1. Consider hiring a local wedding coordinator. A good pro will know reliable vendors in the area to whom you might not otherwise have access.

2. Make at least one trip to your locale well before the wedding. Use the time to scout locations for the ceremony and reception and to interview potential pros (it’s a good idea to meet your experts in person, even if you’ve hired a planner). You should also draw up a list of activities you’d like to offer.

3. Plan ahead for your guests. As soon as you pick a wedding date and location, send out save-the-date cards, along with information about local hotels. This will be helpful to guests who need to arrange for time off from work and purchase airline tickets. With the invitations, include an itinerary for the weekend so that guests can pack appropriately.

Also, out-of-town guests may need transportation for the weekend, so work out those logistics: Check if the hotel(s) in which you’ve blocked out space offers airport service; coordinate rental cars guests can share; or rent minivans or minibuses.

4. Offer activities for guests of all ages. A slate of physically challenging outings will leave older guests feeling left out; young kids might be bored with museum tours and shopping trips. So, offer a variety of things to do—say, a welcome cocktail party the first night guests arrive, a picnic and optional hike the day before the wedding, a rehearsal dinner barbecue (all guests should be invited for the meal part) and a brunch the day after the wedding.

5. Show up at every event. While you must make an appearance at every gathering, you needn’t stay the entire time. Guests will understand that you have other wedding-related commitments. In that case, though, appoint a host—your parents, a sibling—who will make sure everyone’s comfortable.