Weddings are one of the most complex social events you can plan, whether the wedding is for yourself or someone else. You have a lot of options when it comes to planning a wedding. Read on for some advice about what to do to make it truly memorable.
One of the major things that impacts your wedding day and married life will be religion. It may help to discuss this with your families so that they understand how you plan on handling dual faiths in your marriage.
If you feel as though it is wasteful to pay hundreds of dollars for a cake that will have a lot left over, consider a smaller bakery to create a smaller cake that will cost less and be more personal. Bakeries can offer options, such as sugar free cupcakes or a gluten-free cake, if you want a healthier option or if you have guests with special dietary needs.
If you prefer to handle the refreshments and foods on your own, save money by shopping at wholesalers, such as Sam’s Club and Costco. Shopping wholesale renders significant savings for food. Also, ask friends and family members to help cover the cost of the food.
You know to provide the DJ with an idea of all the right music to play, but you should also give a list of all the wrong things he might play. It might be specific genres you wish to avoid, or even particular songs that relate to a past relationship. Regardless of the reason, let your DJ know to prevent you cringing at your reception.
Use the property of a friend or a member of the family for your wedding. You might know someone with farm or large piece of real estate, which will alleviate one major cost for the wedding. You could pay for a cleaning service to come through before and after the wedding and make that the only cost.
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. If you are worried about a twisted ankle, choose attractive flats instead. Having less than sexy footwear is an easy trade-off for not falling on your derriere!
If you need to look great on your wedding day but money is a bit tight, then considering renting rather than buying any diamonds used in the wedding. This gives you that dazzling look you are seeking for a fraction of the cost, which allows you to stay well within your budget.
For a destination wedding, one wonderful present for your guests is a basket brimming with vacation goodies delivered to each room. Put items in these baskets that they can use on their trip. These can be maps, disposable cameras, a pair of sunglasses, a hat and also a pamphlet detailing where it would be fun to visit. Additionally, you may want to include a local restaurant guide so that your guests know where to eat.
Try tying small decorative items into each element in the wedding decor. Use the same ribbon that you use for the bouquet in the centerpieces. Your wedding will be perfect when you add in the small details.
Try having your reception midday. Most people will drink less during the day, which will cut back on the cost to fill the bar. In addition, you can save money by serving lunch instead of dinner at your reception. You may be able to purchase a higher-quality menu at lunch time for the price you would have paid for dinner. Keep in mind that if you spend less on food, you can use the savings to pay for another service your wedding requires.
Even if your dress has been selected and paid for, you may want to store it with the bridal boutique until the day of your wedding. It could get stained or wrinkled in your closet. If you keep it at the shop, that means it will remain pressed and fresh for your wedding.
Always guarantee full control of a lighting system at the venue, particularly the ability to dim or brighten the output. You will want to have the option to dim the lights during dances or have bright lighting during the ceremony. Before you sign any contracts with the venue, make sure this is an option.
If you are planning on serving multiple courses, keep guests entertained during serving with tiny portions of sweet appetizers near each guest. Think about sugar roses that enhance your wedding colors.
Don’t pick up your wedding dress until you need it, even if it’s already paid for. It can get stained or wrinkly inside your closet. Leave it where it is, and it will look perfect on your wedding.
Part of the wedding tradition is to wear “something borrowed,” so don’t hesitate to borrow jewelry from a friend. When you do this you save money, you can make yourself look way better and even form a closer bond with people who become more involved with the wedding.
You can easily have a member of your family or a friend get ordained online, making them an ideal candidate to officiate your ceremony. Doing so allows for individual customization of your personal ceremony, and it can also save you having to spend money on an officiant. Just be mindful of all legalities in your local area, so check with an official who handles these sorts of issues.
For aesthetic purposes, centerpieces are necessary, but they can really take a bite out of your budget. Don’t crowd the entire table with one centerpiece; instead, find a more simple option. People will find it easier to converse across the table without a huge centerpiece getting in their way.
Table centerpieces at a wedding may set you back financially and can actually be a hindrance, instead of an asset, if not artistically simplistic and pleasing. Rather than buying a huge centerpiece that occupies the entire table, you should purchase a simple one. If the centerpiece is too big, it becomes a distraction, making it difficult for people to interact as well as enjoy their food.
For instance, think about filling a menu with popular choices in a contemporary fusion style. Make the menu unique by adding ethnic desserts, beverages and wedding favors that are edible.
If dinner isn’t a part of your reception plans, formal tables shouldn’t be either. Lounges, chaises, and even cushy sectional pieces can encourage greater interaction between guests. Perhaps you could create different lounges and add plush seating to allow your guests to relax.
Make sure to properly practice your wedding speech if you plan on giving one. If you do not plan your speech, you may cause the audience to stop paying attention, or you just might get stage fright.
Instead of using expensive, elaborate flower arrangements, opt for various inexpensive potted plants. Ceramic pots that have been painted or decorated with ribbons make a wonderful table centerpiece. The guest’s wedding favor can be the plants in the pots, or you can put them in your garden.
Extend the overall aesthetic of your wedding day to all elements of your decor, including your flowers. Some retro themes will have bright color palettes that will require equally bright flowers. That could mean red poppies, daisies, and pink and yellow peonies.
Well before the wedding day, grooms should take the time to ensure that their tuxedo and that of their best man fit perfectly. Seek out opinions of friends and family before choosing the right tuxedo. Getting a tux that fits well and looks good is also important for ensuring that your wedding pictures turn out well.
You wedding plans should begin with a list of those things taking top priority to you. For example, some may feel that great food is more important than having a DJ or dance floor. 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.
Can you really organize a great wedding on a minimal budget? Absolutely. You do not and should not go into debt with a wedding. Creating invitations yourself, asking loved ones to contribute and making flower arrangements on your own can lead to massive savings.
Gift registries are traditional parts of weddings. To ensure a more pleasant event, make sure your guests know that a gift is not a requirement. Provide a large assortment of gifts to choose from at varying prices. People should feel comfortable giving you what they can afford bringing.
Floral Arrangements
You want your photographer to capture your event perfectly. When selecting a photographer, be sure to ask them how their wedding days typically go. Ask them about their process for handling a wedding day. You will want to match styles with the photographer of your choice.
Consider your wedding location when choosing decorations like floral arrangements. Floral arrangements with lots of components won’t work well if it’s windy out. You may need certain types of arrangements for flowers depending on whether your wedding is indoors or outdoors.
Use floral arrangements of varying heights. For flowers with long stems or compact heads, use tall vases. Then, surround them with shorter vases that have voluminous flowers, such as peonies or hydrangeas. The short and full flowers should be a few shades lighter than the taller blooms that are more prominent.
Your family or future in-laws may be stodgy traditionalists, but if they make demands, tell them to pound sand. While family members may feel compelled to offer limitless advice and suggestions, a polite and firm ‘no, thank you’ is entirely appropriate. This will ensure that you have no regrets when you look back on the day you got married.
Plan group activities for those who are sharing your special day. Engage your guests so that they are not forced to kill time between events. You can plan any number of fun games, from wedding couple trivia to musical chairs. Your guests will have fonder memories of your special day if it is an event filled with fun and entertaining interactive activities.
Start your wedding plans early. The sooner you start, the more choices you will have in every aspect of your special day. That means you can choose the vendors that meet both your budget and your needs.
To be certain of having a happy bride on the wedding day, be sure that all arrangements are of a type and quality she will appreciate. If she is left to worry about all of the planning, reservations and meals, and the wedding doesn’t live up to what she has been hoping for, it could be a disappointing day for the both of you. Secretly, the bride runs every wedding behind the scenes and you should allow her to do so, because it could be the difference between a happy wife or a bridezilla!
Use the helpful information you have just read and you can create a wedding you can be proud of. These handpicked tips will take much of the stress and hassle out of designing a momentous and highly memorable wedding experience for the bride and groom.
Another way you can save money is on the flowers. Rather than a floral wreath for the flower girl, try using ribbons for an elegant but simple look. Decorate your ceremony with silk flowers instead of fresh, live ones. Why spend hundreds on something that is destined to wither and to be thrown away? Go one step further, and make the silk flowers pull double duty by using them at the reception too.