Is wedding planning overwhelming you? Does it sometimes seem a little easier to run away from it all? While weddings are stressful to plan, there are many ideas that will help to make things a lot easier for you. This article contains information and tips to help you decrease the stress of planning a wedding and allow you to enjoy your engagement.
To garner a better price on your wedding venue, look for a date that won’t fall during wedding season. This would be sometime that is not between May and September. When this is going on, it will cost more to have a wedding. If you need to book during this time, make sure you book far in advance to get the best deal.
You can save money by choosing an off season wedding date. The traditional season for weddings is May through September. Venues are usually more expensive then. If you must book a space in these months, be certain to book way ahead of time to get a reasonable deal.
Buying a wedding gown can be very expensive. Consider looking into dresses that are not designated as wedding dresses. A dress for other occasions, such as holiday parties, can sometimes work for a wedding dress, and will usually cost a lot less. Even if you think you would like to change it in some way, it should be less expensive than if you bought a wedding dress.
Include in your wedding elements of yourselves, your relationship, and your life’s events. Choose a theme that matches your time together!
You save large amounts of money by purchasing your wedding dress online. However, it is crucial that you do it far in advance, should it need any alterations. Keep in mind that sometimes the alterations will cost more than the gown itself. The cost of an alteration should also be included in your budget.
Make use of a family member’s or friend’s property for your venue. Having your wedding in someone’s yard or even farm can reduce wedding costs. You can make sure the cleaning and setup is done, of course, but that is the only thing you should have to pay for regarding the wedding venue.
Make sure that you listen to all the speeches before the big day so you can remove anything that is inappropriate. Many generations and people of differing viewpoints will attend your wedding, so your speech makers need to make their speeches geared to everyone and not just play to their own friends.
Instead of one large, expensive wedding cake, consider serving cupcakes or several small cakes. Alternatively, consider something like low-fat cupcakes, gluten-free cake, fruit-filled low calorie cakes, or other such healthy alternatives.
Spice up your wedding reception by choosing an ethnic inspired menu. Steak or chicken are over-served and boring, so why not include a variety of food in your food choices? Be certain you make the dinner at your wedding memorable; after all, it’s your big day!
Practice walking towards a full length mirror to ensure you know how to do it, especially if you are not used to heels. If you’re afraid of twisting your ankle, wear cute flats instead. Having footwear that isn’t exactly what you wanted is a good trade-off.
You can add certain decorative elements into the wedding décor in order to personalize. You can use a nice little ribbon in many places, such as on your gown, in your hair, or even intertwined with bouquets of flowers. These small details help tie everything together to create a beautiful wedding.
Destination Wedding
Brides who have sensitive skin should start a skin care regimen well in advance of the wedding. Brides can use facial treatments with ingredients that include oatmeal, sea salt and rose, They keep skin bright and leaves it smooth.
When asking friends or family to come to a destination wedding, you may want to ask them to stay around for your honeymoon too. Hotels tend to give discounts when guests stay for a longer period of time. You can make your destination wedding a vacation for your friends and family as well.
Practice walking down the aisle in front of a full-length mirror to make sure you know what you’re doing, especially if you’re going to be wearing heels. If you’re afraid of twisting your ankle, wear cute flats instead. Not falling beats wearing sexy shoes.
Your guests shouldn’t wait while you are having pictures taken. Try to take as many photos as you can before the ceremony begins. Also, pictures of the couple with their parents can be taken in advance; this reduces the waiting time for guests coming to the reception.
Instead of choosing an expensive, towering wedding cake, choose several tiers of mini tarts or decadent cupcakes. These are more affordable, versatile, and easily served than a two-story wedding cake. Those who were invited will grab them at will and consume them rather quickly as opposed to wrapping the pieces they grab in a napkin and forgetting it.
Have a mid-afternoon wedding reception. Three or four o’clock is ideal. Alcohol consumption will be less during a day reception, which could help to reduce costs. Lunch receptions tend to be cheaper than dinner ones because of a possible lower need for alcohol. That money can then be used for other wedding expenses.
Midday is your best bet for planning a wedding reception. During the day most people drink less alcohol, which can greatly reduce your bar needs. Having your wedding during the midday can also cut food costs and even get you a discount for booking during the day.
One detail to consider is that the venue lighting can be dimmed, if necessary. This may seem like a minor factor, but many couples like dimming the lights for a first dance, and switching to brighter lights for the remainder of the event. Before you sign any contracts with the venue, make sure this is an option.
Maintain an online event itinerary for all your wedding guests, so they know the exact day and time everything is scheduled. Let people be aware of the events, such as rehearsals and the things that they must come to, so that they could be there at the appropriate time.
Plan an itinerary and post it online. Share this with your guests, so they are aware of what is happening when. Also, let your guests know what events they need to be present for, so they will be where they are supposed to be, when they’re supposed to be there.
Even if you’ve chosen and bought your wedding dress, think about keeping it at the shop until your special day. Bringing it home could expose it to dust or dirt, getting it stained or other damages. Leave it where it is, and it will look perfect on your wedding.
If you are going to use a wedding cake with vibrant colors, opt for a coordinating tablecloth. Good options include designer prints, novelty fabrics or special occasion fabrics like satin, velvet or silk.
If it is within your budget, you might want to take a wedding cruise with just your closest friends and family. This means you can start your honeymoon immediately. Some cruises also have special wedding rates for those having a wedding and honeymoon on their ship.
See if a friend has something they wouldn’t mind letting you wear for your wedding. This jewelery can help you get a great look for your special day!
Getting a relative or friend ordained online can give him authority to officiate the wedding ceremony. Not only will this save you money by not needing to hire an officiant, it will add a nice personal touch to the ceremony. Before committing to this plan, check your local ordinances to make sure that it is not against the law in your area.
The menu is an excellent place to reflect cultural diversity. You can a unique touch by offering cultural favorites, such as desserts, drinks or and edible wedding treats.
If you will be serving a meal served over multiple courses, keep your guests entertained while food is being served with small dishes filled with sweets at each table. You could consider sugared flower petals, sugar roses or maybe some bite size crackers to tide them over.
Honor diversity in the relationship by incorporating traditions from both the bride’s and the groom’s family, including foods, rituals, and decor. This solution creates a contrast that will honor the traditions of both families.
Finely crafted flowers made of silk can be a good selection for some of your needs, such as table centerpieces. These can be bought and arranged well ahead of time, leaving you with one less thing to worry about at the last minute.
Dress children in comfortable clothes if they are in your ceremony. Pick soft fabrics that are not too tight, and will bring comfort are important. You also need to give children a chance to get used to new shoes. Whether shoes are old or new, your children need to be comfortable in them during the wedding. Making sure that the shoes aren’t bothersome will let the children focus on their job in the wedding, and they won’t be messing with their outfit.
Consider renting couches and chairs instead of tables if you aren’t planning on serving a meal at your wedding reception. Furniture like chaises, sectional pieces, or a lounge chair can often get your guests to interact more. Comfortable seating will make your guests feel relaxed and at home, permitting them to enjoy lounging areas around your location.
Make sure every part of the wedding follows a plan, from what food is served to what happens at the reception. You want your guests to feel comfortable and as though they are a special part of your wedding.
Be sure to prepare well for your first meeting with your wedding planner. Try to follow the example of stylists and fashion designers who make “look books” or even “mood boards” featuring inspirational design elements that can lead you towards your dream ceremony. Keep items from magazines that appeal to you.
Seasonal flowers that are native to your state may not be easy to find at your wedding location, especially if it’s a completely different climate. It is best to call ahead to a professional in the area where you are planning on being married, to see which blooms are plentiful, and what they suggest for your specific taste.
Make sure that you take others into consideration when making travel arrangements. Some of your guests may have to take off from work in order to attend your wedding. So, you should start asking months in advance if they would be able to or be interested in attending, but don;t take it personal if they cannot make it.
Outdoor Reception
Create depth in your floral arrangements by using flowers in varying heights. Obviously you want the low profile florals in the shorter vases, while the long and more spectacular flowers, like roses, should be in taller containers. Surround these tall vases with short vases filled with voluminous hydrangeas, sweet peas, or peonies. The taller florals’ will always be vibrant and full of color while the short ones should be more of the spring type colors like pastels.
Let your caterer know you want an outdoor reception. Some foods are not suitable for an outdoor reception because they may not keep well or they may fly away in heavy wind gusts. One way to address the wind issue is to use decorative covers for the dishes. A mini-fridge may be useful for keeping your drinks chilled.
Make sure you have a nice fitting tuxedo as the groom. Ask trusted friend or family to give you an honest appraisal of the tuxedo you are considering. The tux you wear will represent you in your photographs for many years to come, so choose wisely!
Floral designs that vary in height can help improve your decor. Make use of taller vases for long stem flowers with compact heads. Shorter flowers of greater volume an be used to surround the tall vessels. You can make the shorter flowers a lighter color than the blooms on the taller flowers.
When you choose a videographer for the wedding, try interviewing as many as you can to see their work examples. Note the editing and sound quality that the videographer provides. The days of VHS tapes and grainy film are long gone, and you can now choose from digital or DVD formats. Look for a videographer who meets all technical requirements. Beyond that, listen to your heart.
Determine in advance if you want kids at your wedding. Having children attend can be aggravating, and it can run up your costs. On the other hand, some people may be unable to attend because they can’t find anyone to babysit.
Consider a buffet or having delicious bite size foods for your guests if a traditional dinner is too expensive or elaborate. A lengthy guest list means that you may have to forgo some extras to save money. Reducing meal size can also reduce costs. If that’s not possible, consider making the guest list smaller.
Don’t let wedding planning get you down! You may have a lot to worry about, but the advice in this article will make the work you have to do much easier to manage. Soon, you’ll be able to stop stressing about your wedding, and start looking forward to your big day instead.
Gold is expensive, so go with wedding rings made of other metals. There is stainless steel, titanium, platinum, tungsten, and silver, and more. These can be just as attractive and much cheaper for you to use at your wedding. There is nothing wrong with changing things up!