If you love the person you are with, your first wedding will be your last. Joining the one you love for a lifetime is an extremely important step, so the planning should be done with care. Use the expert tips ahead to help you plan the perfect wedding.
When planning speakers for your wedding, they need to rehearse the speech prior to the day in front of you so that you know everything is appropriate. For example, you would want to eliminate any jokes that apply to a very specific group within your guests in order to avoid anyone feeling excluded and to make sure the speech is well-received by all who attend your wedding.
If you’re doing your own catering, Costco is a place that can save you a lot on wedding food. If you’re shopping wholesale, you are able to get a lot of food for less money than shopping retail. Think about asking people you know to assist with the food costs.
Plan your transportation wisely. Some guests might need a ride to their hotel, so make sure there are taxis available (at minimum). In addition, this benefits those who drank alcohol during the festivities.
Wedding Dress
Instead of an expensive wedding cake, get cupcakes or mini-tarts. These kinds of arrangements are versatile, affordable and convenient. Guests can simply pick up a cupcake or two as they leave, placing them in a takeout-inspired, embellished cardboard container.
The right wedding dress can be quite expensive. When you shop for a dress, try dresses that aren’t categorized as wedding dresses. A bridesmaid dress could fit your needs and would not be as expensive as an actual wedding dress. Even with alterations, the cost may still be less.
Employ a good friend or relative, as long as they can haul your equipment and gear through the evening. They can help you get group shots of the family too!
Use a friend’s property to host your wedding. If someone you know has a nice backyard or a large farm, this can save a lot of money. Tell this person you will pay for pre- and post-cleaning costs.
If you are inviting your family members to your wedding at an exotic location, wee if they want to stay for the honeymoon as well! This will help save money and you may get a better discount. Then you can have a memorable wedding and your guests will enjoy a mini vacation.
Don’t forget about the transportation on your wedding day. Try to have limos and taxis available for those who do not have a ride to take them back to their hotel at the end of the night. Transportation is also helpful for those who have drank too much at your wedding.
Your guests shouldn’t wait while you are having pictures taken. Many of these pictures can be taken before the wedding so that you don’t waste a minute of your reception time. Additionally, photographs of the bride with her parents and the groom with his parents can be taken before the wedding.
Spend quite a bit of time writing your vows so that they include all the things that are important to your union with your spouse. Keep in mind that getting married is a commitment that might require some sacrifices. Of course, the most important thing for vows to convey is your love for your partner.
For a destination wedding, one wonderful present for your guests is a basket brimming with vacation goodies delivered to each room. Include useful items like sunglasses, a hat, tourist map, pamphlets and a disposable camera. A local restaurant guide is also a great thing to include in the basket because it can help them to find great places to eat.
Practice walking down the aisle in front of a full-length mirror to make sure you know what you’re doing, especially if you’re going to be wearing heels. If you are worried about a twisted ankle, choose attractive flats instead. Having footwear that is less sexy but will keep you from falling is an easy decision to make.
The lighting at the wedding reception venue should be able to be dimmed. This might seem a tad bit trivial, but the option should be there if you prefer to have low lighting for your first dance, as opposed to brighter lighting for the other activities. Be sure to find out about these details before you decide for sure.
Instead of spending too much for a large wedding cake, opt instead for one that is comprised of multiple layers of mini tarts or sweet cupcakes. Many people like these sorts of arrangements because they are convenient, versatile and affordable. Your guests can help themselves to a couple of cupcakes in a to-go box on their way out the door.
Make certain to send an online itinerary to your guests with the events, so they know how they should schedule their day and which part they are looking to attend. Your guests will appreciate knowing where they are expected and at what time; consider making a separate schedule for members of the wedding party.
See if you can find a willing helper who can assist you with looking after your equipment and moving it when necessary. Your assistant can help you round up the family members for the group pictures to make things run even smoother.
You can turn one of your friends into a “mail-order minister” so that she can officiate the ceremony. This makes the wedding a bit more personal, and also means you don’t have to pay the fee for a justice of the peace. Make sure to use caution by asking the local officials, to make sure doing this isn’t against the law where you are.
Silk flowers are a great alternative to some of the different types of flowers that you can purchase for your wedding. You don’t have to buy these fresh as you can pick them months in advance, saving you the hassle of worrying about your floral arrangements on the big day.
Put sweet appetizers at the dinner table between meal courses. Try sugar roses that are able to match the wedding’s colors, edible sugar petals, or even crackers that are flavorful to help them not be too hungry.
You can a choose a menu that combines the best of both families and their culture. Another alternative is to offer ethnic dessert or drink options to the menu.
Make sure to properly practice your wedding speech if you plan on giving one. If you fail to plan your wedding speech, you may lose your guest’s attention, flub your words, or forget what you have to say.
Flowers seasonal to your region might not be readily available if your wedding environment is in a different climate with temperatures, humidity and distinct from what you are used to at home. Ask for help from professionals who live and work in the region to find out what they recommend for your big day.
Get the most from your wedding planner by doing your homework prior to your first meeting. Take the time to visualize what your ideal wedding will look like by posting fabric swatches on mood boards, gathering images and inspiration just like professional stylists do. Use photographs, magazine clippings and the lyrics of a special song to describe your perfect wedding to your planner.
Sectional Pieces
To make sure you are ready for your special first dance, consider practicing your dance before your wedding while wearing a long skirt. Though you may have warmed up to your ability to move about in your skirt, it may be a bit cumbersome for your groom, so put on some music and dance together. This helps remove any awkwardness that he might feel, especially if the dress that you wear is puffy.
For receptions that don’t include dinner, consider renting less traditional seating arrangements rather than tables and chairs. Lounge chairs, chaises and comfortable sectional pieces will help encourage interaction between your guests. You can use sectional pieces to create areas for relaxing throughout the reception venue. In addition, your guests will relax more when sitting on plush, comfortable seats and be more likely to have a good time.
Think carefully before inviting children to your wedding. Not having kids can actually save you a lot of frustration. On the flip side, there may be a lot of people who may not attend for this reason because they cannot find someone to watch their children.
If you are having a wedding outside, you need to have a plan in case it rains. Make sure you have some tents installed or a backup hall nearby, in addition to the planned outdoor venue. Another thing you can do is install planks, so guests don’t get their shoes muddy.
Write your vows yourself. It may be less work to use something already written, but you know your future spouse the best. Composing your own wedding vows makes this ceremony more meaningful and romantic, improving the intimacy between you. Use inspiration if needed, but add your own special touch.
Hire a wedding photographer who will help create memories, not just take pictures. When you are interviewing your photographer, ask questions about how they see the day going. Be sure you understand the process they use to capture all the important moments. It is important to know what their style is and how it will impact your wishes for the events of the day.
Think about serving a meal that’s small during the wedding reception. You may need to cut a few corners if you plan to have a large number of guests at the wedding. Choosing a small meal to feed your guests can end up saving you a lot of money. If you prefer to serve a larger meal, you may need to cut down the number of guests you invite.
Practice the first dance with your spouse-to-be while wearing clothes similar to what you’ll wear at the wedding. Dancing with your spouse-to-be is romantic, and in addition it will help you get used to each others’ clothes so you won’t feel awkward on your wedding day. Be sure to practice dancing with your soon-to-be husband, so that he can get used to your long skirt, too! This helps to curb any bumbling, especially if you have a dress that has a puffy skirt.
Watch out for rain. For an outdoor wedding, create a “Plan B” since it could rain. Even if you think that the likelihood of bad weather is very small, you never know what can happen; be prepared and have an alternate site ready to go for you and your guests.
Wedding music providers should be researched prior to hiring. Ask for a list of references and call those references before booking the band or DJ. When drawing up a contract, make sure that the date, the hours you expect to have them working, the pay and any other variables are all accounted for. The music is an important element to your wedding so ensuring you make the right choice is vital.
Consider taking time to practice smiling when looking in the mirror. This can help you find the ideal smile for your photos. Practice makes perfect.
Your family might encourage you to follow tradition or make certain choices, but this day is about you and your spouse-to-be. Politely thank them, but remind them it is up to you and your new spouse to make the decisions. The last thing you want to do is give in to suggestions that don’t fit your idea of the perfect wedding. If you do, you’ll have to live with regret after your big day is over. Instead, make your wedding everything you want it to be so that your memories will be purely happy ones.
Mother of the bride and any bridesmaids who are going to help you get ready should be ready well before the time for you to put your gown on. In the minutes leading up to your wedding march, all attention should be dedicated to getting you ready. If they are not ready early, then they will have to worry more about themselves, and cannot focus on making sure you’re completely ready.
You are making a lifelong commitment with another person, and you need to make sure you are taking care of all the details, both big and small. Use advice from the above article to make sure you maximize the potential of your wedding.
Open a savings account solely for your wedding once you have decided on the date. 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. Open a savings account and start putting money aside if you can wait to get married.