Planning a wedding can be stressful and overwhelming to some people. Becoming educated on weddings can help ease some of these stresses. The following article will provide you with advice to make the whole wedding process easier.
When planning a wedding, alcohol needs to be a consideration as to what type you want to serve, as well as what the costs are going to be. An open bar that is available all evening can quickly become a very costly endeavor. If holding the wedding at an outside venue, they may have alcohol serving options available that can control costs.
Buying a wedding gown can be very expensive. You might want to consider a dress which is not categorized specifically for the bride. A dress for other occasions, such as holiday parties, can sometimes work for a wedding dress, and will usually cost a lot less. Many times, you can alter the dress to make it look like a wedding dress for a fraction of the cost of an actual wedding dress.
Choose ethnic catering to spice things up. Steak and chicken can get boring after a while. Variety will make things very beautiful and elegant.
Transportation is something you should consider for the 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.
While it may seem obvious, remember that who you plan to marry should be the biggest consideration of all! Marriage will change your life, and the decision to wed should never be taken lightly. Think about this person and what things will drive you crazy, along with what you can’t live without.
You don’t have to overwhelm yourself with an expensive and high calorie cake; contact your local specialty bakeries and boutiques and inquire about getting smaller, individual portions made instead. Many bakeries will offer healthier options, such as 100-calorie cupcakes, fruit fillings, meringue toppings, or gluten-free ingredients.
When choosing your makeup artist, make certain to review portfolios of their work. Evaluate the makeup artist’s techniques. Consider doing a trial run before the big day. You don’t want to find out an hour before the ceremony that your makeup artist has a look planned that you hate.
Let your DJ know what he absolutely should not play. Maybe it’s country music, or heavy metal, or even your “special song” from an old lover. Be sure your DJ is well aware of your preferences in advance to avoid discomfort.
One of the things to consider for your wedding is transportation. If you have people who need to get home after the reception, have taxis ready to bring them. This helps those who have drank too much.
If you want to dance during the reception, make sure there is enough room! There is little worse than a crammed dance floor, so make sure to move tables and chairs prior to grooving!
Too many flower arrangements on the guest tables at your reception are usually an interference and an extra unnecessary expense. The flowers will often just get in the way when your guests are trying to eat. You also might want to take into consideration that some guests may be allergic to the pollen in the flowers. Because of this, you should think about putting candles that are non-scented onto the table in order to achieve a more romantic look.
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. 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.
Instead of spending a bundle on a monolith wedding cake, consider a multi-tier design with mini-tarts or cupcakes. They taste great, are easy to eat and are affordable. Guests can even take a cupcake home.
Maintain an online event itinerary for all your wedding guests, so they know the exact day and time everything is scheduled. Make sure you tell everyone where they will be needed, for instance at the rehearsal.
It is a good idea to plan for an even number of guests at each table, since people tend to pair off in conversations. It’s also a good idea to have people of similar ages all at one table because they will tend to have more in common.
If you would like a relative or a friend to perform your wedding ceremony, you can ask that person to become ordained via an online program. This will not only save you money by not having to pay for an officiant, but will also make your wedding very special. Make sure this is a legal practice in your state before you get somebody ordained.
Honor diversity in the relationship by incorporating traditions from both the bride’s and the groom’s family, including foods, rituals, and decor. This solution creates a contrast that will honor the traditions of both families.
One way to help remain in budget is to search Craigslist for items or services needed for your wedding. Before you hand over any money, both bride and groom should meet with them ahead of time, in person.
If you plan on giving a wedding speech, plan the speech and practice it. If you don’t get all the practice you need, it’s easy to forget what you want to say, make a misstep, or leave the audience bored.
See if you can borrow a special item of apparel from a friend for your wedding ceremony. Not only does borrowing jewelry help you perfect your look without spending extra money, but your friend will be honored to contribute to your appearance on your wedding day.
For example, choosing which flowers you want to have in your bouquet or table settings will rely on what’s available in your new location. Call ahead or look online to determine which flowers are available in your destination country during the time your wedding will occur.
Think about getting silk flowers as an alternative to real ones. These can be bought and arranged well ahead of time, leaving you with one less thing to worry about at the last minute.
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. It is also harder for the bride and groom to have to bring all of the gifts home from the reception. Give them multiple options for gifts and a very wide price range. People need to feel comfortable gifting what they are able to afford.
It’s important to have a backup plan if you want your wedding ceremony or reception to be held outdoors. A couple ways to do this include having tents on standby and renting an area with both an indoor and outdoor space. You might also think about putting wood planks down to prevent guests from stepping in mud caused by rain.
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. Once the bride starts worrying about her wedding, if the fear of a poorly planned wedding sets in, she will quickly start to feel devastated. Be sure the bride is consulted in all things to avoid any unhappy moments.
When you are making plans for a destination wedding, take the needs of your guests into account. Your guests should have enough time to get ready. If you can send out your invitations at least eight months ahead of time, it will make things easier on everyone.
Interview numerous videographers prior to picking one for the wedding. Also, be sure to ask for samples of their past work. Look at the sound and quality of the video as well as the editing. Many couples use to have their wedding put on a VHS tape, but these days, DVDs are the common choice. Use your gut instinct and follow this advice for hiring videographers.
Gift registries are traditionally associated with weddings. Gifts should not be mandatory to attend your wedding. Also give them a wide variety of possible gift options. Your guests should be comfortable bringing gifts they can afford.
Whether you are booking a band or a DJ, do your research ahead of time. Ask for appropriate references and make the time to speak with these references. before hiring. Once you decide, make sure they know the date, and make sure there’s a signed contract binding them to an agreement. You don’t want to wind up without music at your reception!
In terms of wedding receptions, think carefully about whether to include kids. This point is very important in regards to budget and stress should you allow children to attend. You may find that some guests will not be able to make it because of no one to watch their children.
Think about having a small meal for the wedding reception. If you want to have a lot of guests at your wedding, you may need to cut costs in other areas. You will better be able to stay on budget if the dinner offered your family and friends is smaller. If you cannot do this, you may have to reduce your guest list.
Make sure to interview a handful of videographers and review their work before hiring one. It is important to verify the editing and sound quality that you can expect from your videographer. While VHS used to be the preferred format for weddings, now you need to get a DVD or even a digital copy of your video. Use these things, along with your gut, to make the final decision of whom to hire.
A bride should not forget to practice her smile while looking in the mirror. You want your smile to be beautiful in your wedding photos. It does take a little practice to create the precise look you desire.
Get a head start and start planning early on for your wedding. The more time you have to plan, the better your odds will be of getting everything you want for your wedding. This allows you to get services you not only need, but can afford.
Open an account for just the money that you plan to invest into your wedding. If you know in advance how much you can spend, you will find it easier to stick to your budget. If you’re not ready to get married, start saving now, so you can use the money later.
Serve a small meal at the reception. If you have a large wedding, you might have to save money elsewhere. It will be easier to stay within your spending limits if you opt for a less lavish dining option. Another option is to cut the guest list.
A great gift idea for the bridal party is customized jewelry that connects all of you together. This gives each girl a very special way to remember your big day.
Don’t forget to consider weather conditions when planning your wedding. If it is hot outside, the day of your wedding, your guest might want to leave, if your reception is outside! 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. To make sure your guests stay comfortable and happy, make small adjustments such as providing fans for an outdoor summer wedding.
Don’t hesitate to delegate important tasks to people that can handle it and that you know you can trust. Since a wedding is a big emotional investment, you are likely to want complete control of the entire planning process. But, it is important that you trust the advice of those who may have more experience than you in certain areas of the planning.
Now you know how to be successful when you plan your wedding. Remember what you have read in this article, and your wedding will be a joyous occasion.
You will probably want to take pictures with many of the guests that attend your wedding. Perhaps you should schedule a time for group pictures, since getting everyone’s attention during the reception will be hard. Make sure your guests know where and when you plan on taking photos with them, and that you have your photographer booked long enough to get all the pictures you need.