Are you planning your wedding day soon? Well, you are in luck. The following offers helpful suggestions so all the plans for your wedding go smoothly, and you are prepared to create an experience that will be remembered for years!
You can save quite a bit of money by purchasing your wedding dress over the Internet, but make sure to factor in shipping and alteration time when planning when to order. In fact I spent $300 in total, $100 for the gown itself, and only another $200 for the tailoring. Include this additional cost when you plan for your budget.
If you decide to handle the food for your wedding, Costco and other wholesale stores are the way to go. You’ll get better deals on large quantities of food if you shop wholesale. See if your friends can split some of the cost.
Choose catering with an ethnic theme to spice up your reception! Use lots of different foods rather than the more traditional chicken and steak. Ethnic foods and decor will help your reception be memorable.
Wedding Dress
Choose one item to incorporate into all the different aspects of your wedding. Whether it is a certain color used, or a special flower or even a special item such as doves, special touches help pull everything all together. Little details like this can make for a superior look since it shows you put a lot of effort in your special day.
A wedding dress is a big expense. When you are browsing through dress shops, remember to look a dresses that are not officially categorized as wedding dresses. You could try a bridesmaid dress, and it would be cheaper than an actual wedding dress. Even after some alterations to spruce it up, it can still prove a more affordable alternative to a dress that says wedding on the label.
Shop around for your photographer before making a commitment for the big day. You would not want to be stuck with a wedding photographer that does not meet your high standards. Get recommendations from people you know if you aren’t sure who to use.
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.
You will want a dance floor space in the room you rent for the wedding reception. You want to have ample room for everyone to get down, so if the dance floor of your favorite venue is lacking at least make sure that you can add some size by moving nearby tables and chairs.
Personalize your wedding by including unique touches that express the essence and interests of you and your new spouse. Select a theme that represents the time that you have spent with each other.
Brides who love fashion will perhaps want to add a dash of sparkle to their bouquet; think rhinestones, Swarovski crystals or even some diamonds. Add heat-fixed crystals or adhesive ones to your bouquet, or tie a piece of jewelery to it. To make sure that this look complements the entire look of your outfit, be sure that the colors, size, and cut are consistent.
The photos taken during your wedding are important as you’ll look at these a lot of times during your lifetime. Have someone highly experienced help you with the pictures if you have the money to afford it. It will be important later in life.
Practice your walk in front of mirrors to feel comfortable on your wedding day. If you have difficulty walking in heels, opt for a pair of ballerina flats. It’s better to have slightly less sexy footwear than to fall!
Use the property of a relative or friend to hold your wedding. If you’re in touch with people with a farm or a big backyard, this can be a cheap place for you to host a wedding ceremony. 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.
See if your family wants to come for the honeymoon. They can all save some money by staying since the hotels usually offer better discounts for the longer stays. This can help them have a memorable day and a great vacation.
Of course, your most important priority is to ensure that you love your prospective spouse and want to spend the rest of your life with him. This life-altering decision is one that should not be rushed into. Take care to consider the person’s characteristics–both the things that you love about them and the aspects that are challenging.
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 opt for patterns, solids or heavily textured fabrics, such as silk, satin or velvet, to add visual interest and tie all elements together.
For any stylish and fashion forward bride, there is always the option to add some flare to a bouquet with a splash of diamonds, rhinestones or Swarovski crystals. You can add some crystals that have been glued on, some costume jewelery, or an heirloom of your own. Use stones that are roughly the same cut, size, and color as those in your ensemble to ensure coordination.
Ask to borrow something from a friend to wear on the day you get married. This can provide you with the look you wish to achieve, and make your wedding stand out.
Choose sweet cupcakes or miniature tarts in tiers over a bulky expensive cake tower. These are more affordable, versatile, and easily served than a two-story wedding cake. Guests may opt to grab a cupcake on their way out, using cute take-out style containers that are provided.
Many centerpieces are expensive; in addition, the wrong centerpieces will detract from the beauty of your wedding reception instead of adding to it. As an alternative, try selecting a simple but elegant centerpiece that isn’t too large or overwhelming. If the centerpiece is too big, it becomes a distraction, making it difficult for people to interact as well as enjoy their food.
If you are having a destination wedding, a good gift to get your guests is a basket filled with vacation goodies sent to their room. Some useful items to include might be tourist information, sun hats, sunglasses, disposable cameras, maps of the area, sunscreen, and so on. You can also put in a guide to restaurants that are local.
Seasonal flowers from your region may not be that easy to obtain in dry and cool Mediterranean settings or humid tropical settings. Consult with a florist to see which flowers are in season or most readily available at the time of your wedding.
If the couple likes to travel, find decorative elements that incorporate their love for it. For example, you could make your wedding invites or your save-the-date cards look as though they were vintage postcards or travel passes. Distinctive props can be used to hold items for the wedding guests to see.
Before meeting a wedding planner for the first time, do your homework. Take a tip from stylists and fashion designers. Create a look book and/or a mood board of inspirational tidbits, imagery and fabric swatches that will help you envision the big day. Anything that is special to you, such as items from magazines, can be used to convey your ideas to the planner.
Incorporate all rituals and traditions in your wedding. This can make for an intriguing and memorable combination that both families can be happy with.
Always look into legal requirements and restrictions when planning to get married abroad. Before you start making travel arrangements and booking accommodations, be sure all the nuts and bolts (e.g. license fees, residency requirements, etc.) are attended to.
Always understand the legal requirements for your location when planning a destination wedding. 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.
Gift registries are traditional parts of weddings. For a more pleasant air, try to make guests understand that you don’t require them to bring you anything. Give them options if they insist on bringing something. This will keep people both comfortable and happy.
One tradition associated with weddings is registering for gifts. To make guests comfortable, make it clear that they need not bring gifts. Offer suggestions that span a wide array of price points. Your guests should feel good about giving you a gift that is affordable to them.
When you have bridesmaids, make sure you’re aware of what you want them to wear before you speak with them about taking part in your wedding. A simple disagreement over the bridesmaid’s gown can severely strain a friendship. Pick out something that doesn’t cost too much, matches what your wedding’s theme is, and it will work well for the bridesmaids. This will help ensure that they are truly happy on your big day.
In order to keep the bride happy and stress free on her wedding day, you should make certain that the quality of the wedding meets her standards. Stressing out over poorly-organized details or sub-par arrangements will leave her frazzled and exhausted. Run everything by her to avoid a “bridezilla!”
As you audition various videographers to film your wedding and reception, compare several vendors. Always request a portfolio, or ask to see an online gallery of previous clients. It is important to verify the editing and sound quality that you can expect from your videographer. Many years ago, people wanted to get the VHS videotape of their wedding, but today make certain you will get a digital video or DVD so that you are able to see your wedding for years. Use these things, along with your gut, to make the final decision of whom to hire.
When selecting a wedding videographer, interview as many candidates as possible and look at samples of their work. Ensure that the individual is not relying solely on the video recorder for his editing abilities. They need to have the necessary equipment to do the job and fix any issues from the recording stage. The days of VHS tapes and grainy film are long gone, and you can now choose from digital or DVD formats. Use your gut instinct and follow this advice for hiring videographers.
A great way to save money on your wedding is by using other alternatives to flower arrangements. For your flower girl, instead of using a floral wreath, consider using ribbon instead for a simple, elegant and cost effective look. Consider silk flowers in the place of live ones. Silk flowers are not only more affordable, they can be kept forever. You can easily move them and use them for the reception.
Beware of rainy days. When planning a wedding outdoors, ensure you have an alternative venue. Even if you believe the day will be beautiful, it is best to be prepared.
When you are thinking about decorations, especially the flowers, remember your wedding’s location. For instance, you might choose a delicate floral arrangement when indoors, but you definitely don’t want something like that in an outdoor environment where there will be any wind. You may also need fasteners to ensure decorations don’t fly away at places like parks or beaches.
A great gift for a bridal party would be some great jewelry that will help you connect to the girls. This will give your bridesmaids something to remember this special day by.
Plan ahead. You may need even more than a year. The sooner you start planning, the more choices you will have.
Once you have formulated how your wedding will be designed, write it down and begin looking for the appropriate services. Once you have gathered information on the various companies that can provide you with your chosen motif, you can start the process of elimination by comparing their prices and services.
Think about applying for a credit card to get rewards on your purchases. Frequent flyer miles or other credit card rewards can help defray the cost of your wedding. Charge all wedding expenses to this card, and you can enjoy witnessing the dividends rack up fast.
After reading the advice located above, you are ready to plan for your perfect day. With any luck, you can actually relax and enjoy your big day together with your spouse.
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 last few precious moments prior to the ceremony should be focused on you. If your bridesmaids are still focused on getting ready themselves, they certainly will not be focused on the bride.