While your wedding is sure to be beautiful, the planning process that leads up to it is equally likely to be stressful. Planning everything ahead of time is overwhelming, between choosing the cake to selecting guests. Read on for some ideas to help you minimize the stress during the process of planning for your own wedding.
When you are planning your wedding festivities, think hard about the kinds of alcoholic beverages that are going to be available, and also how much of a price tag they will carry. An open bar can be very expensive over a long time period. Ask your venue about the different alcohol serving options that they have available.
One way you can cut hundreds of dollars from your wedding budget is by purchasing your wedding gown online. However, make sure you do this early enough that there is time to make any needed alteration to the gown. I bought my gorgeous gown online for only $150, but it cost me another $200 to have it altered to fit me perfectly. Make sure to allow for additional expenses in your total budget.
When you are planning on who will be giving the speeches at the wedding, have them rehearse the material before you so that you can make sure everything is appropriate. Wedding guests cover many generations of family and friends, and the humor of newer generations might offend elders.
Invite the whole family to the honeymoon when you’re planning a destination wedding. This will help with the monetary aspect of your trip. That will also help them to have a great day and a wonderful vacation!
Midday is the best time to have wedding receptions. Most people will drink less at this time, which can cut down on your bar needs. 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.
When choosing a venue for your wedding reception, check to see if the lighting is able to be dimmed. This small detail allows for little things like low lights on the first dance, and bright for the duration of the event. Before committing to the venue, ask them about this.
If you choose a wedding cake full of vibrant color that stands out as a focal point in your reception, you can enhance it further by presenting it on top of a fabric swatch coordinated with the cake itself. The right piece of fabric can create a stunning display that makes the cake stand out even more. You can select from a variety of fabrics, including velvet, satin or silk. Likewise, you can choose a solid color or go with something textured or patterned.
See if you can borrow a special item of apparel from a friend for your wedding ceremony. By doing this, you can get the look that you want and add a special touch to your wedding.
If you are going to have kids in your ceremony, dress them in clothing that is comfortable. Try using soft fabrics that are loose enough to not be uncomfortable. New shoes should be worn enough to ensure they are comfortable. Attention to these details will help the children focus on their part in the wedding instead of fussing with their clothing.
If you are giving a speech at a wedding, plan ahead and rehearse it several times. Being well prepared will help you to not freeze up, or babble on nervously, and will help you give a thoughtful and well spoken speech that you can be confident about.
Outdoor Reception
If you’re having an outdoor reception, tell your caterer. Some foods are not suitable for an outdoor reception because they may not keep well or they may fly away in heavy wind gusts. You may want to cover foods with decorative coverings. Perhaps a small fridge could be used to keep drinks chilled.
Interview candidates to see their past work. Be sure that sound editing is something to which you pay real attention as well. Get your wedding on the latest technology so that the memories last a lifetime. Decide who you want to choose based on the gut impression you get with each.
Silk Flowers
One creative way to reduce the cost of your wedding is to use other alternatives instead of flower arrangements. Rather than a floral wreath for the flower girl, try using ribbons for an elegant but simple look. Use silk flowers as decoration instead of fresh ones. Silk flowers save money and can be kept afterwards. Perhaps when you renew your marriage vows in the years ahead you can reuse them.
Before committing to a DJ or band for your wedding, do your due diligence first. Get references and never be afraid to contact them. Before hiring a DJ or band, be sure that the date of the wedding is set in stone. Further, there should always be a signed contract. That way, you will not have any bumps in the road when it comes to the all-important music.
When planning for decorations, think about the location. For example, a flower arrangement featuring complicated elements may work well indoors, but could be destroyed by a gust of wind outside. You may need special equipment for securing decor at places like parks and beaches.
Plan everything in advance. A year-long lead-time might seem sufficient, but you will soon find that many venues and vendors will already be booked. Try to do this fast so that you do not stress during crunch time.
Be prepared for rain. For an outdoor wedding, create a “Plan B” since it could rain. Even if you believe the day will be beautiful, it is best to be prepared.
A beautiful wedding is a dream come true, that most girls have been waiting for their entire lives. So much planning is necessary that the to-do list can overwhelm you. This article can, hopefully, relieve some of the stress you may have been feeling and aid you in planning your wedding.
