Your wedding should be special, but if you set your expectations too high, you will find yourself spending more than you can afford to. You can do many things to control your wedding budget. Continue reading to learn a few tips which will help you have the wedding of your dreams without bills that will bring you nightmares.
The single most important factor when you are getting married is also the most obvious, your choice in bride or groom. Don’t be in a hurry to get married. Marriage changes your life forever, and if you truly want your marriage to last a lifetime you need to move slowly towards this step. Be sure you carefully take into account the traits that you require in a mate, and which ones will drive you insane.
Don’t starve yourself to fit in your wedding dress! Not eating any food can leave you feeling dehydrated and lethargic on your big day. You definitely don’t want to end up fainting on your big day. Instead, choose a dress that has a corset back that can be taken in and out as needed on the big day.
If you feel as though it is wasteful to pay hundreds of dollars for a cake that will have a lot left over, consider a smaller bakery to create a smaller cake that will cost less and be more personal. Many bakeries offer small tarts or mini-cakes that come in healthier options, like fresh fruit-filled, gluten-free or vegan options.
If you’re short on money, consider renting diamonds for your wedding day. This gives you that look you want but won’t cost you a ton so that you can stay within your budget.
When talking to your DJ, let him know the songs you like as well as the song you don’t like. Maybe it’s country music, or heavy metal, or even your “special song” from an old lover. Whatever your tastes may be, communicate them so your wedding music is as joyful as you are.
Incorporate small decorative elements into all your wedding decorations. Take the ribbon you use in a bouquet for instance, and use the same ribbon for table centerpieces, your hair or your gown. These little details will add up to create one giant aesthetic.
Make sure the photographer you hire for your wedding is experienced. You never want to hire a photographer who doesn’t fit your style. 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.
Be sure that any reception venue you select has enough space for you to dance. You don’t want to have dancers crashing into seated guests or knocking over the dessert table, so ensure you have adequate space available. If necessary, move some chairs and tables out of the way to make more room.
If the couple getting married has a strong love for travel, try to incorporate design elements that reflect this in the planning and decoration process. Use a little artistic skill to get your invitations appearing like aged postcards from a far-away land. Perhaps use an old, leather suitcase as a display case for the programs and families involved in the wedding.
Don’t wait until your wedding day to try walking in your shoes and gown. Practice going down the aisle until you feel comfortable. If you’re worried that you will twist your ankle, you can wear flats instead. Sexy footwear won’t do you any good if you wind up falling on your bum.
Table centerpieces at your wedding might have a tremendous budgetary and aesthetic impact. Choose a simple, small and elegant centerpiece with pizazz. Guests will be able to talk without having to strain their necks to see each other, making it a much better experience for them.
Choose sweet cupcakes or miniature tarts in tiers over a bulky expensive cake tower. These arrangements are beloved for their affordable price range, versatility, and convenience. Those who were invited will grab them at will and consume them rather quickly as opposed to wrapping the pieces they grab in a napkin and forgetting it.
You have to plan your wedding down to each exacting detail, including the food and the reception schedule. By ensuring that your guests are comfortable and enjoying themselves, you are expressing your gratitude for their presence.
When you are planning your reception set the time for the afternoon hours. During the day most people drink less alcohol, which can greatly reduce your bar needs. Lunch receptions are usually cheaper than dinner ones, and you can use this to either get better food or apply funds towards another aspect of the wedding festivities.
Flowers that are abundant in your state during specific seasons will not be easily available in climates that are tropical and humid or cooler and dry like the Mediterraneans. Communicate with florist and wedding professionals where you’re getting married to discover the flowers that will be blooming and available at that time.
One detail to consider is that the venue lighting can be dimmed, if necessary. Certain occasions throughout the evening will call for their own separate mood and lighting, such as a first dance or cutting of the cake. Inquire about details, such as lighting, before you decide on a reception venue.
If you do not plan to serve your guests dinner at the reception site, consider foregoing multiple tables in favor of rented furniture. If you use comfortable furniture like lounge chairs or fancy sectional pieces, your guests might spend more time socializing with each other. Comfortable seating will make your guests feel relaxed and at home, permitting them to enjoy lounging areas around your location.
Have your wedding while on a cruise with your close family and friends. This way, you can begin your honeymoon right after your ceremony is finished. Most cruise ships even have special prices for wedding parties and all of the guests in the party.
Tell your caterer if you plan on having an outdoor reception. Hot sunlight and strong winds can damage certain dishes, whilst chilly weather could spoil hot meals. You could use covered chafing dishes, or keep the food inside a tent. If possible, consider having a small fridge on hand for keeping beverages chilled.
Multiple course receptions should have treats on the table for guests to consume between servings. You can leave sugar roses, thin crackers or any other type of little treats.
Make a list of the things you want for your wedding, and list each thing by level of importance. Many people feel that flowers are a higher priority than the wedding cake or the guest list isn’t as important as the venue. If you prioritize your wants, you can budget your funds to ensure your wedding is just what you planned.
Wedding Planner
Instead of elaborate and pricy floral arrangements, consider placing various potted plants around the ceremony and the reception venues. Seek out plants in lovely glazed pots, or make a simple stone look elegant with some ribbons and paint. With the potted plants, you can either take them home for yourself, or you can go ahead and let guests take them home as wedding gifts.
Do your homework before meeting your wedding planner. It is always recommended that you take some time to design what you can call your wedding board. This will contain photos, colored fabrics and anything else you wish to incorporate into your big event. These will serve as a blueprint to tweak and change in order to make your wedding everything you hoped for. You can clip magazine photos, song lyrics, or photos that help you convey what you want to your wedding planner.
A true photographer captures priceless memories and doesn’t just take random pictures. Discuss your photographer’s vision of the day with him or her. Ask them about the process they will follow on your big day. You have to determine his style and how that will affect the experience you will have on your big day.
Instead of elaborate and pricy floral arrangements, consider placing various potted plants around the ceremony and the reception venues. You can choose pots with colorful glazes or add a little pizzazz to plain terracotta pots with decoupage, ribbons, or creative paint applications. When the wedding is over, the bride and groom can plant them at their new home, or the guests can bring home as wedding favors.
Have your floral decoration display flowers of different stem length and different sizes and shapes to add dimension and uniqueness to them. For flowers with long stems or compact heads, use tall vases. You can then surround the vases using flowers with more show and volume but that are shorter. The shorter full flowers need to be lighter than the taller and more prominent flowers.
Choose group activities to fill your special day with fun. You don’t want all of the guests simply watching and waiting for the vows to come to a close before leaving. You can fill the event with a variety of activities, from volleyball to contests. The wedding will be memorable in proportion to the amount of fun.
As you consider a videographer for the event, always interview each candidate and request samples of their previous work. Look at samples of the videographers work to be sure it is high quality in every way. You could get wedding on VHS tapes a long time ago, but getting them on digital video or DVDs can help you enjoy them for years. Use your intuition when choosing a videographer, because after all, they will be capturing your most memorable day.
Write your own vows. You know your spouse better than anyone else. The personalization of your vows adds meaning and romance, creating an atmosphere of closeness and intimacy. You can look to other people’s personal vows for inspiration and use them to help create your own original ones.
You might think you want to do some kind of traditional family things, but if you do not want to, don’t. Let your family member know what you want and thank them for helping, but do not let them influence your wedding. This allows you to look upon your wedding and reception with fondness.
Your wedding location is important when you are planning details like flowers. If you plan an indoor wedding, you can enjoy large, complex floral arrangements. This may not be true outdoors. If you are having an outdoor wedding, you may need certain equipment to be sure your decorations hold.
Plan everything in advance. You may think that one year is a very long time for wedding planning, but should you wait too long, you’ll start to notice that service providers and venues are not available on the date you want; not only that, they will cost more as well. Therefore, it is essential to plan as far in advance as possible.
They may have all kinds of ideas about how you should orchestrate your wedding, but remember that this day is to celebrate you and your soon-to-be spouse. Politely thank them, but remind them it is up to you and your new spouse to make the decisions. By doing this, you can reflect back, with no regrets, on the day you were wed.
The earlier you start your wedding preparations, the better. Planning well in advance gives you more options when it comes to services you need and venues you desire. You will have your pick of vendors and venues and a much better chance of staying within your budget.
Start Planning
Make sure you stay abreast of the weather conditions! If it’s excessively hot, guests might not be comfortable at a long outdoor wedding. On the same note, winter weddings might chill your guests to the point of leaving early too. Bring fans or heaters to your wedding so that you can adjust the temperature in the room if necessary.
Plan well ahead of time. If you don’t start planning a year in advance, you may have trouble finding venues. The sooner you start planning, the more choices you will have.
Customize jewelry if you are looking for a bridal party gift. It is something they can keep for a long time, and it will remind them of you.
Start early with your wedding preparations. By planning early, you’ll have a better selections of wedding venues. This makes it possible for you to choose the vendors who best meet your needs.
You will surely want to be photographed with a number of your wedding guests. If you don’t have a predetermined schedule, it can be very difficult to track everyone down for pictures during your event. Before the wedding, designate an area and time for pictures and inform your guests.
Don’t serve a very big meal at the wedding reception. This is especially true if a lot of people will be attending your wedding. Choosing a small meal to feed your guests can end up saving you a lot of money. If you cannot do this, you may have to reduce your guest list.
You don’t want to dish off the wedding photos to a friend. You will want to hire the services of a professional. You will be looking at these photos for the rest of your life, so they should be high quality in every way. A friend with a camera might take some good shots, but a professional will guarantee good results.
Don’t think you have to break the bank to have a wonderful, memorable wedding day. By following the advice in this article, you will have an unforgettable wedding, without going hugely into debt.
Try wearing black tennis shoes to a wedding if you’re guy. These are far more comfortable than leather dress shoes, plus they probably won’t be noticed. However, pick a good pair, not something scruffy and old.