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Finger food

There’s a lot to be said for plated menus … no queuing at buffet counters, and the food is beautifully presented just the way the chef envisaged. Between courses is a good time to have your speeches, ensuring the evening flows according to your timetable. It’s also a more formal dining option, harking back to an age of grace and elegance. However, it should be said that this is by no means the only option.

FINGER FOOD vs CANAPE

Finger food is designed to be just that – eaten with your fingers. Your guests won’t need a knife, fork, spoon or chopsticks. Finger foods often include miniature pies and burgers, spring rolls, petit, sandwiches, little pizzas or skewers, arancini, tarts etc. They’re generally fairly filling items, often around two to three bites, ensuring your guests feel like they’ve eaten rather than just nibbled.

If dinner and dessert aren’t being served, you could include ice cream cones, small pastries, cookies or other sweet items to be served in the last 45 minutes of your event. This also helps to signal the winding down of your event – as does turning the lights up, music off and opening the front door.

CANAPÉS

Canapés are usually more refined than finger foods, smaller and more formal. Traditionally served on a toasted bread base, there are a huge range of bases that can be substituted – rice cracker, rosti, cucumber rounds or wonton crisp. However, it is a single delicate bite where you can let your imagination run free. Use a small shot glass for soup sips, a Chinese spoon for a petit duck salad or a rosemary sprig to skewer prawns.

Because canapés are generally created as one-bite morsels, it’s very easy for guests to indulge while still holding their glass of bubbly and a napkin. Your canapé dishes could include little tartlets, delicate cigars, savoury cones, blinis, or a host of bite sized delicacies!

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BOWL – CARTON – FORK FOOD

Bowl food is not just soup. Commonly described in the industry as walk‘n-talk food, these dishes can be served in bowls, baskets or boxes. The dishes themselves are obviously more filling – they’re mini meals – and guests will usually need some sort of utensil to eat them with, although something like fish and chips can be nibbled using the fingers.

Your bowl food dishes could include a salad, pasta or noodle options, soup or gazpacho, risotto or a variety of seafood dishes. You can either individually portion these dishes as we would or, for ease of service, salads can be served on a large platter for guests to help themselves or a hot wet dish like curry or tagine can be placed on low setting in a slow cooker for self service.

CARVERY STATION

A simple way to fill up later in the evening is a carvery station. This can consist of a glazed ham, a roast sirloin or leg of lamb kept warm in a very low oven, then carved and served with warm rolls, salad fillings, accompaniments and chutneys. To compliment the carvery, we often serve small salad cartons for the vegetarians, gluten free guests or those wanting a lighter option.

PLATED

For a more formal level of guest service, plated dinners are a natural choice. You endeavour to create a pop-up restaurant where a full meal is served in courses to seated guests. The meal may consist of a set menu where the guests are served any number of courses pre-chosen by the host, or the host could offer their guests a limited choice of dishes per course. Offering variety to guests can slow down the service slightly as the waiters will need to take the orders and the chefs will need time for plating the dishes. However, this does allow for speeches or other formalities of the evening to take place between courses, if desired.

An alternative is to have an Entrée Trio to start. This is a tasting plate of three small choices of entrée, offering your guests a visual sensation and a variety of tastes while removing the need to take orders.

Plated events generally increase costs over the cost of a buffet event due to additional staffing requirements for on-site meal plating and for service to all of your guests at the same time.

BUFFET

When catering for larger numbers, the old adage of ‘less is more’ is worth bearing in mind. A well-planned buffet is more appetising than lots and lots of different contrasting flavours and foods. Think about flavour combinations and avoid clashes, as people often pile a little bit of everything onto their plates.

The standard buffet generally includes a compound salad, a hot vegetable dish, a starch and up to three main dishes, with condiments and dressings. A bread selection can either be served at the buffet table or on each individual table. A selection of desserts may either be served at a separate station or served once the mains have been cleared.

At a wedding the top table would be served at their table followed by each table being invited to the buffet in a pre determined order (generally family first followed by the remaining tables).

One alternative is to have themed buffet stations, which is a full meal where menu items are served in various areas of your venue at several tables in a buffet style. Often, each station has a specific theme. This can be so much fun, as the station themes are endless! Stations can also be combined, with a Chef to prepare items to order.

This type of menu style often allows guests to enjoy a wider sampling of menu items compared to a standard buffet. Your guests are also likely to circulate more, often leading to a talk / mingle atmosphere.

INDIVIDUAL TABLE BUFFETS

Individual table buffets are fast becoming a favourite. Guests are served central platters that generally consist of two mains, a salad and a vegetable dish, placed in the centre of each table.

This is a more formal style than a buffet, as guests are not required to stand and move to a get their meal. It is a very interactive form of dining and helps break the ice, promote conversation amongst guests who may be unfamiliar with each other as the platters are passed around the table.

Desserts can either be served in the same central platter style or on a dessert station if you would like your guests to stand and mingle at this stage of the evening.

This is a more cost effective option as fewer staff members are required than a would be for a plated meal, and the meal is easier to portion per table.

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Centrepieces

Centrepieces featuring herbs such as sage, rosemary and parsley can channel the aesthetic of the Italian countryside. Rustic potted plants convey comfort and intimacy when they’re used as table arrangements at your reception.

Perfect decorative centrepieces for a beach wedding are glass vases filled with sand and seashells, or even a gold fish in its very own bowl.

Garden weddings can take a cue from the same concept, but with colourful stones or fresh lavender instead. Children and kids-at-heart are sure to enjoy these unique centrepiece options, which can double as party favours.

Candles can be reused, and they always reflect romance and add ambiance. With so many styles of candles to work with, wedding candle decorations provide an easy way to craft that specific look you’re after. Never has it been so affordable or simple to design and enhance your wedding décor with candles … and let’s not forget the wonderful fragrance they often emit!

If you’re looking to use what you already have to create centrepieces throughout the year, start saving as many glass jars as you can. In every size and shape; they can be reused for just about anything. Simply remove the labels and clean thoroughly (in a dishwasher if you have one) and dry before reusing. Yes, I’ve actually brought a jam or pickle just so I can use the jar when empty!

Don’t just use your jars for flowers – consider putting a photo of you and you’re beloved into a jar and placing them on the guest tables. Just slide the photo in and turn the jar upside down and display for all to see. You can fill jars with items of your choice … reception candles or battery operated lights. You can also paint them or glue fabric or coloured paper to the outside to match your colour scheme or festive decor.

Decorating your table with picture frames adds an elegant look, especially for weddings and other receptions. Table numbers, family photos, menus or place cards are just a few items to place in old picture frames.You can transform old frames into chalkboards, write messages or names on them and place them around your home or at place settings. Remember: you can paint the frame any colour you choose.

These are just a few ideas that can be quite easily transposed from wedding to home. And, if you do still want to add a few florals, perhaps consider a sprinkling of rose petals on the tables.

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BIRDCAGES

With their interesting shapes and ornate details, birdcages are no longer just for birds. Whether they are made of wood or metal, newly painted or rusted and bent, these stylish floral receptacles instantly create a display and can showcase anything from indoor plants and freshly cut blooms to books and nests.

Vintage cages tend to be more decorative and visually interesting than today’s mass-produced pet store versions, and are typically the style used for decorating. You can also find good reproductions that mimic the style and details of their vintage forefathers, but which aren’t an actual, working birdcage.

As an alternative to your standard floral centrepieces, birdcages add a tasteful element and project a sense of order and refinement. They also provide some height.

You’ll find them in various shapes and sizes and, if purchasing them, you can paint them to tone with your theme.

Small floral arrangements can fill up the space inside most adequately, but let your imagination run wild. Think votive candles, wedding favours, a seating card or advice cards for the new couple.

To take this idea a step further, you could try using cages of alternating heights or sizes, but keeping the colour uniform in order to hold the overall look together. A long row can make a striking presentation at your reception, and they’re sure to be great conversation starters.

Hang them off trees to decorate an outdoor area, from the ceiling or rafters, and even a marquee … picture cascades of flowers oozing through the bars.

By simply adding ribbon, candles, florals, signs and other accents, you can make a boring birdcage into a fun and creative addition to your special day – stylish centrepieces that won’t break the bank. A handful of roses placed inside and trailing ivy spilling through the bars can instantly turn an empty birdcage into a work of art with little effort.

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KNOWING THE DIFFERENCE

So, you’re about to decide on your catering options, and you’re bamboozled by the range of menu items on offer. The team at The Difference Catering explain your options and help you work out what will be best to serve to your guests.

It’s worth remembering these points before you get started:

• Provide a variety of foods to please all appetites and tastes.

• Check with guests regards food intolerances – do you need gluten free options?

• Try to provide a mix of hot and cold food.

• How long is your function and what time of day is it?

• Is your event formal or informal?

And remember – you are not in the kitchen at your own event, so preparation is a key ingredient.

The amount of food you require per person depends on how long your guests will be milling before the main meal, whether there is indeed a main meal to follow, and whether that main meal is light or more full. As a general guide allow 3-4 canapés per person for pre-dinner drinks of an hour’s duration or four pieces of finger food per person per hour for a cocktail or standing event.

A popular option, if you do not have the time or space for a sit down meal, is to have a standing or grazing menu consisting of a combination of the following styles eaten over the duration. This allows guests to mingle, encouraging a fun and fluid atmosphere.

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Prevent Wedding Trouble With These Tips

TIP! For a more affordable wedding, consider setting a date outside the traditional season for weddings. The wedding season traditionally begins in May lasting through September.

It’s important to remember that weddings are all about love, and less about how much money you spend on them. The important thing about the wedding day is the couple and the people they love. This article is going to help you concentrate on the key parts of your wedding.

TIP! Choosing your favorite gown online can be faster and cheaper, but do so well in advance to allot extra time for alterations. You want to make sure that you think about other expenses that you might not commonly think of, like having the wedding gown altered, which can cost extra money.

Realize that religion is going to play a major role on your actual wedding day and moving forward in your marriage. Discuss all aspects of your religion with who you plan on marrying as well as their family too, just so they are comfortable with your beliefs.

TIP! Spice up your wedding reception by choosing an ethnic inspired menu. Chicken and steak have both been done.

Practice your walk down the aisle many times on the days leading up to the wedding. Try to practice at the wedding site so you can test your chosen shoes on the flooring at the site. This will ensure you’re graceful and confident when the time comes.

Wedding Dress

TIP! Coordinate small touches into all the aspects of the wedding decor. You can use a nice little ribbon in many places, such as on your gown, in your hair, or even intertwined with bouquets of flowers.

Wedding dresses can be quite an expense. If you are not looking for a traditional, princess type ballgown, consider looking into other types of dresses. For example, a formal white dress, such as a prom or bridesmaid dress, will not be as expensive as a wedding dress. Even if this dress is not perfect and you need some adjustments made to make it your dream dress, it could still run you quite a bit less then an actual wedding dress.

TIP! Don’t forget about transportation! Limos should be booked well ahead of time. This is a great idea for people who drink.

Use the property of someone you know. If someone you know owns a large piece of property, like a farm or a place with a large backyard, you can cut down a major cost. Pay someone to clean for them before and after your wedding.

TIP! Do not crowd tables with too many flowers. Much of the time, table arrangements will just be in the guests’ way.

If a wedding cake with a high price tag or high calorie count doesn’t appeal to you, check around at local bakeries for beautiful individual portions. Many bakeries can provide wedding cupcakes that come in at 100 calories or less per serving. Other healthier options include gluten-free pastries, no-calorie sweeteners, and icing alternatives, such as meringue or fruit spreads.

You may want to consider a wedding aboard a cruise ship. Your honeymoon will start right after the ceremony. You may even get a great wedding deal.

TIP! For any stylish and fashion forward bride, there is always the option to add some flare to a bouquet with a splash of diamonds, rhinestones or Swarovski crystals. You can use small pieces of costume jewelry, heat-fixed or adhesive crystals, or perhaps a treasured heirloom.

One way to help remain in budget is to search Craigslist for items or services needed for your wedding. Make sure to meet them in person, with your groom for safety, before you give them any money.

TIP! See if you can find a willing helper who can assist you with looking after your equipment and moving it when necessary. They can also help you track down family members, and get them together for group photographs.

If the groom and bride have different cultural backgrounds, plan a ceremony that honors both side’s traditions with a reception that incorporates traditional decor, rituals and dishes from each side’s background. This will satisfy the family traditions of both the groom and bride’s family.

TIP! Even if your dress is picked and already paid for, it is a good idea to keep it safely at the shop until the big day. In this way, you can be certain it will be properly stored and protected from damage.

When young children are in the wedding party, make sure they are dressed in clothing that is comfortable for them. Dress them in soft, comfortable fabrics that are airy and fit loosely. New shoes need to be broken in so that they don’t cause pain on the big day. This allows the kids time to focus on what they have to do instead of struggling with their outfits.

TIP! Consider being married on a cruise ship surrounded only by family and friends. This will allow you to enjoy your honeymoon as soon as the festivities are over.

If you plan on making a wedding speech or giving a toast, you should practice beforehand. If you don’t plan and rehearse properly, you could embarrass yourself by talking too much, making an offensive joke, or simply forgetting what to say.

TIP! You need to have a well-organized plan for every step of the wedding process, from food to reception events. Make everyone feel warm and welcome on your wedding day.

Seasonal flowers that are native to your state may not be easy to find at your wedding location, especially if it’s a completely different climate. Consult with a florist to see which flowers are in season or most readily available at the time of your wedding.

TIP! Do some homework on wedding planning before meeting with a planner. Use fashion designers as inspiration and create a look book of inspiration that can be used as a starting off point.

Always consider the arrangements for guests that will be invited to a destination wedding. You do not want to give your guests extra anxiety. Try to send out save-the-date cards no less than eight months ahead so that your guests can make the necessary plans.

TIP! Prior to deciding on a destination wedding, be sure you know of the laws of the location. No matter the fees, red tape, residency requirements or other issues, your needs must be addressed before you start booking services and hotels for your wedding.

In the earliest planning stages of your wedding, you should prioritize your strongest desires. For some couples, the venue is higher on the list than the cake, or the table decorations are higher on the list than the music, and so on. A prioritized list will help you plan your budget, and delegate the funds to the right area.

TIP! Ensure your flowers look great. If vintage themes are your choice, then beautiful flowers in vibrant hues may provide the effect you desire.

Instead of elaborate and pricy floral arrangements, consider placing various potted plants around the ceremony and the reception venues. Use colorful, glazed ceramic pots, or dress up earthy terracotta stoneware with ribbons, decoupage, or decorative paint effects. When the wedding is over, the guests can then take those plants home with them as a favor and have a constant reminder of the new couple.

TIP! As you begin to plan your wedding, make a prioritized list of your wants. Flowers are usually one of the most important parts of a wedding, and the cake and venue are usually up near the top, too.

Write your vows yourself. You know your spouse better than anyone else. Composing your own wedding vows makes this ceremony more meaningful and romantic, improving the intimacy between you. By all means, look for inspiration in different places, but make the words your own.

TIP! Add depth to your floral decor and centerpieces by incorporating floral elements of different heights. Use vases that are tall for long stem and compact head flowers.

When searching for wedding music, research bands or DJs you want to use. Ask for contacts and references before you hire them. After you make a final decision, make certain to have a firm date on a contract. You don’t want to wind up without music at your reception!

TIP! Choose group activities to fill your special day with fun. Don’t make your loved ones just stand around and wait for the wedding to be over.

Don’t let your family members influence your whole day with their traditions or suggestions; this is a day for you and your spouse, not for them. Let them know in no uncertain terms that the two of you are in control and that they have no say in the matter. That way, you won’t have any regrets about how the wedding day goes.

TIP! Take your fiance with you when you get fitted for your tuxedo. Ask others for an opinion before choosing a tuxedo.

Serve a small meal at the reception. If you want to have a lot of guests at your wedding, you may need to cut costs in other areas. One way to definitely shave costs is by serving a smaller meal at the reception. If this is unacceptable, you may need to trim your guest list.

TIP! Your wedding venue should play a role in decisions about your theme, decor, and floral arrangements. For example, a tall, complicated arrangement may get toppled over on a windy day.

A wedding is not about the fancy decorations. By focusing on love, your wedding will be truly memorable. Use this advice to make for a great wedding that everyone has fun at.

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CAKE BUDGETS

For many, the excitement of putting your wedding dreams into play is rapidly curbed when faced with budgets. Unless you have a very talented baker and icer in your circle of friends, chances are you’ll turn to a professional for your cake. After all, it needs to look fantastic, taste incredible and be of a size that will cater for all your guests.

I was often faced with a look of dismay when I gave couples a price for the elaborate cake they’djust described. “Really? That much? It’s just a cake!” They fail to take into account that to feed 120 people, the cake needs to be of a certain size – and most cake designers will work out a cost based on a per-slice basis – depending on how you choose to serve your cake. You will need larger serves if your cake is going to be the dessert, and smaller serves if the cake is served later with coffee.

Substituting the wedding cake for a dessert may sound like it should save you the cost of catered desserts; however, because you will need larger serves you will need more cake. These serves are often accompanied by a crème fraiche and a berry coulis, which your caterer may charge for. Some venues will also charge a plating fee, similar to a corkage fee for BYO wines.

The couples also often fail to recognise the man-hours involved in creating those handcrafted sugar flowers they’d like, or just how long the designer will spend detailing those piped lacey trims and the intricate design work they’ve envisaged. It might be time to create something less detailed, yet equally as gorgeous, to stay within your budget.

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FROSTING OR FONDANT?

As with all aspects of your wedding cake, the covering comes down to your own preference and style. I were to marry my gorgeous husband all over again, I would choose frosting. I love the informality of frosting; it’s very nature ties in beautifully with the vintage themes that are so popular. To my mind, there is nothing prettier than a frosted cake with beautiful ribbon, adorned with fresh flowers – just stunning!

If you like a slightly more formal design but prefer the taste of frosting, then you should consider opting for a smooth frosted base, embellished with fondant decorations. Hand-made sugar flowers are particularly effective.

If you do opt for a frosted design, remember to ask your cake designer what type of frostings they offer. A cream cheese frosting or a pure white snow cream frosting seem to appeal to the vast majority, but there are other options available that your cake designer may also be able to offer, including Swiss Meringue Buttercream, Italian Meringue Buttercream or American frosting – all super yummy!

If your tastes lean more towards fondant, then the design options are extremely varied. I would feel confident to say that any theme can be bought to life with fondant. It is possible to create all sorts of magic, right across the board, from simple elegance to flirty ruffles and intricately detailed sugar flowers. Fondant does exceptionally well in the hands of very artistic cake designers who can create extroadinary wonders with it – whether on cupcakes or a more traditional wedding cake.

One of the main things to consider is the season you are marrying in. Be mindful that your cake designer should be asking you about the venue and where the cake table is situated, particularly if you are considering frosting during the summer. No cake will take kindly to being placed in direct heat or sunlight! Most established wedding venues are well aware of this and will provide an appropriate setting. However, if you plan to marry in a domestic or rural setting, please do not be tempted to think that the cake will look beautiful situated outside for all the guests to admire during the ceremony – it will not look very beautiful after it has been sitting for an hour or two in the February heat and all the icing has melted onto the ground!

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GEODE, MARBLE & METALLIC

Every yin has its yang. For all of the whimsical, dreamy, pastel cakes we’ve seen, it’s time for cakes with a more solid source of inspiration. Designs inspired by all things rocky – marble, agates, geode and metallic – are some of the biggest trends in luxury wedding cakes.

This is another trend that started in one design world and then made its way onto cakes. Geodes and marble can be spotted in trendy jewellery and home décor designs. From a geode-studded sash to a terrarium centerpiece covered in crystalised rocks and white rock candy cocktail stirrers, rock and crystal-inspired weddings are trending.

If you want a statement cake, look no further. Whether your wedding tone is subtle or strong, this trend will make your centerpiece a masterpiece. Pair blush tones with rose gold or, if you really want to stand out, bring in gold and jewel-tones. This trend is major, and there are options to do a little or a lot!

Up the wow-factor at your wedding and replace edible flowers on your cakes with edible rocks and crystals. As one of the newer trends in wedding cakes, it is predicted to kick off big-time, and it isn’t hard to see why when you lay your eyes on the unique and eye catching final products.

Geode cakes are all the rage. Your guests won’t be gawking at your engagement ring bling once they see your cake. Colourful, complex and mesmerising, they take hours of planning and work, but they are show-stoppingly gorgeous. Made of crystallised coloured sugar, these beauties are sure to steal the show at any wedding and ensure loads of editorial-worthy photography. Choose a “stone” that represents the two of you — the birthstone of the month you’re getting married, perhaps?

A marbleised cake looks statuesque. With its swirled patterns, these cakes will have your guests wondering if you’re really going to cut into such a gorgeous work of art. Go classic with soft grey and white colours to really bring home the stone pattern, or use your wedding colours for a more modern and festive confection. Soften things up by adding fresh flowers in bold colours or structural greenery.

Metallics are here to stay. Warm tones shine loud and proud all on their own, or can be paired with virtually any colour. Copper and Rose Gold have been the most popular, but silver works equally well with both soft or bold colour palettes. Adding just a touch of sparkle, scattered edible gold and silver leaf helps achieve an imperfect textured look. Perfect for adding a little glam!

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CAKE SIZES

Your wedding cake will be a focal point at your reception, and the cutting of your cake will be the first task you will undertake as a newly married couple.

For many couples, the size of the wedding cake is a balance of what you need and what you want, and somewhere in between will be your budget!

So how do you decide on the size of your designer wedding cake? On a practical front, the size of your cake should match the number of guests attending your reception, plus any additional tier(s) that you want kept for a future event.

The first decision to make is how you plan to serve your wedding cake. Will it be served with coffee, as an addition to other desserts, or as a plated dessert?

How does this relate to your wedding cake? Let’s look at an average three-tiered round cake measuring 15cm, 20cm and 25cm. Depending on how it is cut, the same cake can be served in different ways: 200 finger serves, 150 small coffee serves, 100 standard coffee or small dessert serves, or 50 full size dessert serves.

Your wedding cake specialist will be able to guide you to the most suitable size for your reception. There are many options available when catering for larger weddings, including having kitchen cutting cakes that are iced but not decorated and that are not displayed. This lowers the cost overall.

The grooms often think that these serving suggestions are much too small! Do remember that your wedding cake will be served after a full wedding meal, often including several courses, and your guests will likely be very well fed! Unless you are happy to have cake left over, there is no need to over-cater when it comes to your wedding cake.

For small weddings, a single tiered wedding cake placed on a cake stand is just as beautiful.

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Things That You Need To Know When It Comes To Wedding Planning

TIP! Practice your walk down the aisle many times on the days leading up to the wedding. Make sure that you do this at the actual site of the wedding, as you will want to test out the floor with the shoes you are going to wear.

Wedding planning can be an enormous task to take on. You have to pick the perfect venue, dress, etc. and for many, it’s the most important day of their lives. The ideas in this piece is meant to assist you every step of the way so that you get the most from your budget.

TIP! Consider getting married outside of wedding season. This would be anytime other that May through September.

Practice your walk for your wedding day. Do this at your actual wedding site to make sure you’re familiar with the floor there. This allows you to have confidence in every step on the big day.

TIP! If you plan to serve your own food at the wedding, try shopping wholesale at places like Costco. If you shop wholesale, you will be able to get lots of food at much better prices.

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. It is also important to realize that alterations can cost quite a bit of money. Figure in this additional cost while making your budget.

TIP! Purchasing your wedding gown on the internet can be a budget saver, cutting down your costs by hundreds of dollars. Make sure to order early so you have time for alterations if any need to be made.

It is obvious that that most important aspect to think about in a marriage is the one whom you will marry. Do not rush this life altering lifelong decision. Think about this person and what things will drive you crazy, along with what you can’t live without.

TIP! Keep the wedding in line with how you are personally. Make sure it reflects your spouse as well.

Spend quite a bit of time writing your vows so that they include all the things that are important to your union with your spouse. It’s important to understand that a marriage is a strong commitment that takes both of you making sacrifices. When you are saying your vows ensure your spouse knows and understands that you love them with all of your heart.

TIP! Use a friend’s property to host your wedding. For example, a large backyard could be the perfect setting, and you will save a lot of money this way.

Don’t wait until your wedding day to try walking in your shoes and gown. Practice going down the aisle until you feel comfortable. If you are worried about a twisted ankle, choose attractive flats instead. Footwear that’s not so sexy is preferable to falling on your bottom on your wedding day!

TIP! Try tying small decorative items into each element in the wedding decor. You can use the same ribbon on centerpieces, your dress or as a hair embellishment.

A multi-tiered wedding cake can set you back well over a thousand dollars. You can save money by serving cupcakes, small tarts, or cake pops. These arrangements are beloved for their affordable price range, versatility, and convenience. Guests can even take a cupcake home.

TIP! Make sure that you carefully consider what to include in your vows, as they will be something that your future spouse remembers forever. Marriage is a life long commitment that requires love, sacrifice and the art of compromise and forgiveness.

Your assistant just needs to be someone who is capable of keeping up with all your photographic gear and following along unobtrusively behind you. Your assistant can help you corral the wedding party for great photographs.

TIP! Evenly disperse all of your invited guests among the available tables at your wedding reception. This means making sure there are no odd numbers at any table.

Your guests shouldn’t have to hang around while your pictures are taken. The pictures with the groom’s and bride’s parties should be shot ahead of time. The pictures for the bride, groom and immediately family can also be done in advance.

TIP! If you can, it’s a good idea to have a cruise ship wedding with just your family and close friends. Your honeymoon will start right after the ceremony.

If possible, see if your reception venue offers lighting choices. Certain occasions throughout the evening will call for their own separate mood and lighting, such as a first dance or cutting of the cake. Ask the venue about this before committing to it.

TIP! You can turn one of your friends into a “mail-order minister” so that she can officiate the ceremony. Your ceremony will be less formal, and you will save money.

If you want a relative or friend to officiate the wedding, they can get ordained online. This will not only save you money by not having to pay for an officiant, but will also make your wedding very special. Always consult your local laws to ensure that this is legal, and be sure to get the right paperwork and accreditation in order.

TIP! If you wish to serve guests multiple courses, make sure they are entertained with dishes of small and sweet appetizers on each table. Consider sugar roses which match the wedding colors.

If you plan a destination wedding, consider your guests’ travel arrangements. You may have guests who will make vacation plans around this day and they should have adequate time to prepare. You can send out invitations or reminders to save the date as far as eight months ahead of time. This will allow your guests to make proper arrangements.

Vows Yourself

TIP! If you plan to give a speech at a wedding, write out and practice what you will say beforehand. If you are unprepared for the speech, this can become very obvious very quickly, and leave you feeling humiliated in front of the other guests.

You should definitely consider writing your wedding vows yourself. Of course, copying vows from another source is easier, but keep in mind that your partner knows you well. When you write your vows yourself, you add a bit more meaning and depth to this special day to remember. Use inspiration if needed, but add your own special touch.

TIP! Plan every aspect of the wedding from the food to the events that occur within the reception. Those that have elected to join you on this important day in your life deserve to enjoy themselves.

As you audition various videographers to film your wedding and reception, compare several vendors. Always request a portfolio, or ask to see an online gallery of previous clients. Look at the sound and quality of the video as well as the editing. You could get wedding on VHS tapes a long time ago, but getting them on digital video or DVDs can help you enjoy them for years. Consider the facts and your impressions of the videographers available to make a decision.

TIP! When planning an outdoor wedding, it is important to have an alternate plan established so that you are prepared if bad weather becomes a factor. Whether you rent some kind of rain cover, or have a location that can accommodate a quick move inside, always have a plan.

You can save money when planning your wedding by thinking of flower arrangement alternatives. Use your imagination when it comes to what your flower girl could carry. Use silk flowers, which will cost you much less. Silk flowers save money and can be kept afterwards. Plus, silk flower arrangements can be made weeks or months in advance so that you can be sure you have exactly what you want.

TIP! Do your research before hiring a wedding planner. Consider creating a scrap book of appealing fabric swatches and wedding images that represent the look that you are going for.

Your family might encourage you to follow tradition or make certain choices, but this day is about you and your spouse-to-be. Thank them for any suggestions and kindly decline their ideas with an explanation that it is your turn to make these decisions. As you reflect on that day when you had your wedding, you will not regret it.

TIP! Gift registry is a tried-and-true wedding tradition. For a pleasant atmosphere, you should make your guests understand that they do not have to bring anything.

Begin planning your wedding as early as possible. If your wedding is well into the future, you have more choices in venues and services. This allows you to get services you not only need, but can afford.

TIP! Find a wedding day photographer who is able to capture memories. Ask the photographer how he sees the day unfolding.

Ask your vendors for recommendations about the other services that you need. Ask your photographer if they can recommend a good band. Ask the band if they can recommend a caterer for you. These vendors may give you great rates, as well.

TIP! Add depth to your floral decor and centerpieces by incorporating floral elements of different heights. Put taller flowers in tall vases with compact heads.

Brides ought to practice their smile in their mirror. This will help you to be sure that your smile looks great in the wedding photos. A bit of practice will ensure you get the effect you most desire.

TIP! When planning your wedding music, research your DJ or band to ensure that they know the music that you want the most. Tell them you would like references prior to hiring anyone.

Whatever the size of your wedding, you probably want it to go perfectly! Whether this is your first wedding or fifth, preparation is key. The useful ideas in this piece will assist you in making smart decisions and steering clear of common pitfalls.

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