Weddings are a special day in the life of the bride and groom, as the two are joined together. The following tips will help you plan for the perfect wedding. With the proper planning an preparation, your big day will be one of joy and happy memories.
If you’re taking care of the food yourself, shop at a wholesale store, like Costco. You’ll get better deals on large quantities of food if you shop wholesale. Think about asking friends to assist with the food costs.
One thing you need to think about during the wedding planning process is what alcohol will be served, and how much you want to spend on it. If there is one thing people like more than alcohol, it is free alcohol, and an open bar can quickly become a huge expense, especially the longer it remains open. The venue representative will be able to advise you of the various alcohol service options available.
Ask anyone who is giving a toast to share his speech with you ahead of time to ensure that the comments are appropriate. Some material, especially jokes, may fall flat or offend some of your guests, so you want to correct these problems ahead of time. At a wedding, there is normally a collection of different generations present, and you need to remember that a joke that young people find funny may actually offend older guests.
You can save a lot of money by purchasing your wedding gown online. However, remember to give yourself plenty of time for alterations. While buying a dress online may be less expensive, alterations can quickly add to the cost. Don’t forget to add this additional cost into your budget!
If you cannot justify the cost of a thousand-dollar wedding cake, consider contacting a local bakery and inquiring about single-serving portions, like cupcakes or cake pops. There are many bakeries that will prepare low-calorie cupcakes for you, or can find ways to cut the calories from a cake. Whether they use gluten-free ingredients, a healthy fruit filling, a calorie free frosting, or something else, it’s sure to be better for you than the alternative.
See if you can use a loved one’s property for your big day. If you know someone who has a large farm, or even just a huge backyard, you can eliminate one of the larger costs of your wedding. Offer to pay someone to come in ahead of time and after the event to do the cleaning for them, but that should be your only cost.
Practice walking in your wedding dress and shoes. Go with flats if you’re worried about twisting an ankle. No one can see your shoes under your gown anyway, but if you fall on your rear end, they’ll see a lot more than shoes.
If you want your reception to stand out, go with ethnic themed catering! Steak and chicken are both overrated, not to mention boring. Variety is important and will make the dinner memorable.
Choose sweet cupcakes or miniature tarts in tiers over a bulky expensive cake tower. These arrangements are more convenient, versatile, and more cost effective. Guests can take home wonderful treats as they depart.
Add decorative items in your wedding. You can use the same ribbon on centerpieces, your dress or as a hair embellishment. Your wedding will be perfect when you add in the small details.
Your guests shouldn’t be kept waiting during your lengthy photo sessions. Photos of the bride and her party and the groom and his groomsmen should be taken ahead of time. Pictures with those being wed and their parents should also be taken beforehand if possible.
Although it’s important to give the wedding DJ a list with songs you want to play at your reception, it is also important to inform him of those you DON’T want played. Was there a song that you loved once but you no longer do? Be sure your DJ is well aware of your preferences in advance to avoid discomfort.
After you select and purchase your dress, see if you can leave it at the store until the big day. Putting it away in a closet could cause it to become wrinkled or even stained. By storing it at the shop, you will ensure that you get it after it is freshly pressed and hung.
Avoid having guests wait while taking the photos. Have pictures of the couple and groomsmen in advance. You will want to respect everyone at the ceremony and reception.
If you are looking for some local assistance for your wedding, have a look on Craigslist. Don’t pay any of your responders a penny until you meet with them personally, and always have your betrothed accompany you, for safety’s sake.
“Destination” wedding guests will appreciate a thoughtful gift of vacation items awaiting them in their rooms. Include items that will be useful, like a tourist map, disposable camera, sunglasses, a hat, and pamphlets from fun places to visit in the area. Furthermore, a Zagat guide or other culinary guide is useful for any gift basket of this theme!
If you’re going to give a multiple course meal to your guests, they need to be entertained until it comes out with small appetizers like sweets on the tables you have set up. Get sugar roses that go with the color palette or your wedding. Or, opt for some thin crackers.
One key consideration when setting up seating for your wedding meal is to avoid having an odd number of guests at any table. Also group tables by age, to help them find things to talk about.
You can incorporate different cultural backgrounds and religious preferences into your big day in many different ways. This will help create a festive atmosphere and help make the event enjoyable for both families.
If you have a large wedding cake decorated in brightly colored icing that has its own stand, consider placing the stand on some color-coordinated fabric to create a stunning focal piece. You can also try solids, patterns and heavily-textured fabrics like satin, velvet or silk for more visual interest that helps bring everything together.
For receptions that don’t include dinner, consider renting less traditional seating arrangements rather than tables and chairs. Lounges, sectionals and cushy chaises can encourage social interaction. Perhaps you could create different lounges and add plush seating to allow your guests to relax.
If you can afford it, you can try having a wedding on the cruise you like. You could just invite only those close to you. This would make the honeymoon begin immediately following the ceremony. Some cruise ships offer special wedding and honeymoon packages.
Can you really organize a great wedding on a minimal budget? Absolutely. There is no need to go broke to have a great wedding. Creating invitations yourself, asking loved ones to contribute and making flower arrangements on your own can lead to massive savings.
A fun way to add a personal touch to your wedding is to ask a friend or family member to officiate the ceremony. This saves you money, and makes your wedding feel more personal. Always consult your local laws to ensure that this is legal, and be sure to get the right paperwork and accreditation in order.
As you consider music for the ceremony and reception, it is a good idea to fully research whomever will be providing the music. A good DJ or musician will be able to provide references of satisfied customers. Before hiring a DJ or band, be sure that the date of the wedding is set in stone. Further, there should always be a signed contract. This is the safe thing to do.
If a friend of yours has something you want to wear simply as them. This jewelery can help you get a great look for your special day!
Start planning your wedding early. If your wedding is well into the future, you have more choices in venues and services. That means you can choose the vendors that meet both your budget and your needs.
Silk Flowers
Think about applying for a credit card to get rewards on your purchases. Weddings can be quite costly, but having a credit card with miles or other perks can at least give you some relief from the costs associated with your big day. All of these charges add up quickly when paying for a wedding, allowing you to rack up some great rewards in the process.
If you don’t want to have real flowers in your wedding or don’t have the budget to do so, silk flowers can be a fantastic alternative. You can buy your silk flowers well in advance of the wedding whereas fresh flowers have to be selected, arranged and delivered on the wedding day, which can be more stressful and problematic.
Brides should not have tan lines. It is very important since you may want to have a great tan for the wedding, but the tan lines can really cause distractions.
You can a choose a menu that combines the best of both families and their culture. Add a twist with ethnic dessert options, drinks, or edible wedding favors.
Create an account just for wedding expenses. If you have a set amount of money to work with, you are going to have an easier time sticking to the budget. If you are not getting married yet, start an account that you can use later in life when the time comes.
It is impossible to predict the weather and other conditions perfectly when planning an outdoor wedding. Be sure to have a backup plan and a strategy for executing it. You can rent several tents or look for a location that has a community hall, in addition to an outdoor space. Many tent companies also offer planking or other flooring choices for their tents to keep guests feet clean and dry.
The perfect gift for your bridesmaids is customizable jewelry. Long after the last toast and garter toss, your bridal party will have mementos to remind them of everything you’ve been through together.
Add flowers of all different heights. If you want long stem flowers, then choose tall, elegant vases to show them off properly. Then, place flowers such as sweet peas, hydrangeas or peonies around the tall vases. The full flowers should be a lighter color than the tall flowers.
Once you have the design of your wedding in mind, record it on paper and then start shopping around for services that specialize in that kind 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.
Do some functions as a group on your wedding day. A wedding where everyone is just hanging around isn’t fun for anyone. There can be a variety different games or contests that your guests could take part in. It can be an unforgettable wedding if everyone is able to interact with one another and have some fun.
Invitations are the first element of your wedding that presents the overall theme. Make sure you choose colors that match the theme of your wedding. Look over every available alternative before you choose your invitations.
Write your own vows for the wedding. Do not copy these as they should be personal. Writing your own vows can add more meaning and romance to your special day and make your loved one feel closer to you. You can gather inspiration from other sources; however, make them your own.
Put a line on RSVP cards so guests can request a song to be played. This will ensure that everyone is happy.
Using these suggestions will help make sure everyone has a great time. This special day of bonding is worth taking the time to ensure that every detail is taken care of in the best manner. Every groom and bride deserves an unforgettable wedding.
A wedding planner or coordinator can provide you with the help and advice you need to plan your wedding, and can be a valuable assistant on the day of the wedding. There is a lot of potential for mishap in any wedding, and that is a major cause of stress. A professional wedding consultant is well versed in handling these many details and any problems that may arise. This helps everyone relax and have a good time throughout your wedding day.