Weddings can be stressful to plan, but with the right knowledge and attitude, they don’t have to be. By learning as much as you can in advance of planning, you will save a lot of time and energy. The following tips will allow you to do so.
In your wedding plans, make sure you consider what types of alcohol you wish to serve, and which ones are most cost effective. An open bar is very costly and can become extremely expensive if open for long periods of time. Inquire with your wedding venue as to what their alcohol options available are.
Ask anyone who is giving a toast to share his speech with you ahead of time to ensure that the comments are appropriate. Some material, especially jokes, may fall flat or offend some of your guests, so you want to correct these problems ahead of time. You may have several generations attending your wedding, and jokes that may be suitable for younger folks could offend the elders.
Try using the property of a loved one for the wedding venue. If you’re in touch with people with a farm or a big backyard, this can be a cheap place for you to host a wedding ceremony. Pay someone to clean for them before and after your wedding.
When choosing the location for your reception, make sure you have enough room for a dance floor. 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.
Post a schedule of events on your wedding website or send an itinerary with your wedding invitations. This helps out-of-town guests make appropriate travel plans, especially guests who are going to participate in your wedding rehearsal or other events. If you share your schedule with your guests, it helps them understand where they are expected to be and when they need to be there, so they can manage their travel time appropriately.
Put sweet appetizers at the dinner table between meal courses. Get sugar roses in colors that match your theme, or perhaps some crisp crackers.
Borrowed jewelry is both beautiful and acceptable for your wedding. By doing this, you can get the look that you want and add a special touch to your wedding.
Wedding Speech
If you plan on making a wedding speech or giving a toast, you should practice beforehand. If you don’t plan and practice your wedding speech enough, you risk all sorts of bad outcomes, from losing your audience to totally bombing the speech with stuttering and confused expressions.
If your reception does not involve a sit down meal, hire furniture instead of traditional tables. Things like cushy sectional couches, chaises and lounges can provide a great way for your guests to interact. You can create special lounge areas with plush seating throughout the venue to make guest feel comfortable and special.
Do some homework before meeting your wedding planner. Copy the stylists and fashion designers who make mood boards and “look books” comprised of imagery, fabric swatches and other inspiring tidbits which can be a great start for the final product. Incorporate pictures, songs, magazine clippings and other details that will help your wedding planning understand your vision.
Be sure to inform the caterer that your reception will be outside. Some foods do not last in the heat, or may not stay on plates if it’s too windy. Perhaps you can use fancy covers on your dishes. If you can, use a small fridge for keeping drinks cool.
Make sure that you take others into consideration when making travel arrangements. You might have guests that plan their vacation around your wedding, so they need enough time to get ready. Try to send out invitations roughly eight months ahead of time to let them make the appropriate arrangements for work and family.
One important thing to consider is a gift registry. This helps guests understand that they need not bring anything, thereby easing up the atmosphere of your guests at the wedding. Give them a lot of options at a lot of different price points. Everyone should feel comfortable with what they can spend.
It is important to think about whether you want children attending your wedding. If you are going to have children attending, there are certain details you’re going to want to plan out ahead of time. However, you might run into attendance problems of adults invited due to no childcare options for them.
Do some functions as a group on your wedding day. You do not want all of your guests simply biding their time until the wedding is complete. The activities that you can incorporate into your wedding day can range from simple games, to contests, to door prizes. The more fun your guests have, the better the entire event will be for everyone.
If you are the groom, make sure your tuxedo fits perfectly. Ask for friendly advice from other people before you make a decision on what tuxedo you want to get. There may be photographs taken, so look your best at your wedding. This will be an event to remember!
When you decide on decorations for your wedding, especially floral arrangements, try to keep your venue in mind. For instance, complex arrangements can be great for indoor events, but they can be problematic when placed outdoors. You must also take into account any equipment that will be needed for securing decorations when outdoors at parks or beaches.
Start planning as soon as you can. It might seem silly, but other people are doing the same thing and you want to be ahead of the curve. Therefore, it is essential to plan as far in advance as possible.
It is hoped that you have learned some great ideas for planning the perfect day for your wedding and that you also learned how to make it memorable. Stay positive and keep learning all you can do to make your wedding easier.