11 Tips For Planning Your Wedding

Most people planning a wedding are doing it for the first time with little knowledge or experience in wedding planning. Of course, you want the day to be perfect and with all the things you have to think about it, can be quite stressful.  But, if you get organized and keep on track, your wedding ceremony can come off without a hitch.
Here are 11 most important things to think about when planning your wedding:

1. Budget.

Weddings are special. In fact, they are some of the most important events in your life. But, leaving you in debt at the beginning of your life together, just isn’t worth it. An inexpensive wedding doesn’t mean you have to give up on style. You can plan a wedding within your budget – you just may have to use your imagination more. So before you start, decide how much money you have to spend on this wedding and keep that figure in mind throughout the planning process.
2. Choose a Wedding Date.

The wedding date may depend on the desired wedding venue availability. Choose your venue and book a date with them. At this time discuss catering options to be sure of availability for that date. If you want an outdoor wedding reception, consider the weather for that time of the year and plan appropriately.
3. Size of the Wedding/Guest List.

Based on your budget and the venue, determine how many guests you can invite. You and your future spouse need to create a preliminary guest list and if the list is too long, then adjust the list as necessary. In addition decide how big your wedding party is going to be.
4. Wedding Ceremony/Reception Style.

Religious or non-religious, you are going to have to make a decision and then line up the church or location that you are going to get married at. That will also dictate the type of ceremony that you are going to have. If you go the route of a church or other official religious ceremony, it is going to much more formal.
5. Wedding Invitations.

Once your guest list is finalized, as well as the date and venue, it’s time to decide on wedding invitations. It’s a good idea to order your invitations at least 3 months prior to mailing them out to your guests. This will give you time to correct any mistakes that might have been made, as well as order reprints if you add to your guest list. It will also give you time to address all the envelopes.
6. Photographer/Videographer.

You will want to document the whole day as the bride and groom get ready for the ceremony, the reception and of course the bridal party pictures. You will want a photographer and videographer to preserve your special day forever. It’s a good idea to book them around the same time you book the venue.
7. Catering. Plan your menu.

If you’re having an informal wedding in your backyard you can go with something informal like a barbecue. You can choose a caterer or ask friends to pitch in and make dishes for the event. If you’re having your reception at a hotel or restaurant you would coordinate with the kitchen staff to plan the menu. If choosing an outside caterer, make sure that you know what type of food you want before selecting a caterer.
8. Flowers.

You are going to need flowers for the ceremony (sometimes these are reused during the reception as center pieces, everyone does it so don’t think you are being cheap), for the cocktail reception, for the wedding reception, bouquets, boutonniere’s and or corsage’s. Shop around for flowers. Prices vary widely and if you are smart you can save a lot of money.
9. Music will have to be arranged for the ceremony.

You are going to have to decide what you want played as the guests are arriving, the procession, at certain times during the ceremony, as the wedding party leaves and as the guests leave the church or hall. You can use live music or a DJ. This will depend on your personal preference and of course on your budget.
10. Centerpieces.

If you are not using flowers as centerpieces, you should consider hiring someone or do it yourself. Doing it yourself can save you a lot of money. Check the internet for ideas. You can start at places like my wedding favors.

11. Last but not least, DON’T FORGET THE RINGS!

One of the easiest ways to plan a wedding is to use planning tools that are available online. These tools will help you keep track of all aspects of the wedding, including managing your guest list, RSVP’s, budget, etc. You can even create your own wedding web site.

Keep guests posted on your special day at your own .com address from Wedding Tracker.

Keeping Your Bridesmaids Happy

When it comes to a marriage ceremony, your girlfriends help you hold it together. Do not allow wedding planning to mess up your friendships.

You are making arrangements for a wedding, and sentiments are high. Successes, disappointments, smiles, tears, mirth, and worries – the roller coaster of sentiments will for sure go full force, as you get ready for the big day.

And so they are by your side – your bridesmaids, that is to say – giving you courage and comfort along the way to make sure of an easy ride on your journey towards being “man and wife.” Over the years they have done a lot for you, these exceptional women in your life. They have dried your tears through that hard breakup, rooted for you when you got that big promotion and approved you when you made the impulsive choice to move across the country on a craze in your early twenties.

In reality, your best girlfriends may well have been the most essential people in your life – up until now. Now you are preparing for a wedding, and they are not. And one way or another, you are no longer in the same place – no longer somewhat like a group. After the first laudatory shouts fall down, anguish can appear on the friendship front. From complaints about bridesmaids’ dresses and wedding planning analysis, to deeper problems of anxiety and resentment, even the best support systems can give way under the stress.

It is simple when enfolded up in the excitement of wedding planning to mislay the force that binds women together in that exceptionally female thick bond of friendship. Do not let that happen. If you are feeling the intimacy slipping away in between your wedding planning – do something about it. These are the people who have been by your side in the course of all of life’s most immense changeovers. You required them then – you require them now.

Communication

It is the catchphrase for strong relations. You have heard that you must keep up open communication with your fiancé and future husband so as to make your marriage work. The same applies for relationships with your girlfriends. Keep the lines of communication open, and stay away from the affinity for anxiety and splitting up when “one of the girls” gets engaged.

With the presence of email, there actually is no justification for losing touch with your friends. Obviously, phone calls and face to face get-togethers are for all time better, but brides-to-be pressed to the scheduling threshold can always send a friendly email. And no – every email cannot merely be a wedding fill in – ask them about their lives too. You do bear in mind how to be a friend, don’t you?

Girls’ Night Out

Put together a girls’ night – and have a good time with them for a change. You most likely are not doing much wedding planning on a Friday night in any case, so try to gather together your girls for a night out on the town. Do not worry – you do not have to arrange anything. Just write an email to your gal pals with a time and place to get together for a happy hour, movie or dinner. Your friends are occupied too, so even if everybody cannot make it, your friends will be pleased about your effort to get in touch with them.

Engage Them in Your Plans

A number of of your wedding plans can be a collective attempt. Put in a bottle of wine, a bit of cheese and crackers, and you have got yourself a fun little get together. No – they are not your servants – and you should not insist on your friends to spend hours filling envelopes. But if they ask to help – get them up on it. Make it enjoyable and have a chat about non-wedding topics while you work.

So yes, at the same time, as it is YOUR day, do not fail to remember to take care of your relationships with your bridesmaids. They are by your side to give encouragement and friendship, so make certain you do the same for them.

Tips on Choosing a Caterer for Your Wedding

Choosing a caterer for your wedding is probably the most important aspect of any wedding not only because the bulk of the cost for the wedding is in the food but also because, well ….. let’s face it, everyone talks about the food!

The type of caterer you should use will largely depend on where you are having your wedding. Many venues have their own caterers and do not allow outside staff in the facilities but there are other reception halls where you can bring in your own catering company.

If your wedding reception is at home, in a garden or hall then you can use any caterer available. Each caterer will have varying costs and fees depending on your choice of food. Before you visit a caterer you should have a list of what you need to have at the wedding as well as other things that you may want or desire but may not be absolutely necessary.

You should always interview several caterers before making your final choice. When interviewing you should determine what services they provide as some caterers provide food and wait service but may not include alcohol. Each caterer may provide a different set of services. Sometimes caterers will also include other parts of the wedding such as flowers and decorations. They can either make the cake or recommend a baker.

Reputable caterers will provide photos of other weddings they have done. You should carefully look at these photos, check the caterer’s references and taste their food before signing a contract. The contract should have everything spelled out in detail and if you are not satisfied then don’t sign it. If you have to question anything then there is not enough detail in the contract and you should have it rewritten to include answers to all your questions.  As a bare minimum, the contract should include the agreed upon services, total price and a cancellation policy.

The fees for catering are generally calculated based on the number of guests. The amount and type of food will also influence the price and a 15% service charge is usually included. The majority of all caterers will require a minimum of 50% of the costs up front and others will require as much as 75%. They also will require a total quest count two weeks prior to the wedding. You should not pay the remainder of the balance until after the reception and only if you are satisfied with the service.

Some of the general questions you should ask the caterer include:

How many menu selections are there?
What are the different costs per person?
Is the caterer a full time caterer?
What types of events do they cater for?
What is the dress code for the staff?
Can they provide references and how much experience do they have with weddings?

There are many more specific questions to ask that will depend on the type of wedding you are planning.

Will a Destination Wedding be Right for You?

What is the precise meaning of a ‘destination wedding’? Well, this is the expression used for a wedding ceremony that takes place in a preferred locality, which is far off from the bride and grooms’ native town. The wedding service and function is held in a locality where everybody including all guests has to take a trip to get to the wedding.

Selecting a locale for your wedding is in all probability the most significant wedding planning choice you will have to make. After all, the locality of your wedding will control many features of your wedding, as well as the cost. For example, many people are now deciding on for a more tropical and out of the ordinary locality to get married, and if you feel like taking a trip to the opposite side of the globe to reach the wedding destination of your dreams, then it can be a lot pricey.

Destination weddings are for sure rising in status. Of course there still are many couples who follow the conventional route of a church wedding, with a reception held in a large banquet hall, destination weddings are undoubtedly an upcoming and new style with many couples wishing to tie the knot.

Why are destination weddings so in style?

Well, one good explanation is that they stand for a holiday for everyone caught up in the wedding and not just a honeymoon for the bride and groom. Some people like to keep it quiet and small and are content with just close friends and family, while there are other couples who prefer a large wedding party traveling along – it is all based on what you want. A destination wedding is also in style with people getting wedded for the second or even third time. They do not want all the bother and regulation of a conventional marriage, they simply want to ‘get away’ and get married.
Things to think about when planning a destination wedding:

• If wanting a tropical wedding, bear in mind that it will be very hot and humid and you and your partner could feel very distressing in your wedding attire

• Do you want only immediate family and friends to come with you, or a bigger wedding party?

• Can all of your guests manage to pay for the traveling costs?

• Can you manage to pay for all your guests who travel with you?

• Do you want to give a second reception back home for friends and family who could not travel with you?

• Is privacy essential to you? Your guests will enclose you for the whole period of your wedding and honeymoon.

Don’t forget that you would be inviting your guests to take the trip with you. However, it’s most probable that your guests will be paying their own way and are basically planning their complete holiday around your wedding. As a result, you will have to give substantial thinking in what both you and your guests want to do prior to and subsequent to the wedding.

To sum it up, destination weddings are getting to be very much in style and because of this there are many travel agents who now concentrate in these types of weddings. Make a choice on how big a traveling party you want and also if the guests can manage to pay for it. Be certain to make some arrangement with your guests if you want a few days of time and space to yourself and your spouse.