Your Guide to a Perfect Wedding
Here’s a simple guide to how to plan your wedding so that you and your families are not in debt for the rest of your lives! It’s perfectly possibly to have a unique and special wedding without feeling that it is ‘cut price’. And here’s our advice on where to start. Of course we recommend using the internet. Here at By-Invitation we have a wealth of tips for you and sites to help you find all the things you need for your special day. You’ll save time by using the internet – and should be able to save money too.
To start with, make a list of all the things that you think are ‘required’ for a wedding. Your list will probably include your clothes, his clothes, the guests, flowers, a cake, a venue for the reception, decorations, food, drink, music, a photographer. Now, sit down with your partner and prioritise the list. Mark the top five items with a big star…and make sure that you focus on spending your budget on making those perfect. For some people, having the perfect dress is absolutely the most important thing. For others, it is having a really great reception venue that everyone will remember. It’s your wedding, so don’t let other people tell you what is vital!
If you are on a tight budget, you might want to plan your wedding for Spring or Autumn. You’ll find that reception venues are cheaper and there are more options open to you. Avoid the stress of setting your heart on a date, only to find out that it’s booked.
If you don’t have a huge family or group of friends who you want at your wedding, then a Destination wedding is a great way to save money and have a once in a lifetime experience. You will find that you can get discounted rooms in spectacular resorts for you, your family and your friends, if you plan to hold your wedding at their property. There are some fantastic romantic locations, from beaches to waterfalls – on inactive volcanos or a national park. Most of these places are all-inclusive, so you also get meals, drinks and entertainment. And, if you really want to make things simple for yourselves, you can even stay right there for your honeymoon (though you might want to make sure your guests are not doing the same!)
This next tip may be the biggest, and possibly the hardest of them all. Cut down on the guest list. You could do this in a few ways, I once attended a wedding where they had quite a few people at the ceremony and only a few at dinner, but later opened it up to everyone again, for drinks and dancing. You could also have a very small, formal ceremony and reception dinner for very close family and friends and follow it with a very relaxed and informal pig roast and picnic the following day. Whatever suits you will be fine, but I have to admit through experience that this is the part that took the most discipline.
There are several ways to have a great reception without breaking the bank…for example you may consider finding a place to hold your reception that will allow you to bring your own wine and beer and then all you need to do is hire a few people to tend the bar. Or choose a buffet rather than a sit down meal. Buffets are very acceptable ways to keep your guests happy and still save a significant amount of money. Another nice thing to do is to get your families to help you cater the whole thing yourself by having them prepare their favorite dishes.
And last but certainly not least make use of the internet. You will find there are some great ideas for invitations, table decorations, . The Internet is a great resource that will help you come up with endless ideas and the tips to make them a reality.
Remember your wedding is only the first day; it’s having a good marriage that is really important. Don’t let yourself get too overwhelmed with all of this, just have fun and enjoy your day
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