Two Important Tips on Wedding Planning
Previously, I have stated the three important wedding planning tips on how to save. I discussed some aspects on your wedding that you can opt to consider slashing out from your overall wedding budget. This article is actually a continuation of the tips on how you can save on your wedding. These are the following:
Skip the save the date cards
Save the date cards started as a way of giving advance notice of a couple’s wedding date to out of town guests who would need to make significant travel arrangements, such as booking flights, in order to make it to the wedding.
Lately, though, these fun little announcements have made it into the regular list of wedding planning details, adding yet another unnecessary expense for those working within a tight budget. Unless you are holding a destination wedding, where specific flights for a large group of people must be booked, in addition to hotel rooms, this detail can easily be cut. And even if you are planning a wedding in a far off place, e-mail is a great way to give friends and relatives a heads up as to the travel plans, without the cost of printing and mailing separate save the date cards. However, sending some to your guests is an appreciative gesture of thoughtfulness. E-mails at times are unfortunately ignored by many people that can lead to them not knowing your wedding announcement.
Take a long, hard look at the menu
Planning your wedding menu should be done with careful and realistic consideration as food will likely be the single largest expense on your big day.
Venues often come with pre-planned menus which include a salad and/or soup course, the main course with accompanying sides, and dessert. Tell your caterer or venue manager what you can afford per person for food and drinks. This will allow the caterer to present all of the menu options within your price range, rather than showing you things you really can not afford.
Take into account the things you and your mate feel are most important regarding the meal. Perhaps you two do not care for a lot of appetizers, but want a substantial meal, or vice versa. Your caterer should be happy to work with you to optimize your menu to not just what you can afford, but what you prefer to spend more on and what things you do not really mind cutting.
Assuming you’re getting a wedding cake, an easy cut from most venues’ pre-planned menus is the dessert. By cutting the extra dessert, you can either ask for that cost to be taken off the price, or use it to pay for something else you would like to add. Do this type of trimming and rearranging with all aspects of the food and drinks until you come to the menu you feel best about and that you can afford.
Overall, throwing a wedding on a budget is about prioritizing your most important needs for a perfect day, and then finding ways to cut from other places to make sure your top priorities are met. Remember, this day is about you and your mate, not impressing or pleasing anyone else. As long as you keep that in mind throughout the ups and downs of planning, you are sure to create the wedding day of your dreams, and on this day, that is all that matters.
Fulfill a Wedding Tradition with Estate Bridal Jewelry
by: Sher Matsen
We all know the old verse “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.” But it’s way more than a verse, its something many brides follow to the rule. So why not fulfill a wedding tradition with estate bridal jewelry?
Future brides from every corner of the globe try very hard to follow this little verse. Their wedding gowns, accessories and jewelry must all play into this little verse. What’s really great is that estate bridal jewelry can fill the requirements very easy! Let’s look at each portion of the vers.
Something old
could be a piece of bridal jewelry that is a family heirloom. It may come from the brides side of the family or the grooms side. It may have been owned by a mother, a grandmother, or even just a traditional piece that is worn by all brides in the family. And if there is no family heirloom bridal jewelry not to worry, you are certainly not alone. That’s where estate jewelry can fill the gap. Find a piece of estate jewelry you love and adore, buy it, wear it. You’ll keep the tradition of something old alive and well!
Something new
Not much explaining to do here. New is a pretty easy bill to fill. There are thousands of online stores and brick and mortar stores offering a great mix of modern stylish jewelry that is perfect as bridal jewelry. But wait! Estate jewelry can help here too. Not all estate jewelry is very old. Estate simply means previously owned and that means by looking at estate jewelry that dates within the last year you can often find that perfect piece that may never have been worn and meets the something new requirement. The added bonus is you won’t look like every other bride because your bridal jewelry will have a unique look all of its own
Something borrowed
May require the most thought. After all most brides want their look to be theirs complete with their own choices in bridal jewelry. Remember borrowing that special piece from a friend or family member can add the finishing touches to your look and it can save you thousands of dollars. Gemstones aren’t cheap! And if you have no one to borrow from never fear there are many retailers that rent out beautiful estate jewelry for weddings. This fulfills your need for something borrowed and you get the added effect of something beautiful and unique.
Something blue
Is your final quest and can be quite an easy task. The most important is to remember there are thousands of shades of blue and you’ll want to choose one that matches your attire. You can choose from sapphires, aqua marines, or even blue pearls to name a few. Your blue can be bold and noticeable or it can be just a hint of blue. Once again estate jewelry comes through. You can find a beautiful piece of jewelry that is unique and affordable and of the highest quality by shopping for estate jewelry.
On your wedding day you are the attraction and you’ll want to look your very best for this important occasion. Choosing estate bridal jewelry will do it’s part to make you look gorgeous and it will have you radiant as you waltz down the aisle!
All You Ever Wanted to Know About Wedding Officiants
by: Blake E. Kritzberg
Tracking down a wedding officiant can be a little intimidating. Perhaps you remember a time when it was hard to get one if you weren’t among the “regularly churched”! But times have changed, and hiring an officiant for your wedding is now standard procedure.
Basically, brides-to-be find themselves in one of two camps: Either they have a regular church and a favorite minister, who might be a longstanding family friend, or they need to find one through word-of-mouth or web sites.
The latter situation often costs more, but allows for a lot of flexibility. Depending on your tastes and faiths, you can often find a judge, a Catholic priest to marry you outdoors, a Rabbi to officiate at an interfaith wedding, a non-denominational officiant who encourages you to write your own vows, and so on.
How to find officiants
If you’re stuck for ideas, try asking vendors. Your florist or caterer is probably well acquainted with local options.
Another excellent way to find officiants is to visit a large wedding forum, like The Knot, and post on boards for your local geographic area. You can often get an idea of the flavor, preparedness, flexibility and even appearance of a popular local officiant.
When should you book an officiant?
Some officiants book early. If you’re really particular about whom you want to do the service and can’t budge on the date, try to book more than six months in advance. Some couples book a year ahead.
How much do officiants charge?
A minister at your own church may not charge anything at all, but may accept donations. In that case, a $100-200 donation is about average. Ask the minister yourself if there’s any doubt.
An officiant you engage yourself will set his or her own rates. Rates generally range from $250-600, but some well-known officiants may charge more.
Do we send an invitation?
By custom, you invite your officiant to your rehearsal dinner as a guest. You also invite the officiant and his or her spouse to your reception with a formal invitation, just like other guests. Unless the officiant is an old family friend, he or she may decline to stay, but an invitation is proper. You aren’t expected to invite the officiant’s children.
Can you use a friend as an officiant?
It’s done all the time, and can make weddings very personal. A father, mother, or the friend who introduced you can make for an amazing event. Be sure to pick someone comfortable speaking in front of large crowds, and brush up on your state’s laws and licensing requirements.
Your chosen friend or family member can become ordained “instantly and online” at the Universal Life Church, which in some areas will enable them to perform legal weddings. Again, be sure of your state’s laws. Many times, ministers ordained by ULC will also have to register in their state and obtain a license before they can practice. Call your local county clerk for clarification.
Do I meet with the officiant before or after booking, and what should I expect at the meeting?
Ideally, an officiant will allow a “getting to know you” meeting before you book them, though not all will. Most at least offer telephone interviews, which helps you see how they fit with your personal style.
During your first meeting, the officiant will typically tell you about his or her background, discuss the logistics, bring up any premarital counseling requirements, ask some questions about your personal history, and show you a sample ceremony script. This is a good time to discuss special unification ceremonies or personal vows, bring up interfaith issues, and learn whether your officiant plans to attend your rehearsal.
After the best advice relating to wedding vows
by: Tom
When you’re after top information about wedding vows, it will be intricate separating quality information from poorly sourced wedding vows suggestions or help so it’s astute to know how to moderate the advice you are presented with.
Here’s a few pieces of advice that we think you should use when you’re seeking information about wedding vows. Please be aware that any recommendation we may offer is only applicable to internet based information regarding wedding vows. We do not offer you any guidance or advice when you are also conducting research offline.
A good hint to track when offered help or advice concerning a wedding vows web site is to research who is behind the website. This may show you the people behind the site wedding vows identifications The easiest way to work out who is at the back of the wedding vows web site is to look on the ‘about’ page or the sites ‘contact’ page.
Any reputable site providing information about wedding vows, will almost certainly provide an ‘about’ webpage which will list the owner’s details. The particulars should reveal a number of key indications about the website owner’s expertise. This enables you to make an assessment about the webmaster’s training and understanding, to advise people on the subject of wedding vows.
