Are you engaged and looking to plan your own wedding? Well, you are in luck. This article has some great advice for planning a smooth and memorable wedding you’ll always remember happily.
One thing to take into consideration is when you get married. The off seasons can save quite a bit of money that can be used elsewhere. Traditionally, weddings take place between May and September. Wedding venues are more expensive during this time. If you want to book your wedding at those times, make sure you are booking far enough in advance so you get a great deal.
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. Having an open bar may cost a lot, especially if it is available throughout the entire day. Inquire with your wedding venue as to what their alcohol options available are.
Purchasing a wedding gown online can save a lot of money. If you decide to go this route, purchase the dress early so you will have time to get it altered. In fact I spent $300 in total, $100 for the gown itself, and only another $200 for the tailoring. When deciding how much to spend, remember to include the cost of alterations.
If you want to add some sparkle and class to your bouquet, use crystals, diamonds, or rhinestones. You can accomplish this by including some heat-fixed or adhesive crystals, some costume jewelry or an heirloom that is treasured. Use stones that are roughly the same cut, size, and color as those in your ensemble to ensure coordination.
See if your family wants to come for the honeymoon. Hotels tend to give discounts when guests stay for a longer period of time. They will have great memories from this too.
Even if your dress has been selected and paid for, you may want to store it with the bridal boutique until the day of your wedding. Having it inside of a closet could cause stains or wrinkles. Having it at the shop means it will be unwrinkled for the big day.
If you’re able to afford this kind of a wedding, take a cruise and have your closest relatives and friends come with you. Then, your honeymoon and wedding are all rolled into one and the cruise ship does most of the planning and supplying of everything. Some cruise ships offer special wedding and honeymoon packages.
Dress any children attending your ceremony in comfortable attire. Choose fabrics that are softer and loose-fitting, in order to maintain a high comfort level. New shoes need to be broken in so that they don’t cause pain on the big day. Taking care of these small details will allow children to focus on participation in the wedding instead of fussing with their attire.
If you are going to give a speech at a wedding you should always practice. If you don’t practice your speech beforehand, you run the risk of forgetting your speech, saying something you didn’t intend to say, or losing the audience.
Flowers seasonal to your region might not be readily available if your wedding environment is in a different climate with temperatures, humidity and distinct from what you are used to at home. Speak with people who are in the area where your wedding is located to find out what blooms are available to you.
If you intend to hold your wedding outdoors, devise a contingency plan in case weather or other problems prevent the wedding from going smoothly. You can rent a couple tents or look for a venue with a hall and a park. Also, make sure that there is something covering the ground so your guests don’t get muddy shoes.
If you are planning an outdoor reception, make sure that your caterer is aware of this. There are some food choices that will not be appropriate for an outdoor wedding as they may spoil easily in heat or wind, for example. One way to address the wind issue is to use decorative covers for the dishes. If you need to, have a small refrigerator handy to cool down drinks.
Potted Plants
A great way to place live flowers around your wedding without spending an arm and a leg on flowers that will end up in the bin is to use potted plants. You can embellish terracotta pots with colorful ribbons, paint or decoupage, or you may choose glazed stoneware. After the wedding, guests can take the potted plants home as a wedding favor, or the new couple can plant them in their yard.
If dancing isn’t your forte, you should prepare yourself for the first dance by donning a long skirt and taking a few practice runs around the living room. Your skirt might be something you are used to walking or dancing in, but your soon-to-be husband might not. This will help him adjust to dancing with you in your dress and prevent any awkwardness, especially if your gown is particularly full at the bottom.
After learning great ideas in wedding planning, it is time to apply them. With all of the planning out of the way, you can now relax.