When you announce your engagement, the congratulatory messages will start to roll in -- as will the loads of unsolicited planning advice. We asked real brides to share the worst advice they ever received. Here's what they had to say about…

Paying for a Wedding

"An [employee] at the bank tried to get me to open up a credit card to pay for everything. Kicking off a marriage in debt isn’t really how I want to start things out." --danadoll87

WeddingChannel.com Verdict: The key to pulling off your dream wedding and starting married life on the right foot is to set a realistic budget from the get-go. If you need to borrow money, be sure there’s a plan in place for how you’ll pay it back. Even if you do put wedding expenses on your credit card (some people do this just to keep track), you need to be able to pay it down. When it comes to weddings, budget and beauty aren’t one in the same. You can find most, if not all, of the details you want for a reasonable price if you do your research and are willing to comprise when needed (think: seasonal flowers versus exotic ones).

Picking a Venue

"[My mom] told me that I needed to have the wedding within 15 minutes from her house because she didn't like to travel." --scottishgirl

WeddingChannel.com Verdict: That may not be realistic! No one spot will be ideal for everyone on your guest list, but it's not unheard of to want to pick a location that's centrally located for friends and families on both sides. But focus your search on finding a venue that can comfortably accommodate all your guests and will match your wedding style. If you can find a place you like that fits the bill, it's a win-win situation.

The Wedding Cake

"My mother-in-law said, 'Don't order a [real] cake. No one eats cake. Get a fake one [instead]." --AmandaB

WeddingChannel.com Verdict: She may be half right. Here’s why: To keep costs down, a lot of couples will have their baker make fake tiers for every tier except the bottom one (this is real for the cake cutting). Then the caterers take the cake in the back after the cutting. While guests think this cake is being cut and served, they’re really eating less expensive sheet cake. (It's a commonly used trick, we promise.) Depriving guests of cake altogether is a huge no-no, however. Your guests will be looking forward to that tasty wedding cake, trust us!

Prewedding Parties

"I was told, ‘It's not polite to ask someone to throw you a bridal shower. Don't worry about it. Someone will throw one for you.' Yeah, I'm still waiting…" --Tonette

WeddingChannel.com Verdict: Yikes. Traditionally speaking, this responsibility falls on the maid of honor or the bride's closest friends. If they've done their homework, they'll know this. If you're not comfortable saying something like, "You do know you're in charge of throwing my bridal shower, right?" try something less direct like, "Is there any way I can help you kick off the shower plans?"

-- WeddingChannel.com

Jul 09, 2009

See More: Etiquette