A wedding can be challenging and stressful, but you must approach it with a positive frame of mind to make it all work. The best way to know you’ve prepared yourself to the best of your ability is to gain as much knowledge as you can to make that big day go the way you want it to. You’ll find that these guidelines are an excellent starting point.
Include in your wedding elements of yourselves, your relationship, and your life’s events. Select a theme which reflects your relationship.
When you are looking for a wedding makeup artist, look at examples of what has been done for other clients. Do you like their style? Consider doing a trial run before the big day. The last thing you need is to wind up looking like you are going trick or treating right before the ceremony begins.
The most important thing when considering marriage is the person you will be marrying. This choice will affect you forever, so take your time and don’t rush. Give careful thought to that person, what you absolutely must have in your life, and what might irritate you.
Brides who have sensitive skin can have a stress free wedding day by using skincare products that will give a glowing look without causing hives, irritation, or a breakout. Find facial treatments that brighten the complexion with soothing ingredients such as rose hips, oatmeal scrubs and sea salts.
Check out the credentials of the makeup artist you choose. Is the style of make up look attractive to you? Make sure that this is the style you desire. You don’t want to find out an hour before the ceremony that your makeup artist has a look planned that you hate.
Your reception location should have a dance floor or room for dancing. Nothing is worse than everyone being crammed together during a dance, so move things out of the way to help create extra space.
Ever wonder what you will look like gliding up the aisle at your wedding? Set up a large mirror and practice walking toward it. If you plan to wear high heels with your dress, this is especially important. Should you be worried about a mishap, consider some nice flats. Having footwear that is less sexy but will keep you from falling is an easy decision to make.
Brides who love fashion will perhaps want to add a dash of sparkle to their bouquet; think rhinestones, Swarovski crystals or even some diamonds. Crystals come in adhesive and heat-fixed varieties, or brides may choose to add pieces of costume jewelry or heirloom pieces to their bouquets. Make sure you stay consistent with these decorations in cut, color and dimensions so it goes well with what you are going to wear.
You could get help from someone else who is attending the wedding. They could help you carry your gear. The assistant can help line up family members and round them up for group shots.
A nice present to give to your wedding guests at a wedding in a different town is a gift basket full of vacation items that you can have sent to their room. You will want to include useful items such as a disposable camera, tourist map that shows fun places in the local area, sunglasses and a hat. One piece that will really make this idea a hit with everyone is to include a restaurant guide so that all your guests are able to find options that they enjoy.
If your family will be traveling a far distance to your wedding, invite them to extend their trip a little. It’s a great way to get a group discount and they can share in the special memories you are going to make at your chosen destination. Then you can have a memorable wedding and your guests will enjoy a mini vacation.
Maintain an online event itinerary for all your wedding guests, so they know the exact day and time everything is scheduled. You can customize itineraries or send special alerts to let each person know which events they are expected to attend.
Don’t leave your guests waiting while you, your new spouse and the wedding party have an hour long photo shoot. The photos concerning the rest of the wedding party should be done in advance. In order to reduce the length of time that the guests need to wait for the bride and groom to arrive at the wedding reception, the bride and groom should also be photographed with their parents in advance.
After you select and purchase your dress, see if you can leave it at the store until the big day. It could get stained or wrinkled in your closet. Having it at the shop means it will be unwrinkled for the big day.
Search Craigslist for local businesses to help with the things you need for your wedding. However, before giving them any money, meet up with them in person as a couple.
If you want to discover local talent to assist with your wedding, try Craigslist. Meet the professional in person with your fiance before signing any contracts or handing over money.
Consider borrowing a special piece of jewelry from a friend or family member. Not only does borrowing jewelry help you perfect your look without spending extra money, but your friend will be honored to contribute to your appearance on your wedding day.
You may want to consider getting silk flowers for your wedding. You don’t have to purchase these fresh so you can buy them months ahead, and you don’t have to be concerned with huge floral arrangements.
Think about getting silk flowers as an alternative to real ones. You can avoid the hassle of wilted flowers and even make your purchase in advance, making them one less item to worry about on your big day.
The table centerpieces can be expensive and should be artistically pleasing. As an alternative, try selecting a simple but elegant centerpiece that isn’t too large or overwhelming. People will find it easier to converse across the table without a huge centerpiece getting in their way.
Choosing centerpieces for your reception tables can be a difficult and costly decision. Avoid large and complicated centerpieces; choose simple, elegant ones instead. People will find it easier to converse across the table without a huge centerpiece getting in their way.
For instance, you may plan your menu around ultra-modern fusion cuisine, including popular dishes from both cultures. You can add little twists in different food items, from drinks to dessert options.
If you are going to have kids in your ceremony, dress them in clothing that is comfortable. Try using soft fabrics that are loose enough to not be uncomfortable. Try to make sure their shoes are comfortable, especially if they are new and not yet broken in. This small detail can ensure that the children remain focused on their part in the wedding, instead of fidgeting with uncomfortable clothing.
If the culture of the bride’s and groom’s family are very different, plan the wedding ceremony in the tradition of one side and follow the traditions of the other side at the reception. This creates a memorable and intriguing contrast that is sure to satisfy family traditions on both the bride and groom’s sides.
Be sure to prepare well for your first meeting with your wedding planner. Follow the lead of fashion designers and stylists who create “look books” and mood boards comprised of fabric swatches, imagery and other inspirational tidbits that can serve as a starting point for the finished product. Photographs, song lyrics and magazine clippings can be used to display your ideas in such a manner that your wedding planner can get a visual image of your ideas.
If you plan on making a wedding speech or giving a toast, you should practice beforehand. If you don’t practice your speech beforehand, you run the risk of forgetting your speech, saying something you didn’t intend to say, or losing the audience.
Your caterer needs to know if you are planning on having a reception outdoors. Some foods may spoil quickly on hot days, and other dishes may not fare well in strong wind. You could utilize fancy covers to protect the dishes. Furthermore, consider hiring a refrigerator to keep beverages cool.
If you are planning to hold your reception outdoors, it is important to inform your caterer. There are some food choices that will not be appropriate for an outdoor wedding as they may spoil easily in heat or wind, for example. There are, however, good covers available to protect the dishes. If you can, use a small fridge for keeping drinks cool.
Add drama to your floral arrangements by using different elements of varying heights. Use vases that are tall for long stem and compact head flowers. Inside the taller vases, to keep them from looking bare, you should use full arrangements to fill in the gaps around the opening. Make the shorter flowers lighter in hue than the taller blooms.
As you begin to plan your wedding, make a prioritized list of your wants. Some people will have the venue as the most important item while others might list the guest list. Put the most important things for you at the top. This will help you put your priorities first on your budget and the optional things can be worked out if the budget allows.
Decide on group activities for your special day. You do not want your family and friends bored to death while waiting for your wedding to end. Plan many different activities, from pie eating contests to bocce. The more fun your guests have, the better the entire event will be for everyone.
A tradition linked to weddings is the gift registry. Gifts should not be mandatory to attend your wedding. There should be varying price ranges and a wide array of gifts to choose from. Times are tough no matter what the occasion and your guests will feel better knowing they aren’t being pressured to gift more than their budget may allow.
Consider your bridesmaids needs when choosing their gowns. Many friendships end over a disagreement about the bridesmaids’ gowns. Pick something affordable, matches any theme you have for your wedding, and that your bridesmaids love. This will help ensure that they are truly happy on your big day.
Pick a photographer for your wedding who will create memories, not simply take pictures. When you interview potential photographers, ask them how they imagine the day. Be sure you understand the process they use to capture all the important moments. You want to understand their style to make sure it meshes with your own.
You need to make sure you plan everything well ahead of time. Perhaps you think one year is enough time to plan your wedding. However, it will be hard to find the right venue and services if you wait too long. Try to do this fast so that you do not stress during crunch time.
When you choose a videographer for the wedding, try interviewing as many as you can to see their work examples. Be sure that sound editing is something to which you pay real attention as well. People used to get great VHS tapes of a wedding, but these days you’ll want a digital video or DVD that will last you quite a while. Decide who you want to choose based on the gut impression you get with each.
Talk to vendors to get great deals on other services. If you find a photographer that you love, ask that person to recommend a band that they like. Talk to the band and see the recommendations they have. You can find some great people this way, and you may increase the likelihood that everyone works well together since they already like one another.
The above tips can help you plan your wedding and prevent it from going sour. Just try to stay positive and learn everything you can about preparing for your day.
Customize jewelry if you are looking for a bridal party gift. When you do this, all of the members of your bridal party will have a lasting reminder of your special day.