Weddings are exciting and fun, though they definitely entail a good deal of work and planning. Stress can build up in the weeks leading up to the big day. With proper planning, you can rest assured that your day goes as you want it to. Ahead are some tips that will make this event go well.
For a more reasonably priced wedding, consider a date that’s not in the traditional wedding season. Many brides and grooms decided to tie the knot between May and September. Venues are usually more expensive then. If you decide to have your wedding during these months, you will get a better deal by booking far ahead of time.
Typically, a wedding dress costs a lot of money. When looking for a dress, consider dresses that aren’t necessarily in the wedding dress category. For example, a formal white dress, such as a prom or bridesmaid dress, will not be as expensive as a wedding dress. Even if the dress needs alterations, it could still be cheaper than an actual wedding dress.
As you plan your wedding, you must consider the type and amount of alcohol you wish to serve, especially if you’re working with a budget. For example, an open bar can cost you an arm and a leg, especially if it’s open throughout your reception. The venue representative will be able to advise you of the various alcohol service options available.
Use the property of a relative or friend to hold your wedding. If you’re friends with someone who owns a large backyard, you can have a cheaper wedding there. You can even have someone come in and clean it up before the big day.
Wedding dresses are one of the most expensive things to be purchased when planning a wedding. To save money, consider looking at dresses that have the same appeal as a wedding gown, but aren’t categorized as such. A dress for other occasions, such as holiday parties, can sometimes work for a wedding dress, and will usually cost a lot less. With the lower base price, you can likely also afford alterations to the style of the dress and still come in under the price of a traditional wedding gown.
You can add small decorative items to your entire wedding theme. 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. Your wedding will be perfect when you add in the small details.
Purchasing a wedding gown online may save you several hundred dollars initially. I only spent $100 on my gown when I was married, but I spent another $200 on having it altered. Don’t forget to add this additional cost into your budget!
Don’t forget about the transportation on your wedding day. Make sure your guests will have ways to be transported back to wherever they’re staying. This is especially good thinking because many guests at your wedding are likely to be drinking.
Once you know who all is going to give a speech at your wedding, hold a rehearsal for everyone so you can censor out inappropriate material. Certain jokes or comments might not sit well with certain age groups.
You know to provide the DJ with an idea of all the right music to play, but you should also give a list of all the wrong things he might play. Perhaps you want to avoid country crooners or hard rock tunes. No matter what, you must make sure he knows what music to avoid.
Choose ethnic catering to spice things up. Chicken and steak are over-served, so why not pick some other foods in your desired cuisine? Variety should be incorporated into your wedding dinner to make it a memorable experience.
Make certain that the reception area you choose has enough dancing space. Nothing is as bad as getting crammed into a tight area like sardines when the guests around you are dancing, so clear out any furniture necessary to give space to those wanting to groove.
Don’t use an overabundance of flowers as table centerpieces for your reception. A lot of times, the flowers may be getting in the guests’ way. Additionally, many people are allergic to flowers. Try putting some scent free candles on your wedding tables.
You can embellish your bouquet with tiny crystals, rhinestones or perhaps diamonds if you can afford to. You can do this by attaching small crystals, costume jewelry, or perhaps a special piece of jewelry with some kind of adhesive. For a consistent look, all of the stones should coordinate in terms of cut, color, and size.
Tell your DJ the songs that you do not want to be played. Perhaps it’s heavy metal, or country music, or even a previous lover’s “special song”. Be sure your DJ is well aware of your preferences in advance to avoid discomfort.
If you invite people to an exotic destination wedding, they will likely want to stay for part of your honeymoon time as well, since they are already there. You can get some great deals on hotels if you need group accommodations. Your guests will have a memorable trip as well.
See if you can find a willing helper who can assist you with looking after your equipment and moving it when necessary. They can help to gather up the family for group shots as well.
Save Money
If you’re giving your guests multiple meal courses, give them sweets to nibble on in between the courses. Sugar roses that blend with your wedding colors would be a nice touch.
Receptions are best held in the early afternoon. Since most of your guests won’t be interested in drinking much alcohol during this hour, you can save money on your bar costs. In addition, you can save money by serving lunch instead of dinner at your reception. You may be able to purchase a higher-quality menu at lunch time for the price you would have paid for dinner. Keep in mind that if you spend less on food, you can use the savings to pay for another service your wedding requires.
If your reception does not involve a sit down meal, hire furniture instead of traditional tables. Lounge chairs, sectional sofas and loveseats can be arranged into groupings that encourage your guests to intermingle. These plush seats give your guests a comfortable place to relax, while also creating separate areas throughout the venue where people can lounge around.
When planning table seating arrangements, try to assign your guests so that there are an even number at each table. Another thing to consider when arranging your table seating is the age of the people at the table. Try to group the same aged people at each table.
Do some dancing in a very long skirt with your betrothed prior to the wedding so that you’re prepared for the first dance. While you may be accustomed to walking or dancing in a dress, this will be something entirely new for your future husband. This can get your soon-to be-husband used to any awkwardness he might feel, which can really happen with full-skirted dresses.
Give your wedding guests a time line of events of your wedding, they will know how to plan! Inform people of events, like rehearsals, that they are required to attend, so they will be where they are supposed to be at the scheduled time.
Are you planning on inviting children to your wedding, and how many are there going to be? Not allowing children may reduce headaches and costs. Conversely, you may have potential guests who won’t attend because of difficulty with arrangements for their children.
Even if you have your dress picked out and purchased, it is smart to keep it at the bridal shop until your wedding day. This will reduce the chance that it becomes stained or wrinkled. By storing it at the shop, you will ensure that you get it after it is freshly pressed and hung.
Make sure everything is perfect for the bride so she is happy on her wedding day! You could cause her a lot of stress if she’s doing all of the planning or if there are any surprises that might disappoint her. Be sure to get the bride’s approval for all major arrangements well in advance of the big day to avoid last-minute meltdowns.
You can even ask one of your friends if you can borrow some jewelry for the big wedding day. When you do this you save money, you can make yourself look way better and even form a closer bond with people who become more involved with the wedding.
Choose a tuxedo that fits you perfectly. Get other people’s opinions when you are attempting to choose a tuxedo. Keep in mind that photographs will be taken during your wedding, so you should look your best, in the way that you would want to be remembered.
Large centerpieces are unnecessary on your tables as they not only eat away at your budget, but serve as an unneeded distraction. Even though ornate centerpieces are very pretty, there is beauty in simple designs as well. If the centerpiece is too big, it becomes a distraction, making it difficult for people to interact as well as enjoy their food.
Make sure to do your research when it comes to hiring a wedding band or DJ. Get references and speak to those people to find out about their experiences. Have the band or DJ sign a contract for the planned date. This will help make certain the music portion of the event goes well.
Improve your wedding by enhancing the flowers. Vintage themes can offer a classy look if the flowers are suited to the theme. Try pink peonies or bright daisies to spice things up.
Make sure you don’t have tan lines. So, consider the cut of your dress if you plan on tanning.
The first step to planning a successful wedding is to make a wish list. Rearrange your list in order of priority after making it. Everyone has a different idea of what is most important to have a beautiful wedding, so you and your fiance should decide these things before you start planning to keep things from getting out of control. You can allocate funds from your budget more easily toward each need or want, when you see them listed in order of importance.
Customized jewelry is a wonderful gift for the bridal party. Long after your wedding, everyone in your bridal party will be able to relive the fun and excitement of the day.
Shorter Flowers
Once you have figured out the design for your wedding, write it down, and then shop accordingly. You can make a list of services that are offered in your area and narrow the selection by using price and services offered as a deciding factor.
Use floral arrangements of varying heights. For long stem flowers, use tall vases. Shorter flowers of greater volume an be used to surround the tall vessels. Have the shorter flowers be lighter in hue than the taller blooms.
Rather than shopping for an engagement ring, seek alternate sources. Try using a piece of jewelry that was passed down in one of the families. A ring that has been kept in the family can have far more sentimental value than a ring that is purchased in a jewelry store.
The most essential part of any wedding is two people who are fully prepared to be married. Even if you are sure you know your partner, life will still be difficult, meaning you will need to draw closer to your partner in tough times as opposed to letting them pull you apart. Hopefully, your wedding day will be remembered forever.
Don’t let a friend do the photography on your wedding day. You need a professional photographer to step in and properly capture your wedding memories. These memories need to be high quality and spontaneous so that you can watch them for years to come. A non-professional, no matter how well intended, will lack the experience necessary to get the best pictures.