Tips On How To Budget For Your Wedding

Here are a few tips on how to budget for your wedding. If you have finally decided that you are going to take your year(s) of courtship to the next level, then congratulations, you’ve made the right decision. Now comes the hard part and that is the planning and cost of your wedding.

You deserve to have a wedding that will not only reflect your love but also one that will show appreciation to your friends and family for supporting you two. Unfortunately, the times that we are living in are financially hard and the reality of it all is might not have a choice but to budget for your wedding.

There was a time when the family of the couple would chip in and help with the finance of a wedding. This gesture is proving to be a thing of the past as more couples are finding themselves footing the bill. If you are one of those couples who are making your wedding happen with the savings you both have combined, it would be wise to keep within your budget and not be tempted to apply for a loan from a financial institution. The last thing you both need is to start your lives together with an outstanding debt. Make do with the money that you currently have and cut down in areas that are not necessary.

Wedding consultants will tell you that most couples refuse to compromise their guest list. If you want to keep the size of your guest list, then you can cut down on the cost for decorations, cost of venue etc. 

Here are other ways in which you can save money and keep within your budget:

1.    Plan your wedding way in advance so that you have enough time to shop around for great bargains on your wedding attire, party favors, etc. Having a huge window of time allows you to find bargains rather than taking/buying/using the first thing that comes along in desperation.

2.    The wedding reception area could be another huge wedding expense but it does not have to be. Think about places that you can either have your reception for free or for a low cost. The church in which you worship may have a reception area that you can use free or charge. Other money-saving reception locations include a social room at a hotel, a restaurant, or even at the home of a friend who has a large house.

3.    No one says that your wedding ring has to be a major expense. You can say “I love you” just as well with wedding bands. Have something special inscribed inside the bands. The diamonds can always come later, like on your first wedding anniversary as you celebrate your marriage and the fact that you didn’t go into debt when you had your wedding.

4.    Add your personal touch to some of the wedding necessities with do-it-yourself projects. If you can bake a cake, make decorations or have incredible graphic artist skills to make your invitations, by all means do that. Perhaps you have a skilled friend you could barter with. She bakes your wedding cake in exchange for you babysitting her kids while she and her husband get away for a weekend.

There are many ways to have a beautiful wedding on a budget. The trick is to get started early and be open to cost-conscious ideas.

Talk to your parents (mother preferably), friends, relations or even store personnel will have some tips on how to budget for your wedding. You are not alone in this, talk to your best friend (the groom) even he can have some ideas.

Enjoy the new More Wedding Info Blog article and check out another site for brides from Teri Champigny at Bridal Accessories Info

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Bridesmaid Dresses Tips

If you’re planning a wedding, one thing you’ll need to factor in is what the bridesmaids are going to wear. We’ve all heard horror stories about brides who choose hideous gowns that just don’t suit the women wearing them. No one wants to be Bridezilla! Fortunately, it’s relatively easy to pick bridesmaid dresses that look great, don’t cost too much, and don’t compete with the bridal gown. Here are a few tips to help you select the perfect dresses for your bridesmaids.

The number 1 rule is to control as little as you have to. Lots of brides get caught up in the idea that they have to be in control of everything. But the less you actually have to be in charge of, the lower your stress level will be. Ask your wedding party what their favorite styles are, whether they have any concerns about modesty, and what their measurements are. Then, think about what you want out of your wedding.

If you just want the bridal party to look similar, choose a color and a rough style (such as skirt length and shape) and let the bridesmaids pick their own gown. That way, they control fit, dress type, and cost, and can keep all of them within their personal preferences. If you don’t want certain elements in your wedding, be sure to specify. This type of bridesmaid gown selection process is the easiest on everyone. Of course, it won’t work for every wedding – truly formal weddings may require all bridesmaids to match. In this case, try to reach a compromise that will work well on all your bridesmaids, without making anyone feel like “the ugly one” or exceeding the amount they can pay.

Take into consideration the body shapes of your bridesmaids. If they all have similar figures, it’s much easier to find a style that flatters that figure. If you have an assortment of body shapes, which is probably likely, pick the style that looks the best on most of them while not looking a complete disaster on the others.

Remember that formal weddings call for longer gowns, and that you’ll want to stick to a relatively limited color palette. The bridesmaids should look good, but they should also blend in and not take attention away from you. After all, it’s your big day to shine. Get everyone fitted wearing the correct shoes and undergarments, and remind your bridesmaids not to lose a lot of weight right before the wedding. Otherwise, their dresses might not fit. At minimum, the bridesmaids shouldn’t make any major physical changes after the last fitting.

Shop around for the best prices on gowns for your bridesmaids, too. Whether they’re buying them for themselves, or you’re helping with the cost, no one wants to pay more than they have to. Discount shops and online retailers can often offer a good price. Just remember that a gown needs to be available in a wide range of sizes – the last one on the rack isn’t an option when you’re dressing several people. Take the time to think about what works best on your bridesmaids. Remember that you don’t have to be a micromanager, and you’ll have no problem getting a great looking wedding party without much stress.
 

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30 Days To Go Checklist

After you’ve spent months or a year planning and scheduling every minute detail of your wedding, you will wake up one morning and realize that it’s the last few weeks before the ceremony and there are things you haven’t done. Don’t be surprised if your mind goes blank and you just cannot remember what needs to be done. Stress!

Here is a quick checklist to get you back on track and relieve some of your stress:

• This would be a good time to apply for your marriage license, if you haven’t already done it. Different localities have different requirements so you and your fiancé need to take a little advance care with this process. Normally, this is a task handled by the groom.

The license is usually issued by the County Clerk or the Clerk of the Court. There will be a fee. Check in advance for the fee and method of payment required. Some states require blood tests and others require tests for German Measles, venereal diseases, sickle-cell anemia, tuberculosis, etc.

• Your dress needs a final fitting now to be sure there’s time to make any changes needed. While you are at it, make sure your bridesmaids and groomsmen have their attire ready to go.

• All your vendors need to be contacted to confirm arrival/delivery dates and times. This includes your caterer, florist, musicians, photographer, hotels, reception hall, minister or other officiate, transportation and hotel reservations and the bakery creating your wedding cake.

• Take a little time to check your wedding program for accuracy before you print it. Send a future change of address form to the post office. Make a list of those invited guests who have not responded to your request for an RSVP and ask your mother or sister to contact them. As soon as you know how many out-of-town guests you will have, create your welcome baskets for them.

• As soon as you receive gifts, write thank you notes. People consider it bad manners to have to wait weeks to get thanked for sending a gift.

Two Weeks To Go:

A couple of weeks before your ceremony, flesh out your seating plan and
write your place cards. Confirm any last minute details and tell your caterer how many to expect. Complete your seating chart.

Pick up your dress and hang it where it won’t wrinkle or get caught on something. Occasionally walk around your house wearing your wedding shoes to break them in and make them comfortable for your walk down the aisle.

Arrange for a house sitter while you are on your honeymoon, if necessary. You might need someone to water your plants or take care of your pets while you are gone.

Make sure someone has a list of your honeymoon itinerary and contact information in case of an emergency.

With your fiancé, write toasts for the rehearsal dinner and reception. Attend your bachelor or bachelorette parties.

The Day Before:

Your out-of-town guests will be arriving. Relax with them and make them
comfortable. Personally give them their welcome baskets or have them already in their rooms.

Take a break and have a manicure, pedicure and maybe a massage.

Confirm your transportation schedule.

Attend the rehearsal that afternoon or evening and hold the rehearsal dinner. Give your wedding party their gifts and make sure they know their individual responsibilities, like handing out corsages and boutonnieres, escorting guests down the aisle.

The Big Day:

Give your parents their wedding gifts, if you didn’t do it at the rehearsal dinner.

Follow the schedule you have set up for the morning; hair dresser, make up, etc., and you’ll make it just fine to the wedding with everything running fairly smoothly.

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Wedding planning isn’t just for the bride; the groom should take some responsibility and have some input in the process too. However, traditionally the arrangements are covered by the bride and her mother. That means that many people don’t know how to get the groom involved. Let’s take a look at a few ways to help him avoid feeling left out of things or run over by your plans.

If you’ve just gotten engaged, you’re going to want to make the announcement. Both of you can create an announcement card to send out by mail or email, or share the responsibility of calling friends and family. Together, make the list of people you’d like to invite to the wedding.

Food is another important portion of your wedding. Your fiancé can help you with the budget, help figure out the catering situation, and maybe come up with a few creative ideas that you haven’t thought of. If one or the other of you is a skilled negotiator, consider delegating that person to work with the vendors to get the best price. Remember, every task is an important one!

You may wish to write your vows together, too. Collaboration can help you come up with the perfect words to say to one another to express your love. Other things you can do together include building decorations for the reception, researching the music and deciding on the DJs, and choosing the videographer or photographer. You’ll want to talk about just what each of you wants out of the wedding.

For many grooms, the wine and other drinks that will be provided at the reception are extremely important. If this is something your guy cares about, or if he loves food, let him handle the food and drink. Resist the urge to micro manage! Each of you has the ability to put together something great without supervision, as long as you’re clear on what needs to be done in advance.

Other things the groom can do to take a little bit of the load off the bride’s shoulders include choosing suits for the wedding, contributing his opinion on colors, theme, and size of the wedding, and choosing the transportation for the big day. He can also handle wedding present registrations and handle mediation with your families if there are problems. He can even talk about the toast with the best man if you’re feeling nervous about it.

It’s a great idea to involve your groom in the wedding planning. Just make sure to include him in the decision making as well as the labor, and relax about his ability to handle things. He can get the job done just as well as you can, and it’ll keep you from feeling quite as stressed and unhappy. If you’ll be married soon, you’re going to be entering a life where you do a lot of things together. Planning your ceremony and reception is a great start.

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Now that you have shared your happy news with family and friends the fun really starts. It’s time to actually start planning your wedding; wedding reception ideas, bridal bouquets, wedding favor ideas and dress ideas will be swimming around in that little loved-up head of yours!

Take a deep breath and relax because the BIG question you’re already asking yourself is… “Where do I start?”

Well, the only way to successfully plan your perfect wedding is to start with your wedding reception ideas. Treat yourself to a few bridal magazines [you've always wanted to buy one and now you can with that rock on your finger!]. Start looking around in haberdashery departments and put together a collection of the materials, styles and colors that appeal to you. These will provide the essential ingredients for your wedding reception ideas board or scrapbook or however you choose to present them.

Your ideas can then spiral off in a multitude of different directions as you start to consider wedding themes, wedding favor ideas, color themes and style themes, etc. It is truly essential to set the tone of your wedding first and then everything else falls in to place. For example, if your bridal gown shop knows you are going for a traditional “ivory and gold” theme, she can then advise you on gowns to suit this theme. In addition, you can then advise your wedding favor supplier that any ideas for wedding favors must fit within this theme.

Wedding favors come in all different styles and design. They range from candle favors, chocolate favors, cd wedding favors, beach themed favors and many more. You can even personalize your favors to make them unique to your guests.

In these early days, there is no need to ask for the groom’s comments – wait until you have narrowed down some ideas before you present them to him. He won’t really respond to “do you like this?” and “what about this?” being thrown at him 50 times a day. It is far better to approach your groom once you have narrowed down groomsmen ideas, color ideas, wedding reception ideas, wedding favor ideas, etc to a minimum. You will also get a more honest answer from him. Don’t forget, even though ideas for wedding favors have completely taken over your life for the moment, he might not share your enthusiasm at this early stage of the preparations.

Throughout your ideas stage, you must not forget your wedding guests. Fundamentally, it is your day, however every girl wants their wedding remembered for its class and elegance. The one way that guests will treasure your wedding memories is by the giving of unique wedding favors. Second to your wedding themes and wedding reception ideas, you must consider wedding favor ideas carefully. Once your beautiful day is over and you’re embarking on married life, you want your guests to look back at their favor boxes and bomboniere and reminisce!

However you plan your wonderful day, and whichever of your original wedding reception ideas and ideas for wedding favors you choose, have a special day and a magical married life thereafter!

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