Certainly weddings can be stressful and require much planning, but you just need to be optimistic and have the right information. Your best bet is to learn as much as possible about your options, ensuring that you make the best decisions. So, here are some tips you can use to make that happen.
Remember to consider how you would like the alcohol at your reception served, and how much it will cost. Open bar is the most expensive option, and the longer the bar is open, the more expensive it becomes. Ask about which alcohol serving options are available through your venue.
Ask the members of your reception who plan to give a speech to practice them with you so you can vet their content. There will be a lot of different generations at your wedding, and a joke that young people can relate to might not be good for elders to hear.
If you are looking to dazzle your guests but cannot afford a hit to the wallet, consider renting diamond jewelry. This helps you turn heads during the ceremony without turning your bank balance into a bunch of zeroes.
Incorporate small decorative items throughout all your 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. These small details are memorable and help your wedding day stand out as having been well planned.
Transportation is something you should consider for the wedding. If you have people who need to get home after the reception, have taxis ready to bring them. This is also helpful for anyone who has had alcohol at the wedding.
If you cringe at the thought of purchasing an extremely expensive yet incredibly unhealthy wedding cake, there are other options available. You should consider getting in touch with local bakeries and specialty boutiques to inquire about individual portions that are healthier. For example, cupcakes can be made to be gluten-free, topped with fruit, or include artificial sweeteners.
Choose sweet cupcakes or miniature tarts in tiers over a bulky expensive cake tower. This will make things very convenient for you. Guests can simply pick up a cupcake or two as they leave, placing them in a takeout-inspired, embellished cardboard container.
Your guests shouldn’t have to hang around while your pictures are taken. The bride, groom and wedding party should take the photos in advance. Also, pictures of the couple with their parents can be taken in advance; this reduces the waiting time for guests coming to the reception.
“Destination” wedding guests will appreciate a thoughtful gift of vacation items awaiting them in their rooms. Useful items you will want to include would be tourist maps, sunglasses, hats, disposable cameras and brochures of fun places they could visit while in the area. Providing a restaurant guide will fill your guests in on all of the best places to eat in the area.
Try to plan your reception for the afternoon. Your bar tab will be significantly less as people drink less in daylight. The costs of lunch are far more affordable than catered dinners. Therefore, you can afford to step up your menu or divert that part of your budget to another area, such as floral arrangements or wedding favors.
A wedding cake can serve as a beautiful work of art, making a great focal point for a reception. Add a coordinating table cloth, and you are sure to have a great presentation. You can opt for patterns, solids or heavily textured fabrics, such as silk, satin or velvet, to add visual interest and tie all elements together.
Ask a friend if you can wear something of theirs on your wedding day. This can allow you to look the way you want to and add an element of charm to your wedding.
As an example, why not try a fusion menu with contemporary dishes that everyone enjoys? You can add little twists in different food items, from drinks to dessert options.
Avoid dressing children in clothes that are too stuffy and uncomfortable. Use soft, loose fitting fabrics. The shoes need to be comfortable, and if they are new, they need to be broken in. Thinking ahead about small details like this can make all the difference on the wedding day and will cut down on fidgeting and fussing over uncomfortable clothing.
Be considerate of the guests and any travel arrangements they have when you plan a wedding in your desired location. You always want to make sure that you give your guests enough time to plan. Send out your save the date and invitation cards at least six to eight months ahead of time to allow your guests the most time possible to make preparations.
Don’t forget the gift registry, which is a wedding tradition. For a more pleasant air, try to make guests understand that you don’t require them to bring you anything. Give them options if they insist on bringing something. Times are tough no matter what the occasion and your guests will feel better knowing they aren’t being pressured to gift more than their budget may allow.
Floral designs that vary in height can help improve your decor. Use vases that are tall for long stem and compact head flowers. Then add in smaller flowers with shorter stems to fill in empty spaces and to fluff out the arrangement. Short, full blooms ought to be light in color.
To make sure you are ready for your special first dance, consider practicing your dance before your wedding while wearing a long skirt. While you may be accustomed to dancing in a full skirt, chances are your soon-to-be spouse is not used to working around one. This will help with any awkwardness he may feel, especially if your dress if puffy at the bottom.
We hope that the tips presented here will help you have a wonderful, stress-free wedding day. Stay optimistic and focus your energies on the love you and your partner share.
