Your wedding is a magical time, but with trying to keep up with expectations of a large elaborate wedding, you may find your expenses becoming out of control. You can have a great wedding AND keep your budget under control. Use the tips below to help you balance your desire for a memorable wedding with your need to stay within a reasonable budget.
Practice your walk down the aisle many times on the days leading up to the wedding. This absolutely needs to be done where the event is taking place with the exact footwear you plan on wearing on the big day. This will help to improve your flow when the big day comes.
Use friends or family to lend you some property for a wedding. If you know anyone with a large enough backyard, you can save a lot of money on your wedding. Your only expense should be paying someone to clean before and after the wedding.
Choosing your favorite gown online can be faster and cheaper, but do so well in advance to allot extra time for alterations. I only spent $100 on my gown when I was married, but I spent another $200 on having it altered. Make sure to allow for additional expenses in your total budget.
Choose catering with an ethnic theme to spice up your reception! Too many people serve up chicken and steak, so go against the grain and spice things up. Your wedding dinner can be very memorable when it includes interesting variety.
Personalize the wedding so that it reflects your personalities, and that of your relationship. Pick out a theme that reflects your time together.
If you wish to look more stunning on your wedding day but are strapped for cash, consider renting diamonds. This gives you that dazzling look you are seeking for a fraction of the cost, which allows you to stay well within your budget.
Choose catering with an ethnic theme to spice up your reception! Chicken and steak are a little boring, so how about going for a variety? Variety will give your guests something to remember.
Incorporate small decorative items throughout all your decor. Maybe choose the tiny crystals from your veil to also be sprinkled on the tables. When you show small details, it lets others know you have put in lots of effort.
Choose one item to incorporate into all the different aspects of your wedding. Take the ribbon you use in a bouquet for instance, and use the same ribbon for table centerpieces, your hair or your gown. When you show small details, it lets others know you have put in lots of effort.
Transportation is an important thing to think about. Some guests might need a ride to their hotel, so make sure there are taxis available (at minimum). This is also helpful for anyone who was drinking at the reception.
Order small individual portions of cake from a local bakery if the thought of spending the equivalent of your honeymoon on your cake does not appeal to you. Bakeries can offer options, such as sugar free cupcakes or a gluten-free cake, if you want a healthier option or if you have guests with special dietary needs.
Your vows are very important for a very momentous occasion so make sure you take time to write them to perfection. Understand that marriage requires an endless commitment from both parties and that sacrifices often have to be made. Make your love for your spouse-to-be crystal clear in your vows.
If you are on a budget, consider scheduling your reception for around lunchtime. Alcohol consumption will be less during a day reception, which could help to reduce costs. 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.
You should let the DJ know what is okay to play and what isn’t okay to play. If you hate a specific song or a genre, such as heavy metal or country, you don’t want that played at your wedding reception. Whatever the case may be, be sure the DJ does not play it, and avoid becoming upset at your wedding.
If you are going to be giving a wedding speech, make sure that you practice and plan appropriately. If you fail to plan your wedding speech, you may lose your guest’s attention, flub your words, or forget what you have to say.
Try shopping around to identify skilled and experienced photographers before choosing the one for the wedding. You don’t want unsatisfactory wedding pictures. Get recommendations from people you know if you aren’t sure who to use.
There is a possibility that the seasonal flowers from your own state are not available at your wedding destination. It is best to call ahead to a professional in the area where you are planning on being married, to see which blooms are plentiful, and what they suggest for your specific taste.
Make certain that the reception area you choose has enough dancing space. Nothing is worse than everyone being crammed together during a dance, so move things out of the way to help create extra space.
Make your caterer aware that the reception will be outdoors. Some foods may spoil quickly on hot days, and other dishes may not fare well in strong wind. You may want to tell your caterers to brings some stylish covers to preserve certain dishes. A mini-fridge may be useful for keeping your drinks chilled.
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. Times have changed and despite the oddness you may feel based on tradition, guests tend to prefer this and it saves not only money but also prevents waste. Guests can serve themselves or even take one home as a party favor of sorts.
A gift registry is a traditional part of weddings and it can ensure that guests do not have to come bearing cards and gifts that could get mislaid. Let your guest know, they don’t need to bring anything. Give them varying price ranges and several gift options to choose from. Times are tough no matter what the occasion and your guests will feel better knowing they aren’t being pressured to gift more than their budget may allow.
You should probably keep your wedding dress at the store until the last minute. If you keep it in a closet, you run the risk of wrinkles or stains. Storing it at the store will guarantee it stays pressed and fresh for your wedding day!
In order to prepare in dancing when it comes to your first dance, practice dancing a couple days before the wedding using a long skirt. Though you may have warmed up to your ability to move about in your skirt, it may be a bit cumbersome for your groom, so put on some music and dance together. This can get your soon-to be-husband used to any awkwardness he might feel, which can really happen with full-skirted dresses.
If you choose to use a wedding cake that is colorful, you might want to place it on top a coordinating piece of fabric. A pretty tablecloth made of textured fabric, velvet, shiny satin or a lace that matches the wedding dress are all nice choices.
Consider including group activities within your wedding day. Don’t make your loved ones just stand around and wait for the wedding to be over. You can include fun activities such as contests and volleyball which will get everyone to actively participate. The wedding will be memorable in proportion to the amount of fun.
If the bride and groom share a fondness for travel, look for decorative elements that convey a shared sense of wanderlust. Invitations and RSVP cards can be written in old script and yellowed to imitate antique postcards. Design your wedding program and guest favors to match too.
Before you approach a prospective bridesmaid, it’s best to know which dresses you will expect them to wear. It may seem petty, but a hideous bridesmaid dress has strained many a bridesmaid’s relationship with brides. Pick something affordable that goes with your wedding theme and that all the bridesmaids like. This will ensure a great wedding, free of drama and misunderstandings.
Inform the caterer that you would like a reception outdoors. This will allow the caterer to ensure that food and container choices work well with any weather-related issues such as heat, humidity, or wind. You could use covered chafing dishes, or keep the food inside a tent. If you need to, have a small refrigerator handy to cool down drinks.
Write your own vows for the wedding. You can always find good sources that you can copy, but you know your spouse the best and can personalize your vows to be more meaningful. Writing the vows yourself can add more romance and meaning to your wedding and make you feel more connected to one another. Use inspiration if needed, but add your own special touch.
Make sure the theme of your wedding extends to all decor, including the flowers you choose. Retro and vintage themes containing bright colors require robust, wistful flowers that give the feeling of nostalgia. These include aromatic pink and yellow peonies, bright daisies and red poppies.
It is definitely possible to plan a wedding within a tight budget. It is imperative that you not fall into debt because of your wedding. Doing a lot of things yourself can save a lot of money for you.
When you start planning your wedding, begin by making a list of the things you want in order of importance. For example, some people will want fresh flowers, while others would put priority on a beautiful cake or preferable venue. A prioritized list will help you plan your budget, and delegate the funds to the right area.
When searching for wedding music, research bands or DJs you want to use. You want references regarding all people you consider, and you need to contact them before you make a hiring decision. Always make sure that you sign a contract to ensure the DJ or band will show up on your specific date. The music is an important element to your wedding so ensuring you make the right choice is vital.
Think carefully before inviting children to your wedding. Not having kids can actually save you a lot of frustration. Be that as it may, many of your friends and acquaintances might decline your invitation if they can’t bring their children. There may also be some who won’t come because they can’t find a sitter.
Start planning as early as you can. A year might seem like quite a long time, but there are many things that must be done. Therefore, it is essential to plan as far in advance as possible.
Make sure to interview a handful of videographers and review their work before hiring one. 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. You could get wedding on VHS tapes a long time ago, but getting them on digital video or DVDs can help you enjoy them for years. Decide who you want to choose based on the gut impression you get with each.
Begin planning your wedding early. If you start planning well ahead of time, you will have more options available. This means vendors will meet your needs and budget.
When you need to put together a wedding on the cheap, you can! You do not and should not go into debt with a wedding. Many times, you are really paying for services that you could actually do yourself such as making your own centerpieces and invitations.
Think about having a small meal for the wedding reception. If you have a large guest list, then you might need to lower the budget in other areas. Choosing a small meal to feed your guests can end up saving you a lot of money. If you must have an elaborate menu then you may have to eliminate some of the guests from the list.
It is possible to still have a fantastic wedding without going overboard. Use what you’ve read here and you’ll easily get the wedding you want and have enough left over for the honeymoon.
Maximize your spending by using a reward program credit card for your major expenses. Perhaps you could get miles for your honeymoon or discounts as a reward for your expenses. Charge your wedding-related purchases and watch your rewards balance soar.