In planning your reception, you must decide what kind of food you will serve at your wedding. If you plan on having something simple, like cake, and punch, your choices are limited, and less costly. However, if you plan something bigger, like dinner, your selection and costs will change dramatically.
If you are planning a full blown reception with food, dinner, dancing, etc., you will need to plan every detail. Here are some details you will need to decide:
Where will you hold the reception? Reception hall? Hotel? Backyard? Meeting place? Church facility? Picnic shelter? Country club?
What type of dinner will you have? Buffet? Sit down dinner with servers?
What kind of food will you serve?
How much can you spend on food?
Monday, June 27, 2011
Friday, June 24, 2011
The Wedding Dress
Some brides like to shop for a bridal gown as soon as they become engaged. Before you begin even glancing at wedding gowns, make sure you have a realistic budget in mind. If you've seen shows on cable TV, you are aware that a bride can spend tens of thousands of dollars on a dress. If you do not have the money to buy, a $20,000 dress, don't even bother looking at the expensive ones. (Check with friends who've recently gotten married. Ask about bridal shops, service, and if there were problems with delivery.)
How much should you spend? Remember that you will wear the dress for one day. Besides the actual price of the gown, you will need to pay for alterations, a veil, shoes, and any other accessories.
* If you can do it, make an appointment to shop for the bridal gown, and avoid Saturdays, if possible.
Who should you bring with you when you shop? Some women like to bring bridesmaids, friends, and mothers. Keep in mind that bridal shops cannot usually accommodate large groups. When my daughters shopped for their individual bridal gowns, only I went along because it made it a lot easier. Although we saw large groups with other brides, it seemed that it made the shopping more difficult because the bride tried to please everyone.
>>>> Can't afford an expensive gown? There still is hope!
- Check for sales.
- Look on Craigslist, websites, etc.
- Does your mother or grandmother have a dress that could be altered for a new bride?
- Check resale/consignment shops.
- Can you rent a wedding gown for a day?
Good luck!
How much should you spend? Remember that you will wear the dress for one day. Besides the actual price of the gown, you will need to pay for alterations, a veil, shoes, and any other accessories.
* If you can do it, make an appointment to shop for the bridal gown, and avoid Saturdays, if possible.
Who should you bring with you when you shop? Some women like to bring bridesmaids, friends, and mothers. Keep in mind that bridal shops cannot usually accommodate large groups. When my daughters shopped for their individual bridal gowns, only I went along because it made it a lot easier. Although we saw large groups with other brides, it seemed that it made the shopping more difficult because the bride tried to please everyone.
>>>> Can't afford an expensive gown? There still is hope!
- Check for sales.
- Look on Craigslist, websites, etc.
- Does your mother or grandmother have a dress that could be altered for a new bride?
- Check resale/consignment shops.
- Can you rent a wedding gown for a day?
Good luck!
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Money
How much money do you have available to pay for a wedding? Do you have money saved? Do you have to borrow it and then pay it back? This conversation about money is extremely important and must happen before the wedding because it will determine how much you can spend on the bride's dress, invitations, postage, the florist, transportation, food, beverages, favors, etc.
When you've figured out how much you have, then you need to sit down, and write down the names of those people you want to invite. (This can always change later.) Take the amount of money you have available and divide it by the number of guests you wish to invite. If you come up with $1.50/guest, you have a problem. Hopefully, you have enough to pay for all the things that you want and need.
Vendors, those that will provide goods and services for the wedding, are in business to make money. They will expect a deposit when you sign a contract for their services, and payments every 30-60 days before the wedding date. Without your money, they cannot and will not provide you with anything. Despite what you may have seen on TV on shows about bridezillas, a rude attitude won't get you anything.
If you have friends who've recently gotten married, ask them if they have some suggestions on various vendors. This can be very helpful to your planning and budget.
When you've figured out how much you have, then you need to sit down, and write down the names of those people you want to invite. (This can always change later.) Take the amount of money you have available and divide it by the number of guests you wish to invite. If you come up with $1.50/guest, you have a problem. Hopefully, you have enough to pay for all the things that you want and need.
Vendors, those that will provide goods and services for the wedding, are in business to make money. They will expect a deposit when you sign a contract for their services, and payments every 30-60 days before the wedding date. Without your money, they cannot and will not provide you with anything. Despite what you may have seen on TV on shows about bridezillas, a rude attitude won't get you anything.
If you have friends who've recently gotten married, ask them if they have some suggestions on various vendors. This can be very helpful to your planning and budget.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Set the Date
After your daughter gets the engagement ring, serious discussions must take place about when the wedding will take place. The bride and the groom should decide how soon they'd like to get married. In many cities, wedding dates must be set one year in advance to reserve locations and vendors. The bride and groom should also consult with their respective parents to make certain that there are no other family events planned for the date.
There are other considerations about setting the date. If there are events in your city at the same time as the wedding, guests might not be able to find hotel accommodations. Check with a community calendar, sports schedules, etc.
Try to have a certain month in mind, and a few dates. Before you begin calling hotels, reception halls, caterers, or other venues, you must decide how many people you'll invite and how much you can spend. To get an idea on prices, you can check around to see the various dinner packages or what caterers charge by looking on the internet. A reception might cost you as little as a couple hundred dollars (for wedding cake and punch) to $50,000. Every vendor will require a significant down payment, and total payment before the actual date.
There are other considerations about setting the date. If there are events in your city at the same time as the wedding, guests might not be able to find hotel accommodations. Check with a community calendar, sports schedules, etc.
Try to have a certain month in mind, and a few dates. Before you begin calling hotels, reception halls, caterers, or other venues, you must decide how many people you'll invite and how much you can spend. To get an idea on prices, you can check around to see the various dinner packages or what caterers charge by looking on the internet. A reception might cost you as little as a couple hundred dollars (for wedding cake and punch) to $50,000. Every vendor will require a significant down payment, and total payment before the actual date.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)