15 Steps to Your Ideal Wedding
Congratulations! You’re getting prepared for the happiest day of the life. Unfortunately, the year or so leading as much as that day may be filled with strain, confusion, and exhaustion. Don’t worry. Planning the perfect wedding doesn’t need to be that bad. I recently planned a wedding myself. The seemingly endless small details could drive you crazy, but I discovered that you will find just 15 issues you need to concentrate on to be able to have a best wedding.
Step 1: Spending budget. Whether you are spending ,000 or ,000 you can have a stunning, meaningful wedding. Decide what’s most significant to you after which be inventive. When planning your spending budget you will require to determine which of these items you would like to include inside your wedding and just how much funds to spend on every single:
Clothing:
Wedding dress
Undergarments-special bra, crinoline, garter
Veil/Hair Jewelry
Shoes
Tux
Church Rental/Fees
Reception Rental/Fees
Catering Fees
Alcohol, Drinks
Flowers:
Church
Bridal Bouquet
Bouquets for the Bridesmaids & Maid of Honor
Bouquets for the Mothers of the Bride and Groom
Boutonnieres for the Groom and Groomsmen
Reception Tables
Photographer
Videographer
Music:
Wedding
Cocktail Hour
Reception
Wedding Cake
Cake Topper
Wedding Favors
Gifts for Wedding Party Attendants
Gifts for the Parents of the Bride and Groom
Hair and Makeup
Stationary Objects:
Save the Date
Invitations
Wedding Programs
Place Cards
Menu Cards
Thank you Cards
Other:
Serving Set
Toasting Flutes
Ring Bearer Pillow
Flower Girl Basket
Flower Petals or other item to toss on Bride and Groom
Tips:
Pastor
Maitre d’
Photographer
Limo Driver
Musicians
You do not require to include or buy every item. Wearing your mother’s wedding dress or using your parents’ cake topper will save cash and add meaning to your day. You will find also items that you are able to make; such as the ring pillow or wedding favors. Some items you are able to exclude all together. My husband and I decided to hire a photographer but no videographer.
Step 2: Size. The size of your guest list will depend on personal preference and budget. Some brides dream of a huge wedding with 300 guests, while others prefer an intimate ceremony with only close friends and family. We settled on 100 guests-large enough to invite who we really wanted to come and small enough that it still felt personal.
Step 3: Planning and Scheduling. Planning and follow-up are the most significant factors in obtaining the wedding you would like. That stunning atrium in the park is probably booked years in advance as are many gorgeous, old churches. Even if you might be planning to get married inside your own church and use its reception hall, you’ll will need to find out about fees and availability. Research reception locations by looking in local bridal magazines, newspaper bridal sections and online. If a friend or family member has a gorgeous back yard, you may desire to have your wedding there. It would make an excellent wedding present. Choosing the locations of one’s ceremony and reception should be the first thing you do after settling on a price range. You’ll be able to not plan or schedule anything until you know when and where everything will happen.
Step 4: Food and Alcohol. The food you give your guests does not have to be expensive. They are there to witness your marriage and celebrate with you. If you serve Chicken Francaise instead of Filet Mignon they will not enjoy themselves less. For drinks, you have many options. You may make a decision not to serve alcohol. Or, you may serve one or two special drinks-you can even name one after yourself and your groom. You may possibly also determine to offer an open bar. Remember that alcohol can eat up a large portion of one’s price range. Talk to the caterer about your options.
Step 5: Wedding Party. The size of one’s wedding party should match the size of one’s wedding. If you have 300 guests, 10 bridesmaids and 10 groomsmen will fit right in. But, if you have 80 guests in a small church, it could look comical trying to fit those 20 attendants on the small church alter.
Step 6: Music. If that you are having a church wedding, ask the priest or pastor if he can recommend someone to play the ceremony music. Or, you may know someone who could play at your wedding as a wedding gift. For your reception, should you choose a band or a DJ? Having a live band at your reception can be special, but expensive. We chose to have a DJ, not just for the savings but because he could play any song and it would sound great. Whatever you choose, go over what is required. Are there any songs you DO NOT want played? Do you would like the DJ or musician to introduce the wedding party, start off the first dance, and announce when it is time to cut the cake? Often this is included, if not-speak to whoever is in charge of your reception location and find out if they offer this service.
Step 7: Traditions. Some couples disregard traditions. Other couples want to consist of them or even start their own. The biggest tradition is probably the bride carrying ‘something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.’ But, there are many other traditions you’ll be able to incorporate. If you don’t wear your mother’s wedding dress, you might want to pin a piece of its lace onto your slip or tie it around your bouquet. You are able to wrap a family locket around your bouquet with pictures of you and your groom. I attached my mother’s antique brooch, which had been handed down from my grandmother, to a chain and wore it as a necklace. It made me feel as if they were with me on my wedding day and it meant a lot.
Step 8: Invitations. Invitations are another item that can be surprisingly expensive. They don’t need to be. I knew exactly what type of invitation I wanted, but at a stationer, it would have cost 0 to 00. I did a lot of searching online and was able to order two less expensive sets of invitations, put them together how I wanted and ended up spending less than 0. Places like Staples and Michael’s also have nice invitations that you’ll be able to print yourself at home for less than 0.
Step 9: Photographer. This is where we spent a bigger portion of our spending budget (Only the reception location, with food included, cost more). Even if our wedding was the best wedding in the world, it would only last for a few hours. With good pictures, we could relive it over and over. When you look for a photographer, ask questions. Who will be the photographer? What if he is sick? If you hire a company that has several photographers you may possibly be shown sample wedding photographs from the best photographer. You sign up. Then on your wedding day ‘your’ photographer can’t make it and someone else shows up-someone probably significantly less talented. Also, ask if the photographer will shoot in color, black and white, or both. Will he shoot traditional shots, photojournalism, or both? Will you be able to keep the proofs? Can you buy the negatives? Just how much time will the photographer spend at your wedding? Will he also take photos of the bride and groom preparing for the wedding?
Step 10: Dress. Some brides feel they will need to invest a lot of money on ‘the dress.’ My husband thought my dress would be the biggest expense, but it was one of the smallest. The dress I fell in love with happened to be on sale because it was discontinued. It was just my size! I didn’t even need alterations. How often does that happen?! Even if you are not that lucky, there are thousands of stunning wedding dresses between 0 and 0. Check out the large bridal stores as well as your local bridal shops. If you like tradition, you are able to wear your mother’s wedding dress and have it altered to fit your style. You need to love your wedding dress, but remember-you will only wear it one time for about 8 hours.
Step 11: Flowers. Choose flowers that match your wedding colors. Your local florist can make suggestions and tell which flowers will be in season (they will be less expensive). The flower arrangements were one thing I should have followed-up on with a second meeting. I told the florist exactly what I wanted for my bridal bouquet-deep red roses, no greenery, long matching ribbons (which I provided), and how I wanted the roses gathered. I even gave her a picture. We also discussed the attendants’ bouquets and flowers for the reception tables. The day of the wedding, the attendants’ flowers were more stunning than I imagined and the table flowers were gorgeous. My bridal bouquet was almost nothing like what I had asked for. I had red roses, but also plenty of greenery, no ribbons, and an ugly plastic piece that held the flowers. The wedding was in an hour and there was nothing I could do. I tried to put it out of my mind and concentrated on everything else that was wonderful about that day. Remember-follow up is one of the most significant factors in finding the wedding you would like.
Step 12: Hair & Makeup. Many brides go to a salon and have their hair and makeup done. If you do, have a trial run so you know you’ll be happy with the results on your wedding day. Going to a salon is not a necessity. You could decide to do your own hair and makeup or have a friend do it. You are able to schedule practice sessions and try several hairstyles to get it perfect.
Step 13: Cake. Many reception halls provide the wedding cake. Mine did. However, I was not happy with my choices. They agreed to make the red velvet cake I requested, but not the decoration I wanted. I had seen exactly what I wanted in a wedding magazine so I called the bakery listed in the back. The baker was able to make the decoration (without the cake) and ship it to my reception hall. The nice people at the hall, accepted the shipment and put the decoration on the cake. It was best! If you plan to do something like this, make sure everyone involved is willing to do their part. Then follow through and make sure the shipment is sent, that it arrives, and that the cake maker knows how to arrange the decorations (give her a picture).
Step 14: Favors. These small mementos are small tokens of appreciation to your guests for sharing inside your particular day. There are many options to choose from. You can give something that matches the theme of your wedding, such as starfish wine stoppers if that you are having a beach wedding. Or, you’ll be able to give something that symbolizes the love you share with your new husband such as a scented candle with the monogram you share as a couple. You can give something edible such as the traditional chocolate covered almonds, or you’ll be able to make your own favors. Just try to give something your guests will appreciate and use. A wine glass with your and your groom’s name and wedding date may be pretty, but not very practical to a guest.
Step 15: Relax! You’ve done the research. You’ve done the planning. You’ve done the shopping and creating. And, you’ve done the follow-up. It’s now time to relax and enjoy the day. Don’t worry about the little items that go wrong-because something will go wrong (remember my wedding bouquet?). The important thing is that at the end of the day-after the ceremony that is witnessed by your friends and family, after the dancing and laughing and partying-you will be married. You and your groom are starting your new life together. That’s the most important thing.