Marriage is a wonderful, beautiful thing, but weddings can be extremely stressful. Planning everything ahead of time is overwhelming, between choosing the cake to selecting guests. The suggestions given here are designed to help you reduce your stress and enjoy planning your special day.
Faith and religion mark one of the most important topics in marriage. It may help to discuss this with your families so that they understand how you plan on handling dual faiths in your marriage.
The photos taken during your wedding are important as you’ll look at these a lot of times during your lifetime. To ensure that your wedding day is documented properly, you should be prepared to spend some money on a professional, experienced photographer.
To garner a better price on your wedding venue, look for a date that won’t fall during wedding season. Most weddings are between June and August. Venues tend to be pricier during these months. If you really want your wedding during this season, book as far in advance as possible for a great deal.
Try ethnic-themed catering to add some spice to your reception. Chicken and steak are over-served, so why not pick some other foods in your desired cuisine? Variety will give your guests something to remember.
Purchasing your gown on the Internet can save you thousands of dollars, but it’s important to buy early so you’ll have time to alter it before the big day. I bought my gorgeous gown online for only $150, but it cost me another $200 to have it altered to fit me perfectly. Include this additional cost when you plan for your budget.
Ask local boutiques about having small, individual portions of cake for the guests as your wedding. A variety of healthy alternatives are available for a wedding cake that won’t cause sugar shock.
Your wedding photos are important as they will be the memories you carry with you for the years to come. 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.
You should let the DJ know what is okay to play and what isn’t okay to play. An old song from your past may no longer be a favorite. No matter what it is, make sure the DJ knows so that you don’t have any unpleasant surprises playing at the wedding.
Use a friend or family member’s property for your wedding. This will help you to significantly reduce the costs. Make sure you offer to hire help to prepare and to clean, though. Do not leave this up to the homeowner.
Your assistant just needs to be someone who is capable of keeping up with all your photographic gear and following along unobtrusively behind you. Your assistant can help you round up the family members for the group pictures to make things run even smoother.
Select ethnic catering for a truly memorable event. Too many people serve up chicken and steak, so go against the grain and spice things up. Variety will give your guests yet one more way to remember your wedding.
When having pictures taken, don’t force guests to wait. Take photos of the groomsmen and bridesmaids with the happy couple ahead of time. Pictures with the couples respective parents should also be taken in advance to cut down on wait time for the guests arriving at the reception.
When you choose a makeup artist to help you with your wedding, you definitely want to check out prior work. Are you comfortable with the makeup they’ve done before? Make sure that you are completely satisfied. You don’t want to find out an hour before the ceremony that your makeup artist has a look planned that you hate.
Try to arrange to hold your reception in mid-day. Your guests will drink less alcohol during these hours, which cuts down on your bar needs greatly. Furthermore, lunch receptions are often less expensive than dinner receptions. This allows you to add more to your menu or use the savings elsewhere.
Tell your DJ the songs that you do not want to be played. Was there a song that you loved once but you no longer do? No matter what, be sure to make your preferences known to avoid irritation later.
As you decide the seating arrangements for your receptions, strive to have an even number of individuals at each table. Also group tables by age, to help them find things to talk about.
Instead of spending so much for a multi-layered wedding cake, opt instead for a multi-layered confection of mini tarts or sweet cupcakes. Times have changed and despite the oddness you may feel based on tradition, guests tend to prefer this and it saves not only money but also prevents waste. 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.
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. When you put it in your personal closet, it may get stained or wrinkled. If it’s in the bridal shop, it will stay pressed and fresh for the wedding day!
For help with your wedding, you can find local vendors on Craigslist. Meet up with them in person, do an interview, and discuss your needs and wishes before you pay anything.
You can have a special relative or friend become ordained online so that they can perform your wedding vows. This makes your ceremony more personal, while saving you money on obtaining an officiant. Take caution, however, to make sure that doing this is a legal option in your community.
Borrowed jewelry is both beautiful and acceptable for your wedding. This can give you the look you want to achieve and make the wedding even more special.
See if a friend has something they wouldn’t mind letting you wear for your wedding. This helps you save money, look beautiful and will make your wedding day extra special.
Silk flowers can be a good option to use in lieu of cut flowers. You can get these way in advance because they aren’t fresh and then have them on hand and reduce one thing to do right before the big day.
Large centerpieces are unnecessary on your tables as they not only eat away at your budget, but serve as an unneeded distraction. Avoid large and complicated centerpieces; choose simple, elegant ones instead. Smaller centerpieces allow your guests to converse and interact without something blocking their view.
If travel is a common bond between the groom and bride, incorporate this into a theme for the day. Save-the-date notices and invitations could be created to resemble tickets, boarding passes, or vintage postcards. An old-style suitcase can be set open on a table as the backdrop for wedding programs or favors.
One way this is done is by offering a menu consisting of popular ethnic dishes. Make the meal more original with an ethnic dessert or traditional drinks.
For an outdoor wedding, have an backup plan in case of rain or other unforeseen conditions. You can rent some large tents, or book a outdoor venue that includes a hall that is available in case of bad weather. You can put boards on the ground, which will help your guests keep their shoes clean when they walk over a muddy area.
Remember that you’ll be in a different environment than you’re used to–you might not be able to find your favorite flowers if your wedding destination’s climate is very different than the climate in your home state. Call ahead or look online to determine which flowers are available in your destination country during the time your wedding will occur.
The first step to planning a successful wedding is to make a wish list. Rearrange your list in order of priority after making it. Some may think flowers carry more importance over the cake, where others may feel the venue carries more importance over the guest list. 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.
Make your caterer aware that the reception will be outdoors. 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. Furthermore, consider hiring a refrigerator to keep beverages cool.
Do not forget a registry for gifts or to set up online registries. In order to make the occasion more pleasant for your guests, don’t have them bring anything. Give them options if they insist on bringing something. Everyone should feel comfortable with what they can spend.
Destination weddings can be a lot of fun, but try to keep your guests in mind. Your guests might have vacation plans made, and you want to give them preparation time as well. About eight months before your wedding, send out invitations to allow ample time for travel arrangements.
When planning your wedding, decide if you would like any children to attend. This is essential since it may save lots of aggravation and money if they’re not there. But, some people may not be able to come to your wedding because they do not have a babysitter.
Make sure you know what you are doing when it comes to a destination wedding. There may be red tape you need to address, such as fees or residency requirement, and you should get these ducks in a row before taking care of anything else.
Interview numerous videographers prior to picking one for the wedding. Also, be sure to ask for samples of their past work. Be sure that sound editing is something to which you pay real attention as well. The days of VHS tapes and grainy film are long gone, and you can now choose from digital or DVD formats. Prioritize the things that are important to you to have in a photographer and make sure your photographer knows about them.
Beware of rainy days. When planning an outdoor wedding be sure to also plan an alternate indoor venue in case of inclement weather. Even if you believe the day will be beautiful, it is best to be prepared.
You can save money when planning your wedding by thinking of flower arrangement alternatives. For the flower girl, you can use ribbons instead of a floral wreath; it looks simple and elegant. Purchasing silk flowers for the tables instead of live flowers can still give an elegant touch. Silk is cheaper than live flowers, and they can be a great souvenir. Lastly, opt for arrangements that you can use in the wedding and in the reception.
Ask vendors you’re already using to recommend other services you need. If you are seeking a great band, ask your wedding photographer. He or she is sure to have some good recommendations. Ask the band that you are hiring to recommend a different service. This will help you find the best individuals for your day.
Be mindful of the weather. If you have an outdoor wedding and the day is very humid, your attendees may not be up to celebrating for too long. Also, if the weather is cold at your party, they may want to leave. Do what you can to make sure your guests are comfortable; provide fans in the summer or small heaters in the winter.
Tan Lines
Make sure you don’t have tan lines. You may want to get tan before you wedding, but tan lines will only distract from your dress.
Brides should not have tan lines. You may want to get tan before you wedding, but tan lines will only distract from your dress.
Try something new versus engagement ring shopping. Many times jewelry has been passed down through the generations. This piece of jewelery can be a keepsake that can show you’ve become part of a new family and will also be wearing a beautiful piece of jewelery.
Have some faith in other people to help you plan your wedding. Because you want your day to be perfect, you will probably want to play the main role in planning the entire wedding from start to finish. This extensive planning can however be overwhelming and there are times when you should trust a professional to help you plan a specific event.
You will probably want to take pictures with many of the guests that attend your wedding. Taking all of these photographs can become hectic if a special photo time has not been made. Inform your guests in advance of where and when to be for pictures with you, and make sure the photographer is free for a few hours to do this.
A wedding is a romantic goal for most girls. There are too many things that need to be planned, making even the thought of having one overwhelming. The above advice should be a boon to you while you plan your wedding day, and provide you a sense of relief.
If you want your wedding reception to be perfect, the music should set the appropriate mood. Ensure that the band or DJ will maintain a party atmosphere for your guests. You don’t want your wedding party to end up being boring.