Great wedding tips

As a wedding consultant I thought I would share with you 5 of my top wedding tips.  We all have different passions, tastes and styles that we love and the secret to a successful wedding is embrasing your personalities and creating something very unique which is special to you.  

Step 1  Know what you want. 
This is often the hardest steps of all.  When it comes to your wedding no doubt you have been thinking about what kind of wedding you would like  since you were a young girl – perhaps a wedding just like those of the disney princesses, all glitz glamour and bling.  However so much has changed since then and there is nothing wrong with changing your childhood dream wedding for something more suited to todays lifestyles and reflect more about who you are and what you are about.  Brides often have somem great ideas for what they would like their wedding to be like, as do their parents, siblings, friends and others who all would like to comment on how they know best and before you know if your dream wedding is actually a combination of everyone elses views and a smidge of yours.  Decide what you want for your wedding and be consistent in identifying your wedding them and making it an unforgettable event.  If you do not know as yet what exactly you would like your wedding to be like then take time to decide on this before going any further, it will save so much time later on.  There is a wealth of ideas for your perfect wedding theme out there, however being side track and losing focus due to information overload can quickly leave you feeling stressed, confused and making a tense time worse.

Step 2 Work with an expert

It can be really hard to decide upon your wedding theme, which suppliers to use, deal with all the emotions of getting married etc.  I highly recommend you take the time to engage an expert whether it be a wedding planner or a wedding coach/consultant. Whilst there are many people who will be willing to help you out a wedding consultant will work with you throughout to help you identify what your wedding theme will be, what actions need to be taken, how you will progress your wedding plans and when, by dealing with the whole picture with an expert you are more likely to stay focused and in control of your wedding plans.  Wedding experts are affordable and many offer free consultations.

Step 3 Keep Focused

Be consistent in what you are doing, avoid using contrasting themes or the day will not look right.  Decide on your theme and stick to it, it will make it easier for your wedding to flow naturally over the day.  Keep your guests engaged and entertained, there is nothing worse than attending a wedding and being kept waiting for hours whilst photographs are taken.  Think about what you want from your guests, are they there to see the wedding or would you like them to feel part of your special day.  If the latter, consider entertaining your guests especially if there are children present.

Step 4 Thank you gifts for guests

Your guests would love something to remember your wedding by, when I got married all the guests names were written beautifully on pebbles so that they could take them away afterwards as a deepsake and it was a great alternative to the usual care name places.  Another way to be creative is when deciding on your table favours for guests, my sister gave all guests a seed which after growing had words on the leaves of the plants, very unique and special.  What could you give to your guests that is a little special and shows some imagination?

Step 5 Splash out.

Do not cut corners or skimp on what you really watn, this will only bug you afterwards and cast a shadow over your special day.  Similarly you do not want to be knee deep in debts and loans after your wedding, do try to save in advance so that you are starting your married life as near to being debt free as possible.   Aim to go for the best you can afford and remember it is OK to compromise on some things.  Reducing the size of the guest list is one way of saving money so that the wedding fund can be spent on making the day  more lavish.  As this is hopefully going to be your one and only wedding you will no doubt want to splash out and make it as special as you can. 

August 10, 2010. Wedding. Comments off.

great wedding deals

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Article Source:  Top tips to get a great wedding deal

DON’T let wedding suppliers rip you off on your big day. Follow the top tips here from You & Your Wedding and Cosmopolitan Bride writer JULIA SCIRROTTO to make sure you get a good deal.

1. Butter up potential suppliers. Try to begin any negotiation with a bit of banter so you establish a rapport with those you’re dealing with. The more points of connection you make with them, the tougher they will find it to price gouge you later.

2. Don’t reveal your bottom line too soon. You may have £3,000 to spend on your venue, but the sales manager doesn’t need to know that the minute you walk through the door. Leave yourself some room to negotiate.

3. Do your homework. The worst thing you can do is head into a supplier meeting with no concept of the going rate for services. Arm yourself with hard numbers (friends who’ve tied the knot already and Google will help).

4. Play suppliers off one another. The basic rule here is to get quotes from multiple suppliers – even if you love the first one you meet with. This will allow you to go back to your first choice and ask if they can do better.

5. Always negotiate face-to-face. Talking money can be uncomfortable, but resist the temptation to email asking for a better deal. It’s a billion times easier for the supplier to say no when they aren’t looking you in the eye.

6. Don’t get swept up in the romance of the moment. Planning your wedding is magical, but remember to be a savvy businessman which means working to get the best deal possible, even on an item you love.

7. Ask for extras to get the deal done. Sometimes a supplier can’t budge on the price tag itself but can throw in additional items or services to sweeten the deal for you. It can’t hurt to ask.

8. Beware hidden charges. From delivery for your flowers to your photographer’s overtime and VAT, it’s best to have all charges on the table from the beginning so there are no surprises when you pay the bill. Be sure to have everything included in your original quote and get it itemised.

9. Trust yourself. Nothing beats your own instincts, so try to get a read on your suppliers when you meet with them and don’t be afraid to walk away if you’re less than impressed.

10. Banish the word “wedding” from your vocabulary. OK, clearly this isn’t always possible, but try to keep it vague and say you’re having a “party” when seeking initial quotes on everything from bouquets to DJs. The price often rockets considerably when you mention the “W” word.

Wedding Coaching http://alysonsproat.co.uk

Alyson Sproat Wedding Coach http://alysonsproat.co.uk

July 13, 2010. Wedding. Comments off.

Ideas and tips for Brides on budgets

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Article Source:  Watchdog: Brides on budgets: Ideas and tips for couples to lower wedding costs – TwinCities.com

The economy may be weak, but your love is strong, and you’re getting married. You want a lovely wedding, but need to minimize how much you spend.

These days, a newly engaged couple’s wedding fantasies are liable to be walloped by sticker shock, said Anja Winikka, editor of theknot.com, a website devoted to all things bridal. Before they make too many plans — and risk disappointment — brides and grooms need to face the facts of how much money they have to spend compared with the costs of what they want.

“It’s a huge mistake that most couples make,” Winikka told the Watchdog. “You need to really sit down and determine your budget and be realistic about it. Don’t spend a dime until you know who is contributing to the wedding and how much money you have. Understand that maybe what you had in mind originally… may be too much for your budget.”

While theknot.com pictures budget-breaking wedding gowns and engagement rings, it also has features to help couples get a grip. There’s a “budgeter tool” that keeps track of how much is being spent and reallocates money as plans change — for example, if the guest list is cut. The site shows real-life lower-cost weddings. And it offers couples free wedding websites so they can scale back on paper and postage while passing on information to their guests.

In this down economy, couples have had to get their heads around sobering financial realities, said Minnesota Bride editor Mary O’Regan.

But necessity has become the bride of creativity, and Do It Yourself is now a cool trend, rather than a last resort. Even people who could afford to spend more are creating nametag holders from birch branches, O’Regan said.

A couple who originally figured on a dinner-dance after their ceremony may now be thinking that less is more and simple is elegant. For them, an evening wedding followed by a cocktail party is not cheap chic.

Here’s advice from a variety of experts, books, magazines and the brides themselves on how to build your budget: finding good deals, doing it yourself, paring back without pain.

This package includes ideas and tips, but the first thing to do is answer these basic questions:

How much do you have to spend? Will your parents be kicking in? How much time do you have to save before the wedding? Do you feel comfortable putting some of your purchases on a credit card? What else is competing for the same money: The honeymoon? A down payment on a house? Furniture?

What is there to spend it on? Find a comprehensive list of wedding-related expenses, from a dress and reception site to invitation postage. The wedding website theknot.com has such a list, as do most wedding planner books.

What are your priorities? Of all the dozens of wedding-related things you can spend money on, decide on the three or four most important to you — because they will determine how you allocate your budget. For example, if you want to be surrounded by your extended family and friends that go back to elementary school, make the guest list and estimate a head count before choosing a menu or picking a site. But if you’re sure you want to get married in your college chapel, find out how many it holds and limit the guest list from there. If the dress of your dreams is key, get a sense of how much it will cost. If you’re a foodie, find out how much the menu you have in mind may cost.

What’s peripheral? Cut from the list things that aren’t really important to you. Possibilities: Favors. Personalized paper napkins. Alcohol. A groom’s cake. Videographer. Calligraphy. A batch of bridesmaids.

What you can substitute for less money? Borrow or rent a nice new car that your brother can drive, rather than hiring a limo. For save-the-dates, send e-mails instead of postal cards. Have Aunt Edna make her delicious berry pies instead of ordering a three-tier fondant wedding cake. Make iPod playlists instead of hiring a band. Barbecue in the back yard for the rehearsal dinner instead of going to a restaurant. Wear suits instead of tuxedos. For your wedding dress, order a bridesmaid dress — in white. Skip the florist and get in-season flowers at the farmer’s market for $5 per bouquet.

What’s the most important thing? That question has an easy answer: It’s that you and your beloved are making a commitment to a life together. Whether that’s celebrated with a sheet cake and punch in the church basement or a destination wedding in Tahiti is secondary.

ADVICE FROM: EVERYONE

# Get everything written down and signed. Even well-intentioned vendors may forget or misunderstand.

# Keep the word “wedding” out of your inquiries. For example, when looking for a reception site, tell the site manager that you’re having a family reunion — true enough — rather than a wedding. Studies have shown the word “wedding” magically increases the price quoted.

# Check out your assumptions, as they may not be true. For example, getting married at home can cost as much as renting a reception hall once you add in a tent, a dance floor, dishes, servers and on and on.

# Negotiate. You never know until you ask: Can you add a salad station at no extra cost? Can you match the price of the place across town?

# Think outside the box. For example, save a lot by holding your wedding on a Friday or a Sunday, or by having it mid-afternoon or late in the evening, so you don’t have to serve a meal.

# Put your deposits on credit cards; it gives you power if you don’t get what you paid for.

ADVICE FROM: BOOKS

From “Bridal Bargains: Secrets to Throwing a Fantastic Wedding on a Realistic Budget” by Denise and Alan Fields

# If you aren’t using a wedding planner, appoint a friend or relative as “surrogate bad cop” to handle vendor questions and problems on the wedding day. Vendors should be told ahead of time that they should deal with this person. Your surrogate should be equipped with each vendor’s business, cell and home phone number, plus copies of all contracts.

# The authors encourage shopping online with lists of hundreds of websites.

From “101 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding” by Barbara Cameron

Here are some yummy food ideas for less:

# Serve comfort foods, like little dishes of mac ‘n cheese.

# Hold the reception at non-meal times so people don’t expect a lot of food.

# Double up on what a restaurant is already doing. For example, a place that has an elaborate all-you-can-eat Sunday breakfast buffet may have a separate room for your reception where they’ll set up the same buffet for the same per-person price.

From “Budget Weddings for Dummies” by Meg Schneider

What to buy direct:

# If you want to take your guests from the ceremony to the reception on a chartered bus, try to find a charter company in the phone book, rather than a broker on a website.

# Buy your cake directly from the bakery, not through the caterer or reception site.

# Skip the veils at the bridal shop and look online for a steep discount.

From “The DIY Wedding: Celebrate Your Day Your Way” by Kelly Bare

Some ideas you may not find elsewhere:

# Get a pal ordained online by the Universal Life Church or Spiritual Humanism and save the cost of a judge or pastor.

# Make edible favors, such as tea lollipops — a recipe is included.

# Make place card holders out of tiny frames. Or stones. Or fruit. Or seashells. Or a Slinky.

From “Priceless Weddings For Under $5,000″ by Kathleen Kennedy

Some unusual ideas for saving money on food:

# Rent out a summer camp on a pre-camp season weekend, and have the guests pitch in and cook the reception dinner and the gift-opening brunch.

# Host a wedding pot luck, in which guests bring food in lieu of gifts.

# Serve a variety of tasty ethnic take-out.

From “1,001 Ways to Save Money… and Still Have a Dazzling Wedding” by Sharon Naylor

Skip the top pros in favor of someone who can do a great job at a fraction of the price:

# Look to vendors you already know, like the neighborhood bakery for a wedding cake.

# Advertise in the college newspaper for a flutist, harpist or pianist. (Make sure to audition.)

# Serve inexpensive foods that come across as exotic because they’re unusual, like pumpkin manicotti.

ADVICE FROM: BRIDES

The Watchdog asked readers for suggestions, here is some of that advice:

# Buy your cake from a grocery instead of a bakery. “We had a beautiful three-tiered cake with cascading flowers. They delivered it and set it up free. The cake itself was cheaper.”

# Make the easy part of the meal yourself. For example, order the meat but make the salad. Or think about serving comfort food — for example, a turkey dinner made from scratch — instead of being fancy.

# Buy your dress at a consignment shop.

# Buy card stock from a paper company and print your own invitations. “We had trouble at first trying to get the printer to work correctly. We finally discovered that we needed high humidity to make it work, so we filled the bathtub with steaming hot water and did the printing in our bathroom.”

# Make programs by downloading free clip art, and print them at Kinko’s.

# Be happy if church friends offer to serve your meal. This may more likely happen if you’ve volunteered to serve at an event they’re having.

# Don’t serve alcohol, or serve it only to make a toast.

# Get creative for decorations. “To decorate the tables, I went to the Goodwill outlet store and purchased a bunch of white saucers with gold rims and some clear glassware. They sell glassware by the pound. I then put tea lights in them.”

# Think way, way ahead. “She gathered twigs, acorns, leaves, et cetera, from a nearby wooded area. She would weekly bring home her treasures. She would lay them all out on a newspaper and lightly spray with white spray paint and then shake on glitter. By the time of the wedding, she had the perfect table centerpieces.”

# Cut way down on your guest list. “We invited only our parents, because where do you stop inviting, once you get past the immediate family?”

# Work with the florist to cut back. “We (found) fewer, larger flowers to replace several smaller, more expensive flowers.”

# Find a versatile musician who can cover all or most of your needs. One singer-pianist says he can play during the ceremony, then switch to Sinatra-style tunes for the cocktail hour, then segue into instrumental dinner music and then set up a piano bar for the reception, complete with singalongs.

# Keep in mind that the point of the wedding is to begin a marriage, not to impress your friends. “Our wedding cost us about $200, including dinner. We have been married for 25 years. I always said that we are just as married as the couples who spend 100 times as much on a wedding and all the expenses that go with a big wedding. We did splurge a couple of weeks after the wedding by taking a five-week trip to Europe…”

# Turn back the hands of time? “I was married (in) 1960. After the… ceremony in the church, we had a catered chicken salad meal in the church basement. Cost was 70 cents a plate.”

— Debra O’Connor

DO-IT-YOURSELF FLOWERS

“I’m the bridesmaid — a.k.a. the wedding planner” — not to mention the florist, said Bethany Bradley, who was fashioning the bridal bouquet for Heidi Hall of Forest Lake, for her June 26 wedding to Travis Wermedal. She learned to do it herself from YouTube videos.

Hall ended up at Market Flowers with Bradley; her stepmother, Linda Hall; and her aunt, Sharon Wolfgram, because she was aghast at florist shop prices.

“I talked to three, and then I said, ‘We’re going to have to go somewhere else. I’m not going to spend that on flowers,’ ” Hall said.

Her bouquet of calla lilies, hydrangea and roses had about $30 worth of flowers in it; something similar would have cost about $150 from a florist, Hall estimated. She spent about $350 for all her flowers, which included the bridal bouquet, nine bridesmaid bouquets, two corsages, 15 boutonnieres and 50 centerpieces. After they were made, they were held at Market Flowers until they were needed.

Now in its second summer at its 10,000-square-foot warehouse on the south edge of the Minneapolis Farmers Market, Market Flowers helps brides and their friends and families do it themselves on the spot. Flowers can be pre-ordered or chosen the day they’re arranged. Floral designer and co-owner Diane Barriball and J.R. Ronnei, floral operations director, give advice and short tutorials. Market Flowers concentrates on flowers that growers, both local and international, have in overabundance, which knocks down the price. In late June, for example, 10 Gerbera daisies were selling for $12, and calla lilies in various colors were $3 per stem.

Customers pay about 20 percent of what the same flower arrangements cost at a florist, co-owner Scott Barriball said.

“Kids today, I hope they’re getting more practical,” he said. “Why spend $20,000 on your wedding and get yourself and your folks behind the 8-ball when you can have as much or more meaning when you do it yourself?”

Heather Redeker, a Milwaukee bride-to-be, had come in a couple of weeks before her wedding to buy and take home some flowers to, as she put it, “see what we could pull off.” The day before the wedding, while groom Jim Vaughn was handling the tent at the home of a relative where the wedding was being held, Redeker was at Market Flowers with her mother and the couple’s best man and man of honor. They worked together on her bouquet, six boutonnieres and six centerpieces.

“We are on a budget and we have to do a lot of the work ourselves,” Redeker said. “We are having so much support from family and friends. It shows us what kind of people we have in our lives and how lucky we are.”

— Debra O’Connor

WHAT’S ON THE WEB

theknot.com: The big wedding website, with thousands of photos and reams of advice.

theknot.com/Minnesota: This site goes with the knot Minnesota magazine and has ideas from local couples and vendors. The Twin Cities message board on this site has specific recommendations from brides mentioning vendors by name with comments like: “Her prices are really a steal. “She takes amazing pictures and is very reasonably priced since she is just on the cusp of being discovered.” “DIYing invites … were easy and cheap and came out beautifully.”

mnbride.com: This site goes with the Minnesota Bride magazine and features lots of ideas from local couples and vendors. You can order the mostly upscale Minnesota Bride Resource Guide from the site.

— Debra O’Connor

Aly Sproat Wedding Consultant www.alysonsproat.co.uk

Wedding Coaching www.alysonsproat.co.uk

July 13, 2010. Wedding. Comments off.

Ideas for creating a unique and innovative wedding

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Article Source: Ideas for creating a unique and innovative wedding

If you are thinking about your wedding you may be hunting for some tips or ideas to create a unique and innovative wedding for yourself and loved ones.

You can opt for your favorite flowers and decorate the church in an original way. Use coloured streamers along the ceilingto add to your décor. Ask or hire a floral arranger to decorate the church or place your wedding will be.

When guests arrive to your wedding instead of the usual ushers guiding your guests to their seats, you could have wedding performers greet your guests and take them to their seat.

Your bridesmaids and matron of honor or maid of honor can all be dressed in a rainbow of colors. Some couples do like to have what is called a rainbow wedding. The dresses are each a different color of the rainbow. Your female wedding party can have bright colors such as one dress that is red, another dress that is green, another dress that is blue and a dress that is yellow, etc. as wedding dresses directed more to the primary colors.Another way to create an original wedding is to have everyone come in themed fancy dress. Or you could play it down and have each groomsmen dress in black and each cummerbund match the woman’s dress he is standing up with.

When your wedding is over you can treat your guests to a circus performance. Circus performers will entertain you and your loved ones. You will see jugglers, stiltwalkers mingling with your guests.You may want to add even more excitement to your unique wedding entertainment ideas with fire acts. The fire performers can display an astonishing show for you. You can have one performer or a group of performers at your wedding reception. The performers may do their act outdoors or possibly even inside. If you want to have the show done inside the performers will make sure that the venue you are in is a safe place to do their act.

Your wedding will definitely be one-of-a-kind when you decorate, dress and hire unique wedding entertainment ideas. You, your future better half and beloved guests will have an amazing time at your very original wedding.

8 Great Themed Wedding Ideas …

8 Great Themed Wedding Ideas … – So you’re getting married. Congratulations! But what if a traditional wedding doesn’t appeal to you? Then a themed.

Publish Date: 06/13/2010 11:45

http://allwomenstalk.com/8-great-themed-wedding-ideas/

Wedding Photography Tips | Wedding Ideas

These days, with wedding costs spiralling out of control many couples will try and reduce costs by enlisting the help of friends and family. In this article we.

Publish Date: 06/13/2010 11:08

http://www.designerweddingideas.com/2010/06/13/wedding-photography-tips/

Beach Wedding Ideas

For those who love the sea what is better then to celebrate that special love with a wedding at the beach. These beach wedding ideas will impress everyone.

Publish Date: 06/12/2010 3:43

http://marriage.suite101.com/article.cfm/beach-wedding-ideas

Wedding Ideas, Reception Ideas, Wedding Cake Ideas, Wedding Flowers, Wedding Dresses, Hairstyles

www.WeddingIdeasForum.com presents a video about Unique Wedding Ideas, Wedding Reception Ideas, Wedding Cake Ideas, Wedding Flower Ideas, Wedding Dress Ideas, Wedding Hairstyles, Ceremony ideas, and more. For more ideas, or to share your own, go to w…

June 13, 2010. Wedding. Comments off.