For happy couples, becoming engaged can be the most romantic highlight of the relationship. On the other hand, the wedding planning that follows is usually the opposite of romantic in its demands and stress. Here are some ideas for couples who want to make planning a wedding, just as enjoyable as the thought of the wedding itself.
Try for a date that is not in the middle of wedding season. Most weddings are between June and August. Wedding venues are more expensive during these months. If you must book then, try booking well ahead of time to get a great deal.
Try for a date that is not in the middle of wedding season. Traditionally, weddings take place between May and September. Wedding venues are more expensive during these months. If you can’t plan your wedding at any other time, book your venue as soon as possible to get a great deal.
Ethnic catering can give your reception that extra spice your guests crave. Let’s face it, the menu at these events is pretty standard so why not take it in a direction that makes it more memorable. Weddings are known for being unique and your reception should offer a variety of foods to satisfy everyone.
Wedding Dress
You could get help from someone else who is attending the wedding. They could help you carry your gear. They can also help round up family members for group portraits.
The right wedding dress can be quite expensive. If you are not looking for a traditional, princess type ballgown, consider looking into other types of dresses. A Bridesmaid dress can be a good fit, and it doesn’t cost half as much as a wedding dress does. The money you save by choosing a cheaper dress can be used to alter it and add some stylish details.
A nice present to give to your wedding guests at a wedding in a different town is a gift basket full of vacation items that you can have sent to their room. This gift basket can include helpful items such as sunscreen, sunglasses, disposable cameras and tourist maps that add a nice touch of flavor to the vacation. Providing a restaurant guide will fill your guests in on all of the best places to eat in the area.
You can plan a personalized wedding by choosing elements that reflect who you are. Find a theme or topic that reflects your time as a couple.
If you are on a budget, consider scheduling your reception for around lunchtime. Since most of your guests won’t be interested in drinking much alcohol during this hour, you can save money on your bar costs. By having a lunch reception, the costs for food will also normally be less expensive. This could allow you to put the money saved towards other services required for your wedding.
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.
Make a detailed itinerary with directions, so guests know when and where the wedding and reception will be held. 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.
Use a friend’s property to host your wedding. If you know anyone with a large enough backyard, you can save a lot of money on your wedding. You can make sure the cleaning and setup is done, of course, but that is the only thing you should have to pay for regarding the wedding venue.
Many centerpieces are expensive; in addition, the wrong centerpieces will detract from the beauty of your wedding reception instead of adding to it. Rather than buying a huge centerpiece that occupies the entire table, you should purchase a simple one. This has the added advantage of not making it difficult for guests to talk to each other due to a huge obstruction.
If you want a unique reception, get cuisine that centers around a certain ethnic theme. Chicken and steak are nice but they are nothing special, so look for foods that are unique and have a special flavor to them. Variety should be incorporated into your wedding dinner to make it a memorable experience.
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 allows you to set up a great contrast that will allow both sides of the family to enjoy the wedding as much as possible.
Tie in small decorative items to your wedding decor. You can use the same ribbon on centerpieces, your dress or as a hair embellishment. When you show small details, it lets others know you have put in lots of effort.
If you want seasonal flowers that grow near your home to decorate your wedding, you should keep in mind that they may be extremely difficult to acquire near your wedding location due to differences in climate. It is best to call ahead to a professional in the area where you are planning on being married, to see which blooms are plentiful, and what they suggest for your specific taste.
Take your time in writing your vows, they’re personal and meaningful and must have effort put into them. Keep in mind the magnitude of the commitment that you are pledging and how each of you will be making sacrifices during your marriage. Take this opportunity to express your love for your betrothed so that will always be a part of your wedding ceremony.
Make sure to prioritize your wants when you are starting to organize your wedding plans. 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. Prioritizing your wants can ensure that you don’t step over your allotted budget and still have the wedding day of your dreams.
As the bride, you may feel stressed before the big day. Treat your skin right with a great skincare routine. Look for facial treatments that soothe and brighten with ingredients like sea salts, oatmeal, rose, and creamy scrubs.
Hire a photographer that will help make your wedding a memorable one and not just a pile of pictures. As you are talking to your wedding photographer, ask him or her how they envision the day. Ask them about their process for handling a wedding day. You ought to know what style they have and if your wishes will be fulfilled.
If you are inviting your family to a destination wedding, ask if they want to enjoy the honeymoon with you as well. Everyone can save if you stay longer, as you will likely get a great discount from the hotel. This will give your family something really special to remember too!
Pick out a few special activities for the day, and use them to spice up the mood when needed. It is unfair to expect your friends, or even your family members, to stand around bored to tears on this important day. Organize contests, games or even sports. The wedding will be memorable in proportion to the amount of fun.
Avoid having guests wait while taking the photos. These photos should be taken in advance. Pictures of the parents with the bride and groom are also able to be shot beforehand and reduce the wait time for the guests at the reception.
Prior to your wedding day, make sure you know what gowns your bridesmaids will be wearing. Disagreement over the bridesmaid’s gown can strain a friendship. 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. This can help you have a wedding without hurting someone’s feelings.
Once you have your dress paid off and all ready, it is wise to leave it at the store so it can be properly stored until the big day. Having it inside of a closet could cause stains or wrinkles. Storing it at the store will guarantee it stays pressed and fresh for your wedding day!
Be sure to select your videographer with care. Begin early and interview several. Also, look at how the person edits their videos as well. Get your wedding on the latest technology so that the memories last a lifetime. Base your decision on these things and your own personal feelings about the videographers you talk to.
If you have the budget, consider a cruise as the venue for your wedding and just invite those who are dearest to you. This can help ensure your honeymoon follows the ceremony’s ending. Some of these cruise companies have special prices for weddings and honeymoons on the ship.
When planning out your wedding music, you definitely want to look into the different DJ’s or bands in the area. Try to get good references from people familiar with their work. After you know who you are going with, sign a contract so you are guaranteed to have them on your big day. In this way, you can be sure your wedding music will not ruin your day!
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. Consult with experts near your wedding location to see which flowers are seasonal at the time of your wedding over there.
Begin planning your wedding early. The more time you have to plan, the better your odds will be of getting everything you want for your wedding. This will allow you to explore different vendors and choose the perfect ones for you and your vision.
Meeting a wedding planner? Do your homework. Follow those stylists and designers who make mood boards and look books from imagery, swatches of fabric and other inspirations that may provide the starting point for a finished look. Anything that is special to you, such as items from magazines, can be used to convey your ideas to the planner.
Consider the weather at the time of year you are planning your wedding. If the weather is going to be very hot, your guests will likely want to leave early instead of staying longer and celebrating. Similarly, they may leave early, if they are too cold at your winter party. Do what you can to make sure your guests are comfortable; provide fans in the summer or small heaters in the winter.
Let your caterer know you want an outdoor reception. Some foods will not keep well in the heat or might be too light to stay in dishes if the wind is blowing strongly. One way that these weather issues can be dealt with is to use sturdy covers for the food. Keep a small refrigerator around to cool drinks down.
Apply for a credit card that gives you rewards, such as frequent flyer miles. Use this card to purchase all wedding related services. Weddings can get expensive, but you can offset some of this cost by paying with a cash back or other incentive-based credit card. You’ll be swimming in rewards in no time if the card is the main source of payment.
Make sure you know what you are doing when it comes to a destination wedding. Even the slightest hitch can derail your big days, so it’s best to book your venue, caterer, and transportation arrangements well in advance.
Once you have an idea for your wedding design, write it down and begin shopping around to find services that offer that type of design. As you identify the services that cater to your wanted design, you can start winnowing the list down by costs and specific services.
Make sure that you have a great looking wedding by being sure everything is in order, including the flowers. Retro themes are very popular and can create a really fun look for your venue. Red poppies, bright Gerber daisies and beautifully colored peonies may offer the perfect touch.
Since the price of gold is continuing to rise, try have your weddings rings created with some other popular metals. You might like titanium, platinum, silver or even stainless steel. These can be unexpected, cheaper, and even more beautiful. Change it up a little bit to show your personal style.
Anyone who is willing to use these guidelines is sure to enjoy a smoother, more hassle-free planning process. Planning a wedding with your future spouse is great way to see how you will deal with challenges, providing you with an excellent foundation for your marriage. These tips can help you invest in a beautiful wedding and a marriage that will last forever.
You will probably want to take pictures with many of the guests that attend your wedding. With a large guest list and a huge venue, it may be difficult to coordinate posed photographs unless you have set aside a specific time frame for doing so. 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.