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Your rehearsal dinner is a great time to enjoy being with family and friends and begin your wedding celebration. There are a few things you want to keep in mind when planning for this special event. Firstly, usually the groom’s parents host the dinner (however, this is no longer a strict rule). Sometimes the bride and groom will host they dinner or it can be hosted together by several people.

In terms of food for dinner, try a different style and menu than that of your wedding day. If your wedding is a formal sit-down dinner, try a buffet or something more casual for the rehearsal. Also, mix up the types of food. Maybe have each of the couple’s ethnicity reflected in the food for each meal. Continue Reading »

Obviously the wedding ceremony is what your big day is all about. The vows, the Church, exchanging of rings, and of course, the big “I do”. Here are a few ideas about ceremony etiquette that you may want to keep in mind before walking down the aisle.

If the Church you choose has two center aisles, pick one aisle to use as your focal point. Treat the whole wedding as though it had only one, or use the right aisle for the processional and the left for the recessional. That will allow all the guests to get a nice close-up of the couple. If you choose one aisle, you may want to consider seating guests in certain areas. Continue Reading »

Almost every couple struggles to stay within a budget for their wedding day. Here are a few tips to help you cut back on spending without cutting back on class.

To save on flowers, have a December wedding. Usually hotels, reception sites, and churches are already beautifully decorated which keeps expenses low. Also look into historic homes for a more intimate setting. Consider having your wedding, reception or both at a local garden club or botanical garden. Both will offer a beautiful setting all year long, and your decorating expenses will be low. For a more intimate setting, consider a pretty bed and breakfast. Continue Reading »

The token piece behind every girl’s dream wedding as a child is that perfect gown. But once he pops the big question, how do you get started your quest for the right dress?

Begin by looking through bridal magazines and wedding websites, attend bridal shows to familiarize yourself with the latest designer wedding dresses. Keep photos of the designers or designs you like. From the type, size and location of your reception, determine your budget and styles of wedding dresses you prefer. Contact friends and/or relatives for recommended bridal gown stores in your area. Continue Reading »

The day following your engagement, you run to the store to pick up every bridal magazine in sight. They are filled with photos of beautiful wedding gowns, rings, and articles on weddings. Some of the magazines give you a brief idea of what you need to do to plan your wedding, but you’re still not sure how to start off the process. The key is to start organizing and planning earlier rather than later.

First, you need to create your own system to keep all the details in one place. You may choose to use a binder with a tab for each category you will be using. Examples of categories include: Bakery, Ceremony, Catering, Florist, Music, Reception, Photography and Transportation. An accordion file is another choice, using the same category tables. This way you will be able to see each category at a glance. Continue Reading »

Picking out a disc jockey for your wedding entertainment can be very key to the success of the event. Below are some questions that should always be asked before saying ‘how much do you charge?’. Continue Reading »

As a way of thanking your guests for their participation in your special day, give them a small favor at the reception to help them remember this event. It is challenging, however, to find the right favor for your wedding and your guests.

Firstly, favors do not have to be expensive to be meaningful. If you are on a tight budget, homemade favor such as cookies, candy, soap, or candles, or purchase something small or meaningful for less than $2 each. Making favors may take more time, especially in the last days before the wedding, but it can help your budget. You may want to inquire the help of friends, family and bridesmaids if you choose this route. Do not skimp on favors, but don’t feel bad about creating something beautiful for your guests on a low budget. Continue Reading »

Flowers are the most common and most beautiful of wedding decorations. Make an effort to choose flowers that fit your taste and style for the wedding. They will show up at the ceremony, reception, and in photos for years to come. Most couples choose to use a florist to arrange bouquets and decorations.

You can help your florist plan your arrangements if you bring pictures or fabric swabs of gowns and colors used in the wedding. Also try to bring along a layout of the church and reception facility. Continue Reading »

Many couples do not realize that the catering or food bill is typically your largest expense involved with your wedding (45-50% of most budgets). This is why it is essential to choose your caterer carefully. Spend plenty of time with your caterer talking about your budget, what style of reception you want (buffet, sit down dinner, cocktails, etc) and the types of food you’d like to serve.

If you are unfamiliar with the caterer, schedule a ‘tasting’ to sample their culinary skills and take not that food is presented attractively too. Another way to ‘check-up’ on your caterer is to check references. Many brides ask for references but never actually call them. Make at least 2 reference calls. Don’t be shy—ask questions. Continue Reading »

One of the first and most important steps in the planning of the wedding is inviting people. Who wants a wedding without their family and friends there to celebrate with them? It is essential to get a few things absolutely right when preparing those invitations to ensure that everyone you want will make it on your special day.

When ordering your invitations, keep in mind that you only need one per couple or family. You may want to send older children who live at home an invitation of their own. Make sure to order fifteen to twenty extra invitations for mistakes and for those few you may have forgotten on your list. Also keep in mind that oversized invitations may require extra postage, which can add up to a small strain on your budget. Remember that you will need to factor postage for the return envelope into your budget as well. Skipping the stamp on those is impolite, and not a place to try and save money. Continue Reading »