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Wedding favors
Planning Your Wedding
Each woman dreams of her own wedding. No matter
what your dream, a small intimate wedding, or a grand extravaganza, she
wants it to be perfect! This is where planning is the key to
having a great wedding.
1. Put together a wedding
planning checklist. A couple of options are purchase a
wedding planner guide or get your own personal wedding website planner.
The wedding planning checklist assumes that you have nine months or
more to plan your wedding. If your wedding is less than nine
months, don't worry you can catch up quickly.
2. Set your budget.
This is a good idea, since there are hidden costs such as
taxes, gratuities and other items that can easily add up to thousands
of dollars. You will need to divide your wedding into
categories in order to break down the costs of each area.
These categories are ceremony, wedding attire, photography,
videography, stationery, reception, music, bakery, flowers, favors,
decorations, transportation, rental items, gifts, parties, and
miscellaneous.
3. The selection of your ceremony
site is very important. The site will depend a
lot on the formality of your wedding. To save money have
your ceremony and your reception at the same site. Be sure to ask what
the site fee includes, prior to booking the facility. You
don't want any surprises. Be sure to consider all issues such
as proximity of the ceremony site to the reception site, parking
availability, handicapped accessibility and time constraints.
4. Make your ceremony
unique and personalized. Here are just a few ideas to
personalize your wedding ceremony:
- Release butterflies after
being pronounced "husband and wife."
- Release white doves in the
air after being pronounced "husband and wife."
- Light a unity candle to symbolize your
two lives joining as one.
- Invite the groom's parents to be part
of the processional.
- Ask a friend or family member to
perform special readings.
- Hand a rose to each of your mothers as
you pass by.
5. Your wedding attire
can be a source of anxiety or sheer joy. Remember, its your
wedding. Go out and find that dress that makes you feel
beautiful. A key point is to order your gown at
least four to six months before your wedding. A couple of
tips to save money on your wedding
dress is to rent a gown, buy one second hand or bid on a gown
through e-bay.
Other cost involved in your wedding attire are alterations.
Don't get them done months and months before the wedding as your weight
may fluctuate. You should allow about four to six weeks for
alterations to be completed, as this may require several
fittings. Other items you will potentially need are:
- Headpiece & Veil-Select a length which compliments
the length of your train.
- Gloves
- Jewelry-Remember, "something old, something new, something
borrowed, or something blue"
- Stockings-Keep a second pair on hand.
- Garter-Don't forget the groom toss!
- Shoes-Comfort, comfort
- Hairdresser-Experiment before the wedding, you don't want
any surprises.
- Makeup artist-Trial run first!
- Manicure/Pedicure-This is such a nice way to relax before
your wedding, go ahead just do it.
6. Make sure to hire a photographer
that has experience with weddings. Get to know him/her first.
You must have a comfort level with your photographer, since
this will reflect in all of your wedding pictures. Check our
the work that they have done previously. You will be able to tell if
they have the style that you like. Be sure to check
references. Find out if they were on time, cordial, properly
dressed and whether they performed there duties as expected.
7. A good videographer
is inconspicuous and knows how to capture all the important moments of
your wedding. Make sure to hire a videographer who
specializes in weddings. Talk to several and compare the
quality, value and price.
8. You need to order your invitations
at least 4 months before the wedding. You should begin
creating your guest list as soon as possible. Ask your
parents and the grooms parents for a list of people they would like to
invite. You and your finance' should make your own list.
All invitations should be mailed at the same time, 6-8 weeks
before the wedding. Other stationery you may or may not need:
- Response Cards
- Reception Cards
- Ceremony Cards
- Pew Cards
- Seating/Place Cards
- Rain Cards
- Maps
- Ceremony Programs
- Announcements
- Thank-You Notes
9. Your reception
party where all your guests come together to celebrate your new life as
a married couple, should reflect the formality of your wedding.
You have two basic types to choose from a more formal type
which charges a per person fee, which is inclusive except for alcohol.
The second type is renting a room and you are responsible for
the catering of the reception which includes food, beverages
and linens.
10. Your music
will consist of ceremony music and reception music. The
ceremony music will includes prelude, processional, ceremony,
recessional, and postlude. The reception music is very important, and
should be planned carefully.
The music will create the atmosphere of your wedding day. If
you are on a budget a DJ is probably the better way to go.
11. Your wedding
cake can be ordered from a bakery or a caterer.
Be sure to make and appointment for sampling and looking at
the photographs of other wedding cakes that the baker has created.
Find out if there are cake delivery and set-up fees.
Decide what type of cake top you would prefer, a traditional
cake top or fresh flowers. Don't forget your cake knife and toasting
glasses, these items should compliment your overall setting.
12. Your flowers
should compliment the season, your wedding gown, your color scheme,
your attendants' attire and the style and formality of your wedding.
You need to select your flowers well in advance of your
wedding to insure availability.
Confirm your final order and delivery time a few days before the
wedding. The flower arrangements you may need are:
- Bridal Bouquet
- Tossing Boquest
- Maid of Honor's Boquet
- Bridesmaids' Boquet
- Maid of Honor/ Bridesmaids' Hairpiece
- Flower girl's Hairpiece
- Bride's Going Away Corsage
- Family Memeber's Corsages
- Groom's Boutonniere
- Usher and Other Family Members' Boutonniere
- Main Alter
- Altar Candelabra
- Aisle Pews
- Reception Site
- Head Table
- Guest Table
- Buffet Table
- Punch Table
- Cake Table
- Cake
- Cake Knife
- Toasting Glasses
13. Your decorations
and favors
will set the theme of your reception. Decide what you want as
a theme and decorate with that in mind. Some options are
candles, mirrors, and flowers for centerpieces. Add shell to
make it a seaside or beach
theme, personalized
votive candles can make a very romantic centerpiece.
Balloons are a great way to add a festive feeling to your
wedding. Just be creative and remember to color coordinate
with your wedding color scheme.
14. There are various options for transportation.
The most popular is a limousine, since it is big you can
accomodate several people. You could also choose a car that
expresses your personality as a couple. Check out the company
that you decide to use, make sure that they are fully liscensed and
have liability insurance.
I hope you have enjoyed these tips on planning your wedding.
May your wedding day be a beautiful one.
Planning Your Wedding, ZanyBride.com, Copyright 2006
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