Whether you are planning your own wedding or helping plan a relative’s wedding, you have likely found that wedding planning is time-consuming and stressful. You are lucky to have found this article and some great wedding tips to help you plan a truly memorable event.
The photos taken during your wedding are important as you’ll look at these a lot of times during your lifetime. Hire a professional. Don’t be shy on spending money in this area as they can document this magical day to perfection.
You may be able to save money on your wedding by planning it during an “off season”. This would be sometime that is not between May and September. During this time, wedding venues will be more expensive. If you can’t plan your wedding at any other time, book your venue as soon as possible to get a great deal.
Add the finishing touches of decoration on all your wedding decor. For instance, the ribbon on your bouquet can go with ribbon for your hair, dress, or centerpiece. The little details like this help you pull all of the various aspects of the wedding together into one coordinated event.
When you are looking for a wedding makeup artist, look at examples of what has been done for other clients. Is the makeup style what you are looking for? Be absolutely certain that you are happy. It would be terrible to have the artist do your makeup only to realize you are unhappy with it.
Make sure that transportation is taken care of at your wedding. For people without a ride, be sure a taxi or limo can bring them to their destination after the reception. This is also helpful for anyone who was drinking at the reception.
Avoid cluttering tables with too many flowers at your reception. Frequently, these flowers are a nuisance to your guests, since they get in the way. In addition, some guests could be allergic to flowers. Try putting some scent free candles on your wedding tables.
Brides with sensitive skin can de-stress before a trip down the aisle by adopting a skincare routine that creates a glowing, revitalized appearance that won’t cause breakouts, hives, or irritation. Look for facial treatments that soothe and brighten with ingredients like sea salts, oatmeal, rose, and creamy scrubs.
Make sure to shop multiple photographers before picking the right one to shoot your wedding. You want your photographer to know exactly what they are doing. Look for online reviews to find great photographers.
Tell your DJ the songs that you do not want to be played. If you hate a specific song or a genre, such as heavy metal or country, you don’t want that played at your wedding reception. Regardless of the reason, let your DJ know to prevent you cringing at your reception.
Make sure the lighting at your wedding reception venue can be dimmed. This small detail allows for little things like low lights on the first dance, and bright for the duration of the event. Be sure to ask the if the venue has this feature before you commit to it.
Look around before committing to a photographer. You don’t want to end up with a photographer that you’re not going to be happy with. Look for online reviews to find great photographers.
When making plans for table sitting, make sure the number of guests is even at each table. Group people at tables by age so that common ground for conversations exists.
Practice before a mirror for your walk down the aisle. Go with flats if you’re worried about twisting an ankle. A sensible pair of shoes is better than injuring yourself by wearing high heels.
Send a planning and an itinerary to your guests to help them schedule their activities and find their way. Make sure that you tell people if they need to attend events, like the rehearsal, so that everyone shows up promptly at the correct location.
When you choose to invite family members to join you at your destination wedding, ask them if they would like to stay for the honeymoon, as well! By booking longer stays, money can be saved. Your guests will have a memorable trip as well.
If it possible for you to afford it, consider having your wedding on a cruise and invite only your closest family and friends. This means you can start your honeymoon immediately. Some cruises have specific rates for couples who get married and honeymoon on their ship.
One ideal gift idea for your friends and family joining you for a destination wedding is to consider having a selection of local goodies delivered to the room of each guest. Also include practical items such as maps of the area, disposable digital cameras, sun protection, and tourist information. It would be nice to also include a guide to local restaurants to make it easy for them to eat.
Do you want to serve many courses during your wedding meal? If so, be sure to place appetizer dishes for them to try. You may even want to put some treats on them. Get sugar roses that go with the color palette or your wedding. Or, opt for some thin crackers.
If the cultural backgrounds are different, have the wedding with one tradition and the reception with the other. This will make your wedding memorable and satisfactory to both families.
Silk flowers make great alternatives to various other flowers for your wedding. Because they don’t have to be bought fresh, you can get them far in advance of your wedding, making one less thing you have to worry about on your wedding day.
Research your wedding planner in advance. Follow those stylists and designers who make mood boards and look books from imagery, swatches of fabric and other inspirations that may provide the starting point for a finished look. Make use of clippings from magazines, photos and even lyrics from songs to get your vision across.
If the couple like travel, try to find wedding decorations that appeal to this hobby. Invitations and RSVP cards can be written in old script and yellowed to imitate antique postcards. On the date, a vintage suitcase can be used as a display piece. Simply fill it with favors, photos, or wedding programs and prop it open in a prominent location.
Inform your caterer if you’re going to be having your wedding reception outdoors. If the weather is hot, some foods won’t keep well, and if it’s windy, some lighter foods might actually blow away. There are, however, good covers available to protect the dishes. If needed, you can keep beverages cool in a small fridge.
For instance, think about a modern fusion menu with popular dishes. Add a little twist with ethnic drinks, desserts or wedding favors that are edible.
Costly wedding floral arrangements can be replaced with ornamental potted plants for an aesthetic and exotic effect. There are a number of options for decorative pots, ranging from glazed ceramic to terracotta. Consider adding custom details, such as ribbons or decoupage. The guests will be able to take the plants home with them as wedding favors or the lovely couple can use them in their new yard.
Wedding Speech
Take your fiance with you when you get fitted for your tuxedo. Seek out opinions of friends and family before choosing the right tuxedo. There may be photographs taken, so look your best at your wedding. This will be an event to remember!
If you are going to be giving a wedding speech, make sure that you practice and plan appropriately. A poorly planned wedding speech can make the audience uncomfortable or bored, and leave you feeling disgruntled and disappointed in yourself.
Be sure to select your videographer with care. Begin early and interview several. Look at the sound and quality of the video as well as the editing. Though VHS used to be the popular go to, now you want to make sure you are getting a digital version or DVD that can be viewed for years. Use your gut instinct and follow this advice for hiring videographers.
If you are not serving dinner during your reception, try getting casual seating instead of renting tables. Items such as chaise lounges, or lounge chairs can help your guests to interact more easily. These plush seats give your guests a comfortable place to relax, while also creating separate areas throughout the venue where people can lounge around.
A good way to save some money on your big day is to use an alternative to expensive floral arrangements. For instance, rather than having the flower girl wear a floral wreath, have them wear a ribbon. This still looks great, yet is much cheaper. Use silk flowers, not live ones. Not only are silk flowers more cost effective, but they will last forever. You can also reuse the flowers at the reception, if you have someone that can move them.
In the earliest planning stages of your wedding, you should prioritize your strongest desires. For some people, the flowers top the list while others consider the venue or the cake more important than a guest list. If you create a budget which lists the items in order of importance, you’ll have a much easier time picking out what you can afford and what you’re happy to live without.
Begin planning your wedding early. The more time you have to plan, the better your odds will be of getting everything you want for your wedding. This gives you a better chance to pick vendors that satisfy your needs and budget.
Potted Plants
Be aware of the weather. If the weather is going to be very hot, your guests will likely want to leave early instead of staying longer and celebrating. The same goes for cold winter celebrations. Look for little ways to accommodate your guests; for instance, provide some outdoor fans if you are hosting an summer wedding reception in the heat.
An affordable alternative to fancy floral arrangements is to place several potted plants of differing sizes in various areas of your reception and wedding sites. You can dress up potted plants by using a variety of beautifully decorated containers. When the wedding is over, the bride and groom can plant them at their new home, or the guests can bring home as wedding favors.
Realize that rain may become a factor at your wedding. Always have backup plans in place if this happened. Even if there is a small chance, you will still have an alternative.
One tradition associated with weddings is registering for gifts. For a pleasant atmosphere, you should make your guests understand that they do not have to bring anything. Give them options if they insist on bringing something. People should feel comfortable giving you what they can afford bringing.
Secure vendor recommendations from other service providers you have hired. After finding a good photographer, ask for band recommendations. The band you hire can possibly then recommend another service for a different purpose. You see how this works? You’ll find quality vendors this way and they’ll work well together.
It really is possible to plan a wedding with a shoestring budget. It is imperative that you not fall into debt because of your wedding. You can save money by making invitations, favors and floral arrangements.
Brides should try to avoid showing distracting tan lines. While wanting to be tan on your wedding day, noticeable tan lines are distracting.
When planning for decorations, think about the location. For instance, you might choose a delicate floral arrangement when indoors, but you definitely don’t want something like that in an outdoor environment where there will be any wind. You must also take into account any equipment that will be needed for securing decorations when outdoors at parks or beaches.
Have an account set aside for the wedding only. Maintaining a budget will be simpler if you have allocated the wedding funds to a special account. Start a bank account to save money for a wedding later on in your life.
Tan Lines
Leave a space of time after the wedding prior to the beginning time of the reception. Weddings are notorious for running late. Receptions usually must start on time. Your reception usually has a set time. A late wedding means that you are paying for a reception room that isn’t even being enjoyed by your guests and will make your reception shorter.
A slight tan can make a bride look glowing, but bad tan lines can ruin the look of a dress. This is important because you may try to get a nice tan before the wedding but tan lines may be distracting when in your dress.
While you are dress shopping, pay careful attention to what style of dress suits you and what kind of styles you like. Always remember that even if a style looks great on a hanger, it may not look as great on you. If you are of shorter stature, check out the petite selection before you opt for a dress that needs to be altered. You will be much happier with your choice.
Don’t feel overwhelmed by the options available to you, instead let the tips in this article guide you and make your life easier. You will be surprised at how many people are willing to help you enjoy your wedding day.
If you have more time than money, you can save a great deal of cash by printing your wedding invitations yourself. There are invitation kits that allow you to create your own invitations and customize them with your choice of styles, colors, font and wording.