouse. Seriously.

3) The music. Pick stuff you both like.

4) Not the decorations, exactly, but the ambiance. Pick colors that you like. I have mental pictures of both weddings that are beautiful, despite the outcomes.

5) Time with the people you love. Don't invite a bunch of people you don't love; invite those you or your spouse really WANT to spend time with.

Good luck to you!

- Have our families present and involved.
- Food.
- Music.
- Guests.
- Simplicity.

My mother was my bridesmaid and my two sisters shared the emcee role. We had about 40 people all together at the recpeption. Rather than introducing just the out-of-town guests, everyone was introduced and their relationship to my hubbie and I was explained. It was the absolute best wedding a person could hope for. It was so personal rather than a great big production.

Besides marrying the love of my life, our top 5 were:
#1 - space to invite everyone we want there (family/friends)
the rest, not necessarily in order of priority (I think after #1, these are pretty equal)
- good food at a price would could pay
- good entertainment
- good cake since it is the dessert
- good bar package so our guests are happy

Top five things considered most when planning:

1. it had to be classy
2. it had to be fun for everyone
3. we had to consider the guestlist and make sure that everyone would get along (divorced sides don't always make nice)
4. the music had to be just right and personalized to us (we're very much music people)
5. it had to be affordable (but look like we spent a bundle)

I like to think that the very uniqueness of almost every element of our wedding will make it one to remember. From the music to the cake to the invitations to the favors, seating cards, and centerpieces, it was distinctly "us," and all our guests picked up on that. Anybody who really knew us was able to understand exactly where we were coming from when we planned it out (especially because we bucked tradition a lot).

timing (lunch, dinner, tapas)
decorations (themes, colors, flowers)
guests (wedding party)
setting (locations, bookings)
music (piped in, dj, ensemble, band)

other stuff:
priest, rabbi etc..
seating
cake
invitations
dresses, tux's etc...
rehersals

Budget, guest list, venue, photography and food.

1) that our families are there
2) that we marry in the Church
3) that we have a good time
4) that everyone else has a good time
5) that the wedding was affordable