A little strategizing can go a long way when trying to cut down on spending for the big day. Invitations, flowers, and music can cost a small fortune but by making some adjustments to these elements you can have an elegant wedding without breaking the bank.
The Invitation is the first taste your guests will get of the type of wedding to expect. Formal weddings will have the formal invitation and a more laid back wedding will have an informal invitation to reflect the setting and mood of the day. When ordering the stationary you should keep in mind how many invitations you need, order half of the number of guests with an extra 10-15 to provide for the single guests and any mistakes you make and maybe a few extra envelopes just incase. It is more costly to reorder another batch rather then order an extra 10 or so, remember the minister and the wedding party receives an invitation also.
Order all of your wedding stationary together, decide if you are going to order your placement cards and thank you cards also, this will probably get you a discount and it will save on the proofing. If you have any special features on the Invitations such as shells, feathers or ribbon buy it and do it yourself ask your family or friends to help, this could save you a couple of hundred dollars on labor. Keep in mind that using different color print can cost extra contrasting colors can look good but bump up the price, you can achieve the same effect by using different shades of color of the card its being printed on, maybe a gold print on a pale gold or yellow card can be just as stunning or take a few lessons in calligraphy and hand write the invitations adding a special touch.
The Facts about Flowers
Flowers that are in season cost less than flowers that are not, Orchids cost more than roses these are general facts, but did you know that flowers cost 20 – 30% more around the holidays including Mothers day, Valentines day, Easter and Christmas keep this in mind when considering a holiday wedding date.
Also low centerpieces cost less than high centerpieces so consider using a mixture of both, make sure to add luscious foliage to the center pieces this has a stunning effect and will cut the cost of extra flowers. Take advantage of the candles and other accessories offered by the reception venue, as it is a lot cheaper than hiring candles and extras from an outside company.
Do not over do it on flowers for the church. The church is usually presented beautifully enough on its own and you will be there for less than an hour so spend your money on the reception area and center pieces, as guests will be there for up to 5 hours.
Make your own table overlays instead of renting them. Ask a sewing relative to help. You can create some beautiful effects using organza or silk. The bridesmaid bouquets can consists of several large blooms that are in season such as peonies in spring and hydrangeas in summer and add some pretty foliage, this will cut the cost of lots of expensive flowers.
This is okay for the bridesmaids but do not skimp on the bridal bouquet, this bouquet will be captured in all the wedding photos so each time the bride glances at that framed photo of her special day she should see the flowers she always wanted in her hands.
Merry Music
This will be a reflection of your own personal choice; the cost will involve the number of musicians and the number of playing hours. Obviously a 12-person band will cost more than a stringed quartet. Once you decide on the type of music you want you need to decide how long you require the musicians there is usually a minimum number of hours they will play so decide if you wand to use them for the hour long ceremony and the pre reception cocktails as well. The number of musicians you require also bump up the price so make sure you only have what you need, sometimes musicians in the band can play an instrument also and if the reception area is small or if the acoustics are good you can cut down on some of the musicians in the band, this will lower the cost.
Consider using a DJ instead this would cost about $500 - $600 compared to the band which could set you back between $1000 and $1500 depending on the amount of musicians and how long they will be playing. Don’t be afraid to shop around you can find a cheaper band in your local collage costing half the price of the pro band, be sure to hear them play first, maybe go and see them playing a gig and if you like them why not hire them.
It is natural for you to desire your wedding day to be the ideal day and look exceptional. Arrangements, time and again, looks towards spotlighting the wedding dress, but other than that there are a lot of additional aspects that need to be taken care of to accentuate your appearance. Most people set on a 'look' or a specific theme for the wedding day. It may take quite some time to get things together, like a striking pair of footwear or a gorgeous bunch of flowers that adds to the look of the dress or maybe even the entire ceremony. No matter what stimulates you, it is an excellent thought to make an effort and get a hold of every detail to highlight the attire.
Shopping for Wedding Day Jewelry and Wedding Rings: Avoid purchasing the wedding ring in a hurry. The wedding day jewelry is important to your appearance on the big day. You can start by visiting a jeweler's website, which is a fantastic way to begin and even visit the shops personally.
Websites are superb for getting your hands on extraordinarily large or small dimensions and most vendors commonly propose to transport it within a few days of you placing your order. You can access the details of the jewelry in the wedding day jewelry section of the site, as well as look at the huge photos of the same, before making a final choice.
The kind of jewellery to wear on the wedding day: If you planning on a traditional church wedding and are planning to wear a traditional, meringue-y wedding dress, in that case you can pull off huge, attention-grabbing pieces of jewellery. You could try stunning diamond earrings with an identical tennis wristlet and a fragile locket. If you are tight on a budget, you can get the identical appearance for a part of the cost with striking cubic zirconia adaptations of characteristic pieces of jewellery. To add the right ornaments to a strapless wedding dress, attempt a loosely brush up-do to bring everyone's notice to your shoulders, with a quantity of plain, graceful drop earrings that will move about and twirl and grab the lights. Diamond earrings will outline and illuminate your expressions for all the photos, adding to the bashful look.
The jewelry you choose should be chosen to suit your dress, complexion, hair style and the time and venue of the occasion. You should pre-plan the attire well in advance, to avoid any misfit on the final day. It pays to look around a while and conduct some research online and offline. Window shopping helps a lot too and you will be amazed at the range available. The choice of jewelry should be made alongside that of the dress and hairdo.
Remember plan ahead so you can take your time and enjoy the experience. Making a day of it with your bridesmaids is always a fun option, where you can include the dresses hairstyles and jewelry all on one day. Remember even if you did this you still don't have to make final decisions that day. Take a step back before deciding and don't get caught up in the excitement too much!
Both Declan Tobin & Karen Lincoln are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Declan Tobin has sinced written about articles on various topics from Breastfeeding, Networking and Mobile Phone Reviews. Declan Tobin is a successful freelance writer providing advice for consumers on purchasing a variety of Prepaid Phone Plans which includes Cell prepaid plans, Carriers, and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesti. Declan Tobin's top article generates over 74000 views. to your Favourites.
Karen Lincoln has sinced written about articles on various topics from Marriage, Wedding Theme and Wedding Gowns. Working towards a wedding can be stressful, find more tips to try to ease the stress and make the experience enjoyable!. Karen Lincoln's top article generates over 6600 views. to your Favourites.