07.03.08
Creating a Wedding Budget
So we are past the point where he’s asked and she’s said yes. The parents and friends have all been told the great news that there’s going to be a wedding! The burning question from everyone is, “When is the wedding?” You may have a date in mind or at least a time of year. Often times the “When” is decided by the “Budget”, especially if you are paying for the wedding yourselves. This is where the planning begins. There are lots of places you can save, you can subscribe to my free e-course for some great examples. But whether you are paying for the wedding yourselves or your families will be helping, the most crucial part of the planning is figuring out your budget.
The budget is very important but can also be one of the most daunting tasks to do when planning your wedding. Sitting down with everyone involved and deciding who is paying for what is critical. It helps if you have some idea of what you have in mind and is often the deciding factor when it comes separating the ‘must haves’ from the ‘maybe we can live without that’. You can refer to the The Wedding Checklist to make sure you don’t miss anything while making out your list. I recommend you start with a dedicated notebook to keep all your planning together.
You may want to begin by making a list of your perfect wedding and then you can see if you can make all those dreams come true or if you will have to scale back in some areas. You may be surprised at how many things can be done on a shoe string budget if need be. For instance, choose your wedding day to fall on a Thursday, Friday or Sunday instead of the traditional Saturday wedding could give you some great savings. However, if a Saturday wedding is one of your ‘must haves’, then there are still other areas you can find savings. I’m trying to keep my posts short and to the point these days so, we’ll explore more of those savings ideas in future posts.
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06.22.08
Where to Find Sample Wedding Vows
During the wedding ceremony the bride and groom exchange wedding vows. The vows typically represent your commitment to the marriage and each other and sets some expectations that you agree to meet for your partner. An example of this is this phrase from typical traditional wedding vows: “to have and to hold, for richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health, through good times and bad times, until death do we part”. There are often words to express your religious beliefs and/or words about what marriage represents to each of you.
As the bride and groom you can decide what words to use in your vows. For instance, when my husband and I got married many years ago, I did not want the word “obey” in our vows. Instead we choose to say that we would listen to each other and respect each others opinions.
If you are having trouble coming up with the right words to convey your special message from your heart for your wedding vows, here are some places to look for ideas and examples.
- Check online, do a search for “wedding vows”. This will turn up articles and websites as well as examples that you can use as is or modify to make them your own.
- Check with the person who will be officiating at your wedding. They can often give you examples of vows they often use.
- Consider poetry. Popular poets include Browning, Keats and Gibran to name a few. You can use a favorite poem or write your own.
When writing your vows, it is a good idea for the bride and groom to write your wedding vows together. Although, some couples like to be surprise each other. The most important thing when writing your own vows is that the message comes from your heart. If you keep that in mind while you are working on your vows and keep it short and simple, you may surprise yourself with what beautiful words you come up with.
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06.13.08
Selecting the Perfect Wedding Dress
One of the most important decisions a woman will make before she gets married is to select her perfect wedding dress. This is something that every little girl dreams of during her childhood. But don’t let the hype and the pressure of years and years of anticipation cloud your judgment. After all, the dress, although important, is just a dress, and should never be bigger than the occasion.
One of the things the bride-to-be has to consider when buying a dress is the comfort level of the wedding dress. Sure it’s nice to look like a princess on your wedding day, but if the dress causes you extreme discomfort; or cuts off your circulation, then it’s not really worth it. The dress might even cause you to faint. Imagine what a nightmare that would be!
The wedding dress selection process usually starts months before the wedding. It’s advisable for brides-to-be to look through the pages of wedding magazines, or to visit wedding shops. Just to give them an idea of the different types of styles of wedding dresses that are available.
Brides-to-be also have to consider their body types. It’s important to get a wedding dress that looks good on you! You might have to try plenty of wedding dresses before you find that one dress that is perfect for you.
If you have set aside an extensive budget for your wedding dress. Then you can always go for a designer dress. The most famous name nowadays when it comes to bridal fashion is Vera Wang. She is known for her luxurious detailing, craftsmanship, and hand beading. Her clients for her wedding line include: Jennifer Lopez, Jessica Simpson, Uma Thurman and Mariah Carey, just to name a few.
But if you don’t have that much money to spare then you can always choose other options. There are a number of places where you can get your wedding dress that won’t cost you a fortune. In addition to the more traditional bridal shops, wedding dresses are also available in: thrift shops, discount stores, online, and even eBay.
If you are buying on eBay, make sure the measurements of the wedding dress is included in the description. Also, the condition of the dress must be looked into. Check for feedback regarding that person’s account, just to make sure that you are dealing with a credible dealer.
But if a traditional wedding is the theme you have in mind, then you might want to go for a vintage dress. When buying a vintage dress, beware of discoloration, or stains on the dress. These might not come off so easily. Investigate the fabric of the dress, stretch it out to check for weakening, or tearing of the cloth.
Try to buy a vintage dress that is made before the 1900’s. Fabrics have a tendency to deteriorate, and weaken over time. Extraordinarily old vintage dresses might look romantic, but they might not be ideal for use.
If you really have your heart set on a specific design, but you find that the dress is too old to use, or too expensive, then you can always go for a reproduction wedding dress.
Many stores specialize in reproduction dresses. They design wedding dresses based on specific themes, or eras. Some specialty wedding shops also focus on designing knock-off wedding dresses, inspired by designer wedding gowns. The huge difference being, that these wedding gowns are retailed for a fraction of the cost of the originals.
There are so many ways a future bride can go about a search for her dream wedding dress. Searching for a wedding dress should be exciting and fun. So make sure you have plenty of time on your hands before the big day, so that the process from occasion does not become stressful, and wearisome. Instead let it become the prelude to the happiness of the special occasion which will be your wedding day.
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06.08.08
Advantages of a Wedding Planner
Have you ever wondered why Jennifer Lopez made such a great impact on her movie, “The Wedding Planner?” This is because most people, after watching the film, had finally realized the importance of hiring a wedding planner.
Most couples are unsure when it comes to the idea of hiring a wedding planner. They have doubts about whether hiring the services of a wedding planner is really the best place for their money, especially those who are on a tight budget.
Basically, hiring the services of a wedding planner is actually a matter of choice and personal preference. If you think that you and your fiancé can handle most of the wedding planning without any burden, then, go on with your plans.
But if you think that doing all the planning from the very beginning is already tedious, then, it is time for you to hire the services of a wedding planner.
Basically, a wedding planner is someone who is adept and knowledgeable when it comes to wedding plans. Wedding planners have already established their contacts with many businesses that are important in the wedding such as flower arrangers, caterers, venues, etc.
So, for most people who are not yet aware of the benefits they can derive from hiring a wedding planner, here are some facts that you need to know:
1. Hiring a wedding planner will save you time.
Planning a wedding can be a daunting task. It can even be more tedious if the person who plans the wedding is also a participant, like the bride or the groom. It can be really difficult to have an open mind especially with all the jitters and emotions.
Moreover, planning a wedding does not happen overnight. Usually, it takes 200 to 300 hours of planning, thinking, and brainstorming. Hence, to save you time and effort, it is best to hire the services of a wedding planner.
2. More savings
Many people contend that the reason they do not hire a wedding planner is that it will be an additional cost on their part.
What they don’t know is that hiring the services of a wedding planner can actually save you more money because most of the wedding planners have already established solid contacts with some of the common wedding businesses. For instance flower arrangers, venues, and the like. Therefore, discounts are more likely to happen because they have their own connections already.
3. Organized planning
With wedding planners, weddings can be more organized because most wedding planners are very detail oriented and keep track of things down to the last detail of the wedding.
After all, it is their job so they know how to best get things done.
Wedding planners have a timeline that they follow in order to have all the details ready on time or even ahead of time, leaving fewer last-minute changes.
4. The decisions are still yours
With wedding planners, the decisions are still with the couple. The wedding planner will just guide, render some suggestions, and assist the couple in making the decision.
Hence, the couple will be able to, still, have their own style and preference with regards to the planning of their wedding.
5. Confidence boosters
One of the best things about wedding planners is that they act as confidence boosters for the bride and the groom.
We all know how jittery and edgy wedding couples can be especially if they are in a rush or having trouble finding the perfect item for their wedding. But using a wedding planner, they will be more at ease and more confident that their wedding will be perfect because they know that they have turned over the details of their wedding to a professional.
Indeed, there could be no better person who really knows the ins and outs of wedding planning more than what the wedding planner can as well as offering you the benefit of wedding savings you may not otherwise find. So, for great weddings, sometimes it’s best to hire the services of a wedding planner.
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06.06.08
What to look for in the Wedding Photographer’s Work
It is important to remember why you are looking at the wedding photographer’s past work in the first place. Think about what it can tell you. You may be trying to find out if he is able to take the kind of pictures you are looking for. Perhaps you want lots of candid pictures in addition to the more traditional pictures. By looking at the different albums he has put together you will get a better understanding of what to expect when he takes pictures at your own wedding. This applies whether you are looking at the wedding photographer’s sample albums or the albums of his references. Here is a short checklist of things to be sure and look for.
1. Does he have only one wedding in each sample albums? Does he have several sample albums to show a variety of styles that he is capable of taking?
2. Make sure you see a sample of photographs from his most recent wedding. How recent is it?
3. Study each album well and see if the album is telling the story of the wedding and not just filling the album up with similar photographs.
4. Are the portraits clear and did the photographer capture the subject’s mood?
5. Are all the photos done artistically? Is there a play of light and shadows?
6. Were candid shots taken? Are they clear and well composed?
Finding a good photographer is an important step in the wedding planning process. Remember that your wedding album will remind you of your wonderful wedding day and last for a lifetime.
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