Getting married is an exciting time in your life. Of course, you want everything to go perfect, but many times the unexpected happens and you’re forced to improvise. This article will give you tips for dealing with common wedding day issues without losing your cool, or ruining your big day.
Depending on the size of your guest list, you will need to consider that the location you choose for both your wedding ceremony, and reception must be within a reasonable distance of each other. It will make it convenient for your guests to get to and from. Providing directions in your invitations is also very helpful for your guests once you have secured your locations.
Do not budget every available bit of your money. There are going to be surprise expenses associated with your wedding. For example, there may be a mistake printed on the invitations and you will need to purchase more or your dress may need to be altered more than you expected. Leave approximately 10 percent of your budget open for these things.
For grooms-to-be, it is important that you choose the best man possible. You want someone who is responsible and will help your wedding day go smoothly. Also, do not choose someone that your bride does not like. This will just make your bride and best man feel uncomfortable on your wedding day.
On your wedding day, avoid using body or face glitter! While it may look great on a bride, it may not look so great on others! You are sure to be hugging on your new husband and hundreds of guests. What looks great on you – may look like dandruff – on your husband’s dark tuxedo or your friend’s favorite dark colored dress. In your precious pictures, the glitter may look like “dandruff.” It will not bring out the best on others you care about!
A very nice gift for your bridal party is a customized piece of jewelry that connects you to your girls. This way, after your wedding has passed, each girl will have a special way to relive the wedding and the fun that they had being part of such an exciting time.
Prior to the actual wedding and reception, you should definitely scout all the locations involved and identify the best areas to take photographs. You will want to select areas that have a lot of space for your large family pictures, and also private areas that capture essence of the venue well for the more intimate pictures. Also remember to schedule your larger group pictures so you do not end up running around looking for these people.
If you’re planning on having a buffet at your wedding reception, work out a plan to get the food moving quickly so that no guest is left waiting. Consider having multiple tables at different locations in your venue so that many tables can go up at one time, shortening the lines at each.
If you are having an outdoor wedding, make sure you have a backup plan in case of bad weather. Ideally, you should also have a nearby indoor location that can be accessed at a moment’s notice. Another option you have is to rent a party tent that is big enough to cover your entire wedding party and all of your guests comfortably. Don’t get caught out in the rain.
When having an outdoor wedding, the food served can be greatly affected by the weather. If you are planning a wedding during hot weather, ask your caterer if they have experience in serving food when it is hot outside. If the food cannot be kept at the correct temperature, avoid foods that have mayonnaise and any other dishes that will need to be kept cold.
When choosing flowers for your wedding, consider the meaning behind the flower that you are choosing. For example, daisies represent innocence while orchids symbolize love. Be sure to choose a flower that has a meaning that fits you. Try learning what most flowers mean so that you can properly choose meaningful flowers for your big day.
Consider a cash bar for your wedding reception. Alcohol is popular among guests, but it is also expensive. Opting for a cash bar puts money back in your pocket that can be used toward the rest of the wedding expenses. Guests still have the option to drink, so everyone is happy.
Keep your alcohol intake low during the festivities. You have to remember that you will be in many photographs and have quite a few important things to be involved in throughout the day. Keep your drinking down and celebrate after the fact with your new spouse. You will create happier memories if you do.
Favors
If you need to cut costs on your wedding day, think about which items can serve a dual role at your event. For example, buy water bottles for your guests and add a personalized label to them. Not only can they be handed out as wedding favors, but they also provide refreshment during the reception.
Fun wedding favors are a great way to keep kids entertained at your reception. You can go to the dollar store and pick up a basket full of goodies to set at the tables which can keep the kids busy while their parents have a great time at the party.
Make your wedding child-friendly. Chances are you’ve invited some guests who are going to bring their kids, and it will only benefit you to make some small accommodations that will keep them happy. Have the caterer to bring some kid-friendly cuisine and supply a few little parties favors to keep the children busy and well behaved on your special day.
It is a nice gesture to provide wedding favors for everybody, and depending on the size of your wedding and your allotted budget, there are some wallet friendly ideas out there. It can sometimes be more economical to purchase a gift that is high quality as opposed to many small things to fill a favor bag. Items that are a great example of this would be: stationery set, gift certificates, teacup and saucer set, mugs or a box of chocolates. This ensures that you provide a gift for everyone, while still saving some money.
If you’re going to allow children to attend your wedding, consider placing fun party favors at their table. These could be crayons and a coloring book, or toy cars, or a small game. This will entertain them between courses and during long speeches, keeping them from getting bored and causing trouble. Even better choose personalised wedding favours. That will make everyone feel really special as well as giving them some treats.
Make your own decorations for the wedding reception. Enlist your friends and family members for help in creating favors, centerpieces and other decorations. Look for the unique talents that these individuals may be able to offer; if someone has nice handwriting, ask them to address your invitations and offer a service of your own in return.
Add color, texture, and pop to a country or nature-inspired ceremony or reception theme with rustic and vintage containers and decor. Enamel pots, watering cans, and tin washtubs are perfect for displaying wedding programs, favors, or butter mints. Cleaned, tinted jelly jars and terracotta flowerpots make attractive, charming holders for scented tea lights and votive candles.
Health-conscious lovebirds can opt for gluten-free wedding cakes, appetizers, and refreshments. Instead of sweets loaded with wheat, many bakeries now offer options that are entirely free of gluten. These cakes, cookies, and edible favors include ingredients like potato flour, which can be used to bake delicious, light, and healthy treats that can be enjoyed by everyone.
Do not feel that you need to hire someone to do everything. You and your future spouse can quite easily do many of the tasks associated with the wedding. From centerpieces to wedding favors, you will save money by not having these things done for you. This will also add a personal touch to your wedding that creates warmth.
If the majority of your wedding guests are staying in local hotels or inns, send them off with thoughtful favors that they can use to relax before their long trip home. Scented, soothing bath salts, luxury soaps, and spa-inspired products are the perfect favors; they can be quickly and cheaply put together and thrown into a suitcase.
As stated at the beginning of the article, getting married is an exciting time in your life, but unexpected things may happen. Chances are, 10 years after your wedding you won’t even remember those “major crisis” moments. If wedding day disasters strike, apply the tips from this article to help remain calm, cool, and collected.