10 Things You Dont Know Until You Are A Bride

Unless weddings are really, really your jam — uh, like us here at BRIDES — then there's a lot of random stuff that you probably won't know until you plan a wedding yourself. How many of these did you know and what can you add to the list?

1. For the bouquet toss, you don't actually toss your expensive arrangement. You toss a much cheaper version; it's often a complimentary item from the florist, created from extra stems.

2. Wondering how that modest two-tier cake served all 300 guests? There was an extra sheet of cake (or two) in the kitchen.

3. If you're having a destination wedding, there's a good chance you'll need to get married at City Hall beforehand so that it is legal in the United States.

4. Have you ever seen a framed picture of the bride in her wedding dress at the entrance of the reception? That's called a bridal portrait (a big thing in the South) and was shot weeks ago.

5. Forget being unnerved by the idea of walking around with a rock worth thousands on your hand — there's insurance for that. The best kind for your ring(s) is what's called a "scheduled policy." This coverage costs a little bit more but will account for future depreciation and also goes beyond the fire or theft stipulations of homeowner or renter's insurance.

6. If you order your wedding dress from abroad between the months of November and January, you'll probably have to wait longer than if you order one between April and October. This is due to the Chinese New Year; the queues at the factories get backed-up because workers go on holiday for several weeks.

7. It's highly unlikely that the ring bearer is entrusted with the rings. There's either candy in that box or faux rings on the pillow; the real goods are with the officiator or best man.

8. Whether you're on the hunt for yourself or selling them after your big day, some of the most in-demand pre-owned items are: Linens (especially sequin tablecloths), votives (bonus points for the mercury glass look), and vases (cylinder or cube, yes; trumpet-flare, no). All that D.I.Y. stuff? Ehh, it's hit or miss.

9. Checks written out to Mr. and Mrs. Groom's Last Name can be difficult to deposit because, in your bank's eyes, that's a third party. A bank may make an exception if you bring in your marriage license; setting up a joint account can also remedy the problem.

10. There will be behind-the-scenes tidbits that you still won't learn of until you're a newlywed. Like that your parents went M.I.A. for 20 minutes because they were transferring your suitcase to the wedding night suite or that your coordinator gave tampons to a bridesmaid. You'll have one heck of a team behind you, baby — and that's one of the coolest things you truly don't learn until you're a bride........culled from brides.com