by Helen Rankin

With the average wedding now costing £17,000, many couples are now looking for ways to have a ‘celebrity’ stylish wedding, without the celebrity price tag. The first tip is simple – ask for a discount. The worst that can happen is that they say ‘No’. You might be a bit embarrassed, but what have you lost? We’ve pulled together 5 other top tips to help you create your dream wedding on a shoestring
budget.

1. Choosing The Wedding Venue

Your venue is probably going to be the single biggest wedding expense that you’ll have to pay, with many of the more popular venues charging £2000 upwards. But you don’t need to spend this sort of money to have a fabulous venue.

Wedding Venue Cost Saving Tip:

Many village halls, golf and rugby clubs have suitable rooms available for a fraction of the price. The trick is to see past the existing décor and imagine it sprinkled with hundreds of fairy lights or candles – think of Ross’s wedding on the hit show Friends that Rachel ruined!

If you’ve found the wedding venue of your dreams, but it looks as if it will be out of your budget, don’t despair. Many venues offer significant discounts for mid-week or ‘out of season’ weddings which can run into thousands of pounds.

2. Food At The Wedding

Deciding what kind of menu you want to offer for your wedding can be difficult enough without having to see the price tag that goes along with it!

Food Budget Cost Saving Tip:

There are lots of ways to cut back on your food budget, and still have a memorable day. Selecting a venue where you can bring in your own caterers is often a much better value than using the existing venue catering. You can even go as far as preparing all the food yourself, though be careful of taking too much.

If you don’t have a choice about which caterer you use, there are still ways that you can trim your spending costs. Try replacing the starter course with canapés, instead of having both. Or, replace dessert with your wedding cake – so often wedding cake gets forgotten about because guests have already had so much to eat.

A new idea that brides are buzzing about is the wedding ‘cheese’ cake. Literally, it is three slabs of cheese turned into a wedding cake for that special ‘cutting of the cake’ photograph and ceremony. Why not combine the two instead of having a separate cheese and cake course? Or serve this with crackers, chutney and pate for your evening guests?

3. Drinks At The Wedding

To have a free bar, or cash bar? Such a difficult question to answer. Of course, it would be fantastic to offer a free bar to all your guests, all day, but with limited funds, it’s not a realistic option for most people.

Booze Budget Cost Saving Tip:

The ideal in this instance is to use a venue where you can bring your own booze. I was lucky enough to be able to do this at our wedding and managed to pop across to France and buy 180 bottles of wine and 240 beers, plus Pimms and cassis for under £500. We had stacks left and our guests were restricted to beer, wine or soft drinks, but no one seemed to mind.

Another option is to come to an arrangement with the hotel regarding corkage. A friend got married in a hotel, which charged £10 per bottle of wine. She arranged a flat fee of £500 for all of her beer and wine opening. Although it seems like a lot, it meant that she could afford to supply beer and wine for her guests.

4. Bridalwear

With most bridal dresses starting around £600 and running into thousands of pounds, this is a huge expense.

Bridalwear Cost Saving Tip:

You can still look fabulous for a fraction of the price and feel that you’re minimising the eco-footprint of your wedding by buying a ‘pre-loved’ wedding dress.

Many charity shops have specialist ‘bridalwear’ departments where you can purchase new and designer dresses that have been worn once. You can try the dresses on before buying and you’ll get a warm glow from doing something for ‘Charidee’.

If you’re a little braver, you can venture online, where there are some fantastic bargains to be had in the ‘pre-loved’ lines. Take a look at some of the ‘For Sale’ forums of the popular wedding websites and you’ll see bridal dresses, veils, tiaras and those Jimmy Choo shoes that you know you want for a fraction of the cost.

5. The Wedding Photography

Many couples feel that photography is a major part of the day and are prepared to pay upwards of £2000 for a beautifully presented wedding album. Photographers have confirmed that it isn’t the actual photography, which is the major part of this expense, but printing and preparation of the formal wedding albums.

Wedding Photography Cost Savings Tip:

Many photographers are prepared to attend your wedding day and then provide you with a DVD of your photos for around £600. With the DVD, you can then use some of the fantastic online services to prepare your own ‘Photo Book’ - costing much less. Or, as many guests will no doubt have digital cameras with them, combine place cards with little notes asking them to share their wedding photos on your online directory.

Another excellent tip for having a photo keepsake of your wedding is to use several Instant Photo Guest Books, which combine Polaroid Instant Photos and hand-written sentiments from your guests. These photo guest books are ready to enjoy the “instant” your wedding is over — and creating them adds great fun to the wedding reception!

Helen Rankin, Founder of Instant Forever — http://www.instantforever.com/ and distributor of Adesso Albums in the UK and Europe, helps you capture your wedding memories forever. The Adesso Album is the only guest book alternative that captures your wedding event in an Instant in both pictures and words, and preserves it Forever. Capture your wedding in an instant with a Wedding Photo Guest Book
Provided By: Family

Technorati Tags: wedding planning, planning a wedding, wedding ideas, wedding dressess, wedding gowns, wedding accessories, wedding favors, wedding supplies, wedding gifts, wedding flowers

For more News, Articles, Guides, Tips, Tricks and various Wedding Planning information… visit our site at http://www.wedding-bells-central.com/.

Bookmark to:

by Suzy Morrison

With so many different types of wedding dresses to choose from, in hundreds of different styles, colors and fabrics, how do you go about choosing the perfect wedding dress for that special once in a lifetime day? Picking the best dress for your wedding day can be a daunting task!

Firstly, the type of wedding that you are planning will often have the most influence on the dress you pick. If you are planning to have a traditional style of wedding, you may want to have a classic style of wedding dress, but something that will match your personality along with the theme of the wedding.

Secondly, the location of your wedding will have a big influence on your dress style. For example, if you are planning to get married on the beach in a tropical climate, it is important to have the right wedding dress. You may want something more simple and easy to wear when you are standing on a beach or by a swimming pool. Something along the lines of a sundress may work best for your special occasion. You will find that there are plenty of colors and lengths to choose from. You may want to stick with the white or off white, or you may want to add some color to your wedding day and choose a bolder looking dress. The lengths for the beach wedding dresses are different too. Think about whether you want to have a longer ankle length dress or if you want something that will be a little shorter. Something around the knee length may be more appropriate for your wedding day on the beach. It is important for you to feel good and stay cool in your wedding dress.

The time of year is another important factor in the style of dress you choose. If you are getting married in the middle of winter you will want to have something that will keep you warmer, perhaps by looking for something in a thicker material with long sleeves or a cape. There are many options for this style of wedding dress and you will want to take your time and choose one carefully.

If you are getting married in warmer months you may want to go for a strapless wedding gown. This is a choice that is risky for some women, but a perfect choice for others. The important thing is that you feel comfortable in your gown. Alternatively you may want to go for a backless wedding dress. This is a great idea that will be a perfect fit for many women. Some women may even want to go for a lower cut neckline so that they can show off a little cleavage. It is up to you to make the decision and be true to your personal style for your wedding dress. Do not be afraid to ask for what you want and to go for it. You only get married once and this is your day to be creative and to show off your style and personal taste.

Often a woman will not want to have the traditional white wedding gown. They will want to add some fun and color to their wedding and their dress is the perfect place to start. There is no law that states that a wedding dress has to be white! Some brides will feel more comfortable in a dress that is off white or pale pink. Others will want to have something a little bolder. They may want to have a yellow, blue or even red wedding dress. This is totally up to the bride and she should choose something that reflects her personality and flatters her figure. Make sure you visit a few different bridal shops, try on a wide selection of styles and colors and be sure to take your time in choosing the most important dress of your life!

Visit the Wedding Dress and Accessories blog for more information on Wedding Dresses

Provided By: Women’s World

Technorati Tags: wedding planning, planning a wedding, wedding ideas, wedding dressess, wedding gowns, wedding accessories, wedding favors, wedding supplies, wedding gifts, wedding flowers

For more News, Articles, Guides, Tips, Tricks and various Wedding Planning information… visit our site at http://www.wedding-bells-central.com/.

Bookmark to:

by Marci Crane

Okay, so admit it. That sappy, tutu-clad “little girl” part of you was determined to have a June wedding. After all, the soft balmy air, the tiki torches and the flowers in your hair would have created the perfect moment. And, for heaven’s sake don’t forget that when you marry in June “you will always be a bride.” Right? Of course right.

So now that you are miserably second guessing your winter wedding plans, picture this: replace the balmy air with pine, hazelnut and cocoa scents, and replace the tiki torches with small-string lights and cranberries, and then, change the flowers in your hair to small crystal starlets—you know something like Christine Daae might show off as she performs “Think of Me” in the movie Phantom of the Opera—and you, the bride-to-be, have planned something magical.

Think mystery, light and warmth and a winter wedding will never be a disappointment. In my humble opinion a winter wedding can be a far more cozy and inviting affair than any summer nuptial. Although, keep in mind that a winter wedding usually takes some extra effort, especially if inclement weather is common in the area of your wedding venue.

Finding the Right Winter Wedding Dress
The grand majority of brides (90%) opt to wear strapless bridal gowns. There are some obvious setbacks to doing so however, especially if your hometown thermometer is starting to bottom out at 45° Fahrenheit. Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. A great suggestion comes from Nina Callaway from About.com. She advises brides-to-be, who prefer to wear a strapless gown, to find the right wrap, winter wedding cloak, or even faux fur for the evening. She evokes the image of a lovely bride cloaked in a red wrap, snuggled next to her groom who sports a red rose boutonnière. I also read another article which mentioned that rich jeweled colors are recommended for winter weddings. I envisioned ruby reds and emerald greens and thought (sigh), how can a winter bride go wrong?

Winter Wedding Dress Options
For that 10% who prefer a winter wedding dress with short, ¾ or full-length sleeves there are a variety of options. For instance, some bridal stores will alter your sleeves for you so even if you are looking for a full-length sleeve and find the perfect winter wedding dress with short sleeves, you can have the dress altered to meet your needs. If you and your fiancé are planning on announcing “your moment” with photo wedding invitations you will also find that a winter wedding dress allows for romantic scenic outdoor pictures. “Snow shots” will keep your family oooing and ahhhing for months to come.

Modest Winter Wedding Dresses
For LDS (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) brides or for brides of other faiths, who need a modest winter wedding gown to marry in a religious venue, or who simply prefer modest, yet elegant styles, don’t fret over the mountains of strapless gowns that fill every corner-store bridal. There are bridal shops which offer large selections of modest wedding gowns and many of these gowns can be purchased online. After looking at many modest wedding dress options, I myself am convinced that many of these gowns are just as elegant, if not more so, than their strapless counterparts.

Take Advantage of Your Venue Perks
After you find the right winter wedding dress, it is time to start thinking about how to “dress up” your wedding venue. Once again, Nina Callaway recommends that you choose a venue such as a private inn with a cozy fireplace or another intimate venue such as a historic mansion or a private country club. Another article suggests that the wedding planners ask the venue owner when and how many decorations will be displayed during the winter months. During the holiday season especially, many venues absolutely glisten with winter wonder, and it could very well be possible that with the right decorations all you will have to worry about is creating table centerpieces, buying flowers and providing your guests with pabulum for the palate.

Marci Crane is a web content specialist for 10x Marketing in Orem, Utah. For more information in regards to finding the right winter wedding dress or modest wedding gown, or for more information on photo wedding invitations, please feel free to contact Latter Day Bride
Provided By: Other Stuff

Technorati Tags: wedding planning, planning a wedding, wedding ideas, wedding dressess, wedding gowns, wedding accessories, wedding favors, wedding supplies, wedding gifts, wedding flowers

For more News, Articles, Guides, Tips, Tricks and various Wedding Planning information… visit our site at http://www.wedding-bells-central.com/.

Bookmark to: