Planning a Wedding in Hard Times April 19, 2009
Posted by Damon Taylor in Wedding Photography.Tags: budget, economy, wedding, wedding dress
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Planning a Wedding in Hard Times 
Is the economy putting a damper on your wedding plans?
This economy has been tough on everyone. But, if you’re a future bride trying to plan a wedding – you might be torn between your dream wedding and spending lots of cash. Here are some ideas for cutting your costs and still get the wedding of your dreams.
Location:
Think about taking a date off season or a date in the very near future. Some reception halls are willing to give you a good deal on a date that may be two months away if they haven’t booked it yet.
Invitations
Think about printing them on your trusty laserjet. Some of the larger office supply stores sell packages of invitations that you can print on the computer yourself. You can also cut costs buy not using a calligrapher – there are so many fonts to choose from right on your PC. It may take a little more time – but you could save anywhere from $2 to $5 per invite!
Dress
Online auctions, second hand stores, even sample sales are all great ways to get that designer dress of your dreams. And when the day is over, think about consignment shops. You might get a little bit of money back for your dress.
Favors
Honestly, I have never kept a single favor from a wedding. Really, nobody is going to miss them. If you really feel like you can’t go without. Think about making a small donation to your favorite charity and leaving a note under your guest’s place setting. Charities are really in need these days so you’d be doing everyone a favor.
Flowers
One of the best pieces of advice that I got when I was planning my wedding was from a family friend. She told me that when you go to the florist, give them a number to work with, the estimated number of tables and what you have in mind. This way they can work within your budget and give you what you want. If you tell them what you want first – they’re likely to price it much higher.
Photography
I would not suggest that you go without one – long after the day is over, pictures and memories are all that you will have to remember your wedding. Some photographers are willing to work with you. Consider having them for only a few hours and getting your photos on CD instead of in an album.
Honeymoon
If you’re willing to wait until the last minute to plan, you might just get a good deal. With the bad economy so many airlines and hotels are struggling and have great deals. Or don’t fly – drive. Rent a cabin in the woods. Who cares where you go, just as long as you’re relaxing together. (Remember – the only thing you need to bring on your honeymoon is a bathrobe in case there is a fire at the hotel!)
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Dara Luber, Vice-President of Marketing, NJ Wedding Photographer Brad Ross Photography, Clinton NJ |
Your Perfect Summer Wedding April 19, 2009
Posted by Damon Taylor in Wedding Photography.Tags: budget, money, saving, wedding dress, weddings
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It May Be That Summer Casual Will Create Your Perfect, Hot (Money-Saving) Summer Wedding
Outdoor weddings in the middle of summer can be excruciatingly hot. Formal clothes just don’t work. You don’t want to sweat your way through your wedding. So why not ease the level of formality a bit and be comfortable at your own wedding? Why not let your guests be comfortable too?
Don’t worry about there not being enough formality. Weddings are by nature a bit formal. When your wedding celebrant calls everyone to gather for the wedding ceremony, people will pay attention. They will witness your wedding vows, just as they are supposed to.
But here are some ways to cool down at your wedding. Some of these ways will have benefits to your pocketbooks as well. You can do one of these weddings any time of day. Although you want to avoid standing for your wedding ceremony during the hottest hours!
- Wedding Clothes: The bride can wear a beautiful sundress. Tea-length skirts have enough flow to get the romance going. The groom can wear either a light suit or a great shirt and vest. Dress up, look beautiful, but wear comfortable clothes!
- Bridal party: Same thing! Casual and appropriate attire.
- Your Guests: Invite your guests to wear summer casuals. And wonderful colors. If the groom isn’t wearing a coat, specify no coats on the invitations.
- Wedding Ceremony: You want traditional seating for the wedding ceremony. Standing in the heat is always a bad idea. Besides you’re going to want all those chairs later! In your wedding ceremony, talk about the importance of relaxing and being comfortable with your friends. Charge your guests with the responsibility of mingling and getting to know one another. Pledge in your wedding vows to keep working to be at ease in one another’s company. (And then live into that in your marriage!)
- Reception Set Up: Consider not having formal dinner tables, but small tables dotted around the lawn. (If it’s scorching, you may want to have everyone able to be accommodated under a tent or in the shade.
- Reception Food: why not skip a formal meal and have heavy hors d’oeuvres and lots of them. Let your guests wander and mingle. Give them plenty to eat, but
- Wedding Cake: If you want, have a formal cake, but wedding cakes are not always happy with the heat. So, if you want a big cake, whisk it out of the cool, cut it and take back in to be cut! But you might consider cup cakes or some other fun dessert options. It’s summer there’s fruit!
- Drinks: Make sure there’s plenty of water and non-alcoholic drinks available. Avoid hard liquor, it’s just too hot.
- Music: You’re not going to want to dance in the heat. Find some shade and install a classical guitarist to play as you stroll around.
All of these ideas make the party more relaxed. There’s so much to be nervous about on your wedding day. You are making some of the most important promises you will ever make in your life. So that’s enough stress. Why not wear clothes that are easy and comfortable, and still quite wonderful?
It’s your wedding, you get to do what you want! Because what you want is to move into your lifelong marriage!
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Bottom Line?: Give your relationship the chance it deserves to succeed wildly, against all odds! After all, you deserve it. Your relationship deserves it! And now I’d like to invite you to sign up to receive 2 free templates for creating the wedding ceremony of your dreams, the wedding vows of your heart and the marriage of a lifetime: http://annkeelerevans.org/weddings/free |
Wedding Favors on a Shoestring Budget – Ideas For Spring April 19, 2009
Posted by Damon Taylor in Wedding Photography.Tags: budget, ideas, wedding dress, weddings
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Wedding Favors on a Shoestring Budget – Ideas For Spring
It’s Spring and what a more beautiful time for a wedding. Every bride (and groom) wants her (and his) day to be fabulous. Weddings can cost a fortune. The average wedding in the United States costs over $20,000 and that doesn’t include the rings or honeymoon.
Wedding favors don’t have to be expensive and can still be a lovely remembrance of your special day. Here are a few ideas for thoughtful wedding favors on a shoestring budget.
When displaying the wedding favors place several boxes on the table and cover with a cloth that matches the table cloth or carries out the color scheme. Place the favors on top of the boxes as well as on the table. Variety in height makes the favors seem more noticeable. All the favors laid out in rows all the same height is boring.
Place a package of flower seeds in a cellophane bag that has a bit of colored straw at the bottom. Tie with curly ribbon in your wedding colors and add a card that’s says "Watch Our Love Grow" with your names and date of the wedding. Starting several pots of the flowers is a nice touch and adds some color to the favor table as well. Guests will be able to see their gift in full bloom.
Candles are not expensive. Visit the dollar store or Goodwill store and buy an assortment of wine glasses, they don’t have to match. Tie a curly ribbon around the stem of the glass with a card that says "Light Up Love" with your names and date of the wedding. Place a votive candle in the wine glass. You can stabilize the candle with just a dab of hot glue.
Candy kisses can be placed in the wine glass. Covered with plastic wrap and then tied to the stem with curly ribbon so they don’t fall out. Order personalized M&M candies and do the same thing. Since the candies are not cheap, put a bit of crumpled colored tissue paper in the bottom of the glass and the candies on top. You’ll use less candies and the tissue adds color.
One very personal touch takes a little time and effort but not a lot of money. Have a friend with a digital camera follow the bride and groom as they greet each guest and snap a photo. Or have the amateur photographer snap each guest with the bride and groom as the guest goes down the receiving line. The photos are then printed at the reception and pinned to a cloth covered bulletin board. As each guest leaves they take their photo with them.
Your wedding favors will be remembered and you can keep your wedding on a shoestring budget.
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FREE Report Weddings on a Shoestring Budget. Dee Power is the author of several nonfiction books. Find more budget wedding tips |
