Did you know that, just two years ago in 2011, American couples spent an average of $27,000 on their weddings? Many people consider their wedding one of the most important days of their lives. It can be especially devastating, then, to fall into some of the most common pitfalls of planning weddings, such as choosing an ill-suited venue for your big day. What are some of the most common mistakes of wedding planning, and how can you avoid them?

Not Thinking

As in all walks of life, one of the biggest mistakes couples make when planning weddings is not thinking, or at least not thinking things through. One of the most common practices, for example, is showering the couple with rice as they walk down the aisle. This is a fairly widespread wedding tradition, with some variation. Sicilians, for instance, toss bread and salt, the French throw wheat, the English shower the couple with pieces of cake, and even the ancient Romans and Greeks threw dates and nuts onto the newly married couple. Today, couples may mix it up by asking attendees to blow bubbles, or sometimes even light sparklers.

Keep in mind that all of these things can potentially soil or ruin delicate wedding gowns, and damage expensive tuxes. Bubbles can stain delicate materials, including silk and chiffon. Even a single flyaway ember from sparklers can leave scorch marks. Play it safe by asking guests to throw silk petals or birdseed.

Going It Alone

According to custom, when ancient Babylonians married, the bride’s and groom’s clothing were tied together, inspiring today’s popular idiom “tie the knot.” An outdated Irish tradition involved tying a hen to the bed to promote fertility. Weddings have come a long way since then. Ceremonies and receptions require an incredible amount of planning, so involving your spouse, and considering a wedding and event planner, is smart.

Raise questions like, what are the best country wedding venues? How much are party hall rentals? What about royal banquet halls? Make sure you choose halls based on how they spacious they will be once set up, too. Keep in mind that DJs, bands, serving tables, etc. also need to fit into venues, in addition to guests.

Planning a wedding comes down to a lot of small details. Think everything through very carefully, and ask a wedding planner and your spouse for some input about party hall rentals, before making any final decisions.