Hopefully this is the one you will spend the rest of your life with. Marriage is a huge deal, which is why perfect planning is crucial. Use the helpful tips below to plan the perfect wedding.
Remember to consider how you would like the alcohol at your reception served, and how much it will cost. Open bars can be expensive and can be more so if they’re open a long time. See what other serving options are available for your alcohol.
When you’re getting plans together for your wedding, consider the types of alcoholic beverages you’re going to be serving. Also be aware of the cost. Keeping an open bar doesn’t come cheap, but keeping it open for an extended time can be even more costly. See what other serving options are available for your alcohol.
It is a good idea to hear the speeches of those who will be speaking at your wedding so you know that their comments will be appropriate. Remember that you’ll have people there from all generations, so keep the jokes appropriate.
Buying wedding gowns online can save you hundreds of dollars, but be sure to do it very early to allow you time to get your gown altered when you receive it. Sometimes a gown can cost as little as a hundred dollars; however, you might spend twice that amount to have it altered to fit. Don’t forget to add this additional cost into your budget!
Make sure the photographer you hire for your wedding is experienced. You don’t want to end up with a photographer that you’re not going to be happy with. To identify good local photographers, solicit advice and referrals from family and close friends.
Ask the members of your reception who plan to give a speech to practice them with you so you can vet their content. Remember that your guests will include people across a wide range of ages, and a joke that younger generations find amusing might be offensive to older guests.
Embellish your bouquet with sparkle. You can use rhinestones, diamonds or Swarovski crystals. This is easy to do at home; you can just use some heat-fixed crystals or adhesives, some costume jewelry or even attach a heirloom piece. To avoid clashes with other parts of the bride’s wardrobe, ensure that the size, color, and cut of the stones are consistent.
Choose wedding decorations that reflect your personality and that of your partner. Your decorations should also help tell the story of your relationship with the person. Select a theme that best represents what you mean to each other.
Full length mirrors are great for practicing the “aisle-walk.” If you will be wearing heels, this is even more crucial. If you’re worried that you will twist your ankle, you can wear flats instead. Sexy footwear won’t do you any good if you wind up falling on your bum.
Flowers are great, but don’t place too many of them on your tables or they can become tacky. If you have too many flowers, they can actually become a hindrance to your guests. You also might want to take into consideration that some guests may be allergic to the pollen in the flowers. Because of this, you should think about putting candles that are non-scented onto the table in order to achieve a more romantic look.
It may sound odd but it might be fun if you ask your family if they would like to join you on the honeymoon as well. Everyone can save if you stay longer, as you will likely get a great discount from the hotel. This will not only give them a single day to remember, but a whole vacation.
If you are going to have a destination wedding, give your guests a basket filled with exotic goodies. Include gifts that are sure to be useful while on location at the wedding, like sunglasses, tourist maps, disposable cameras, hats, and pamphlets that detail all of the best attractions in the local area. You could also include flyers and coupons for local restaurants.
Avoid having your guests standing around waiting while you have your pictures taken. These pictures should be done beforehand. Additionally, photographs of the bride with her parents and the groom with his parents can be taken before the wedding.
The lighting at the venue hosting your wedding’s reception should be able to be dimmed. This might seem like a trivial detail, but you want to be able to lower the light for your first romantic dance as a married couple and increase the lighting for other moments of the reception. Check with the venue about these specific options before booking anything for certain.
Place your colorful wedding cake on a swatch of fabric that coordinates with the cake. You can choose to use solids, patterns or textured fabrics like silk, velvet or satin to create a visual interest that will tie all these elements together.
If a friend of yours has something you want to wear simply as them. A nice bracelet or necklace will both complete your look, as well as give you “something borrowed” for the day.
Borrowed jewelry is both beautiful and acceptable for your wedding. 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.
If the groom and bride love to travel, try to look for decorations that incorporate that particular theme. The printed items, such as invitations and thank you cards, can have the look of old maps or vintage postcards. You can use old luggage to display things like photos, wedding favors, or wedding programs.
Large centerpieces are unnecessary on your tables as they not only eat away at your budget, but serve as an unneeded distraction. Rather than buying a huge centerpiece that occupies the entire table, you should purchase a simple one. Smaller centerpieces allow your guests to converse and interact without something blocking their view.
Each and every component of the wedding should be examined and planned perfectly; you want no surprises during showtime. You want to draw everyone in, and make all of your guests remember this joyous occasion.
Flowers that might be abundant in your home territory may not be widely available if you happen to be in the Cayman Islands or Greece. Make contact with professionals who reside near your destination site to inquire which flowers are in bloom and available to use for your ceremony.
If you’re planning a wedding outdoors, you better have a plan B in case of any nasty surprises by Mother Nature. You could for instance rent some tents, or choose a venue with a park and a hall. Planks can be used on wet ground so guests do not soil their shoes.
Let your caterer know you want an outdoor reception. If the weather is hot, some foods won’t keep well, and if it’s windy, some lighter foods might actually blow away. You may consider using decorative covers for your dishes. Keep a small refrigerator around to cool drinks down.
Do some homework before meeting your wedding planner. Start your project by using imagery, fabric swatches and other pieces of inspiration to make mood board and “look books” like the stylists and fashion designers use. Include photos, magazine clippings, and songs lyrics if you like.
Think about the legalities of the location you choose when you are planning out your wedding. Whether you have to worry about residency, fees, forms, or any other bureaucratic red tape, make sure everything is in place before you start booking your hotel, venue, or services for your big day.
Potted Plants
Make sure that your flowers look great too. If your theme is specifically vintage or retro for example, you will want the right flowers that will offer the same nostalgic feeling as the rest of your decor. Try pink peonies to spice up the flavor in your wedding.
You can have beautiful arrangements on a budget by opting to place potted plants throughout your ceremony and at reception sites, instead of ordering expensive floral arrangements. There are a number of options for decorative pots, ranging from glazed ceramic to terracotta. Consider adding custom details, such as ribbons or decoupage. When the wedding is over, the newlyweds can either plant the potted plants in their yard, or the guest can take them home.
A great way to place live flowers around your wedding without spending an arm and a leg on flowers that will end up in the bin is to use potted plants. 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 are able to take the plants home with them, or the couple can take them home and plant them.
If you plan to wear a gown to your reception, make sure to practice dancing in a full skirt until you perfect the moves. Even if you regularly wear long skirts or suit pants, your future spouse might not be used to dancing with you while you’re in this type of clothing. This will help him adjust to dancing with you in your dress and prevent any awkwardness, especially if your gown is particularly full at the bottom.
Gift registries come in handy when planning a wedding. Your guests will appreciate knowing that a gift is not a requirement. So, set up a registry that have items of all prices so that everyone can afford to buy something that they know you will love. Everyone should feel comfortable with what they can spend.
Decide in advance if you will be inviting children to your wedding. If children are excluded, it may be easier to realize cost savings. If you are not going to allow children at your wedding, be prepared for certain guests to not be able to make attendance.
Add drama to your floral arrangements by using different elements of varying heights. Use tall vases for flowers with longer stems and more compact heads. Then, surround them with shorter vases that have voluminous flowers, such as peonies or hydrangeas. The shorter flowers should have more prominent blooms and be more lightly colored.
Find a few group activities to occupy your guests. You do not want your family and friends bored to death while waiting for your wedding to end. Examples of activities could include a volleyball game, or a contest of who can get to know the most people prior to the wedding. Your wedding will be a more memorable event when everyone has fun and interacts with each other.
See to it that your tuxedo fits you, if you’re the groom. Ask others for an opinion before choosing a tuxedo. You will surely want to look your very best at your wedding and in your wedding photos.
In order to make the wedding go smoothly, make sure the bride is satisfied with every aspect of the wedding. She will not be happy if she must do the planning or there is something wrong. The bride’s wishes must be followed or you will be facing an angry bridezilla!
As far as bridesmaids go, select the gowns that will be worn before asking them to be a part of your wedding party. In this way, you can let them know exactly what they are in for before they accept your invitation to participate. Unless you know for sure that money isn’t a problem, choose a relatively wallet-friendly dress, a color that complements your wedding palette, and a flattering style. By choosing the dress yourself, you can avoid misunderstandings.
A wedding is both a joyful and a somber event. It is important to plan it with care and respect. Take these tips and use them to make sure your wedding is what you hoped it would be.
Write your wedding vows. Of course, copying vows from another source is easier, but keep in mind that your partner knows you well. Writing the vows yourself can add more romance and meaning to your wedding and make you feel more connected to one another. There is nothing wrong with using outside resources, but your vows will be more personal if you write them yourself.