Congratulations on your engagement! As excited as you are for the upcoming nuptuals, you may also be very intimidated by the planning process. There is so much to decide and do. This article will give you tips on how you can get through the planning process and the big day itself and still have a great time.
If you are planning a destination wedding do not be afraid to ask for every discount you can find. Many hotels, restaurants and other event locations will offer discounts based off the amount of people that will be attending. This could mean cutting or increasing your guest list to accommodate, however, the savings can be worth it.
If you are going to have a DJ at your wedding, ask to see them in action before the big day. You do not want to be stuck with an inexperienced or unskilled DJ whose lack of musical abilities could ruin the whole atmosphere of your wedding reception. Ask to watch them work at another event first.
Consider wearing an heirloom wedding gown from your mother or grandmother. This can give your wedding a very classic feel, and it will have a sentimental meaning too. Also, it saves you from having to purchase an expensive wedding gown of your own. The gown can always be altered if the fit or style are not what you are looking for.
Your cake may be a focal point in your wedding plans which means not only hiring the best your money can afford, but taking everything into consideration in your choices. Whether it be the theme, the flowers, your dress or whatever the cake ties into, do not hesitate to ask for the perfect cake. Find the right cake vendor who sees your vision and will carry it out.
If you are going to have an open bar at the wedding, make sure that there is someone to monitor the people who are drinking so that no one goes overboard. Also, everyone who purchases alcohol should have to show identification to be served. This can limit any accidents at the wedding.
Consider having an alcohol-free reception to alleviate the worries that inebriated guests can cause. If you do choose to go this route, make sure to offer many beverage options to your guests including soda, water, coffee, and tea so they don't feel like they're going to get parched. Having a homemade fruit punch served in a fountain can make a gorgeous centerpiece for your catering table!
Find your wedding venue before making up your guest list. Many venues have a minimum number of wedding guests, so find one that you like and can afford. Find out their minimum number of guests, and then make decisions about who will get an invitation and who will not.
If you're really worried about guests at your wedding drinking too much, you can only offer a cash bar. When people are forced to pay for their alcohol, they're less likely to drink as much. You could also make the bar cash-only, forcing people to go to an ATM if they run out of money which, when your drunk, isn't easy.
To help make sure your wedding goes off smoothly you should give yourself enough time and plan early. Giving yourself enough time before the wedding will give you ample opportunities to make sure everything is just right. You don't want to leave the important details to the last second, otherwise it could paralyze you causing you to panic as your wedding day gets closer and closer.
Consider having your wedding ceremony abroad. The price of wedding ceremonies overseas can be dramatically lower than the price in your home country and some of the available venues are stunning. If you chose to go down this route, make sure that you sort out all of the legal paper work well in advance.
If the bill for alcohol is eating away at your wedding budget, consider just offering a champagne toast. Offering only champagne at toast time keeps you from having to spend a ton on a full bar. It also means that guests are guaranteed not to drive home from your reception drunk. This is a win win situation for all.
You can have a sit down dinner if you desire, however, a buffet meal will be less expensive. The labor cost associated with a sit down dinner can be very pricey because of the staff needed to accommodate the service needs. By offering buffet style you can allow your guests a bit more freedom and save much needed dollars.
Go to several different shops when you are looking for your dream wedding gown. Although you find one that you think is just what you are looking for at one place, there may be an even better one for a better price somewhere else! It is always better to be safe than sorry!
As revealed above, a lavish wedding can lead to years of debt for the newly married couple. Being newly married is stressful enough without saddling yourselves with debt. A much wiser approach is a simple wedding. By adopting the strategies in this article, you can have the best of both worlds with a beautiful wedding and a financially stable beginning.