Planning a wedding is a huge undertaking and some people find it very difficult to manage all the details that go into making a memorable ceremony and reception. Read this article for great advice on how to plan a wonderful wedding without driving yourself crazy. It doesn’t have to be as difficult as you think.
For more cost-effective weddings, try choosing a date that is atypical to wedding season. The wedding season runs from May until September. During this time, wedding venues will be more expensive. If you must book during this period, schedule many months in advance to save money.
Bear in mind the cost of the alcohol that you will be serving at your wedding, and try to find one that is cost efficient. Just letting people drink all they want can really add up, especially if the reception lasts a long time. The venue representative will be able to advise you of the various alcohol service options available.
If you want a unique reception, get cuisine that centers around a certain ethnic theme. Chicken and steak are over-served, so why not pick some other foods in your desired cuisine? Ethnic foods and decor will help your reception be memorable.
If you’re taking care of the food yourself, shop at a wholesale store, like Costco. You will get more food for a better price if you shop wholesale. You can also see if your friends can help with food costs.
Take the time necessary to write out your wedding vows, because this is going to be remembered by your spouse for a long time. The vows should reflect the fact that marriage is not easy and will require sacrifice on the part of both partners. Express your love for the person you will marry when writing your vows.
Take a long time to write your vows, as this is something that is very important towards your husband or wife. Keep in mind the magnitude of the commitment that you are pledging and how each of you will be making sacrifices during your marriage. Express how much you love the person you are going to marry in your vows.
Brides who want a look of luxury can embellish their wedding bouquets with something that sparkles, like rhinestones, Swarovski crystals, or even a tiny bit of diamonds. Doing this isn’t difficult. It works with adhesive crystals, costume jewelry, and expensive antique jewelry. To create a cohesive look, be sure that the colors, cut, and the size of any stones you use match or compliment each other.
Those brides that are lovers of fashion and luxury can have bouquets embellished with rhinestones, diamonds, or Swarovski crystals. You can do this by applying some crystals, costume jewelry, or maybe even an heirloom piece. Make sure that it will match everything else in your wedding outfit by remaining consistent with the colors you choose, the cut, and also the size of your stones.
Avoid having your guests standing around waiting while you have your pictures taken. Take your bridal party photos in advance of the wedding when you are all fresh and crisp. You can also take your pictures with your respective parents in advance of the wedding. This will leave you more time to spend with your guests.
Instead of spending a bundle on a monolith wedding cake, consider a multi-tier design with mini-tarts or cupcakes. Their affordability, convenience and versatility make these arrangements highly desirable. Guests may opt to grab a cupcake on their way out, using cute take-out style containers that are provided.
Midday is the best time to have wedding receptions. During the day most people drink less alcohol, which can greatly reduce your bar needs. Having your wedding during the midday can also cut food costs and even get you a discount for booking during the day.
You could ask from any friend or family member that is capable of carrying your gear. They can help you with other stuff, like gathering the family for group shots, also.
Make sure the lighting at your wedding reception venue can be dimmed. You may not think about it in advance, but you may want the lights turned down a bit during some dances or for the cake cutting. Ask the prospective venue about it, before choosing.
A midday reception may be the perfect way to cut costs at your wedding. Your guests will drink less alcohol during these hours, which cuts down on your bar needs greatly. Also, dinner receptions tend to be more expensive than lunch receptions, and you’ll be able to spend your savings on something else.
When making table assignments for your reception, ensure that even numbers of guests will be at each table. If you group your guests together by age, they will have more in common in terms of conversation topics.
Providing a printed itinerary, as well as an online one, will make it easier for guest to know the when, where and what activities are planned. If you share your schedule with your guests, it helps them understand where they are expected to be and when they need to be there, so they can manage their travel time appropriately.
If you are going to use a wedding cake with vibrant colors, opt for a coordinating tablecloth. Whether you choose patterns or solids, the fabric should add another dimension of visual interest and help to tie your wedding cake in with your wedding theme.
Consider being married on a cruise ship surrounded only by family and friends. This would make the honeymoon begin immediately following the ceremony. Most cruise ships even have special prices for wedding parties and all of the guests in the party.
If you have the budget, consider a cruise as the venue for your wedding and just invite those who are dearest to you. The wedding itself will almost feel like the honeymoon. There are cruise options that carry special rates for couples looking for this kind of wedding and honeymoon option.
You can even ask one of your friends if you can borrow some jewelry for the big wedding day. This jewelery can help you get a great look for your special day!
If the bride and groom share a fondness for travel, look for decorative elements that convey a shared sense of wanderlust. Use a little artistic skill to get your invitations appearing like aged postcards from a far-away land. You could use a worn leather suitcase to display things such as your wedding program, photographs, or favors for the guest.
Table centerpieces for your wedding can be very costly, both financially and in terms of aesthetics. Rather than buying a huge centerpiece that occupies the entire table, you should purchase a simple one. If the centerpiece is too big, it becomes a distraction, making it difficult for people to interact as well as enjoy their food.
The table centerpieces can be expensive and should be artistically pleasing. Rather than buying huge centerpieces that obstruct your guests’ view, consider simpler centerpieces that can be taken by guests as a keepsake. You do not want your guests to be unable to communicate because there is a large centerpiece in the way.
If you have decided to give a speech in a wedding, make sure that you plan for it and practice it enough. Don’t wait until the last minute to write your speech, or forget about it once it’s written. If you don’t practice, you might ramble, make silly mistakes or completely forget what you wanted to say.
Seasonal flowers from your region may not be that easy to obtain in dry and cool Mediterranean settings or humid tropical settings. Professional florists will be able to help you find blooms in your area that are readily available.
If your reception does not involve a sit down meal, hire furniture instead of traditional tables. Things like cushy sectional couches, chaises and lounges can provide a great way for your guests to interact. Perhaps you could create different lounges and add plush seating to allow your guests to relax.
Avoid planning a destination wedding until you look into legal requirements. Things such as residency requirements, blood tests and fees should be addressed before you book your venue.
Investigate the legalities of a destination if you are planning an event away from home. Whether it is residency requirements, fees, or any other red tape, you should have all your needs addressed before you begin the task of booking hotels and services for the big day.
You wedding plans should begin with a list of those things taking top priority to you. For some couples, the venue is higher on the list than the cake, or the table decorations are higher on the list than the music, and so on. Prioritizing your wants can ensure that you don’t step over your allotted budget and still have the wedding day of your dreams.
Have flowers with a cohesive theme. Retro and vintage themes that have cheerful and bright palettes require showstopping, robust flowers which convey a wistful and nostalgic feeling. That could mean red poppies, daisies, and pink and yellow peonies.
When you have bridesmaids, make sure you’re aware of what you want them to wear before you speak with them about taking part in your wedding. A lot of friendships can be damaged when people don’t agree on the gown for a bridesmaid. Unless you know for sure that money isn’t a problem, choose a relatively wallet-friendly dress, a color that complements your wedding palette, and a flattering style. The last thing you want to do is alienate a dear friend over something as simple as a dress.
As a groom, you should make sure that your tuxedo is a perfect fit. Get the opinions of others before you decide on the tuxedo of your choice. Getting a tux that fits well and looks good is also important for ensuring that your wedding pictures turn out well.
One big expense in a wedding is using fresh flowers in all of the traditional ways. For your flower girl, instead of using a floral wreath, consider using ribbon instead for a simple, elegant and cost effective look. Use silk flowers in lieu of fresh ones. Silk flowers are not only more affordable, they can be kept forever. Plus, silk flower arrangements can be made weeks or months in advance so that you can be sure you have exactly what you want.
The task of choosing the individual who will record the event is at the top of the importance list and you should ask to see his past work and for references. Be sure that sound editing is something to which you pay real attention as well. People used to get great VHS tapes of a wedding, but these days you’ll want a digital video or DVD that will last you quite a while. Consider the facts and your impressions of the videographers available to make a decision.
Wedding music providers should be researched prior to hiring. Get references and speak to those people to find out about their experiences. Have the band or DJ sign a contract for the planned date. These steps are necessary to ensure that music will not be the cause of a ruined wedding day.
Always do your research before you hire a band or DJ. Ask for references and be sure to call them prior to making hiring decisions. Once you make a decision, you want to make sure the date is well known, and that a contract is signed to confirm the agreement. These things are of utmost importance in making sure there will be music instead of silence for your wedding.
Your friends and family will have many well-intended suggestions, and some may be quite good; however, in the long run, your decisions must win out. Let your family member know what you want and thank them for helping, but do not let them influence your wedding. That way, you won’t have any regrets about how the wedding day goes.
Wedding planning can actually be quite enjoyable. With the right know how, and a little help from your friends, it is possible to plan a wedding that is beautiful from ceremony to reception. So use the tips from this article to help you do just that!
Think about having a small meal for the wedding reception. When making accommodations for many guests for your big day, you have to think about areas where you can cut costs. Serving a small meal with only close friends, family members and relations in attendance will save you some money. If this is unacceptable, you may need to trim your guest list.