Five Tips to Avoid Common Wedding Mistakes

With all that goes into planning a wedding, it can be difficult to remember everything.  But if you forget the wrong thing or don't plan sufficiently, things can go awry.  Important items could be forgotten, or improper timing could cause you to be late getting out of the reception hall, resulting in overtime charges.

Taking some precautions when planning your wedding could help you avoid missteps.  It can also reduce your stress levels leading up to the big day.  Here are five things you can do to help avoid wedding mistakes.

1.  Limit your guest list.  Much of your wedding planning will be based on the number of guests you invite.  If you keep adding on guests, you could drive your costs up.  It could also result in not having enough room for everyone at the ceremony or reception.

As a general rule, you can expect 80-85% of the people you invite to show up.  But it is important to take into consideration the fact that those who do come may bring unexpected guests.  So it's usually best to plan as though everyone will be there.

2.  Know all applicable rules and regulations.  Laws pertaining to marriage licenses, for example, vary from state to state, and possibly even from county to county.  They are only good for a specified time period, and some localities impose waiting periods before you can get them.  Checking up on all of the legalities ahead of time can help eliminate unpleasant surprises on your wedding day.

If you're having a church wedding, it's important to make sure you know what types of dress and music are acceptable.  There may also be specific requirements regarding the ceremony itself.  Your officiant can fill you in on all of these things.

3.  Make sure that all vendors know the details of your ceremony.  Obviously they'll need to know the day, time and location, but there may be other things they need to know as well.  It's not a bad idea to visit each vendor a week or so before the wedding to go over everything, just to make sure you're on the same page.  And it's also smart to bring along a list of vendor names and phone numbers on your wedding day, just in case problems should arise.

4.  Do all beauty treatments a couple of weeks in advance.  A dye job or tanning session gone wrong can put a major damper on your wedding day, especially if it's done a day or two before the ceremony.  Doing these things ahead of time gives you time to fix any problems that might arise (or lose the sunburn).

5.  Be prepared.  While you can't foresee the future, having backup plans and supplies to use if things go wrong could save the day.  If you're getting married outside, secure an indoor location in case the weather doesn't cooperate.  Putting someone in charge of bringing in an emergency kit with sewing supplies, toiletries, first aid supplies, and other things that members of the wedding party might need is also a good idea.


Pick the Perfect Flower For Your Wedding Day Bouquet

Flowers are a beautiful part of a wedding ceremony.  They adorn the groom and his attendants, they travel down the aisle with the bride and bridesmaids, and they decorate the church and reception hall.  And if you believe in folklore, the lady who catches the bride's bouquet will be the next to marry.

Flowers are also associated with folklore in other ways.  In the Victorian era, men sent flowers with special meanings to women as a means of communication.  Back then, the meanings of flowers were common knowledge.  These days it's more acceptable for a man to just come out and tell a woman how he feels, and these meanings are not as well known.

Knowing the meanings of different flowers can help you choose the best ones for your wedding day.  Following are the traditional meanings of some of the more popular wedding flowers.

Roses

Roses are very popular flowers associated with romance, so it is fitting that they are often used in weddings.  Specific meanings vary by color.  Red roses are known as symbols of love, pink ones symbolize elegance and admiration, and white roses represent innocence and purity.  Yellow roses are associated with friendship and joy, orange roses represent enthusiasm and passion, and lavender roses symbolize love at first sight.

Daisies

Daisies are often used at informal weddings, but they may also make their way into more formal ceremonies.  These flowers represent innocence and beauty.  Gerbera daisies represent those things too, but they also stand for cheerfulness.  Daisies are available in a wide variety of colors, making it easy to incorporate them into any wedding color scheme.

Lilies

There are many varieties and colors of lilies.  In general, lilies stand for innocence and purity, but some specific varieties have their own special meanings.  Bold and beautiful stargazer lilies, for example, symbolize aspiration, and the pink ones have become known as a sign of prosperity.  The smaller Peruvian lilies represent friendship and devotion.

Tulips

Tulips are adored for their simple beauty and wide variety of colors.  The flowers generally represent perfect love, but some colors have additional meanings.  Red tulips, like red roses, stand for true love.  Purple tulips are symbolic of royalty, and yellow ones send a message of cheer.

Carnations

The carnation is one of the oldest flower varieties in the world, and it is very popular in wedding arrangements.  Carnations come in numerous colors and are symbolic of love.  The colors of carnations have meanings similar to those of roses of the same color.  Red stands for deep affection, white represents purity, and pink symbolizes gratitude.

Other Popular Wedding Flowers

There are several other flowers that are often used at weddings.  Irises are lovely flowers for a wedding, and they represent faith and hope.  Graceful and delicate orchids represent love, beauty and strength.  Sunflowers symbolize loyalty and happiness.

Selecting the perfect flowers for your wedding can be a tough decision, because there are so many beautiful flowers to choose from.  Learning the meanings behind the flowers can make that decision a little easier.


Wedding Invitations and Thank You Cards Made Easy

Invitations are one of the many important decisions you will make about your wedding.  While you may have adored your sister's or friend's wedding invitations so much that you won't hear of any other kind, chances are you are looking at a lot of different choices.  Finding the perfect invitation, one that fits with your theme and says what you want, can be agonizing.

Fortunately, finding a great invitation and thank you card design is much easier than it once was.  Printers are offering more customization options than ever before.  There is also an increasing trend toward cards that are handmade, with a growing number of card makers to choose from.  And for those who pride themselves on their creativity, you can even make your own invitations in a number of ways.

Custom Printed Invitations

Many printers now offer the option of printing a completely original message on your invitations and thank you cards.  Instead of just adding the couple's and parents' names, you can write your own verse if you like.  They may also offer a selection of prewritten verses that you can use on any card.

Some printers will even include custom graphics or photos on your invitations.  This option is great if you want a truly unique card but like the idea of having it printed by a professional.  Your printer can give you the details of the formats and specifications of images that you may use.

Handmade Invitations

Handmade cards are very special, and often highly ornate.  There are great card makers out there who will craft your invitations with lots of love and attention to detail.  This service can be rather pricey, so it is a good idea to get an estimate before proceeding.

Handmade cards can incorporate pretty ribbon, lace, and a variety of other materials.  A good card maker can advise you as to which materials will work best.  It is important to remember that you will be mailing the invitations and thank you notes, so the cards will have to be flat enough for that.

Making Your Own Invitations

Computer programs can help you make all sorts of cards, including invitations and thank you notes.  With some card stock paper and a good printer, you can print very nice cards at home.  There are also high quality printing services that will print the cards that you design if you like.

If you have the time, you could make cards by hand as well.  It takes lots of patience and attention to detail, but a card made by you is a beautiful way to request guests' presence at your wedding.  You could also spruce up printed cards by hand if you like.

When it comes to wedding invitations and thank you notes, today's couples have more options than ever.  Whether you have a custom message printed on your cards or design them carefully by hand, you can have the invitations of your dreams.


Tips for Planning a Wedding on a Budget

Your wedding is one of the most important and memorable days of your life.  Some couples save up lots of money to have the perfect wedding.  Others want their weddings to be beautiful, but can't or don't want to wait until they have thousands and thousands of dollars saved up before they tie the knot.  It may take a little extra work, but you can plan a nice wedding on a budget. Here are some tips.

Get Help from Friends and Family

If you have a florist, caterer, or wedding planner in your family, she (or he) might be willing to cut you a break to help you save money.  You might also be able to work out a payment plan so that you don't have to come up with all of the money at once.  And if she's feeling especially generous, she might even give all or part of her services as a wedding gift.

It's usually best not to just come out and ask for discounts or freebies.  You could simply ask for pointers on how you might save money on your wedding, and give her the opportunity to make her own offers.  Or, if she happens to ask what you could use for a wedding gift, you could casually mention that a great deal on wedding services would be the best gift possible.

Do It Yourself

There are plenty of things that you can do yourself to save money on your wedding.  If you're good at making attractive cakes, for example, you could make your own wedding cake.  You could also do some or all of your floral arrangements and decorations if you're good at that kind of thing.

Making your own wedding favors is also an option, and it's not difficult to make pretty favors on a budget.  Simply wrapping some candy, potpourri, or a candle up in some tulle and tying it up with some pretty ribbon makes a lovely favor for your guests.  You could also make more elaborate favors such as handmade keychains or bookmarks, but you'll need to allow more time for these due to the labor involved.

You could also do the planning yourself if you like.  If you choose to do so, however, be sure to give yourself plenty of time to get everything worked out.  Rushing will just result in unnecessary stress, and that is the last thing you need.

Look for Deals

Shopping around can really pay off when you're planning a wedding on a budget.  While it's good to get recommendations from those you trust, it's also important to keep your options open when you're trying to save money.  Asking several people for suggestions will probably yield many different responses, giving you several service providers to consider.

Price is an important consideration when you have limited funds, but it's also important to get good service.  Don't be afraid to ask questions, and to request references.  If you're not getting what you pay for, it's not a good deal.

In a perfect world, every bride would have all the money she needs to have everything she wants for her wedding.  But in the real world, we sometimes have to work within a tight budget.  A little extra work and creativity may be necessary, but you can have a wonderful wedding on a budget.  


Beautiful Yet Inexpensive Wedding Favors

Wedding favors are an important part of any wedding.  They give guests a memento to remember your wedding by, and they show your appreciation for their attendance and gifts.  But wedding favors don't have to break the bank.

Favors are usually sold in quantities.  In most cases, the more you buy, the less your cost per favor.  So if you want to save money, it's best to buy one kind of favor for all of your guests.  Here are some ideas for lovely yet inexpensive favors:

* Keychains - These make wonderful wedding favors.  They're inexpensive, they can be found in an infinite number of colors and themes, and everyone uses them.  Whether your wedding theme is whimsical or ultra-romantic, you can find a keychain favor that fits perfectly with it.

* Bookmarks - Those little gold and silver bookmarks that clip onto the top of a page make elegant favors.  They look expensive, but they are actually very reasonably priced.  If you are the crafty type, you could also make your own custom bookmarks.  All you'll need is some card stock paper, embellishments, a laminator, and your creativity to make a one-of-a-kind bookmark favor.

* Picture frames - Wallet-sized picture frames are a great wedding favor choice.  Guests can use them to display your wedding photo or one of their own pictures.  You can find very nice, festive frame favors at low prices online and in stores.

* Candles and candleholders - Candles make practical yet romantic wedding favors.  You can often find candles with their own holders at reasonable prices, or you could buy the candles and holders separately.

* Candy - Filling small tins, pails, or boxes with festive candy makes a thoughtful and inexpensive gift for your guests.  Nuts, candy kisses, or mints are some of the things you could fill them with.  Adding some pretty ribbon or tulle will make these favors extra special.

* Placecards or placecard holders that double as favors - It doesn't get much more economical than finding a dual purpose for your favors.  There are placecards and placecard holders available that double as picture frames, for example.  These provide a clever way to save money.  You could also use postcards related to your wedding theme as placecards, writing your guests' names on the back of them.

* Coaster sets - You can find coaster sets in a variety of themes online or at a wedding supply store.  These are very useful for your guests, and they are often inexpensive.

Giving your guests wedding favors is thoughtful, and it doesn't have to be expensive.  In addition to these ideas, there are lots of other favors that you could make yourself.  Whether you choose to make your own favors or buy them in bulk, they will serve as a precious token of your gratitude.



Five Perfect Wedding Gifts for Any Couple

Weddings are a time of joy and celebration, and bring gifts for the happy couple.  But finding the perfect wedding gift can be agonizing.  There are so many possible choices, yet you probably want to get the couple something really special.

Checking the couple's wedding registry can provide some guidance.  But what if nothing there strikes your fancy, or they haven't registered?  Here are five gifts that any couple is sure to appreciate:

1.  Stuff for the Kitchen.  Every couple needs cookware and kitchen gadgets.  Whether you choose to buy them a durable set of pots and pans or a bread maker, kitchen products are practical and thoughtful.

If you're thinking about buying common items like cookware or dishes, it might be a good idea to check around and make sure nobody else has already bought that for them.  More unique items such as pasta makers or dehydrators are less likely to be duplicated.

2.  Gift Certificates.  Most major stores, and many smaller ones, offer gift certificates or gift cards.  These allow couples to select the gifts they need and want most.  Putting some thought into where you get gift certificates from will ensure that the couple can put them to good use.  If they're buying a fixer-upper house, for example, gift certificates to a hardware store might be in order.

Gift certificates to nice restaurants and date destinations are also great for couples.  A night on the town is always great for the recently married, especially if they are trying to save money for a big purchase or paying off student loans and won't be spending much on entertainment.  If you're familiar with their honeymoon destination, you could also give them gift certificates to be used there.

3.  Handmade Gifts.  A handmade quilt, a custom scrapbook with pictures of the bride and groom, or a piece of pottery that you crafted make very sentimental wedding gifts.  These types of things will be treasured for years to come, and the couple will always think of you when they look at them.

4.  Personalized Items.  Paintings, tapestries, picture frames, and other items with the couple's names on them make great gifts.  Plaques commemorating the wedding date are also nice.  Personalization is not as expensive as it once was, so chances are you can find something within your budget.

5.  Money.  One thing that almost every couple can do with is money.  Weddings are expensive, and they may also be buying a home.  While etiquette dictates that couples do not ask for money as a wedding gift, they often appreciate receiving it.

If the couple is struggling to pay for the wedding, you could offer to pay for the reception, florist, or something else associated with the ceremony.  This is most appreciated when coming from a close friend or family member.


Create Your Own Wedding Day Scrapbook

Wedding photos are treasured mementos of every couple's wedding day.  They deserve to be preserved, and to be displayed in a special way.  Instead of tucking them away in a box or photo album, why not use them to create a beautiful wedding day scrapbook?

Making a wedding scrapbook is fun, and it allows you to organize your photos in an attractive and original way.  Here are some tips that you could apply to your wedding scrapbook.

* Use only the best photos in your scrapbook, especially if you have a lot of them.  There's no need to include every single shot.  It's likely that you have many similar pictures, and including them all will only detract from your scrapbook.  Going through the photos as a couple will ensure that both husband and wife's favorites are included.

* Include lots of candid photos.  Portraits are more polished looking, but candid shots do more to tell the story of your wedding day.  Using some of each will give your album a good balance.

* Add in plenty of journaling.  The couple can write their thoughts about the wedding day, certain photos, or their love for one another.  You could also ask family members or guests to do some of the journaling if you would like to include some outside perspectives.

* Consider including notes from cards you've received in connection with your wedding.  These often contain sentiments that are too precious to end up packed in a box somewhere.  Cutting them out and incorporating them into your pages makes a wonderful addition to your wedding scrapbook.

* Press some flowers from your bouquet, the groom's boutonniere, and other floral arrangements from the ceremony and reception.  They make lovely adornments for your scrapbook pages.  Putting them between pieces of transparency plastic or laminating them will ensure that they retain their beauty through the years.  You could also affix some to the scrapbook's cover with Modge Podge if you like.

* Incorporate your wedding vows into your scrapbook.  This is especially nice if you wrote your own vows.  You could use them as you would journaling, or you could include a line or two on each page throughout the book.  This could also be done with the lyrics from one of your special wedding songs.

* Add some special keepsakes from your wedding day.  These could include things such as personalized napkins, place cards, notes, and more.  And don't forget to include one of your wedding invitations!

* Choose embellishments carefully.  There are lots of pretty things you can use to accent the pictures in your scrapbook, but be careful not to get too carried away.  The photos themselves are the stars of the show, not the embellishments.


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