One of the biggest days in your life will be the day of your wedding. It’s the kind of day that sticks in your memory for a lifetime. It can be full of stress and hard on you when you have to plan a wedding, because it’s a very important occasion. In this article, you’ll find some helpful tips to make your wedding planning as stress-free as possible and your wedding day as memorable as it can be.
Practice your walk down the aisle many times on the days leading up to the wedding. Go to your wedding location to practice while wearing your wedding shoes. This is going to make you feel confident on your big day.
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. An open bar that is available all evening can quickly become a very costly endeavor. The folks running your venue may have affordable bar services, so be sure and ask them about it.
Typically, a wedding dress costs a lot of money. If you are not looking for a traditional, princess type ballgown, consider looking into other types of dresses. Consider a bridesmaid dress, which costs less than a wedding dress but can still fit your needs. 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.
You won’t get a second chance to get your wedding pictures right, so make sure these memories are recorded the right way. In order to be able to document this magical occasion, hire a professional and spend extra if necessary.
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. Also, this is helpful for those who drank liquor during the event.
Use friends or family to lend you some property for a wedding. If someone you know owns a large piece of property, like a farm or a place with a large backyard, you can cut down a major cost. Tell this person you will pay for pre- and post-cleaning costs.
It can be a friend or a family member, they just need to help you carry your gear wherever you go. The assistant can help line up family members and round them up for group shots.
Choose ethnic catering to spice things up. Steak or chicken are over-served and boring, so why not include a variety of food in your food choices? Variety will give your guests yet one more way to remember your wedding.
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. By staying longer, they will save money because hotels offer discounts for people that stay longer. This allows them to celebrate your wedding with you and have a great vacation afterwards!
Keep transportation in mind when planning your wedding. For people without a ride, be sure a taxi or limo can bring them to their destination after the reception. This is great for those that have had alcohol at the wedding.
Try to have your reception during the middle portion of the day. People drink less during this time and you will not spend as much on alcohol. Also, lunch receptions will typically be cheaper than dinner receptions and allow you to either increase the quality of food or allocate the rest of your food and alcohol budget to another need for the wedding.
Take your time when writing vows, and spend as much time as you need to write something meaningful. Keep in mind that the union of marriage is a long term commitment and will require both parties to make some sacrifices. Make sure your vows truly reflect your feelings for your spouse.
If you want to have multiple courses during your meal, give them some sweets and appetizers on every table to keep them busy as serving takes place. Some good examples are tasty crackers, sugar roses, and other dainty tidbits designed to blend with your wedding decor.
Always hunt for skilled, experienced photographers prior to making a final choice. You don’t want to end up with a photographer that you’re not going to be happy with. Get recommendations from people you know if you aren’t sure who to use.
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 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.
Don’t make guests wait around while taking pictures. You should take wedding pictures beforehand. Pictures with the bride or groom and their respective parents can also be taken ahead of time, reducing the amount of time guests have to wait for your arrival at the reception.
Honor diversity in the relationship by incorporating traditions from both the bride’s and the groom’s family, including foods, rituals, and decor. This will not only satisfy both sides of the family, but it will also make for an interesting ceremony.
Provide your guests with an online itinerary of events so that everyone, including out-of-town attendees, know what they should be scheduling and planning to attend. Include relevant information about the rehearsal dinner, reception and so on, so that each person knows where to be.
Dress the children in the wedding party in comfortable clothing. Choose fabrics that are softer and loose-fitting, in order to maintain a high comfort level. Shoes should always be comfortable. Break new shoes in before the wedding. 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.
If the future newlyweds enjoy traveling, display decorations that portray a sense of wanderlust. Save-the-date notices and invitations could be created to resemble tickets, boarding passes, or vintage postcards. A classic leather suitcase may be kept open to show family photos, wedding programs or favors.
Make sure you think of every detail, from the entertainment to the food. Your friends and family have made a special effort to be there for your big day, so make sure they have an engaging and exciting experience.
Plan out every detail and facet of your wedding, ranging from reception events to the dishes served. You want to make sure that every person who is sharing in your special day has as wonderful a time as you do.
If you are going to travel for your wedding, make sure you understand the local laws. 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.
Do some homework on wedding planning before meeting with a planner. Consider creating a scrap book of appealing fabric swatches and wedding images that represent the look that you are going for. Clip out magazine pictures and newspaper articles that you think fit what you want.
A gift registry is often common with weddings. This helps guests understand that they need not bring anything, thereby easing up the atmosphere of your guests at the wedding. Offer suggestions that span a wide array of price points. People need to be comfortable giving what they are able to afford bringing.
Make sure you have a nice fitting tuxedo as the groom. Ask trusted friend or family to give you an honest appraisal of the tuxedo you are considering. Remember pictures will be taken at your wedding, you want to look and be remembered looking your best.
Do some dancing in a very long skirt with your betrothed prior to the wedding so that you’re prepared for the first dance. Even if you regularly wear long skirts or suit pants, your future spouse might not be used to dancing with you while you’re in this type of clothing. This helps to curb any bumbling, especially if you have a dress that has a puffy skirt.
If you have little money for your wedding, you can still enjoy a lovely time. You don’t have to take on debt to have a beautiful wedding day. Many times, you are really paying for services that you could actually do yourself such as making your own centerpieces and invitations.
As far as bridesmaids go, select the gowns that will be worn before asking them to be a part of your wedding party. Friendships can be strained by bridesmaid gown disagreements. Pick something affordable, matches any theme you have for your wedding, and that your bridesmaids love. The last thing you want to do is alienate a dear friend over something as simple as a dress.
When planning your wedding music, research your DJ or band to ensure that they know the music that you want the most. Require references before you hire them. Once your decision is made, you will want to sign a contract laying out the terms and solidifying the date needed. You don’t want the lack of music to put a shade of blue on your wedding day.
Start planning as early as you can. It might seem silly, but other people are doing the same thing and you want to be ahead of the curve. Plan as soon as you can to make sure you get everything you want.
Prepare for your wedding well ahead of time. If you are able to begin planning well before your chosen date, you will have a much larger selection of wedding venues and related services to choose from. Therefore, you can select from the best of the best.
Consider a buffet or having delicious bite size foods for your guests if a traditional dinner is too expensive or elaborate. If there are going to be a lot of people at the wedding, you have to cut costs within other places. Serving a small meal with only close friends, family members and relations in attendance will save you some money. If you must have an elaborate menu then you may have to eliminate some of the guests from the list.
Before you pay for services for your wedding, make sure you have a credit card that has a rewards program. Because of the cost involved, it pays to have something that pays you back. If you use the rewards card for everything related to your wedding, you should soon earn substantial rewards.
Ask your vendors if they have any recommendations for your other services. Your photographer may know some great wedding bands in the area. You can then ask the music provider about another service provider you have need of. These vendors may give you great rates, as well.
The bride’s mother and all bridesmaids who are helping you get ready need to be ready prior to the time it requires you to put on a gown. Your bridal party should be focusing on you right before the ceremony begins. 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.
Practice the smile that you are going to give. This will guarantee the desired smile on your wedding pictures. A bit of practice will ensure you get the effect you most desire.
A very nice gift for your bridal party is a customized piece of jewelry that connects you to your girls. This way, after a wedding is over, every girl is going to have a memento to remember this special day.
You will probably want to take pictures with a lot of your guests. However, if your wedding is a big one, getting people together for those photos will be a challenge if you don’t have a designated photo-taking time. That is why everyone should operate on the same photography schedule and have a photographer who knows this plan and has time dedicated to this activity.
As was mentioned in the above article, your wedding day is a day you will remember for the rest of your life. Pulling off a wedding is tough and can put everyone involved under a lot of stress. Use the advice here to help you plan the wedding of your dreams.
Don’t entrust a friend with your wedding pictures. Unless they are a professional, they cannot film your moments adequately. These memories need to be high quality and spontaneous so that you can watch them for years to come. Your friend could capture certain moments in great ways, but he or she can’t possibly do what a professional can.