Weddings do not always have to be expensive and outlandish, sometimes the best weddings are the simple ones. The most important thing about weddings are the couples and their loved ones. You will find tips to make your wedding planning a breeze.
Practice your walk down the aisle many times on the days leading up to the wedding. This needs to be done where the wedding is going to be held so that you’re familiar with the specific area and flooring as well as how your shoes react. Doing so helps to ensure a smooth and confident walk when your wedding day comes.
Try ethnic-themed catering to add some spice to your reception. Too many people serve up chicken and steak, so go against the grain and spice things up. Variety is important and you want everyone to remember your wedding dinner.
One thing to take into consideration is when you get married. The off seasons can save quite a bit of money that can be used elsewhere. This would be anytime other that May through September. These are the times when wedding venues are most expensive. Book in advance if you must schedule your wedding during this time.
Add special little decorative touches to all of the element in your wedding. Use a similar ribbon for your bouquet as that on your gown or your centerpieces. Little details like this can make for a superior look since it shows you put a lot of effort in your special day.
Consider your different options to find the right type of alcohol for your wedding. An open bar that is available all evening can quickly become a very costly endeavor. If holding the wedding at an outside venue, they may have alcohol serving options available that can control costs.
Flowers look beautiful as centerpieces on the dinner tables, but don’t overdo it. Often, flowers just get in your guests’ way. Plus, a few of your guests could have flower allergies that you were not aware of. To give the tables a romantic look, consider using non-scented candles as a centerpiece.
Purchasing a wedding gown online can save a lot of money. If you decide to go this route, purchase the dress early so you will have time to get it altered. It is perfectly possible to purchase a gown for a few hundred dollars and have it altered for as little as $200. Include this additional cost when you plan for your budget.
One key consideration when setting up seating for your wedding meal is to avoid having an odd number of guests at any table. Group people at tables by age so that common ground for conversations exists.
Go ethnic with your catering and get your guests talking for days to come. Chicken and steak are a little boring, so how about going for a variety? Variety makes things interesting and will ensure you have a memorable dinner!
You should probably keep your wedding dress at the store until the last minute. Bringing it home could expose it to dust or dirt, getting it stained or other damages. Having it at the shop means it will be unwrinkled for the big day.
The most important part of your wedding is your future spouse, so be sure that you are ready to spend the rest of your life with them. Do not make a hasty decision. Be sure you carefully take into account the traits that you require in a mate, and which ones will drive you insane.
A wedding cake can serve as a beautiful work of art, making a great focal point for a reception. Add a coordinating table cloth, and you are sure to have a great presentation. You can choose from a wide selection of fabrics, including silk, velvet and satin, and you can then opt for either patterned fabrics or solid-colored fabrics.
If you wish to appear absolutely beautiful on your wedding day yet you need to control costs, think of renting diamonds. This is a way to achieve the amazing look you are striving for without breaking the bank.
Craigslist is a good place to check out local talent to assist with your wedding. 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.
Brides who have sensitive skin should start a skin care regimen well in advance of the wedding. Find facial treatments that brighten the complexion with soothing ingredients such as rose hips, oatmeal scrubs and sea salts.
If you plan to serve your guests a meal with multiple courses, keep them entertained during the serving process by placing small dishes of appetizing sweets on each table. Sugar roses, sugar petals or even crackers will do.
Take the time to look at the work of different photographers before committing to one. You don’t need wedding photos taken that you end up disliking. Check online reviews or ask your family members for recommendations on a good photographer where you live.
You can even ask one of your friends if you can borrow some jewelry for the big wedding day. By doing this, you can get the look that you want and add a special touch to your wedding.
Instead of spending a lot of money to get a huge cake for your wedding, think about tiers of sweet, delicious mini-tarts or cupcakes. These arrangements are typically much cheaper and convenient. Guests can just grab one or two cupcakes on their way out, putting them inside an embellished cardboard box.
Decorate your wedding with items which represent your hobbies or passions, such as traveling the world. You could also send out invitations that look like postcards or boarding passes, for instance. On the date, a vintage suitcase can be used as a display piece. Simply fill it with favors, photos, or wedding programs and prop it open in a prominent location.
It may sound odd but it might be fun if you ask your family if they would like to join you on the honeymoon as well. This will help with the monetary aspect of your trip. This will help give them a vacation they’ll never forget as well!
Wedding Planner
Try to plan your reception for the afternoon. Doing this, people will likely drink far less alcohol and keep your bar tab lighter. In addition, you can save money by serving lunch instead of dinner at your reception. You may be able to purchase a higher-quality menu at lunch time for the price you would have paid for dinner. Keep in mind that if you spend less on food, you can use the savings to pay for another service your wedding requires.
Ensuring you do your own homework can help you make the most of your time with a 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.
If travel is a common bond between the groom and bride, incorporate this into a theme for the day. For example, you could make your wedding invites or your save-the-date cards look as though they were vintage postcards or travel passes. An old-style suitcase can be set open on a table as the backdrop for wedding programs or favors.
Be sure to inform the caterer that your reception will be outside. Some foods do not last in the heat, or may not stay on plates if it’s too windy. You may consider using decorative covers for your dishes. You could even run an extension cord and plug in a bar fridge to keep beverages refreshingly cold.
Big centerpieces are overpriced and overrated, often taking more from table conversation than they add to it. Instead of purchasing a large centerpiece that will take up the whole table, keep it very simple. This will allow for the free flow of conversation, as guests will be able to view each other without distraction.
Gift registries are a tradition. It is always suggested to inform guests they are not required to gift you as this will make them feel more at ease about the amount they should give or spend. Provide a large assortment of gifts to choose from at varying prices. Your guests should feel good about giving you a gift that is affordable to them.
Consider renting couches and chairs instead of tables if you aren’t planning on serving a meal at your wedding reception. Items such as chaise lounges, or lounge chairs can help your guests to interact more easily. 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.
It is definitely possible to plan a wedding within a tight budget. It’s not advisable to take on lots of debt for your wedding. You can do many things on your own, like printing invitations, creating floral arrangements, asking family and friends to help, and having one venue for the ceremony and the reception.
If your wedding is held outside, make sure you have another plan for bad weather. Either find a venue with an inside area, or rent some tents in case of bad weather. One helpful trick if it’s wet, but you can still stay outdoors, is to use boards as walkways through wet or muddy areas.
Guest List
Don’t plan destination weddings without considering the destination’s legal requirements. Whether it comes down to fees, red tape or residency issues, you need to address all these things first before beginning to book services and hotels.
Do you really need to serve a four-course meal at your reception? A lengthy guest list means that you may have to forgo some extras to save money. By serving a smaller meal, you can stay on budget. If that is not an option, you will have to cut your guest list instead.
Come up with group activities to entertain your guests. Do not let your guests simply wait for the end of the nuptials. There can be a variety of games and activities. Your wedding will be a more memorable event when everyone has fun and interacts with each other.
Using one credit card, with a liberal rewards program, can be a great way to keep wedding expenses in order and earn a bonus for doing so. The expenses of a wedding quickly add up, so using a credit card can earn you a lot of benefits if you use one with a reward program. Stick to one credit card for all your wedding purchases, so you can get lots of rewards.
Why not use an alternative to wedding flowers if you are on a strict budget? Instead of floral wreathes, use ribbons. Silk flowers are great because they do not die and have to be thrown away. Silk flowers save money and can be kept afterwards. Go one step further, and make the silk flowers pull double duty by using them at the reception too.
Any bridesmaids or relatives who you have asked to help you on your wedding day should be ready themselves prior to the time you need to put on your gown. The focus should be on you in the moments before your wedding ceremony. If members of your bridal party are first getting ready themselves, they can’t possibly give you the undivided attention you need to prepare for the beginning of the ceremony.
Families are all too willing to push family traditions on you for your wedding, but gently remind them this is your wedding and try to compromise. Let your family member know what you want and thank them for helping, but do not let them influence your wedding. You’ll be able to remember your wedding day and say that it was everything you wanted it to be!
Weddings should focus on the union and the love aspect of things and not just on providing the most eccentric decorations and atmosphere. Your wedding can be a beautiful event because it is about love. Apply the helpful advice you read here and you will ensure that the people are the most important aspect of your wedding.
Instead of shopping for an engagement ring, be creative! Consider making use of a piece of family heirloom jewelry. A ring that has been kept in the family can have far more sentimental value than a ring that is purchased in a jewelry store.