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Creative Ways to Save Money
There are many things one can do in order to save money in the planning process of a wedding event. For instance:
  • Silk flowers are less expensive than fresh.
  • DJ's are typically cheaper than bands.
  • Buffet style dinners are usually more cost effective than served entrees.
A few creative ideas to save in the planning process may include:
  • Ordering a smaller wedding cake and having a smaller sheet cake already made and cut up for the guests.
  • If the date of your wedding is flexible to you, shoot for an "off season" month.
  • If you plan your wedding during the holiday season, you can cut the expense of decorations due to places already having their own decorations in place.

We Saved So Much Money at Discount Wedding World!

There are many other things you can do to keep your wedding costs down and still invite the number of people you want. For instance, it is generally less expensive to hold a wedding reception on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon than in the evening.  Friday night can be cheaper still. Or, you might consider a morning wedding followed by a brunch.
 
If you want to go all out, however, and have a formal black-tie wedding with an elaborate sit-down dinner and eight-piece band, it makes sense to keep the guest list down. The fewer people you have, the more you can 'upgrade' the celebration.

A Charming Idea!
If you want a perfect souvenir of your courtship, love and marriage that you can pass down to generations to come, start with a charm bracelet that traces your history as a couple.  You can start collecting charms from where you met, where you went on dates, your initials, your interests together, your first home, etc.  Then, you have the perfect piece of jewelry to pass down to the next generation!
Toppers Now Make the Cake
 
Remember the day when a traditional cake topper meant a Caucasian bride side-by-side
with her Caucasian groom solemnly adorning the traditional fruitcake? Back then, the best
you could hope for, in terms of expressing your individuality, was to find a ceramic couple
whose hair were the same colors as your's and your intended’s.
 
Those days are long gone. Today's cake toppers can be as contemporary as the couples
that choose them.
 
The most-kept memento from a multitude of wedding accessories, today’s cake toppers
come in as many varieties as there are cakes to sit upon. From the comical to the unique,
and the traditional to the ethnically diverse. It's all about finding a topper that reflects who
you are.
 
Is the joke of the day your groom's comical reluctance to get “hitched”? A bride dragging
her groom to the altar, hooking him and reeling him in on a fishing line, watching as her
groom “takes the plunge”, or raising her hand in victory can say it all – in a comical way.
Today's designs are all about reflecting couples and the unique lifestyles they lead.
Regardless of whether your tastes lie in the comical or the traditional, one of the greatest
breakthroughs in cake topper design has to be the fact that many now come with
interchangeable racially diverse brides and grooms. A welcome trend and one that allows
every couple to find the perfect ethnic blend in cake toppers that they themselves have
found in love.

Registry List Hints
Even if it seems excessive, register for at least 12 place settings of dinnerware.  There's a possibility the manufacturer will discontinue the pattern you have chosen, which can make it difficult to replace pieces in the future.
 
If you are registering for glassware, register for at least four extra pieces of each type to allow for breakage.
 
Unless you are a serious cook, you only need to register for starter sets of basic pots, pans and knives.
 
If you have a color scheme and are going to register for table linens, order six more napkins than place settings because they will always come in handy.
 
Don't just think of yourself when registering for bed linens.  Request extra pillows and blankets in order to accommodate guests.
Hand in Hand
10 WAYS TO PERSONALIZE YOUR WEDDING
 
Serve wines from the years you were born or when you met. Share your reason in a note to guests on the table.
 
Have each of your bridesmaids carry bouquets containing a different type of flower in the same color.
 
Have guests sign a vase or platter with permanent-ink pens.  You can use this throughout your life together.
 
Pre-tape a few close friends and relatives sharing fun stories about you and your groom.  Show the video at your rehearsal dinner and/or at the reception while guests are waiting for you to arrive from the ceremony.
 
Create a comfortable lounge area where guests can take a break from dancing.
 
A coffee-table book featuring your wedding or honeymoon location can make a unique guest book; invite everyone to sign the pages.
 
For a fall wedding, have pumpkins carved with your monogram to use as centerpieces.
 
Pick a quote from a favorite book or song to put on the invitations.
 
Honor both sets of your parents by rising together to make a special toast to them at the rehearsal dinner or wedding reception.
 
Slip into comfortable shoes at the reception, such as stylish ballet flats or jeweled flip-flops and consider handing out coordinating pairs to your bridesmaids as well.

Just in Case . . .
Prepare a wedding-day bag with:
 
Makeup for Touch-Ups
A Comb & a Brush
Aspirin
Tissues
Bottled Water
Stain Remover
Safety Pins
Nail File
A Copy of your Vows

Floral Arrangement
FIND YOUR FLORIST!
 
Follow these guidelines as outlined in Modern Bride magazine for choosing a floral designer and getting gorgeous arrangements with your budget:
 
  • Start early.  Popular florists are often booked up to a year in advance.  Begin researching by checking with recently married friends for their recommendations.  You might also want  to ask around at reception venues for names of florists the staff has worked with who  might suit your tastes.
  • Ask the florist.  Once you have contenders, narrow your list by asking questions.  Has she worked at your location before?  Which flowers will be in season?  What does she suggest for your style and budget?  The answers will help you make a decision.
  • Discuss your ideas.  When you have hired a florist, show her magazine pictures you have collected of arrangements you like and those you don't and discuss options.  Give her a photo of your dress, as your gown can establish the tone for the event.  Also provide swatches from your wedding party dresses so the bouquets will complement them.
  • Consider costs!  Be honest about your budget.  Your florist should be able to provide floral options within your financial limits that won't compromise your style.
  • Read the fine print.  Your contract should include itemized costs for the flowers, plus acceptable substitutes in case the ones you want are not available for any reason.  It should also specify when and where the flowers will arrive and who will set them up.
Top Tips for Your Cake & First Toast
1.  Have an elegant cake knife and cake server nearby when you are ready to
share the first slice of cake with your groom.
 
2.  Make sure your baker provides a box to transport the top layer of your wedding cake home to be frozen and eaten on your first anniversary.
 
3.  Surprise your groom with a cake of his own (generally referred to as the "groom's cake").  You can have it designed to depict his hobby, his college or fraternity.  Groom's cakes are served often but if you keep it a secret, it's a wonderful surprise just for him in the midst of everything that surrounds you.
 
4.  When you visit bakers, ask how many cakes they create per weekend to determine how much time they can devote to your wedding.
 
5.  Make each layer of your wedding cake a different flavor or vary the fillings to appeal to a variety of tastes.
 
Take a look at these photos of some very elaborate cakes of all kinds and styles.  I found this site very interesting and helpful.
 

Serving Elegance

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SPEND-LESS WEDDING TIPS
 
1)  Ask your caterer to set up your reception space with oblong or rectanguar tables that
seat 12 -14 people rather than round ones that accommodate just 8-10.  This allows you to
reduce the number of centerpieces you might want by as much as 25%.
 
2)  Eliminate the need for pricey floral centerpieces by having your favors double as table
decorations.  Wrap them in colorful paper or boxes with pretty ribbons, then stack them,
pyramid style, in the center of the table.  Sprinkle rose petals over this display and surround it
with several votive candles, all for just a few dollars per table.
 
3)An alternative to a costly sit-down dinner is to host a buffet party.  The spread will look
impressive and you can save hundreds of dollars because you do not have to hire a staff of
waiters since people will serve themselves.
 
4)  At your reception, offer a trendy signature drink, like a dirty martini or a cosmopolitan
along with only beer and wine, and you cut your bar bill by up to $25 per person.
 
5)  There is no question that live musicians make a big impact at a wedding.  However, you do
not have to pay the hefty price of having a band play for the entire evening.  Instead,  consider
hiring a string quartet or even a solo pianist or harpist to play during dinner.   Then, bring a
disc jockey to get the party rocking for the remainder of the evening.  A string quartet will
cost much less than a full piece band and you will save even more by hiring a disc jockey for
those final few hours, plus have a lot of fun.

Trunk Show or Sample Sale - What's the Difference?
 
Trunk Show - a trunk show takes place at a bridal salon. A designer will bring her entire collection - gowns carried at the store as well as gowns that are not - and meet with brides in order to sell her new gowns. By meeting with a designer the bride will be able to find out what options she has regarding altering the dress - make it strapless, change the colored beading, etc... Most trunk shows will offer a 10% discount on the price of a gown if it is purchased on the dates of the show. Bridal salons will know trunk show dates weeks, and sometimes months in advance, so if there's a designer whose dresses you love, make an appointment as early as possible.
 
Sample Sale - a sample sale is where a designer or bridal salon sells their sample dresses at a discounted price. Sample dresses are the dresses that brides view and try on in the salon. They are traditionally a sample size - 8 or 10. These dresses have not been worn by a bride at her wedding, but they have been tried on at the salon. They will be dirty and probably need alterations. Cleaning and tailoring is not included in the price of a sample sale dress, so take that into consideration when you buy a dress at a sample sale - alterations and cleaning can add a few hundred dollars to the price.
Your bridal shower is the only wedding-related party you don't plan. But that doesn't mean you can't have a say in the details! Check out these 5 popular shower themes and 13 fun games you and your guests are sure to love.