On the other end of the quality spectrum is, for example, Mercedes. And, like we said, it’s not a matter of having a good marketing department making claims of grandeur. Brands like Mercedes are timeless and have provided the consumer with quality products since day one. This is brand value, something that you know you’re probably paying extra for because it has a certain brand name, but that you don’t mind doing so because you know the name is synonymous with quality.

A similar success case, although in a somewhat different level, is ghd and its hair straighteners. The brand has also provided the consumer with quality since its beginnings, and has been rewarded for doing so. If you look up ghd hair styles you will find out that the brand has gone past its own name into something that seeps into the collective imagination of people. Just like a vacuum cleaner is a “hoover” and a copy machine is a “Xerox machine”, beautiful, straightened hair is becoming “ghd hair”.

And this is really amazing if you consider how long the brand has been in the market. You would say that good advertising and celebrity endorsement made ghd the popular brand what it is today, but even before this happened there was already a ghd hair straightener in every teenager’s home – or almost. The celebrity endorsements, as a matter of fact, appeared naturally, as some British celebrities simply declared that they loved the hair styling tool.

Most people discovered the ghd straightener the same way that my family did: a friend was so excited about getting one and how well it worked that she couldn’t wait to show all her friends. And that’s the advertising you want: the one that you hardly have to pay for, and the one that really displays quality.

Quite frankly, if a son or daughter of mine were to be married, I would try to get the most pressure off their shoulders. Because honestly, it may be too much pressure on the bride and groom’s shoulders. And weddings are to be enjoyed, by the guests, the family members and also by the people that are actually tying the knot.

Therefore, if you really do want to plan the perfect wedding, try to keep it simple. The more complicated you make it, the more things can go wrong. Sure, ideally, you’d fly 200 guests to a remote village in Italy what has the most amazing church and then you’d fly them back to France for the reception and, again, to Ibiza for the after party. I know I’m being silly, but there’s a point in all of this: keeping it simple clears your mind and leaves enough room for fun. And once you do this and keep this state of mind, then you only need to worry about keeping the simple beautiful.

And, honestly, making it simple doesn’t mean not making it special. Or cheap. If you want to spend the money, please do so, just don’t go for extravagant. An enormous chocolate fountain in the middle of the reception room is definitely extravagant, but giving your bridesmaids Dune shoes from Very.co.uk that match their dresses – and that they get to keep after the wedding, of course – is a nice gesture. 

And let’s not forget the importance of the bridesmaids in keeping everything running smoothly. Of course the bride and the groom share the spotlight as most important people at the wedding, but there’s definitely more work put into the bride: makeup and dress especially. And of course the bride has a lot on her mind, so it’s up to her maids to keep everything running smoothly – so do keep them happy as well.

- Switch water for soda, coffee, and other drinks. Very few people have the proper amount of water intake each day, and it is a simple way to get your body on a healthier track.

- Remember your proportions. Cutting down on just how much you eat, regardless of what it is, is a great way to lose some weight. If you aren’t interested in changing your diet or lifestyle, try to eat less at each meal.

- Back to basics. You’ve heard it since you were little: eat more fruits and vegetables! Well, now is the time to follow that advice. Not only is it healthy, it also gives you the energy you may be lacking to get physical and keep with a work out routine. Feeling like you have more energy is the best motivation for keeping active and burning off those calories.

- If you drink even a few times a week, cutting back will help you drop some fast pounds.

Vendors do call in sick. Which means, you could be without a photographer the day of your wedding. Be sure you can be provided with a last minute back up through the same studio if possible. Also keep in mind the replacement might not have the same photography style as the other, so be prepared to compromise. Better photo memories than nothing at all.

Weather happens. From rain to extreme wind, if you are planning an outdoor ceremony or reception, be prepared for the worst. Be sure you have an emergency budget for an umbrella for each guest, and everything is nailed down in case of wind.

Find a proof reader. If you are doing DIY for your invitations, programs, save the dates, or any other written aspect of your wedding, make sure a couple friends look it over before you make one hundred copies. A simple typo may be invisible to you (having stared at it for a couple weeks) but a quick catch you a friend.

- Many brides admitted that they should have used the time to work out and get the figure they wanted for their wedding day. It’s all too easy to be wrapped up in the process, and working out is a great way to feel productive when you’re dealing with a million swarming thoughts you can’t control. If you want to fit that dress of your dreams, use the incentive!

- Hiring some help on the big day is also a common regret. You may want to plan your own wedding (or not have the budget to hire a professional) but getting some expert help the day of can make a difference between stressing over the little things, and enjoying your big day without having to handle everything yourself. This is worth the cost, to not have to stress on the day of your wedding.

- Ordering more food is also a common retrospect thought. It’s better to have too much than too little.

- Keep an eye on the prices. It may be fun to start scanning everything you’ve ever wanted, but most of your guests probably won’t have more than $100 to spend on a gift. So keep some gifts that are low, around the $50 and $75 marker, just in case they can’t dish out $200 for that mixer you’ve always wanted.

- Check up on return policies for the store. Often they cater to newlyweds apart of registries, but just be sure, in case the need arises, you have the opportunity to exchange or return an item.

- Get at least one of your registries up online. This is a good idea for any guest that isn’t in town, or just for the ease of use. If they prefer not to go into the store, give them the option to buy you a gift online when they have time after work at home.

There is nothing like having great coffee fresh brewed right at home. A fancy barista will not go amiss with most couples. This is a great gift and it is likely to be used every single day for a long time. It is one appliance that they can really use, and probably haven’t splurged to buy themselves. If they do, its probably a sad little coffee maker. Get them the espresso machine for real wows.

Cook ware is still useful, but give them an upgrade. Put out the money for great cast iron, or copper. Not to mention a great set of knives. Professional grade chef knives can be used every day, and make meal preparation faster and safer. These are great ideas for the modern couple that need wedding gifts they can really use, so ditch the fondu set and get them something they need!

Other wedding registries may be done completely online, so guests from anywhere can see what you need and buy it as a gift for your big day.

The types of items most added to wedding registries are house hold goods. Such as appliances, cookware, linen, china, and other necessities for the newlywed life. However, now that more couples live with each other long before they are married, these gifts may be obsolete. This is all the more reason to have a registry. This lets your guests know what you prefer to receive, so you don’t end up with a coffee maker you already bought.

- A good idea is to work in some “emergency funds” with your budget. This should be anything below 10%, and should give you some wiggle room in case the unforeseen happens to you. For example, if you lost more weight than you expected to since your last fitting, you may need to get your dress taken in one last time, as well as extra umbrellas if it rains on your big day. These are expenses you can plan for by having a general “extras” budget to keep you from going over.

- Get an idea of your reception costs. Considering this accounts for near half of your entire wedding budget, you need to get a good idea of how much you’ll need to dedicate here. From food, to the venue, you could spend near to one hundred dollars per guest. If you have 10 per table, and 10 tables… it can add up quickly. Cut down your guest list if you must.

- Be sure you understand what is included in the price. With things as big as airline tickets, you may be mislead by a super cheap price. Be sure that the total you are seeing includes tax, or what you think you were going to pay could so much as double.

- Calling a hotel directly, rather than booking online or through an agent, can result in some great savings. They will be aware of all the latest discounts and promotions, that may have not yet made it to the internet. Take advantage of all the savings you can get, and ask them whats new.

- If your priority is to participate in activities and eat at restaurants, then stay at a cheap hotel: odds are you won’t be there much of your trip anyway.