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Other than the birth of a new baby, no event in life draws more unsolicited opinions and advice than planning a wedding. Many a bride and groom have become overwhelmed by the magnitude of opinions given to them leading up to their wedding. There are always conflicting ideas about what is necessary or appropriate, whether to hire a planner, or how much to spend. Here's some advice from our team that may help put all the guesswork to rest.
Ushers/Escorts
If
you are confused as to whether you need ushers at your ceremony or not,
it's completely optional. It's not mandatory (what is, really?) And if
you aren't sure what exactly ushers do, it's really pretty simple.
Ushers are the main greeters at your ceremony and walk guests to their
seats (or at least their row) at weddings. Ushers generally walk arm in
arm with female guests while any male accompanying guests follow
behind.
Choosing a Dress
Don’t
just fixate on a dress you saw in a wedding magazine. Understand what
dress style looks best on YOU and focus on that. If you are under 5″4′,
step away from the normal dress section and make a beeline for the
petite dresses. After it is all said and done, you’ll be pleased with
yourself for making this choice.
Selecting Flowers
One
of the best ways to incorporate affordable flowers into your budget is
to try and choose flowers that are in season. These are often much more
available, which means they end up costing far less. If you are in love with a certain flower that doesn’t
happen to be in season, you can still opt to incorporate them. Just make sure that they are not the main wedding flowers that are used
for the big day.
Budgeting
When
you set the budget for your wedding, it’s always smart to allow for some
“wiggle room.” The more you delve into your wedding planning, the more
unexpected costs you will find. Most likely, you will not only end up
underestimating costs, but also completely forgetting minor items, such
as tips for vendors. We recommend “rounding up” on all line items to
give you that little extra bumper to take care of unforeseen or
neglected expenses. Before you book your venue and vendors, use our
checklist and budget tools to make sure you have accounted for all
costs.
The Groom's Involvement
Grooms
I'm talking to you. The bride has enough to worry about, so the groom
can definitely take the lead on the parts of the wedding that involve
him most. This includes the groom's and groomsmen attire, his wedding
ring and the groomsmen gifts. Tell her you care. If she doesn't know
wedding planning is something you'd like to be involved in, she probably
won't even consider asking for your
opinion. At the beginning of the planning process, make it clear that
you want input on certain things or everything. Practice good
communication from the start and figure out who will be handling what.
That way, everything will run smoothly and you can get the most out of
your wedding planning experience. You two make a great team; that's why
you're getting married! So join forces on this one and don't stress.
Plan, bond and fall deeper in love along the way.
Hiring a Caterer
Whether
you are into farm-to-table, buffet style or a black-tie sit down
dinner, make sure you have your caterer on board! Also, remember to
taste, taste, taste—guests are going to remember your food!
The Wedding Planner
HIRE AN EXPERT: Save money by spending it on a planner? It sounds counter intuitive, but wedding planners
1) are not shy when it comes to haggling, 2) can draw from years of
experience working with brides on budgets, and 3) have working
relationships with vendors -- all of which can amount to big bucks
shaved off your final bill.
