Wedding planning, when not handled correctly, can drain all the joy out of the days preceding your ceremony. The following paragraphs contain a number of helpful hints you can apply to plan the hitchless wedding of your dreams.
In your wedding plans, make sure you consider what types of alcohol you wish to serve, and which ones are most cost effective. If you have an open bar that is available for long intervals of time, the bill can run up really hard really fast. See what other serving options are available for your alcohol.
When you’re getting plans together for your wedding, consider the types of alcoholic beverages you’re going to be serving. Also be aware of the cost. Open bar is the most expensive option, and the longer the bar is open, the more expensive it becomes. Ask about which alcohol serving options are available through your venue.
If you want your reception to stand out, go with ethnic themed catering! Steak and chicken can get boring after a while. Variety will give your guests yet one more way to remember your wedding.
Wedding Dress
Incorporate small decorative items throughout all your decor. You could use the same ribbon from your bouquet as you do on your floral centerpieces or veil. This will help with the elegance at your wedding.
Wedding dresses are notoriously expensive. To help defray the cost of a wedding gown, you may wish to shop for dresses that may not be considered a wedding dress. You could try a bridesmaid dress, and it would be cheaper than an actual wedding dress. You can also make additions and changes to these dresses to make them more wedding appropriate and still come out ahead financially.
Before hiring someone to do your makeup, examine their previous work to be sure it suits your preferred look. Do you like their style? Make sure it is something you can see yourself wearing. The last thing you want is to walk down the aisle with a last-minute makeup job.
When planning speakers for your wedding, they need to rehearse the speech prior to the day in front of you so that you know everything is appropriate. You may have several generations attending your wedding, and jokes that may be suitable for younger folks could offend the elders.
Brides should de-stress their skin before walking down the aisle. Get a bridal facial that incorporates oatmeal, rosewater, sea salt and a good scrub.
To make your wedding more personal, include a theme that encompasses you, your future spouse, and the things that are most important to your relationship. Pick out a theme that reflects your time together.
Sweet cupcakes are great alternatives to an expensive cake. These are more affordable, versatile, and easily served than a two-story wedding cake. Guests are able to take a cupcake when they leave, if you put them in a fancy take-out container.
The pictures that are taken at your wedding are very important as you will look at these for the rest of your life. Choose to hire a professional who can photograph your day in a way that is going to document all of your special moments, even if it means spending a little extra.
Perhaps enlist the help of a friend to help you to carry all your camera gear around. They can help to gather up the family for group shots as well.
Make sure that transportation is taken care of at your wedding. For people who need a ride back to their hotels at night, arrange to have taxis and limos ready for them. This is the right thing to do if you’re serving alcohol at your reception.
Invite the whole family to the honeymoon when you’re planning a destination wedding. This will help with the monetary aspect of your trip. You can make your destination wedding a vacation for your friends and family as well.
Try talking to local and specialty boutiques and bakeries about individual-sized portion cakes if you don’t want a fatty and expensive cake. There are boutiques that will bake fresh cupcakes with very few calories specifically for your event, and deliver them. These boutiques also often have healthy options available such as gluten-free, fruit based fillings instead of frosting, and healthier alternative toppings.
While you are taking your wedding photos, do not let your guests wait. Many of these pictures can be taken before the wedding so that you don’t waste a minute of your reception time. Also, pictures of the couple with their parents can be taken in advance; this reduces the waiting time for guests coming to the reception.
Always hunt for skilled, experienced photographers prior to making a final choice. You don’t need wedding photos taken that you end up disliking. For good local photographers, look at online reviews or ask loved ones for recommendations.
Evenly disperse all of your invited guests among the available tables at your wedding reception. This means making sure there are no odd numbers at any table. Facilitate conversation by making table arrangements according to age groups.
Practice walking towards a full length mirror to ensure you know how to do it, especially if you are not used to heels. If you fear turning your ankle awkwardly, think about flat heels instead. No one can see your shoes under your gown anyway, but if you fall on your rear end, they’ll see a lot more than shoes.
Even if your dress is picked and already paid for, it is a good idea to keep it safely at the shop until the big day. If it goes into your closet, wrinkles or stains may occur. Leave it where it is, and it will look perfect on your wedding.
If you are inviting your family to a destination wedding, ask if they want to enjoy the honeymoon with you as well. It can even make it cheaper for everyone if you book more days at some hotels. This will not only give them a single day to remember, but a whole vacation.
If your meal entails several different courses, make sure you add in little sweets between the plates. You can leave sugar roses, thin crackers or any other type of little treats.
Don’t postpone the reception while you have photographs taken. The bride, groom and wedding party should take the photos in advance. Pictures with those being wed and their parents should also be taken beforehand if possible.
For instance, you might want to use a menu of popular and modern fusion dishes. Add a twist by using ethnic drinks, wedding favors, or dessert options.
Having someone close to you get ordained online allows them to preside over your wedding. Doing so allows for individual customization of your personal ceremony, and it can also save you having to spend money on an officiant. Make sure that this is something that is legal where you live.
Make sure every part of the wedding follows a plan, from what food is served to what happens at the reception. By ensuring that your guests are comfortable and enjoying themselves, you are expressing your gratitude for their presence.
If you have decided to give a speech in a wedding, make sure that you plan for it and practice it enough. Without taking the time to plan and prepare, you may lose the attention of your audience, say something awkward, or deliver the speech poorly, prompting confused looks, and probably some embarrassment on your part.
You always want to do a lot of research before actually booking your destination wedding. You will need to address all of these legal issues beforehand.
If you intend to hold your wedding outdoors, devise a contingency plan in case weather or other problems prevent the wedding from going smoothly. Have some tents on hand, or choose a venue that provides both indoor and outdoor space. Planks can also be installed to prevent your guests from getting mud all over the their shoes and clothes.
Using potted plants can be a great alternative to expensive floral arrangements and the plants can be rented, planted at your new home afterwards, or given to guests as a memento. Plants in decorative glazed pots or terracotta tones will look great and save money. Guests might can take these plants to their homes as wedding favors, or the newlywed couple could plant them at their own home.
One affordable alternative to elaborate floral arrangements is placing multiple potted plants of varying sizes throughout the ceremony and reception sites. You can purchase colorful pots or decorate plain pots yourself. When the wedding is over, the bride and groom can plant them at their new home, or the guests can bring home as wedding favors.
Gift registry is a tried-and-true wedding tradition. Let your guests know that they are not obligated to buy anything from the registry. There should be varying price ranges and a wide array of gifts to choose from. People need to feel comfortable gifting what they are able to afford.
Be sure to select your videographer with care. Begin early and interview several. Make sure that you also keep in mind the quality of the sound and editing that your videographer provides. You should get a DVD of your wedding or you could get a digital video. Refer to the factors we have listed and trust your first impression of each videographer.
Find a few group activities to occupy your guests. Don’t just let your guests mill around patiently biding their time until your nuptials end. Plan many different activities, from pie eating contests to bocce. Your wedding will be a more memorable event when everyone has fun and interacts with each other.
When you decide on decorations for your wedding, especially floral arrangements, try to keep your venue in mind. If your wedding will be outdoors and in a windy location you want to make sure to choose hardy flowers. There may be a need for special items to keep your decorations tied down at outside venues.
The groom’s tuxedo should fit perfectly. Seek out opinions of friends and family before choosing the right tuxedo. Remember that people will be taking pictures, try to look your best.
Reducing the portion sizes at your reception is one option. Accommodating numerous guests on a limited budget may require spending less in certain areas. By serving a smaller meal, you can stay on budget. If you cannot do this, consider reducing the amount of guests.
You can save money by finding alternatives for wedding flowers. For example, rather than an expensive floral arrangement for your flower girls, use a beautiful bow adorned with a few magnificent flowers. You might want to consider using silk flowers instead of live ones. You are saving money while having a forever memento of your big day. You will also be able to move the flowers to different places.
These tips will help you create solid wedding plans and relax while doing so, which ensures that the focus will be where it should be come wedding day. Your life with your loved one begins with your wedding, and it will go a lot better with a little planning.
Plan for your wedding far in advance. Perhaps you think one year is enough time to plan your wedding. However, it will be hard to find the right venue and services if you wait too long. Planning early means more choices.