If it’s about time to start planning your wedding, then you have many questions for sure. Planning a wedding shouldn’t be torturous, and it’s something that you need to quit stressing about before the big day arrives. That is where the article ahead can help. There are lots of tips to help you avoid major stress.
You can practice walking down your aisle days before the actual wedding. Do it at the venue in which you are getting married, and wear the footwear you’re going to wear on the big day. It can also better the flow when the actual wedding takes place.
If you’re short on money, consider renting diamonds for your wedding day. You will be able to choose between many different kinds of jewelery while sticking to your budget.
You can save money by choosing an off season wedding date. The traditional season for weddings is May to September. Wedding venues are costly during these months. If you must book a space in these months, be certain to book way ahead of time to get a reasonable deal.
When you are looking for a wedding makeup artist, look at examples of what has been done for other clients. Do you like the style of the make up? Make sure that this is the style you desire. It can be helpful to do a practice run before the big day so that you will be happy with the results.
The wedding dress may be a major expense. When you go shopping for your wedding dress, think outside the box and look at dresses that are not typically considered wedding dresses. For example, a formal white dress, such as a prom or bridesmaid dress, will not be as expensive as a wedding dress. Even if the dress needs alterations, it could still be cheaper than an actual wedding dress.
If the thought of a cake that costs thousands of dollars and packs on thousands of calories ruins your appetite, check with local and specialty bakers and inquire about individually sized portions. Many bakeries will offer healthier options, such as 100-calorie cupcakes, fruit fillings, meringue toppings, or gluten-free ingredients.
When choosing a makeup artist, ask to see a sample book of makeup the artist has done. Is the makeup style what you are looking for? Make sure it is something you can see yourself wearing. You don’t want to be stuck with a bad makeup artist.
Brides should focus on getting down a skincare regimen that makes their skin flawless for the wedding. Seek facial treatment aids that are soothing to the skin such as creamy scrubs, sea salts, rose and oatmeal proteins.
Make sure to shop multiple photographers before picking the right one to shoot your wedding. You don’t want a photographer who disappoints. If you would like good tips on finding the best local photographers, make sure you read all the reviews online, and solicit advice from family and friends.
The music ranks up there with the videographer in terms of importance. Make sure the person you hire knows what type of music you do not want played. This is far more important than getting every tune you want to hear played, as a song from a genre you and your guests hate can kill the entire mood. You may not like country music or metal, or you may have a certain song that is associated with an old flame. Whatever music you hate, you don’t want to hear it at your wedding!
Instead of traditional floral bouquets, brides can adorn their bouquet with diamonds, rhinestones or other gems. You can add some crystals that have been glued on, some costume jewelery, or an heirloom of your own. Make sure you stay consistent with these decorations in cut, color and dimensions so it goes well with what you are going to wear.
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. This can be achieved through heat-fixed crystals, adding a little piece of jewelry or even using an heirloom piece. To make sure it coordinates with everything else you are wearing, be consistent with the colors, size and cut of the stones.
If your family will be traveling a far distance to your wedding, invite them to extend their trip a little. By staying longer, they will save money because hotels offer discounts for people that stay longer. This allows them to celebrate your wedding with you and have a great vacation afterwards!
Try to plan your reception for the afternoon. People drink less during this time and you will not spend as much on alcohol. Lunch receptions are often cheaper and will allow you to use more money toward other needs for the wedding.
While you are taking your wedding photos, do not let your guests wait. Get as many pictures as possible before the ceremony. Make a list of all the shots that you want and arrange for many of them to be taken before the wedding begins.
During your wedding planning, arrange for even numbers of guests at each table. Also group the tables by age, this will give people things they can talk about.
If you would like a relative or a friend to perform your wedding ceremony, you can ask that person to become ordained via an online program. This can make your ceremony more personal, and can save you on an officiant. Make sure this is a legal practice in your state before you get somebody ordained.
If you find it in your budget, you can have your wedding booked on a cruise with your close friends and family. This can help ensure your honeymoon follows the ceremony’s ending. Cruise companies often have special packages and rates regarding honeymoons and weddings on their ships.
If you are giving a speech at a wedding, plan ahead and rehearse it several times. If you don’t prepare accordingly, you can lose all of your audience in mid-speech, and be forced to finish an awkward moment in front of a confused crowd.
If the culture of the bride’s and groom’s family are very different, plan the wedding ceremony in the tradition of one side and follow the traditions of the other side at the reception. This will satisfy the family traditions of both the groom and bride’s family.
Get more out of your wedding planner with research done ahead of time. Use fashion designers as inspiration and create a look book of inspiration that can be used as a starting off point. Magazine clippings, other pictures and anything else you find can help you communicate your desired vision to a wedding planner.
Dependent on the state where the wedding is to occur, certain popular flowers, such as those that bloom in your state, might not be easily available especially if they are not in season. Consult with a florist to see which flowers are in season or most readily available at the time of your wedding.
It is important to think about whether you want children attending your wedding. Not having kids can actually save you a lot of frustration. But be aware that some parents may not have access to a babysitter so you could offer names of available babysitters to out of town guests.
If you want to get married outdoors, make sure you have a backup plan. Some ideas are renting a couple of tents, or using a place that has indoor as well as outdoor accommodations. Set up planks to prevent your guests from getting mud or dirt on their shoes.
Though the groom is important also, it’s well-known that the reception should be as close to the bride’s dreams as possible; making this a day she will never forget. If she is left to worry about all of the planning, reservations and meals, and the wedding doesn’t live up to what she has been hoping for, it could be a disappointing day for the both of you. If you run everything by your bride she will have a much happier wedding day.
No matter what type of reception you want, keep your caterer informed; for example, if you want an outdoor reception, help your caterer understand that. 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. Perhaps you can use fancy covers on your dishes. A mini-fridge may be useful for keeping your drinks chilled.
A great way to save money on your wedding is by using other alternatives to flower arrangements. For example, instead of a flower wreath for the flower girl’s hair, try using a tasteful and elegant ribbon. Use silk flowers rather than fresh flowers. It will save you money and you can keep them. Keep them in a safe place as you never know when you might need them again.
Potted Plants
When you are thinking about decorations, especially the flowers, remember your wedding’s location. For example, a flower arrangement featuring complicated elements may work well indoors, but could be destroyed by a gust of wind outside. There may be a need for special items to keep your decorations tied down at outside venues.
Instead of elaborate and pricy floral arrangements, consider placing various potted plants around the ceremony and the reception venues. Colorful pots can be decorated with paint, ribbon, or decoupage to make the arrangements even more lively. 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.
Plan your wedding well in advance. You may think that planning a year in advance is silly, but if you put it off, you may find the venues you want are already booked on the date you want to get married. Therefore, it is essential to plan as far in advance as possible.
With weddings, consider if you wish for children to be invited. If you don’t allow children, you may be able to save money and avoid stress. But be aware that some parents may not have access to a babysitter so you could offer names of available babysitters to out of town guests.
Start early with your wedding preparations. This will give you better selection, service and prices. You will be able to find vendors that will meet your needs as well as your budget.
Keep the bride happy on her special day by ensuring that all details meet her high standards. You could cause her a lot of stress if she’s doing all of the planning or if there are any surprises that might disappoint her. You want to just run everything by her as well as make sure there is nothing that you are missing to ensure her happiness.
You may want to cut down on a meal size for your reception. A lengthy guest list means that you may have to forgo some extras to save money. If there are many people attending, you might have to cut back. If you can’t do that, you can reduce your guest list.
Silk Flowers
Make sure you do a little research on what the weather is going to be like. People aren’t going to stick around for an outdoor reception, if it’s sweltering outside. In the same vein, people may ditch your wedding if the heat isn’t turned up high enough, during a winter event. Always keep the comfort of the guests in mind, even though the wedding day is for the groom and bride.
Look at all of the options that you have in regards to flower arrangements. Ribbons are a colorful alternative to floral wreaths for the flower girls. Use silk flowers, which will cost you much less. In addition to saving money, silk flowers can be saved forever. Go one step further, and make the silk flowers pull double duty by using them at the reception too.
Keep an eye out for rain. Outdoor weddings are beautiful but you always want to have a plan B for inclement weather. Even should you expect little chance of bad weather, you cannot be sure. Make your preparations for an alternate way to move forward with the wedding.
Secure vendor recommendations from other service providers you have hired. If you find a photographer that you love, ask that person to recommend a band that they like. You can then ask the band for referrals to other services. You can find good professionals this way because those in the wedding business usually network with each other.
Ask your vendors if they have any recommendations for your other services. Photographers have another ability that you can take advantage of. When you find one you are comfortable with simply ask if they can recommend a few D.J.’s they have enjoyed, or even bands, at other weddings. Ask the band if they can recommend a caterer for you. You can find good professionals this way because those in the wedding business usually network with each other.
Now that you’re informed, you’re ready to plan a wedding with little stress involved. Appreciate the planning and enjoy your new life as a married couple.
A nice gift to give to your bridesmaids is a piece of jewelry customized in a way that connects you with your bridal party. It is something they can keep for a long time, and it will remind them of you.