Planning the Perfect Wedding Bookshelves are already full of tons of expert wedding advice, so the last guide you need is another one on how to plan the perfect wedding. I'll leave the perfect wedding hairstyle to Modern Bride and the perfect wedding favor to Martha Stewart's “Guide to Prison Weddings.” What none of these experts will tell you is that a lifetime of watching weddings on television will not prepare you for your wedding. Once you gain a little knowledge of the wedding industry, you won't need Martha anymore. Your great relationship can be a slice of wedding cake if you know what to expect. First, assuming you have decided to get married, I have to ask you: are you sure? Forever is a long, very long time. Do you want to wake up with that face for the rest of your life, realizing that it's probably as good as it'll ever be? If this is what you want, what you really, really want, let's get to work. Many decisions await you and many, more opinions will flow towards you. Sharing wedding stories is second only to the thirty-six-hour, skin-less stories favored by women. Don't worry. You might hear the perfect idea for your day. If not, you will learn to nod politely. The location where you will get married is at the top of the list. Churches and halls aren't your only choices. Nowadays there's skydiving, bungee jumping and underwater weddings, whatever your pleasure. While the eccentric approach is tempting, most people stick to variations of the standard ceremony and reception. If you're planning a reception, you'd better attend and secure a seat. Hot spots sell out quickly and have waiting lists, some for years. If by any chance you want to get married but you're not currently... halfway there... the day will end. Once the honeymoon is over and the gift is unwrapped and returned, what happens? It can be unsettling to move on with your life. It can be difficult to simply remember what you did before planning your wedding. Cry if you have to, but don't cry for too long. Just as TV weddings are fantasies, so are TV weddings, where every problem can be solved with a loving thought, a good laugh and in twenty-two minutes. compare to how difficult it is to be married. In fairy tales, the last line is "and they lived happily ever after." It's sweet, but wrong. Marriage is work. Romance fades and wrinkles appear. Your wedding can be the best or worst experience of your life. Much of its success depends on you, and knowing this can help you get started in the right direction.