Planning a Wedding can be Stressful…. Here are Some Tips!
by Kat Vincent, Contributing Writer
Spring is springing, and love is in the air! This means that wedding planning is probably on a lot of gals’ (and even some guys’) minds… So, here is some information to make planning that one big day a little less stressful (I hope!)
You can have a beautiful wedding by starting early, knowing when to ask for help and knowing where to find wedding ideas and information about wedding themes, wedding favors, wedding gifts and all things related to planning your wedding.
Wedding Itinerary
You may be confused about planning the itinerary for your wedding day, and you have every right to be. This is usually one of the areas that causes the most headaches for brides.
Hint: Wedding planners are very valuable team members when it comes to planning the order of events on your wedding day. They have done this before and can offer incredibly valuable advice to guide you.
Wedding Invitations
Choosing wedding invitations one of the first steps in wedding planning. This lets your guests know when the wedding is, and it is also a way to set the tone for your wedding theme if you are using one.
What Type of Invitation Should I Choose?
Your wedding invitations can be tied to your wedding theme, favorite color or based on your budget. Most major malls have a Papyrus store, or other stationary store that you can wander into to get ideas.
Spring Wedding Ideas
Flowers and garden themes work really well in Spring, and Daisies are probably the most popular choice. Other choices include themes based on colors, pastels or a few bright colors work well.
Consider getting married outside in a garden so you can enjoy this great season, and plan an evening reception indoors to keep your guests comfortable.
Honeymoon Destinations
Believe it or not, your honeymoon will most likely be more fun and memorable than your actual wedding. Think about it. The wedding only lasts a few hours while the honeymoon lasts several days (or weeks…one can hope)! So, what honeymoon destinations should you be looking at?
Budget, location and type of honeymoon all play a factor when trying to decide. I personally use www.kayak.com and www.travelocity.com for my travel needs, they have great e-mail alerts when new low prices come out on everything you need for travel!
Wedding Dress Rentals
Yes, that does say RENTALS! Finding the perfect wedding dress can be very stressful and time consuming, not to mention expensive! A growing trend in the wedding industry is wedding dress rentals, you’ll have the photos forever…so renting is a great budget saver too!
Should you rent your wedding dress? Let's find out...
You should if...
Your wedding budget is tight and you are looking to cut costs.
You don't mind giving back your wedding dress after your wedding.
You want to wear a really expensive dress but can't afford it.
You should not if...
- You want to save your wedding dress and possibly pass it down to your daughter one day.
- You want a hard to find dress that most rental places won't carry.
- You wouldn't feel right wearing a rental dress.
Wedding Centerpieces
Wedding centerpieces are an important part of your wedding reception. Here are three tips:
- Hurricane Centerpieces
Hurricane lamps filled with items like candles, flowers or other objects make elegant centerpieces.
- Theme Centerpieces
Pick a centerpiece that fits your theme, like pumpkins for fall or flowers that match the colors of your wedding.
- Stay Within Budget
Set a budget for your centerpieces and stick to it.
Wedding Themes
Wedding themes can make your wedding unique and unlike all the others.
What are the options for a wedding theme you ask? Well, you can choose just about anything. Here are a few ideas:
- Seasonal Wedding Theme
Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter make great themes, and there are a lot of options for planning a seasonal-themed wedding.
- What are your hobbies?
African, sports, Cinderella and Celtic are some, think about what you and your fiancé are really into.
- Beach Weddings
Getting married in the sand is becoming more and more popular. I can attest to standing up in a friend’s beach wedding and it was lovely.
The First Few Steps In Planning Your Wedding
When you first start planning your wedding, you may feel your heart start to race and realize that you have a lot of work to do.
Your first step in planning your wedding should be to figure out what your budget is for your entire wedding. The average wedding is well over $20,000 in most parts of the U.S.
Second, start researching and visiting reception sites as soon as possible. Pick a few dates from the calendar that work, and call your potential reception spaces to make an appointment to visit them.
The third thing you should to do is buy your wedding gown. This will most likely take some time, so the sooner you get it out of the way the sooner you can concentrate on other aspects of your wedding.
These are only three of many tasks that you will have to complete in planning your wedding. Congratulations, Good luck, and get to work!
|
