Your wedding day will be one of the happiest days of your life, for both you and the people you love. Read on for some wedding planning tips so that you can create a memorable wedding with a minimum of stress.
In your wedding plans, make sure you consider what types of alcohol you wish to serve, and which ones are most cost effective. If there’s a bar that’s open, it can be expensive, especially the longer it’s open. Ask about the different serving options your venue offers regarding alcohol.
Keep in mind that religion plays a central role in not just your wedding, but your future marriage. It may help to discuss this with your families so that they understand how you plan on handling dual faiths in your marriage.
For food, consider going to a store such as Costco. Shopping wholesale when it comes to food helps you get the necessary items at a much cheaper cost. Try asking friends to split food costs.
One thing you need to think about during the wedding planning process is what alcohol will be served, and how much you want to spend on it. Having an open bar may cost a lot, especially if it is available throughout the entire day. Check with your venue to find out the alcohol options they have for you to choose from.
An overabundance of flowers on reception tables causes trouble. The flowers will often just get in the way when your guests are trying to eat. Not only that, but you may have some guests who are allergic to flowers. Think about putting non-scented candles out to create a romantic atmosphere.
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. Pick a wedding theme that tells the story of your relationship.
Fashionable brides who love the look of luxury may wish to glam up their bouquets with sparkling embellishments like rhinestones, Swarovski crystals, or even diamonds. For example, incorporate vintage brooches, Swarovski crystals or costume jewelry into the design. For a consistent look, all of the stones should coordinate in terms of cut, color, and size.
It is important to get high quality wedding photos so that you can truly cherish them throughout your life and hand them down to your descendants. Hire a professional to take your photographs even if it costs a little more as you’ll be able to rely on the fact that your entire day will be captured properly.
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’re scared of turning your ankle, go with attractive flats instead. Comfortable footwear is a wonderful trade off to protect you from falling.
By going international with your food choices, you not only make the event different but also exciting and fun. Think outside the traditional choices of chicken or steak. Variety is important and you want everyone to remember your wedding dinner.
Instead of spending too much for a large wedding cake, opt instead for one that is comprised of multiple layers of mini tarts or sweet cupcakes. These arrangements are beloved for their affordable price range, versatility, and convenience. Instead of eating cake off a paper napkin, you can give your guests the option to nab a sweet treat on the way out. A decorative container, such as a takeout box, is far more convenient.
Choose one item to incorporate into all the different aspects of your wedding. Make sure that some of the accessories you have are included in the wedding. The little details like this help you pull all of the various aspects of the wedding together into one coordinated event.
If you invite people to an exotic destination wedding, they will likely want to stay for part of your honeymoon time as well, since they are already there. By booking longer stays, money can be saved. This will help give them a vacation they’ll never forget as well!
Spend some time writing your vows. These words are important for your new spouse. Marriage is a life long commitment that requires love, sacrifice and the art of compromise and forgiveness. Express your love for the person you will marry when writing your vows.
Don’t make guests wait as you take photos. The photos concerning the rest of the wedding party should be done in advance. Having as many photographs taken as possible beforehand will help the transition between the ceremony and the reception go much smoother.
Try to avoid placing a lot of flowers on each table at your wedding. Flowers can be distracting for your guests and get in their way. Also, you must consider that a guest may be allergic to the flowers. Try putting some scent free candles on your wedding tables.
You’ll want to be able to dim the lighting at the wedding reception. This may seem like a trivial detail, but this will allow a romantic, low-light setting for your first dance, while still retaining the bright lights you desire for the remainder of the evening. Check with the venue about these specific options before booking anything for certain.
Take the time to look at the work of different photographers before committing to one. You want to make sure the quality of the pictures you get is exactly what you expect. There are online reviews readily available to you, and you can also ask people you know that might have planned a wedding recently.
If money isn’t an issue, you may want to get married on a cruise ship with close members of your family and close friends. This will allow you to get your honeymoon started when you’re done with the ceremony. A lot of cruise companies will give you a great rate if you’re getting married and want to have a honeymoon on the ship.
Employ a good friend or relative, as long as they can haul your equipment and gear through the evening. They can assist you in getting the family together for group shots, too!
Borrow something from a friend to put on for your wedding day. This will not only fill a gap in your wedding jewelry ensemble, but will also add a special touch to the day that you will remember fondly in the years to come.
Your guests shouldn’t be kept waiting during your lengthy photo sessions. Pictures of the bride, groom, bridesmaids and groomsmen can be snapped in advance. Pictures with the bride or groom and their respective parents can also be taken ahead of time, reducing the amount of time guests have to wait for your arrival at the reception.
One of the most costly parts of a wedding reception are the centerpieces, which also have a big impact on your overall aesthetics. Instead of going with a huge table centerpiece that uses up almost the entire table, keep it simple. You will then allow people to have a conversation without unnecessary distractions; this will bring your guests closer.
Schedule your reception for midday. Most people will drink less at this time, which can cut down on your bar needs. Lunch receptions are usually cheaper than dinner ones, and you can use this to either get better food or apply funds towards another aspect of the wedding festivities.
Be sure to inform the caterer that your reception will be outside. Some foods do not last in the heat, or may not stay on plates if it’s too windy. You might be able to use fancy or insulated covers for dishes. Another consideration is to have a refrigerator available to keep beverages at their desired temperature.
If your wedding includes a colorful cake that will be its own focal point, use rich, coordinating fabric beneath it to set it off. You can opt for patterns, solids or heavily textured fabrics, such as silk, satin or velvet, to add visual interest and tie all elements together.
You need to make lists that are priority based when you start planning your wedding. Some people will have the venue as the most important item while others might list the guest list. Put the most important things for you at the top. Making the lists will allow you to establish a budget. Once you know how much you have to spend, you will be able to set a specific amount of money to each item on the list and be able to stay within your designated budget.
If you want to have multiple courses during your meal, give them some sweets and appetizers on every table to keep them busy as serving takes place. Think about sugar roses that enhance your wedding colors.
To aid in preparation for the first dance as a married couple, practice dancing together while you are wearing a long skirt or dress. Be sure to practice dancing with your soon-to-be husband, so that he can get used to your long skirt, too! This will help prevent any awkwardness your partner might experiences from maneuvering around a large, full dress.
Since they take such a huge chunk of your wedding budget, make good choices when planning your centerpieces. Try small, elegant decorations to accent tables, and create a nice ambiance. Smaller centerpieces allow your guests to converse and interact without something blocking their view.
Plan group fun times on your special day. You do not want all of your guests simply biding their time until the wedding is complete. You can include fun activities such as contests and volleyball which will get everyone to actively participate. By including group activities into your wedding day, your guests will have fun and fondly remember your wedding.
Make sure that you take others into consideration when making travel arrangements. Some guests may have conflicts with the timing or with the costs of attending. About eight months before the wedding, send out cards alerting guest to save the date; that will provide ample time for anyone to plan.
Always do your homework on a band or DJ you are thinking of hiring for your wedding. Get references and speak to those people to find out about their experiences. Always make sure that you sign a contract to ensure the DJ or band will show up on your specific date. This will help that there is great music on the day of the wedding.
If you are going to travel for your wedding, make sure you understand the local laws. You should be aware of things like fees, requirements in residency, and other logistics before you make hotel reservations and book services for the wedding day.
Your family might encourage you to follow tradition or make certain choices, but this day is about you and your spouse-to-be. Thank your relatives for their suggestions and ideas, but make it clear to them that the events of the wedding day will ultimately be planned by you and your partner. The last thing you want to do is give in to suggestions that don’t fit your idea of the perfect wedding. If you do, you’ll have to live with regret after your big day is over. Instead, make your wedding everything you want it to be so that your memories will be purely happy ones.
You wedding plans should begin with a list of those things taking top priority to you. After doing this, you may realize that the flowers, or the venue, are more critical to you than the number of guests, or the type of cake you choose. Prioritizing your wants can ensure that you don’t step over your allotted budget and still have the wedding day of your dreams.
Keep up-to-date on the weather conditions as you approach your wedding day. People aren’t going to stick around for an outdoor reception, if it’s sweltering outside. Similarly, they may leave early, if they are too cold at your winter party. You can make little accommodations in order to improve your guests’ comfort, such as including small fans for them during a scorching summer wedding.
Instead of using expensive, elaborate flower arrangements, opt for various inexpensive potted plants. Colorful pots can be decorated with paint, ribbon, or decoupage to make the arrangements even more lively. The guest’s wedding favor can be the plants in the pots, or you can put them in your garden.
A great gift idea for the bride’s party is a piece of custom jewelry that connects bride and bridesmaids. Long after your wedding, everyone in your bridal party will be able to relive the fun and excitement of the day.
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. Bridesmaids can then offer their input as well, and you can try to accommodate them as best as possible. Look for something affordable, goes well with the theme and will suit the bridesmaids you choose. This will help ensure that they are truly happy on your big day.
If you’re pregnant when shopping for your dress, be aware that you’re pregnant. It can sound so simple, yet you have to remember that you will keep getting bigger and your dress needs to be able to accommodate that.
Weddings are notorious for taking a joyous time into a mine field of stressful events. Use the suggestions outlined in the above article, and utilize them to suit your needs and make it as easy as possible to plan your wedding.
Choose a professional for your photography. If your friend makes a living with photography, then use them; otherwise they will not have the right approach to capturing the day properly. These are captured memories that you’re going to look at and reflect upon for the rest of your life. One of your family members or friends might do an adequate job, but a professional would do a better job.