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Weddings 101: A Guide For Brides And Grooms

If you’re doing your own catering, Costco is a place that can save you a lot on wedding food. If you shop wholesale, you will be able to get lots of food at much better prices. Ask friends to help on food, too.

TIP! If you are making the food for your wedding, try shopping at stores like Costco. When shopping wholesale, you can get large amounts of food for cheaper than you could if you did not wholesale shop.

During which season do you want your wedding? What about the flowers? Do you want carnations, roses or something else? There are so many decisions that need to be make when you’re planning a wedding. It does not matter if you are tying the knot, or helping plan it, you can use these suggestions to have a happy day.

Look at the portfolios of any makeup artist you are considering for your wedding day. Evaluate the makeup artist’s techniques. Make sure that the style matches your vision. You don’t want to discover right before the wedding that you do not like the way your makeup artist does things.

TIP! Look at samples of past work before hiring a makeup artist. Does their style suit you? They must be able to create the exact type of look you want.

Religion is most likely going to be a significant factor in not only your wedding, but your future marriage. Talk not only with the person you are planning to marry, but with their family as well to understand their religion.

One of the things to consider for your wedding is transportation. Try to have limos and taxis available for those who do not have a ride to take them back to their hotel at the end of the night. This is good for those drinking alcohol.

TIP! One of the things to consider for your wedding is transportation. If anyone needs a ride to or from their hotel for the event, you should arrange limos or taxis.

It is important to practice walking down the aisle as often as possible before the ceremony. Do this at your actual wedding site to make sure you’re familiar with the floor there. This will lend confidence to your walk when your wedding day arrives.

Don’t make guests wait as you take photos. These pictures should be done beforehand. You will want to respect everyone at the ceremony and reception.

Getting Married

Even if you’ve already chosen and bought your dress, it’s wise to leave it in the bridal store until the day of your wedding. By putting it in your closet, it could get wrinkly or get stained. This will keep your dress as fresh as possible.

TIP! Although you may have found and purchased the perfect dress, it is a good idea to have the bridal shop hold it until the big day. By putting it in your closet, it could get wrinkly or get stained.

Getting married in the peak wedding season can cost a small fortune. This would be anytime other that May through September. During this time, wedding venues will be more expensive. If you plan on getting married during these months, plan as early as you can for the lowest cost.

If you want your colorful wedding cake as the focal point of your reception, present it on a coordinating fabric tablecloth. You can also try solids, patterns and heavily-textured fabrics like satin, velvet or silk for more visual interest that helps bring everything together.

TIP! Consider the appearance of your wedding cake when deciding how to display it. For example, if your cake is unusually colorful, match its color to the hue of the fabric underneath it.

Remember to consider how you would like the alcohol at your reception served, and how much it will cost. The open bar option is the most costly of choices and the cost can be prohibitive for many couples but do not feel bad if you cannot afford it. Check with your venue to find out the alcohol options they have for you to choose from.

If it is within your budget, you might want to take a wedding cruise with just your closest friends and family. This would make the honeymoon begin immediately following the ceremony. Some cruises have specific rates for couples who get married and honeymoon on their ship.

TIP! You may want to consider a wedding aboard a cruise ship. By doing this, you can step away from the altar and immediately start your honeymoon.

If you are hoping to wear some special jewelry of your wedding day but only have a limited amount of money left in your budget, consider renting some diamond pieces. At a mere fraction of the cost, you can add that perfect touch of glamour to your wardrobe for the big day.

Getting a relative or friend ordained online can give him authority to officiate the wedding ceremony. Your ceremony will be less formal, and you will save money. Before you do this, check with your city or town to make sure they recognize online ordinations.

TIP! You can easily have a member of your family or a friend get ordained online, making them an ideal candidate to officiate your ceremony. This makes the wedding a bit more personal, and also means you don’t have to pay the fee for a justice of the peace.

Don’t make your guests wait while you take all of your photos. Get as many pictures as possible before the ceremony. In order to reduce the length of time that the guests need to wait for the bride and groom to arrive at the wedding reception, the bride and groom should also be photographed with their parents in advance.

Ask someone to borrow an item to wear on your big day. This can give you the look you want to achieve and make the wedding even more special.

Making Table

For couples who enjoy the jet-setting lifestyle, incorporate thematic decorations that convey a love for travel. Invitation can be designed to resemble a travel brochure, boarding pass or vintage postcard. Get a vintage suitcase and use it as a display for your pictures or programs.

When making table assignments for your reception, ensure that even numbers of guests will be at each table. Facilitate conversation by making table arrangements according to age groups.

For instance, think about a modern fusion menu with popular dishes. Change it up by including ethnic desserts, drinks, or any other foods that are being served.

TIP! For instance, think about a modern fusion menu with popular dishes. Make it different by including a selection of ethnic desserts, beverages, or wedding favors that you can eat.

If your wedding cake is a more colorful one that easily serves as the star of the show at your reception, after you and your new spouse of course, consider having it displayed sitting on a piece of fabric that coordinates with the colors in the cake. You can also try solids, patterns and heavily-textured fabrics like satin, velvet or silk for more visual interest that helps bring everything together.

If the cultural backgrounds are different, have the wedding with one tradition and the reception with the other. This will create an intriguing and memorable contrast that will satisfy both sides of the family.

TIP! Incorporate all rituals and traditions in your wedding. This solution creates a contrast that will honor the traditions of both families.

Silk flowers make great alternatives to various other flowers for your wedding. You don’t have to buy these fresh as you can pick them months in advance, saving you the hassle of worrying about your floral arrangements on the big day.

Each and every component of the wedding should be examined and planned perfectly; you want no surprises during showtime. Make everyone feel warm and welcome on your wedding day.

TIP! It is important that every part of your wedding is well planned, from the food that shall be served to the specifics of the reception. You want to engage and excite all those who have chosen to be part of your special day.

It can be expensive to place centerpieces at your table at the wedding. Try small, elegant decorations to accent tables, and create a nice ambiance. Smaller centerpieces allow your guests to converse and interact without something blocking their view.

Get more out of your wedding planner with research done ahead of time. Put together a look book that contains all your design ideas. Use clippings from magazines or pictures and even lyrics to songs to let your planner know what you want.

TIP! Maximize your wedding planner’s time by doing some research in advance. Take notes from different designers or stylists that have look books or mood boards that show swatches of fabric, images or other things that give your planner an idea of what you want.

For instance, think about filling a menu with popular choices in a contemporary fusion style. Change it up by including ethnic desserts, drinks, or any other foods that are being served.

When you are beginning your wedding plans, make a list of your priorities. For most brides, where they are having the wedding takes precedence over who they are inviting. The flowers they are going to carry is often more pressing than the cake they will be cutting. Prioritizing your wants can ensure that you don’t step over your allotted budget and still have the wedding day of your dreams.

TIP! Once you start the planning process for your wedding, it is important to have a list of items that you want, in order of importance to you. Some people place a greater importance on the flowers over the cake, or consider the guest list less important than the venue.

Create personalized wedding vows. You know your spouse better than anyone else. Those words help create a memorable bond for your special day. Use inspiration if needed, but add your own special touch.

Gift registries are part of a wedding. Your guests will appreciate knowing that a gift is not a requirement. Offer suggestions that span a wide array of price points. By selecting different priced items, people can find items they can comfortably afford to give.

TIP! A gift registry is often common with weddings. For a more pleasant air, try to make guests understand that you don’t require them to bring you anything.

When selecting a wedding videographer, interview as many candidates as possible and look at samples of their work. Sound quality and video editing are just as important as capturing the shot. It used to be popular to get videos of your wedding on VHS, but ensure that you are receiving a DVD or a digital video that you can play for years to come. Consider the facts and your impressions of the videographers available to make a decision.

As you consider the types of flowers and decorations you’re going to use, you must weigh the specifics of your location. Delicate arrangements and decorations might be damaged by winds or bad weather. You may also need to think about any special equipment needed to secure decorations at certain venues such as a park or beach.

TIP! When you are thinking about decorations, especially the flowers, remember your wedding’s location. For instance, intricate flowers arrangements might look great at indoor venues; but they will likely not withstand windy outdoor settings.

Planning a beautiful wedding on a small budget is entirely possible. You do not and should not go into debt with a wedding. Making your own invitations, asking friends and family to pitch in, putting together your own favors, making your own floral arrangements, and picking a venue where you can combine the wedding ceremony and reception are all money-saving ideas.

You may be tempted to go with family tradition or suggestions, but this is your day not theirs. Be kind and loving if you have to reject your extended family’s suggestions, but don’t let them dominate or manipulate you. Firmly assert that you (and of course your partner too) have the final say when it comes to your wedding plans. This way you get exactly what you want for your wedding day.

TIP! You don’t have to have a traditional wedding if that isn’t what you desire! Thank them for their concern and affection but firmly remind them that you and your spouse ultimately make the decisions. Remember that your wedding day is for you and your new spouse and stick to the things that you both want and there won’t be any regrets about it later.

You always want to do your homework about any vendors you will be hiring for your wedding and that is especially true when it comes to the music. Ask for a list of references and call those references before booking the band or DJ. Also, get a legal contract in place. This is important, as you want the music for your wedding to be perfect.

Plan ahead of time, as early as you are able. You may think that one year is a very long time for wedding planning, but should you wait too long, you’ll start to notice that service providers and venues are not available on the date you want; not only that, they will cost more as well. You have to schedule sooner so that you can take advantage of all of your choices.

TIP! Be sure to begin planning far ahead of the event. It might seem silly, but other people are doing the same thing and you want to be ahead of the curve.

Get your wedding preparations set up early. If you start planning well ahead of time, you will have more options available. This allows you to pick out vendors that are going to meet the needs and the budget you have set up.

Ask your vendors for recommendations about the other services that you need. If you find a photographer that you love, ask that person to recommend a band that they like. Ask the band that you are hiring to recommend a different service. This is a great way to find good vendors, as well as having vendors that work well together.

TIP! Ask your vendors for recommendations about the other services that you need. For example, if you are really impressed with the photographer, ask them if they know of any good bands.

Ask vendors about service recommendations for whatever else you need. After finding a good photographer, ask for band recommendations. The musical guest may know a great florist. You are likely to have a great team of professionals this way.

Brides-to-be should practice smiling in front of mirrors. This can help you find the ideal smile for your photos. A bit of practice will ensure you get the effect you most desire.

TIP! You might feel silly but practice smiling before your wedding. You want your smile to be beautiful in your wedding photos.

After reading these tips, it’s safe to say that you probably weren’t aware of even half of these ideas. And that’s because no one ever realizes just how much goes into planning a wedding until they’re actually staring at it in the face. A wedding is perhaps the most detail-oriented celebration out there, so be sure that you’re using these tips to help you out.

All the bridesmaids and the bride’s mother should be dressed and ready well in advance. All attention should be on you, right before you walk down the aisle. If they have to worry about getting ready, they are not focused on helping you.