Many daydream of that perfect wedding during their childhood down to what hairstyle, gown, and bouquet style they will choose. Planning your wedding, although tremendously exciting, can often feel overwhelming without some sort of guidance.
If you decide to cater your own wedding party, go to the big wholesale stores, like Costco. When you shop this way, you can buy your food cheaper than at regular retailers. You can also see if your friends can help with food costs.
Getting married in the peak wedding season can cost a small fortune. Most weddings are between June and August. During this time, wedding venues will be more expensive. Should you have to book during the season, do so well in advance to garner your best deal.
Ask anyone who is giving a toast to share his speech with you ahead of time to ensure that the comments are appropriate. Some material, especially jokes, may fall flat or offend some of your guests, so you want to correct these problems ahead of time. Generally, many generations attend a wedding, so a joke that’s funny to young people may not be to the elders.
The pictures that are taken at your wedding are very important as you will look at these for the rest of your life. Be certain to hire the best photographer you can to get a clear and touching record of your special day.
You’re going to look at the pictures from your wedding for many years to come, so make sure that you get good quality photos taken. Be certain to hire the best photographer you can to get a clear and touching record of your special day.
Think about wedding transportation. Make sure your guests will have ways to be transported back to wherever they’re staying. This is also helpful for anyone who has had alcohol at the wedding.
Go ethnic with your catering and get your guests talking for days to come. Think outside the traditional choices of chicken or steak. Variety is important and will make the dinner memorable.
If you cringe at the thought of purchasing an extremely expensive yet incredibly unhealthy wedding cake, there are other options available. You should consider getting in touch with local bakeries and specialty boutiques to inquire about individual portions that are healthier. There are some bakers who are able to prepare elegant cupcakes that contain less than 100 calories each. They can also use healthy ingredients like fruit fillings, no-calorie sweeteners, and even meringue toppings.
The single most important factor when you are getting married is also the most obvious, your choice in bride or groom. Do not rush this life altering lifelong decision. See your partner as she really is–the good and the bad. Think not only about the reasons you love her, but all her bad habits and quirks that might irritate you after months or years together.
See if you can find a willing helper who can assist you with looking after your equipment and moving it when necessary. A family member or a close friend will be able to gather families together for group photographs.
For a high-impact look that won’t drain your budget, consider renting diamonds for your big day. Renting earrings or a glamorous necklace can complete your look but will not leave your pockets empty.
Destination Wedding
Incorporate small decorative items throughout all your decor. 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. Your wedding will be perfect when you add in the small details.
If you have a destination wedding, consider inviting family to stay for the honeymoon. By staying longer, they will save money because hotels offer discounts for people that stay longer. You can make your destination wedding a vacation for your friends and family as well.
Don’t wait until your wedding day to try walking in your shoes and gown. Practice going down the aisle until you feel comfortable. If you fear turning your ankle awkwardly, think about flat heels instead. Having footwear that isn’t exactly what you wanted is a good trade-off.
A reception held around lunchtime is a great idea. Your guests will drink less alcohol during these hours, which cuts down on your bar needs greatly. Lunch receptions are often cheaper than receptions held during dinnertime. This can help you focus your budget on higher-quality foods or providing higher-end alcoholic beverages.
It can be a friend or a family member, they just need to help you carry your gear wherever you go. They can help you with other stuff, like gathering the family for group shots, also.
One way to help remain in budget is to search Craigslist for items or services needed for your wedding. Be sure you always meet the people who you are going to have provide you a service before the big day; you want to get a sense of who they are and what they’re capable of in advance.
Divide your table settings evenly. Don’t put an odd number of people at any table. As well, consider grouping tables by the ages of guests. This way those at the tables will have more to talk about.
This can be as simple as having a modern fusion menu that includes popular dishes. Make it different by including a selection of ethnic desserts, beverages, or wedding favors that you can eat.
Even if you’re sure of the dress you want and have bought it, keep it in the bridal shop prior to getting married. When you put it in your personal closet, it may get stained or wrinkled. It will stay fresh and unwrinkled at the store.
Honor diversity in the relationship by incorporating traditions from both the bride’s and the groom’s family, including foods, rituals, and decor. This can make for an intriguing and memorable combination that both families can be happy with.
If you have a large wedding cake decorated in brightly colored icing that has its own stand, consider placing the stand on some color-coordinated fabric to create a stunning focal piece. Good options include designer prints, novelty fabrics or special occasion fabrics like satin, velvet or silk.
It is critical that you carefully plot out every aspect of your wedding and the reception. Make everyone feel warm and welcome on your wedding day.
A fun way to add a personal touch to your wedding is to ask a friend or family member to officiate the ceremony. This will not only save you money by not having to pay for an officiant, but will also make your wedding very special. You should check the legality of this option in your area before you make a decision.
Inform the caterer that you would like a reception outdoors. The food you serve will need to be kept at certain temperatures to be safe, or will need to be shielded from wind and flying debris. One way that these weather issues can be dealt with is to use sturdy covers for the food. A mini-fridge may be useful for keeping your drinks chilled.
If the wedding couple have very different cultural backgrounds, use a wedding ceremony from one tradition and have a reception and feast honoring the culture of the other half of the couple. This solution creates a contrast that will honor the traditions of both families.
Think about your guests if you are having a destination wedding. Some guests may have conflicts with the timing or with the costs of attending. If you can send out your invitations at least eight months ahead of time, it will make things easier on everyone.
If you plan to give a speech at a wedding, write out and practice what you will say beforehand. If you don’t get all the practice you need, it’s easy to forget what you want to say, make a misstep, or leave the audience bored.
Improve your wedding by enhancing the flowers. For example, if you are pursuing a retro, vintage theme, carry the bright, cheery colors over with bold, beautiful floral arrangements. Try pink peonies or bright daisies to spice things up.
If you have an outdoor wedding, make sure you have a plan B in case it rains or there are other unforeseen conditions. Rent a few tents or find a venue that has a hall, as well as a park. Set up planks to prevent your guests from getting mud or dirt on their shoes.
Before you start planning your wedding, sit with your fiance and make a list of the things that are most important to you. Different people will have varying priorities. Some will be more interested in the flowers than the music while others might be more interested in an elaborate cake. By determining your priorities and budget by what items are most important to you, you can then allocate the required amount of funds to them, and make certain your day is just what you dreamed of.
Make sure that you take others into consideration when making travel arrangements. You may have guests who will make vacation plans around this day and they should have adequate time to prepare. About eight months before your wedding, send out invitations to allow ample time for travel arrangements.
Potted Plants
One of the first things you should do when planning your wedding is to create a list of priorities. 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. 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.
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. Seek out plants in lovely glazed pots, or make a simple stone look elegant with some ribbons and paint. When the wedding is over, the newlyweds can either plant the potted plants in their yard, or the guest can take them home.
Try to dance in your wedding dress before the wedding to see if you need to bustle the train or change into dancing shoes so you can enjoy our first dance. Your skirt might be something you are used to walking or dancing in, but your soon-to-be husband might not. This will help prevent any awkwardness your partner might experiences from maneuvering around a large, full dress.
Do not forget a registry for gifts or to set up online registries. For a more pleasant air, try to make guests understand that you don’t require them to bring you anything. 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. Times are tough no matter what the occasion and your guests will feel better knowing they aren’t being pressured to gift more than their budget may allow.
Come up with group activities to entertain your guests. A wedding where everyone is just hanging around isn’t fun for anyone. There are all kinds of fun activities to plan, such as games, contests and informal gatherings. By including group activities into your wedding day, your guests will have fun and fondly remember your wedding.
Plan out the activities for your wedding day so that wedding party attendants and guests can interact in fun ways. 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. By including group activities into your wedding day, your guests will have fun and fondly remember your wedding.
When selecting a wedding videographer, interview as many candidates as possible and look at samples of their work. Look at the sound and quality of the video as well as the editing. Also, you definitely want to make sure the finished product is delivered to you either in DVD or digital form. Refer to the factors we have listed and trust your first impression of each videographer.
You do not have to be overwhelmed by the thought of planning your wedding once you use the tips you have just read. It is possible that you will love the planning near the same amount as the wedding itself.
Plan ahead of time, as early as you are able. You may think that one year is plenty of time to get a wedding planned, however waiting will result in venues and services will become more expensive or unavailable due to short notice. You have to schedule sooner so that you can take advantage of all of your choices.