As for relationships, the engagement is often the most romantic moment. Of course, the planning process is stressful and leaves many brides and grooms feeling overwhelmed and anything but peaceful. Here are some ideas for couples who want to make planning a wedding, just as enjoyable as the thought of the wedding itself.
Wedding dresses are notoriously expensive. When you go shopping for your wedding dress, think outside the box and look at dresses that are not typically considered wedding dresses. You might even consider whether a dress designed for bridesmaids could meet your needs. You can also make additions and changes to these dresses to make them more wedding appropriate and still come out ahead financially.
You can get a better rate on almost any venue by booking during an off period. The most expensive period will be between late spring and fall. You can expect to pay more if you schedule your wedding during this time. If you want to book your wedding at those times, make sure you are booking far enough in advance so you get a great deal.
Hold a dress rehearsal for all members of the party that are giving speeches at the reception. This will give them a chance to practice, and you’ll also be able to make sure no inappropriate remarks are planned. Wedding guests cover many generations of family and friends, and the humor of newer generations might offend elders.
Booking a venue for your wedding can be extremely expensive. If you know anyone with a large enough backyard, you can save a lot of money on your wedding. Offer to pay a person to do the clean-up before and after the wedding, which would be the only cost for you.
Your wedding should be as unique as your relationship is, so add a few touches specific to your personalities or relationship. Select a theme that represents the time that you have spent with each other.
Be sure the disc jockey you employ for your reception knows which songs you want and which sorts of songs you do not want. Make the list of music to be avoided with your partner. Whatever music you hate, you don’t want to hear it at your wedding!
The photographs of your wedding will build your book of memories to look back on for years to come. It might cost a littler extra to do so, but hire yourself a professional photographer so that on your big day you can get the quality of photographs you desire for your momentous occasion.
Dance Floor
Go ethnic with your catering and get your guests talking for days to come. 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. Variety makes things interesting and will ensure you have a memorable dinner!
Be certain that your reception venue has a good-sized dance area. Nothing is worse than a tiny, crowded dance floor where there is no room to move around. To make the dance floor larger, clear out some chairs and tables.
When you invite your family to your destination wedding, see if they’d like to stick around for the honeymoon, too! This will help with the monetary aspect of your trip. Then you can have a memorable wedding and your guests will enjoy a mini vacation.
Brides who love fashion will perhaps want to add a dash of sparkle to their bouquet; think rhinestones, Swarovski crystals or even some diamonds. You can do this by applying some crystals, costume jewelry, or maybe even an heirloom piece. To make sure that it matches well with your ensemble, you need to be consistent when it comes to the size, cut and the color of the stones.
If you have a destination wedding, offer a basket full of goodies delivered to guests in their rooms. Fill the basket with useful, fun items like a map, camera, sunblock and brochures from local attractions. Be sure to include a local restaurant guide and possibly some coupons to make dining easy.
Do not make all your guests wait around while you’re taking your pictures. These pictures should be done beforehand. Also, pictures of the couple with their parents can be taken in advance; this reduces the waiting time for guests coming to the reception.
Perhaps you could borrow something from a friend. This helps you save money, look beautiful and will make your wedding day extra special.
A piece of fabric that matches your cake can be placed on a table and function as the focal point. To make things interesting, fabric can be solid, patterned or heavily textured materials of silk, satin or velvet.
If you are planning a wedding outside, always make sure that you have a ‘plan b’ in case mother nature does not cooperate. Book a location that also has a inside building or rent some tents. Planks can be used on wet ground so guests do not soil their shoes.
If you can afford it, have the event on a ship and just invite your closest friends and family. This can help ensure your honeymoon follows the ceremony’s ending. Many cruise companies have special deals for wedding and honeymooning couples.
Inform your caterer if you’re going to be having your wedding reception outdoors. Some foods may spoil quickly on hot days, and other dishes may not fare well in strong wind. Perhaps you can use fancy covers on your dishes. If necessary, have a small fridge to keep drinks cold.
A fun way to add a personal touch to your wedding is to ask a friend or family member to officiate the ceremony. This makes your ceremony more personal, while saving you money on obtaining an officiant. Before you do this, check with your city or town to make sure they recognize online ordinations.
Make sure that you take others into consideration when making travel arrangements. There might be guests who have to plan their vacation time around your wedding, and they will need plenty of time for preparation. Invitations or a “save the date” card ought to be sent out eight months prior to your wedding day so guests can make plans.
Put sweet appetizers at the dinner table between meal courses. Why not look for sugar roses that match your wedding theme.
Avoid planning a destination wedding until you look into legal requirements. No matter the fees, red tape, residency requirements or other issues, your needs must be addressed before you start booking services and hotels for your wedding.
Dress children in comfortable clothes if they are in your ceremony. Pick soft fabrics that are not too tight, and will bring comfort are important. New shoes should be worn enough to ensure they are comfortable. By doing this, the children will be less inclined to fuss with their outfits, and more likely to partake happily in whatever roles have been assigned to them.
Improve your wedding by enhancing the flowers. You can use a vintage theme for a classy look. These include fragrant yellow and pink peonies, red poppies, and bright daisies.
Take care of all the legal arrangements for destination weddings. Even the slightest hitch can derail your big days, so it’s best to book your venue, caterer, and transportation arrangements well in advance.
You want a skilled photographer for your wedding pictures who is going to do more than just get the shot. You want them to create long-lasting memories. Discuss your photographer’s vision of the day with him or her. Ask how they will capture those precious moments. You ought to know what style they have and if your wishes will be fulfilled.
Silk Flowers
Have your floral decoration display flowers of different stem length and different sizes and shapes to add dimension and uniqueness to them. Tall vases can be used for long-stemmed blooms and those with compact heads. Inside the taller vases, to keep them from looking bare, you should use full arrangements to fill in the gaps around the opening. The shorter, fuller flowers should be lighter in color than the taller, more prominent blooms.
One money saving idea is to consider alternatives in lieu of flowers arrangements. For your flower girl, instead of using a floral wreath, consider using ribbon instead for a simple, elegant and cost effective look. Use silk flowers, not live ones. Silk flowers save money and can be kept afterwards. They can be moved around; they can even be used for your reception.
Are you planning on inviting children to your wedding, and how many are there going to be? This is crucial because you can save aggravation as well as money by not having children present. Then again, many people may not attend if they cannot find a babysitter.
When planning your wedding music, research your DJ or band to ensure that they know the music that you want the most. Check references before you hire. Always make sure that you sign a contract to ensure the DJ or band will show up on your specific date. These steps are necessary to ensure that music will not be the cause of a ruined wedding day.
Give your wedding guests something to do on your wedding day. Engage your guests so that they are not forced to kill time between events. There can be a variety of games and activities. The most memorable weddings are not the ones that cost the most but are the ones where people enjoy themselves and can see the love that the wedding couple has for each other.
As you choose decorations and flowers for your wedding, keep the venue for the wedding in mind. Elaborately detailed floral arrangements and displays can be very striking indoors but lose their majesty in the windy weather. If however, you are having your wedding indoors, you can go as elaborate as you want.
If you are the groom, make sure your tuxedo fits perfectly. Model your tuxedo for friends and family members before making a final decision. Keep in mind that photographs will be taken during your wedding, so you should look your best, in the way that you would want to be remembered.
Your family or future in-laws may be stodgy traditionalists, but if they make demands, tell them to pound sand. Be appreciative and even grateful for their attention, affection and suggestions, because some of them might be good, but don’t let on to that right away, and instead just gently, yet firmly help them remember that you call the shots when it comes to your day. 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.
You might want to think about serving a smaller dinner for your reception. This will help you to cut the costs. You can stay within budget by serving small meals to loved ones. If that’s not possible, consider making the guest list smaller.
Don’t forget to consider weather conditions when planning your wedding. Your guests probably won’t be willing to stay at your outdoor wedding and celebrate, when it’s miserably hot. Winter weddings are especially difficult to plan because you have to deal with potential cold, ice and snow. Guests may not be able to travel to your wedding if there’s a blizzard, and may be afraid of getting sick and go home early, if you don’t supply enough heat. Make accommodations, like having fans available if it’s hot out.
Apply for a credit card that gives you rewards, such as frequent flyer miles. Use this card to purchase all wedding related services. This way, you are sure to gain some significant perks while taking care of the large expenses that come with weddings. Make sure you charge all your expenses on the same card and find out in advance what kind of rewards you will be getting.
A couple that keeps these tips in mind will probably find that planning their wedding brings them closer together. Planning a wedding together can help build a successful marriage and life with each other. This advice will ensure that a couple not only invests in the perfect wedding, but in the marriage itself.
As you prepare to be the blushing bride, remember to practice smiling. Look in the mirror to catch your best and most winning smile. This helps you get the exact look you want for your pictures. Practice makes perfect.