One of the biggest days in your life will be the day of your wedding. The day you get married is a day you’ll never ever forget. Given the magnitude of the occasion, planning it is very stressful and difficult. This guide contains a lot of strategies that will help you in planning for your wedding making it an unforgettable and wonderful event.
Keep in mind that religion plays a central role in not just your wedding, but your future marriage. Talking to your partner about his or her religion is important, but talking to the in-laws about their religion is essential, as well.
Getting married in the peak wedding season can cost a small fortune. The wedding season is traditionally from May through September. These are the times when wedding venues are most expensive. If you must book during this period, schedule many months in advance to save money.
One of the biggest mistakes people make is not practicing the big walk enough. It takes more than two run throughs on rehearsal night to overcome the fact that items could be in the way. Make it second nature by doing several practice walks down the aisle. Try to do this on location to ensure accuracy. Doing so helps to ensure a smooth and confident walk when your wedding day comes.
When planning a wedding, alcohol needs to be a consideration as to what type you want to serve, as well as what the costs are going to be. Having an open bar can be very expensive if it stays open for hours. See what other serving options are available for your alcohol.
You can save money by choosing an off season wedding date. Traditionally, weddings take place between May and September. Wedding venues can be pricier at this time. Your best bet is to book your venue as soon as possible to secure the best possible price.
Look around before committing to a photographer. A good photographer is crucial. For good local photographers, look at online reviews or ask loved ones for recommendations.
If you plan on doing the catering yourself, then you need to visit wholesale food stores. If you shop at a wholesale store, you will get much more for your dollar than the regular supermarket. See if your friends can split some of the cost.
Fashionable and luxury-loving brides can choose to embellish their bouquet with a touch of sparkle; think Swarovski crystals, rhinestones, and even a sprinkle of diamonds. You can create this look by using adhesive to affix crystals, a beloved heirloom or costume jewelry to the bouquet. Make sure that the stones of your choice coordinate well with your ensemble; have consistency in your arrangement of colors, size and cut.
Purchasing a wedding gown online may save you several hundred dollars initially. It is perfectly possible to purchase a gown for a few hundred dollars and have it altered for as little as $200. Be sure to include the potential alterations cost into your budget.
When you are planning table seating, try to set guests in pairs, so you can ensure every table has an even number of those sitting at it. Also group the tables by age, this will give people things they can talk about.
Make your wedding personal by including elements that embody you, your soon-to-be spouse, and your relationship. Pick a theme that symbolizes the time you two have had together.
Wedding Cake
One thing to think over during a wedding would be the transportation. Try having taxis and limos available for people who don’t have transportation after the wedding. This allows people to enjoy themselves and not have to worry about drinking and driving after the reception.
A wedding cake can serve as a beautiful work of art, making a great focal point for a reception. Add a coordinating table cloth, and you are sure to have a great presentation. Whether you choose patterns or solids, the fabric should add another dimension of visual interest and help to tie your wedding cake in with your wedding theme.
Tell your DJ about songs you like and songs you dislike. Perhaps you want to avoid country crooners or hard rock tunes. Whatever music you hate, you don’t want to hear it at your wedding!
If the cultural backgrounds are different, have the wedding with one tradition and the reception with the other. This will satisfy the family traditions of both the groom and bride’s family.
You want to make sure the photographer you hire is experienced by checking them out beforehand. You don’t want to end up with wedding pictures that you’re unhappy with. There are online reviews readily available to you, and you can also ask people you know that might have planned a wedding recently.
When young children are in the wedding party, make sure they are dressed in clothing that is comfortable for them. Make sure all their clothes are not scratchy or binding. If the children are going to be wearing new shoes, make sure they are comfortable, and let them walk around in them a bit so that they can get broken in. If you pay attention to this, then the children will be able to put their attention on the part they’re playing in the wedding rather than worrying about their uncomfortable outfit.
Brides who love luxury and fashion might select to sprinkle some sparkle in their bouquet through the use of diamond, crystals or rhinestones. You can achieve this look by using heat-fixed or adhesive crystals or small pieces of costume jewelry. To make sure it coordinates with everything else you are wearing, be consistent with the colors, size and cut of the stones.
Have a set plan for everything at the wedding. You want all your guests to be excited and engaged.
Instead of spending a fortune on a wedding cake, get a bunch of mini-tarts or cupcakes. These arrangements are convenient and affordable. Guests may opt to grab a cupcake on their way out, using cute take-out style containers that are provided.
If you intend to hold your wedding outdoors, devise a contingency plan in case weather or other problems prevent the wedding from going smoothly. You can rent some large tents, or book a outdoor venue that includes a hall that is available in case of bad weather. Mud can ruin footwear, so for the convenience of your guests it is a good idea to lay down planks of wood for them to walk on.
This person should be able to tote around all of your things for you. They can help to gather up the family for group shots as well.
Let your caterer know you want an outdoor reception. This will allow the caterer to ensure that food and container choices work well with any weather-related issues such as heat, humidity, or wind. One way that these weather issues can be dealt with is to use sturdy covers for the food. You may want to have a refrigerator or some coolers on site to keep the drinks cold.
If you have friends and family over to a special wedding destination, find out if they would like to stay for the honeymoon as well. By booking longer stays, money can be saved. This will not only give them a special day to remember, but will also give them a vacation they have dreamed about.
You always want to do a lot of research before actually booking your destination wedding. Even the slightest hitch can derail your big days, so it’s best to book your venue, caterer, and transportation arrangements well in advance.
One way to help remain in budget is to search Craigslist for items or services needed for your wedding. However, you should always meet a prospective vendor before committing to payment.
Have flowers with a cohesive theme. The theme should be complete. Try pink peonies to spice up the flavor in your wedding.
If you plan on making a wedding speech or giving a toast, you should practice beforehand. You need to carefully plan out what you want to say, and then rehearse it in front of someone who can give you honest feedback. Otherwise, you may end up with egg on your face.
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 unhappy and has a poor wedding, she won’t let everyone else live it down. Be sure to allow the bride to make all important decisions to prevent a disaster.
If your environment is humid and tropical or it is cool and dry like in the Mediterranean, it can be difficult to find seasonal flowers from your state. Before deciding where to hold your wedding, contact florists or other professionals who work in the area to ask which types of flowers you can expect to have access to.
Grooms should be just as meticulous about getting your tuxedo fitted as the bride is with her gown. Ask for friendly advice from other people before you make a decision on what tuxedo you want to get. Getting a tux that fits well and looks good is also important for ensuring that your wedding pictures turn out well.
Make sure that your wedding theme is cohesive throughout all of your decor elements, even the flowers. For example, if you are pursuing a retro, vintage theme, carry the bright, cheery colors over with bold, beautiful floral arrangements. Look for flowers that speak to the theme and the colors associated with that theme.
When planning out your wedding music, you definitely want to look into the different DJ’s or bands in the area. Get references and speak to those people to find out about their experiences. Before hiring a DJ or band, be sure that the date of the wedding is set in stone. Further, there should always be a signed contract. This will help that there is great music on the day of the wedding.
Use flowers that are different heights when decorating centerpieces. Try using vases that are tall for more compact heads with long stems. You can surround these tall vases with short voluminous flowers like pink sweet peas, peonies, or hydrangeas. The full flowers should be a lighter color than the tall flowers.
A rewards-based credit card can help you recover a little bit of the cost associated with your wedding. Weddings are often very costly, so getting a benefit from your purchases, such as frequent flyer miles, can be extremely helpful. Organize you wedding expenses to be paid with the card and you will see the rewards quickly add up.
For your bridesmaids, make sure that you already know the gowns they will wear ahead of time before your ask them to join you on your big day. Disagreements in bridesmaid’s gowns can ruin a friendship. Pick out something that doesn’t cost too much, matches what your wedding’s theme is, and it will work well for the bridesmaids. That will help you to have a wonderful wedding without misunderstandings or feelings getting hurt.
As this article went over in the beginning, a wedding is a very important event in your life. Planning a great wedding can be stressful and hard. Applying the advice contained in this article is a great way to make sure you will have the type of wedding you always dreamed of.
Have an account set aside for the wedding only. This will ensure that you don’t spend more than you have, helping you to stick to your budget. If you are getting married at a later date, open up the account anyway and start saving for that special day.