October 19th, 2007
Brides who know it all need go no further into this article than this paragraph, because it is not for them. Neither is it for those who are satisfied with where they are in their wedding planning and the progress they’ve made so far.You’ve got the dress. You’ve got the man. The caterer’s booked, along with the photographer and the D.J. Are you still worried about your wedding day? Will your guests enjoy themselves? Most importantly, will you enjoy yourself? After all, it is your day!
Whether you have the next year or a limited time for your wedding, your event can still be just as spectacular as those seen in the magazines and TV Shows. Yes, you can impress your family and friends with your celebrity-style wedding. I am going to show you how.
Remember Your Guests
Your family and friends will have gone to some expense to enjoy your nuptials with you. Make sure that you show your appreciation and include them—guests like to feel like they belong. If you have a lot of out-of-town guests, be sure to provide them with a welcome basket in their rooms. This can be done on your own (or you can buy pre-made) by adding inexpensive staples and mementos of your host city. If you opt not to provide a basket or gift for your guests, at least supply them with an itinerary. Guests who come to another city for a weekend for only one event will want to see more of you and share in your wedding events. Inviting them to your rehearsal dinner or a post-wedding brunch is a very kind and generous gesture.
Get a Theme
When a bride comes to me, one of the first questions I ask is “What is your theme?” When they say they don’t have one, I must admit, part of me knows this will be an uphill battle. Ever heard of the saying, “If you stand for nothing you’ll fall for anything?” The same is true with themes. If you don’t have one, you will find yourself (subconsciously) with five different unrelated things in your wedding. It’s horrid. Pick a theme. The theme doesn’t have to be big—look at who you and your fiancé are. What are your hobbies? What do you do for a living? Golden Age of Hollywood, Mardi Gras Masquerade, Country, Mediterranean, etc. The possibilities are endless! And just to simplify it, yes, your colors can be a theme. However, you must consistent. If your “theme” is going to be green and pink, decide on what shades and stick to it—no forest, chartreuse, lime and mint all over the place. We’re at a wedding, not a kaleidoscope. Should you pick colors, try to pick a maximum of three and make sure that they complement each other. Try to pick “in-season” colors as well—pastel pink at a November/December wedding is a bit odd. Your theme will pull your whole event together—from food to favors, everything will coordinate in style.
Décor
Even if your place is low on the totem pole of venues, you can still make it look like a million bucks. Are you wishing that Christopher Lowell or Martha Stewart could come in and work their magic? They can—pick up an interior decorating book at your local bookstore or library. Pay attention to lines, textures and silhouettes. How do they make you feel? Is that what you want to convey at your wedding? Implement things like flowers, candles, sashes, seashells, etc. into your décor. You will save money but also give your theme some authenticity. Find out from your venue what type of restrictions you are working under (i.e., no open flame, etc.). If you have some money to play around with, invest in some props to go with your theme or a lighting and staging company to help bring it all together.
Get Personal
Being unique definitely sets you apart in the minds of your guests. Step out of the ordinary with personal vows and toasts. Share your relationship with your guests—name your assigned tables after places that you and your fiancé have traveled, favorite foods, movies, etc. Display pictures as centerpieces and to spruce up a cake or gift table. Celebrate who you both are by incorporating ethnic and family traditions. For example, if you have a very close relationship with your extended family, and your guest list is small, opt for the American/Family style dinners—where the dishes are sat in the middle of the table and guests serve themselves. If your culture calls for a special wedding dress, have the best of both worlds and wear your gown to your ceremony and your traditional dress to your reception. Include your guests in ethnic rituals like jumping the broom, the Hindu vermillion powder ritual, etc. Guests love to see picture shows! These are very easy to do, and give your guests an opportunity to get to know you.
Don’t Skip the Cocktail Hour
While you are off being in love and grasping the concept that you are a “Mrs.”, your guests are left at your reception site awaiting your arrival. Be generous and have sumptuous treats to greet them. Create an environment conducive to mingling and conversation with soft music playing in the background. You do want people to get to know each other and talk—so don’t blast it. Opt for Jazz classics, songs that make people feel like they are at something important. Another thing you should definitely consider springing for is extra wait staff. It is quite a hassle to have to repeatedly go to the bar, and once there wait in line. It also adds a sense of refinement to your event with butlered drinks being passed—it makes your guests feel important. Here is a chance to incorporate your personality by having a signature drink passed and available at the bar. Put up a little sign in a silver plated frame explaining the significance. Your guests will feel included and also get the chance to try something new!
Don’t Skimp on the Food!
Food and drink make the event. Good food and drinks make the party! I understand that budgets are limited, but there is no need to have your 300 guests fighting over Ritz crackers and spray cheese at your 7:00 p.m. reception. The reception (including food) should take a big chunk out of your budget—and it should show. If it doesn’t what it will show is that you are cheap, and your guests will leave to find food elsewhere mid-reception. Who wants to stay at a party hungry? If your choices and funds are tight, ask your caterer what they can do to help you out. Ask if you can provide your own recipes (pick up a nice cocktail book. I personally love Cocktail Food by Mary Corpening Barber and Sara Corpening Whiteford with Lori Lyn Narlock). Bulk up on the presentation—that may mean for you, no ice sculpture or five foot eagle made out of lox, but you could add fresh flowers and candles. Add variety with themed stations, convenience with buffets and elegance with plated dinners.
Have Assigned Seating
I know a lot of planners are against this, but it does work out better for your guests. Of course keep your couples together, but do encourage single guests to get to know others at the reception. I have seen where there has not been assigned seating, a single guest finds his/her way back to their seat to find someone’s coat or purse in their seat with five people talking that all know each other. A bit intimidating.
That’s Entertainment
Whatever you choose—a band or a DJ, make sure that they mesh with you and your personality. You also want them to reflect the overall theme and formality of the group (for example, no harpist at a country western wedding). When interviewing a DJ, ask to see pictures from prior events, if available. What does their guest pool look like? Is it similar to the one that will be at your own wedding? What does their selection and library consist of? You will need someone who is not too low-key that they put everyone to sleep, and not so over-the-top that they want to rush to the nearest exit. You need a professional to gauge and tempt the crowd. Definitely make sure that you keep music playing through their breaks. The dead silence will definitely murder the fun at your party.
Get the Party Started
Nobody likes to be the first on the dance floor. But it is your party! You will be the center of attention, as you should be, and everyone will follow your lead. If you get up and dance, your guests will too. While your DJ maybe fantastic, your guests know you—your excitement will be contagious and they will not be able to resist joining in. Make sure that you are social. Instead of the boring receiving line, you and your new husband can go from table to table to say your “hellos” and “thank yous”.
Get Help
It is always fun to meet someone who wants to hear about your wedding—all the time. Get your creative juices flowing, take advantage of vendor discounts and learn secrets of the industry by enlisting the help of a professional wedding planner. Everyone will have a job to do at your wedding. Yours will be to be the bride and to enjoy the first few hours of married life with your family and friends. While you may think you can handle an emergency during your wedding, more likely you cannot. Definitely enlist the help of a wedding planner to do your Day Of coordination.
July 11th, 2007
 Some one sent me this and I love it, I had to put it up ,
This is absolutely my favourite wedding shot of the day. From the bride’s expression to the decorated get-away bikes to the groom’s tie to his kilt to the fact that yes, … I just love it!
http://www.weddingsonly.com.au
July 1st, 2007
Even though I do not watch “My Name Is Earl”, the ideas it bestow upon my in the recent wedding episode were classic.
You could definitely say that it was an alternative sort of the wedding, with the bride wear white jeans and a halter, and the wedding cake made of twinkies, ho-hos, marshmellows, and cupcakes. I thought that idea was so awesome, not only because one was so daring to have that sort of cake at a wedding in a world where traditional is everywhere, despite regional factors (and accents), but because they were doing it there way, and somehow, the cake was still a site to behold. So, I thought I’d devote some time to talking about the alternative types of wedding cakes couples can have at their wedding. You can use this to adapt to your own wedding tastes, whatever they may be.
The Sheet Cake
You know what I’m talking about. Yes, you do. The regular cakes that you can buy from your local supermarket (Jewel has the best ones in the Chicagoland area) that you get for some child’s birthday party. You can the cake decorators make it up to your liking if you planning a small ceremony with friends, or even if you are just intending to save some money. You can even have fillings! A full sheet decorated to your liking with fillings is no more than $80 and it feeds a lot of people. So if you liked to do this, definitely do so. You’d be surprised how your friendly neighborhood cake decorator can jazz up a cake.
The Cupcake Tree
People are really into this one, and it’s very easy to do if you’d like to do it on your own. The trees of sweetly designed cupcakes, one for each guest, tiered on a tree. You can use a lot of creative license with this one, and you can even buy the cupcakes from the store and decorate them with candy and frosting yourself, If you are truly daring, you can make the cupcakes from scratch! You can even customize to your liking, whether you make them yourself or not. I was thinking of this one myself, because it’s a really good option for couples on a budget.
The Krispy Kreme “Cake”
I’m dying to do this one if I have a celebratory brunch. If the coolest thing ever, in my opinion to have a Krispy Kreme tree - that is, a multi-tiered Krispy Kreme extravaganza. Just take a lot of Krispy Kreme donuts - either plain glazed, or all sorts of flavors, which I think is best - and put them on a tiered display. I’ve seen some couples do this, and I think it’s adorable.
You can do anything tiered with your favorite sweet - Rice Krispies treats, brownies, wedding-decorated cookies, anything. I was thinking of doing a tart-tree, because I’m just strange, and want to do something different. Some think that they are so yesterday, but I say if you love the cakes, then do whatever you wish.)
Vegan Wedding Cakes
I’m not a Vegetarian nor a Vegan, but I know that there are couples out there who are looking for a wedding cake that caters to their lifestyle (not to mention a caterer that caters to their lifestyle). Well, there is a website out there, Vegan Wedding, that offers vegan wedding cake recipes and tips of choosing a caterer for a vegan wedding. There could be other sites out there for this subject, but this is the one I’ve seen so far. Please send links, because I’ll offer an article if it is needed.
Making the Cake Yourself
Another alternative to the wedding cake…a cake you made yourself. It’s very possible, with tons of cookbooks and classes out there that can teach you how to do it (I know if I wanted to, I could do it. I didn’t work in a bakery for nothing.) Again, Wilton offers classes in cake making and decorating classes for daring brides who are willing to do it all themselves. Also, Better Homes and Gardens has a sweets cookbook out there that has a wonderful, in-depth recipe for a wedding cake I would highly recommend.
The Sweets Table
If you can’t make up your mind, you can always have a sweets table showcasing all types of sweets and goodies. Your friends will be bouncing off the walls, but that’s to be expected, and encouraged if you intend to celebrate your nuptials all night in style.
May 16th, 2007
Quickie advice for those about to embark on shooting their first wedding video singlehanded. In no particular order, here’s tom’s top ten tips.
- If at all possible visit the location beforehand to assess the layout, lighting, powerpoints for recharging and to be nice to the priest/officials. Check out the parking access to enable a quick getaway from house to church to reception. See 7) below.
- Have a checklist for the Big Day, so you don’t forget a single thing. Don’t use new untried kit on the day.
- When shooting, shoot lots. Remember, this day will never come again. Much easier to edit down your master tapes than to lengthen them.
- Dance on your toes. Stay very alert. Concentrate on keeping the camera still (unless you’re adept at tracking). Get big powerful closeups. Shoot people, all the people. A bit of the location, but go back and shoot more people. Remember we’re all here because people like looking at people.
- Check over your kit very carefully. Check whitebalance, exposure, focus settings are all as you require, and are happy with.
- Check with the bride if she’s asked you to do this film. Ask exactly what she’d like you to record. I had one bride who insisted that I never let the camera stop even for a second. They called me one-shot tom for months afterwards.
- Try to be in two places at once. (see 4 above). Wear unobtrusive clothing, take a brave pill and move amongst the guests, filming and smiling graciously.
- Decline alcohol (difficult one this) as drinking time is lost filming time. You can’t do 2 things well, so concentrate on getting the footage. Don’t be tempted to shoot stills; it requires a different mind set.
- Edit ruthlessly, you hear me? Keep the original masters for sure, but if possible get the happy couple to see your edited masterpiece before they see the long version.
- Remember your video camera is a sound recorder that just happens to record pictures at the same time. If you stop recording mid sentence the conversation will be nonsense wheras the pictures may be fine.
May 16th, 2007
Wedding Photos & Photography
http://www.iconimagecentre.com.au
Wedding Videos & Videography
http://www.iconfilmproductions.com
Wedding Host Portal
http://www.weddinghost.com.au
Weddings Only Australia
http://www.weddingsonly.com.au
Wedding Guru
http://www.weddingguru.com.au
Wedding Paradise Directory
http://www.weddingparadise.com.au
Bridal Paradise, Wedding Guide
http://www.bridalparadise.com.au
Australian Gift, Souvenirs and Bridal Registery
http://www.australiancollection.com.au
Wedding Forum
http://forum.weddinghost.com.au
Have a look at them, I am sure every one will enjoy
May 16th, 2007
Hi Everyone,
I received this question from a bride-to-be regarding how to handle divorced parents in the run up to and during your wedding:
My parents are divorced and although both of them seem happy that I am engaged to a wonderful man my Mum is hesitant about me getting married; I think because of the way that her marriage ended. I am also very worried about how my parents will behave on our wedding day. We haven’t booked anything yet but I don’t want to be worrying on the day about my parents hurting each other. It’s not as if they can’t stand being in the same room together but my Mum often gets hurt and is sensitive to what my Dad says. What can I do?
This was my reply:
 It is totally understandable that your Mum is hesitant about your future marriage. With the statistic that almost 1 in 2 marriages end in divorce its enough to make anyone pessimistic about a marriage working.
Make it clear to your Mum that you are fully aware that the divorce rate is high but you are optimistic and believe that you are lucky enough to have found your soul mate. Explain to her how much you love your fiancé and how your relationship is different to her and your Dad’s. You should reassure your Mum that every marriage is different and not all marriages end like hers. Remind her that she had good years with your Dad and you were a product of that, which I am sure she would not change for anything!
Whilst the prospect of your marriage should be a happy one for your Mum, try to understand that it is bound to stir up bitter-sweet memories for her of her own wedding day. Your Mum will have been anticipating your wedding day since you were a little girl and I am sure that she wants it to be perfect for you.
Point out to your Mum that as you have lived through and experienced second-hand the demise of her marriage, it has given you the knowledge of pitfalls which can occur in a married relationship and how to deal with them.
Try not to let any of your Mum’s negative feelings towards marriage influence how you view your future nuptials. Remember that your relationship with your fiancé and indeed your wedding day are unique to you. Enjoy the wedding planning process - this should be the most fun part for you and your fiancé.
 There are bound to be difficult situations for both you and your parents on your wedding day. It is only natural that you are worried during your pre-wedding planning stage about how your Mum and Dad will behave on your big day. You want your wedding day to be perfect without any embarrassing or awkward confrontations. You say that they are able to be in the same room together - well, that is a start!
I recommend that before you start organizing your wedding and booking venues, setting a date etc. that you sit down and talk with both of your parents. Preferably you should speak to them both together or, if this is not possible, separately. Whilst you should not have to remind them of what is and is not acceptable behavior for your wedding day, you should communicate your concerns about possible clashes between them.
Remind them that they just have to get on together for one day which is important to you. Inevitably your parents’ thoughts will drift to their own wedding day but you should remind them that your impending nuptials are a time for looking forward, not into the past! The best scenario you can hope for is that they put any bad feelings they have for each other aside and come together to support you on your wedding day. At the very least they should be able to be civil to one another and maintain a cool composure in front of your wedding guests. They may be divorced but they do have something major in common, namely you!
Discuss with them your hopes and expectations for your wedding day and what roles you wish them to play in it. The more detail you can give your parents the better, so that they know exactly what to expect on your wedding day. Ensure that your parents both understand the logistics of your wedding day. They should know when and where they will be expected to be during your ceremony and reception. Avoid confusion and let them know this information as far in advance as possible - this is crucial to the smooth running of your wedding day.
 I am sure that as child of divorced parents you have had to suffer divided loyalties before, but during your pre-wedding planning just try to take into consideration both of your parents’ feelings. They will both want to feel equally important on your wedding day. Ask them to tell you their apprehensions about your wedding day and try to come up with solutions which accommodate both of their requirements.
From what you say, it sounds like your Mum is quite a sensitive person, perhaps more so when in the presence of your Dad. Let’s face it, her daughter’s wedding is going to be an emotional day for her anyway so do expect some tears from her! However, there are some precautions you can take to preserve her emotions and ensure that there are no full-blown family dramas between your parents on your wedding day. Here are my tips for dealing with possibly difficult aspects of your wedding day.
Seating divorced parents
It is understandable that a common concern for a bride whose parents are divorced is where they will sit during the ceremony and the wedding reception. Remember that there are no rules about divorced parents having to sit together at their daughter’s wedding.
During the wedding ceremony
If your parents are able to be civil to one another then seat them together in the front row. If you think that this might be awkward and that they would be more comfortable sitting apart then either seat them in the front row and separate them by seating other relatives in between them, or alternatively your Mum should sit in the front row and your Dad in the row behind her with his relatives.
Another solution is that you do away with having a groom and bride’s side of the ceremony venue and advise your guests that they can sit on either side. This would allow your parents to choose where they would like to sit and would eliminate any awkwardness about their decision not to sit together.
During the wedding reception
To avoid awkward moments and stilted conversation on your top table perhaps you should consider the following options for seating your parents at your wedding reception:
? A simple solution would be to try the following seating arrangement on the top table: you and your husband in the centre, your husband’s parents (I assume that they are still married as you have not mentioned anything to the contrary) on each side of you, your best man and bridesmaid next, and then your Mum and Dad at opposite ends of the table.
 ? Rather than having parents sit on the top table with you, you could have a “sweetheart table†which is a popular alternative to a top table (David and Victoria Beckham had one at their wedding!). You and your new husband sit at a table for two which can be situated anywhere in the reception venue, although traditionally it is placed in the middle of the room with the other tables of guests forming a circle around it. This means that you could be surrounded by your family and friends and would be free to get up and mingle with them without feeling guilty about neglecting those guests on the top table. You could choose who to seat your parents with at separate tables. They would probably enjoy the reception more being seated amongst their friends and family.
? If you decide not to have a top table at your reception then you should not bother to have your parents’ entrance into the reception announced by the MC. Your parents certainly won’t want the additional attention such an announcement might bring to their marital situation.
? Undoubtedly your parents will want to be seated in a place of honor at your wedding reception but you might prefer to have them seated at separate tables. You could have your wedding party (best man, maid of honor etc) seated with you at the top table and then your husband’s parents jointly and your Mum and Dad separately host their own table of wedding guests. Their allocated table could be made up of their family and close friends - this will make each of them feel special and is sure to encourage them to relax and enjoy your wedding reception.
Always make decisions about the seating for your ceremony and reception well in advance so that there is no confusion on your wedding day.
Receiving line
Wedding etiquette dictates that you can either have a receiving line or not – the choice is yours! The purpose of the receiving line is to allow you and your new husband to greet your guests. Traditionally the bride and groom’s parents, particularly those who have contributed financially towards the wedding, also join the line to welcome guests to the wedding reception. Many couples nowadays skip having a receiving line at their wedding and perhaps in your circumstances you would prefer to do this too.
If you do decide to have a receiving line at your wedding then you should not stand your parents together in the line - have other members of the bridal party in between them. Check out SuperWeddings.com†for receiving line order and etiquette.
Photography
 It is best to fully brief your photographer before the wedding day so that they are aware that your parents are divorced and they can treat the photo groupings sensitively. You should not try to hide your parent’s situation from the photographer - they will need to know how to arrange family photos. Are your parents likely to refuse to be photographed together? To avoid embarrassing situations on the actual wedding day, sound them out about this so that you have advance warning if a family or group photo is unacceptable to both or either of them. It is important that decisions are made regarding the photos and notice is given to the photographer in advance. I would imagine that you would love to have a photo of yourself in your stunning wedding dress flanked on either side by your parents. If this is the case, then speak to your parents in advance to check whether they are willing to smile sweetly for the camera for such a photo. Explain to them how important a photo of the three of you together would mean to you – a bit of emotional blackmail never fails to work!
Toasting
 It is traditional for your Dad to make a speech and toast you and your new husband during the reception. The best advice I can give you to avoid any awkwardness is to speak to your Dad beforehand and ask him to choose his words very carefully. As your Mum is sensitive, and will be more so on your wedding day, remind your Dad to focus on the positives if he is mentioning his own marriage or your childhood in his speech. Nobody wants to hear about their divorce or recriminations or regrets about his own marriage. Weddings are upbeat optimistic occasions and everyone wants to celebrate your relationship not dwell on the fact that some marriages don’t work out! Alternatively if your Mum is concerned that she may not be represented in your Dad’s toast or she wants to express her own happiness at your wedding, then you could ask if she wants to make a toast of her own. The new modern trend with weddings is that you do not have to stick to traditional wedding etiquette. Increasing numbers of couples are allowing other members of the wedding party to make a toast – it adds a unique element to your wedding day.
Bridal Dances
 Again, to avoid awkward situations during your wedding reception, decide in advance whether you want the MC or DJ to announce a “parents†dance. Make sure that you tell your parents ahead of time what you are planning to do. If you think the “parents†dance is likely to make your parents uncomfortable then eliminate it from your reception. You could ask for it to be announced as simply a “bridal party†dance and ask the best man, Maid of Honor or other attendants to partner each of your parents on the dance floor. Simply explain the situation to the MC or DJ ahead of time so that they can make the necessary adjustments to their usual wedding line up.
For great tips and advice on how to appease both your Mum, Dad and even yourself during your pre-wedding planning, read this article from the Wedding Gazette.
Surviving the pre-wedding stage when you are caught between divorced parents is the most difficult part. I have personally attended many weddings where divorced parents were involved and there have never been any clashes. Remember that your wedding day is a happy optimistic occasion and your parents’ conflicts should not blight your happiness.
Don’t assume that your wedding day will turn into a battle ground that you have to survive! Whilst it will inevitably be a challenge for you and your parents, you have all survived a divorce so planning your wedding day should be a walk in the park!
Remember it is your day, not theirs!
May 16th, 2007
Saying your wedding vows to a crash of waves on your most special day can be a good idea. There are lots of beaches in the world. You can give your wedding some of your good imaginations and put them to work. Weaving the threads of your dreams together can make final outcome to be more interesting.
A local flavor wedding with a typical regional flavor added to it with flowers, coconut water can be a great idea. If music bands and rain dance is your kind of style, get in touch with some of event managers for your dream wedding. You can invite your close friends to an intimate function with the sea as background. You can also add special color to the reception with a fireworks display and end to celebrations with dancing, fireworks, live music and tongue licking food.
If you are searching for some much sought after place, then you can choose a venue for exotic beachside wedding at up classed ballrooms or village themed garden venues. A resort can also be a good choice.
You can find a number of resorts who offer special wedding packages. The special wedding packages may save a few bucks of yours.
The uniqueness in every beach is different. Some of the Hawaiian beaches make your wedding a rich grandeur. The magnificent water splashes at the backdrops and the sunrays setting different colors on it can make a colorful carpet for your special moments. You can enjoy the most auspicious moments of your life in full glory of the nature. It up to you whether you want to take a swing in the nature’s cradle or end up in congested banquet hall or be a part of the traditional marriage.
Before finalizing your choice regarding beaches, make a deep research or simply browse through some sites where you can find all relevant information plus an insight of the place. You can make a query of some of close relatives or friends who have got some same type of wedding.
He can assist you in making arrangements. Properly check the cost element before booking. Inquire the event manager about every bit of detail.
A well experienced person can help in organizing wedding arrangements. He will take care of all the logistics of arranging for the caterer, decorator and get all the necessary permissions required for conducting the wedding there.
An event manager can help in organizing things according to your plans. He can take all your requirements in consideration and work for you.
A wedding at a beach serves dual purpose one thing you take your wedding cake at the site and another thing, you can have your honeymoon at the same venue.
What can more fun if you and your soul mate dress up in inspirations outfits or some unique wears like Hawaiian dresses?
Or you can put beach theme in your wedding costume. Put some sea shells in the outfit. A lot of seafood can be served in the wedding course.
For the music, you can go in the backdrops with lots of drums played in the tribal style. Options are unlimited and it is you who has to take the decision.
May 16th, 2007
Most of us look forward to getting married for almost the whole of our lives preceding the event and therefore have almost every specific detail, starting from the dress to the flowers to the cutlery the music and even the menu etched out in our minds. Unfortunately, when the time comes to finally turn these dreams to reality, practicality checks in, knocks us on our heads and reminds us of exactly how many dollars we have in the bank account!
Unlike what it used to be in the good old days, the modern day parents have learnt to ease their way out of bearing the financial burden of their son’s or daughter’s wedding. The logic used in this case is quite infallible really, most of us wait to tie the knot long enough to bear children, teach them how to walk and start helping them with their math homework. So, since we don’t do our share therefore the potential grandparents don’t do theirs. So finally when it comes to our wedding we are left out in the cold, joining bits and pieces of our earnings to build up the most important day of our lives.
For all of us who are bogged down by this sudden astounding realization, or the ones who will get similarly bogged down in a not so distant future date, here is a list of the average costs that you will have to incur in order to get married. Once you have the groom (or the Bride, as the case maybe), which tends to be the most expensive of the purchases, you are sure to save up enough to have a glorious wedding ceremony.
First up, flowers. Believe it or not, at any average wedding ceremony flowers can cost anything around or even above $800! Yes yes I know what you are thinking, you are probably itching to remind me how they finally add to the grandeur and emotion of the whole ceremony, but cap your outburst because ultimately this will probably be the one area you can cut your expenditure down in. If your budget is tight try something creative, scan issues of bridal magazines or the net for ideas.
Photography/Videography also takes up a large amount of your budget. Based on the kind of mementos you would want to keep from your wedding day you can end up spending anywhere between $900- $2500. Even though you probably think it’s a good idea it is best to not try and cut down your costs here, cause these will after all be one of the only things you will have to really re-live your wedding at a later date, and if saving a few dollars means you will end up looking like a fat hag or be ill-lit in your own wedding photographs then there is no point being a complete Scrooge about it.
Now if you are having a wedding ceremony, you will have to send out those few essential invitations, announcements and then the thank you notes, so there is no getting around the few hundred dollars it will set you back by, but you might try. Coax a friend with neat handwriting to take this load of your shoulders, get her to write your invitations for you, and keep it simple, so as to trim down the overall costs.
Finally of course there is the music. No wedding is complete without good music setting the right mood for the celebrations. Set apart about $1500 to fulfill your musical requirements.
Further costs include the price for the site of the ceremony. This you may safely estimate at around $400. of course you will also have to arrange for means to get to the site itself, this should cost around $450, all together. If you want to show your appreciation for the attendants with a little token of love, set apart another 400 bucks. The rehearsal dinner, which you must have, will be around $1000, the reception anywhere between $5000-$8000.
Expect your super special wedding dress to cost at least 1000 bucks and even if the groom settles for a rented tuxedo there is no getting away from the neat $500 you will have to flash out for it. So all in all, everything put together, added and multiplied, you have a whopping $25,000 bill tagged clean with your plan to get married. If marriages are really made in heaven then the God’s sure have expensive taste! However this isn’t by any means the final word in planning your wedding cheap, there are of course thousands of other ways of cutting your expenditure as per your personal means and fancies, this is just one of the very many ways of going about it. Figure out what suits you, and have a great wedding.
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