Many of us have daydreamed about the day when we will walk down the aisle ever since childhood, right down to the gown we will wear, what our hair will look like, and the colors in our bouquet. They, as do you, want it all to be perfect and dive right into the process which can be a daunting task without a little help.
Have your wedding on the property of a family member or friend. If you know a person with a large backyard or farm, you can get rid of a huge wedding cost. Your only expense should be paying someone to clean before and after the wedding.
If you plan to serve your own food at the wedding, try shopping wholesale at places like Costco. Wholesale shopping will let you get food for cheaper. You can also see if your friends can help with food costs.
If you want to have an unusual and interesting wedding reception, select a catering group that offers ethnic flair. Think outside the traditional choices of chicken or steak. Variety makes things interesting, so why not incorporate it into your big day?
The photos taken during your wedding are important as you’ll look at these a lot of times during your lifetime. See to it that you hire professional photographers and pay a little bit more for this if needed in order to document this wonderful experience.
Avoid starving to get into your dress. You can dehydrate and get dizzy by rushing weight loss. You want to stay on your feet during the ceremony and reception. The best idea is to purchase a dress that has a corset back. This will allow you to adjust if necessary before walking down the aisle.
There’s nothing more important in a wedding than the person who you are marrying. There is not need to hurry this important choice. You should consider the things you enjoy in your companion, as well as the things that irritate you.
Even if your gut tells you otherwise, you should never commit to a wedding photographer without considering several other options. You don’t want to end up with wedding pictures that you’re unhappy with. Ask for recommendations and read reviews online when choosing a photographer.
Think about your guests when planning flower arrangements for the reception. A lot of times, the flowers may be getting in the guests’ way. Additionally, many people are allergic to flowers. A romantic alternative to floral centerpieces at guest tables is the use of fragrance-free candles.
If you’re a bride that’s passionate about fashion and luxury, you can add some pizzazz to your bouquet with crystals, rhinestones, or even diamonds. This can be achieved through heat-fixed crystals, adding a little piece of jewelry or even using an heirloom piece. Use stones that are roughly the same cut, size, and color as those in your ensemble to ensure coordination.
Brides who love fashion will perhaps want to add a dash of sparkle to their bouquet; think rhinestones, Swarovski crystals or even some diamonds. This can be achieved through heat-fixed crystals, adding a little piece of jewelry or even using an heirloom piece. For a consistent look, all of the stones should coordinate in terms of cut, color, and size.
Place a full length mirror at that head of the aisle and practice walking toward it. This will help insure a trip-free wedding day. If you don’t wish to risk twisting your ankle, choose stylish flats instead. Having less than sexy footwear is an easy trade-off for not falling on your derriere!
Full length mirrors are great for practicing the “aisle-walk.” If you will be wearing heels, this is even more crucial. If you’re scared of turning your ankle, go with attractive flats instead. This will help you to feel comfortable on the big day.
If could be another family member or friend, they just have to be able to carry your gear around with you. They can also help round up family members for group portraits.
Instead of spending a lot of money to get a huge cake for your wedding, think about tiers of sweet, delicious mini-tarts or cupcakes. Arrangements like these are loved because they offer versatility, convenience and are budget friendly 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.
It may sound odd but it might be fun if you ask your family if they would like to join you on the honeymoon as well. Hotels tend to give discounts when guests stay for a longer period of time. This will give them a day to remember and a vacation of their dreams, too!
If you have a destination wedding, offer a basket full of goodies delivered to guests in their rooms. Include useful items like sunglasses, a hat, tourist map, pamphlets and a disposable camera. Providing a restaurant guide will fill your guests in on all of the best places to eat in the area.
Midday is the best time to have wedding receptions. During the day, you will see that people are less likely to drink, which can noticeably reduce your costs. Lunch receptions are often cheaper and will allow you to use more money toward other needs for the wedding.
When choosing a venue for your wedding reception, check to see if the lighting is able to be dimmed. Although this may seem trivial, you want the option of having a low-light setting during your first dance and a more brighter setting for the rest of the celebration. Verify this with the venue, before signing your contract.
If you are going to use a wedding cake with vibrant colors, opt for a coordinating tablecloth. Your fabric could have patterns or solids and range from heavy textures to silk or satin. All of this can play up visual interest and tie various facets together into a cohesive aesthetic.
When making wedding dinner seating arrangements, be sure to have even numbers of people at each table. It’s also a good idea to have people of similar ages all at one table because they will tend to have more in common.
If a bride and groom are from a different culture, be sure that you have both of the traditions represented in the wedding. Then try to get a reception set up that shows the other side of the marriage if possible. This will give lots of contrast and make it memorable.
If you want your colorful wedding cake as the focal point of your reception, present it on a coordinating fabric tablecloth. To make things interesting, fabric can be solid, patterned or heavily textured materials of silk, satin or velvet.
Flowers that may be common in your state might not be readily available at your wedding location, due to differences in the climate. Contact florists near the destination and you can find out which flowers are available.
If you are planning on serving multiple courses, keep guests entertained during serving with tiny portions of sweet appetizers near each guest. Whet their appetite with sugar roses in the colors of your wedding, sugared edible flower petals, or tasty thin crackers.
If you will not be serving a meal at your reception, consider ditching the tables and renting comfortable lounge furniture instead. If you use comfortable furniture like lounge chairs or fancy sectional pieces, your guests might spend more time socializing with each other. Perhaps you could create different lounges and add plush seating to allow your guests to relax.
If you plan a destination wedding, consider your guests’ travel arrangements. You might have guests that plan their vacation around your wedding, so they need enough time to get ready. Send your invitations or the cards with save the date on them at least eight months in advance if you can. This can help guests plan as they need.
Your caterer needs to know if you are planning on having a reception outdoors. Some food are unsuitable for outdoor receptions, as they will spoil in 90 degree heat or blow around in the wind. A pretty cover is recommended for foods at outdoor weddings, to keep them fresh and free of debris or bugs. Another consideration is to have a refrigerator available to keep beverages at their desired temperature.
Pick your flowers carefully. You want the flowers you choose to be in line with the theme of your wedding. These include fragrant yellow and pink peonies, red poppies, and bright daisies.
Don’t plan destination weddings without considering the destination’s legal requirements. Whether you have to worry about residency, fees, forms, or any other bureaucratic red tape, make sure everything is in place before you start booking your hotel, venue, or services for your big day.
To aid in preparation for the first dance as a married couple, practice dancing together while you are wearing a long skirt or dress. You might be used to walking around or dancing in your skirt, but it will feel different to your future husband. Your husband might feel clumsy because of the size or puffiness of your dress.
If the cost of extravagant floral arrangements is too high, one cost effective alternative that you should consider is potted plants. You can obtain potted plants in various sizes and place them throughout the ceremony area and reception. Plants can be dressed up with ribbons, silk flowers, lights, or painted ceramic pots to dress them up. You can even used the potted plants as a favor for guests after the wedding or plant them in your yard as a memory of the wedding.
Think about whether children will be allowed at your wedding. If you are going to have children attending, there are certain details you’re going to want to plan out ahead of time. On the other hand, there may be adults who won’t attend because you did not invite their children or they can’t find a sitter.
Start planning ahead of time. Many people think it only takes a few months to plan their wedding; however, you must have time to book the providers and venues. The sooner you start planning, the more choices you will have.
Carefully plan out activities that will entertain your guests. You don’t want all of the guests simply watching and waiting for the vows to come to a close before leaving. Organize contests, games or even sports. Everyone will more easily remember your wedding when they have fun and get to socially interact and mingle.
Open a special bank account just for your wedding costs. This strategy allows you to see exactly how much money you have available to spend on your wedding, so that you can limit your spending to what you can afford. If you’re not ready to get married, start saving now, so you can use the money later.
If you plan to hire a videographer, look at their work before making a final selection. Also, find out what kind of editing sound he or she uses. You should get a DVD of your wedding or you could get a digital video. Your decisions should be made on these factors, in addition to the first impressions you get of the different videographers.
After you have determined your overall vision for your wedding, you should commit it to paper. Bring your ideas along with you as you start to shop for services and vendors. Once you start seeing what service providers will work with your design, you can begin to sort things out by price and type of services offered.
Planning your wedding doesn’t have to be overwhelming; by heeding the suggestions and advice of others who’ve gone through it, you can keep the anxiety and stress to a minimum. You may even enjoy the planning process quite a lot!
Let your control issues go, and allow your friends and family to get involved in the planning of your wedding. Since a wedding is a big emotional investment, you are likely to want complete control of the entire planning process. On the other hand, overdoing it is really possible, and some things are just better left in the hands of expert professionals.