Your wedding should be a memorable, once-in-a-lifetime event, but it’s becoming easier than ever to let wedding-related expenses take over your life. To keep control of the wedding budget, there are a number of things you can do. Use the tips below to help you balance your desire for a memorable wedding with your need to stay within a reasonable budget.
Spend some time writing your vows. These words are important for your new spouse. Marriage is supposed to mean the rest of your life, including both ups and downs. Don’t just make a list of promises, however. Your vows are also your opportunity to express your deep love for your partner.
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.
Flowers are great, but don’t place too many of them on your tables or they can become tacky. A lot of the time flowers in the middle of the table are an annoyance. Some people attending your wedding may have pollen allergies, as well. A romantic alternative to floral centerpieces at guest tables is the use of fragrance-free candles.
You need to provide the DJ at your wedding with some songs you want to hear, but you also need to give him a list of all the songs you do not want to hear on that day. If you hate a specific song or a genre, such as heavy metal or country, you don’t want that played at your wedding reception. This will help you to avoid discomfort on the big day.
Instead of traditional floral bouquets, brides can adorn their bouquet with diamonds, rhinestones or other gems. You can add some crystals that have been glued on, some costume jewelery, or an heirloom of your own. To make sure that this look complements the entire look of your outfit, be sure that the colors, size, and cut are consistent.
You want to practice that wedding day aisle walk, especially if you plan to wear heels. Flats may be a better choice if you think you may hurt your feet. Comfortable footwear is a wonderful trade off to protect you from falling.
Instead of choosing an expensive, towering wedding cake, choose several tiers of mini tarts or decadent cupcakes. People love these arrangements because they don’t cost a lot, are versatile, and convenient. Your guests can help themselves to a couple of cupcakes in a to-go box on their way out the door.
After you select and purchase your dress, see if you can leave it at the store until the big day. This will reduce the chance that it becomes stained or wrinkled. By storing it at the shop, you will ensure that you get it after it is freshly pressed and hung.
Perhaps you would consider a cruise ship wedding, with only a few close friends and family. Doing this will allow you to start your honeymoon immediately after your wedding is done. Some ships will give special deals to people who get married on board.
A sweet treat between meal courses is a great way to keep your guests happy. Why not look for sugar roses that match your wedding theme.
Since they take such a huge chunk of your wedding budget, make good choices when planning your centerpieces. Avoid overbearing table decor; instead, opt for something simple yet elegant pieces. Smaller centerpieces allow your guests to converse and interact without something blocking their view.
If a bride and groom are from a different culture, be sure that you have both of the traditions represented in the wedding. Then try to get a reception set up that shows the other side of the marriage if possible. This allows you to set up a great contrast that will allow both sides of the family to enjoy the wedding as much as possible.
If you decide to give a wedding speech, be sure to plan and practice sufficiently. 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.
Meeting a wedding planner? Do your homework. Look at the creations of fashion designers for options in fabric and styles that can provide inspiration for a starting point. Use photographs, magazine clippings and the lyrics of a special song to describe your perfect wedding to your planner.
If you are planning an outdoor reception, make sure that your caterer is aware of this. Certain foods do not do well in extremely warm temperatures; others are not heavy enough to withstand the wind. One way that these weather issues can be dealt with is to use sturdy covers for the food. Furthermore, consider hiring a refrigerator to keep beverages cool.
One of the first things you should do when planning your wedding is to make a list of everything you desire, and rank how important each item is to you. Some people will have the venue as the most important item while others might list the guest list. Put the most important things for you at the top. Use your priority list to determine which aspects of your wedding to pay for first. This helps you stay within your budget and purchase goods and services that make your wedding into everything you want it to be.
Are you planning on inviting children to your wedding, and how many are there going to be? If you want to save a little money and stress, you can avoid inviting children. But, there may be many folks who will be unable or unwilling to attend without their kids.
There is no reason why you cannot have a glorious wedding without cleaning out your bank account. Apply the tips from this article and you will be on your way to the wedding of your dreams, without breaking the bank.