Simple Ways to Save On Your Wedding Catering

Today's weddings are normally catered according to a particular tradition: canapés with the wedding drinks, a three-course, formal meal, and a hot buffet bar near the end of the reception. All these courses really drive up the cost of catering quickly. But you don't have to follow this tradition, especially when breaking it can give you loads more money in your budget for other things. The following tips will end up saving you tons of money. Be simple Footing the bill for a high-class multi-course meal for a hundred people is incredible expensive, but serving a simpler, more laid-back menu can really keep your costs low. Think about having traditional pub foods like fish and chips or bangers and mash (it's what Kate Winslet did!). These foods are crowd-pleasers, and they're better for your budget. Use a catering school Many bigger cities have a catering college somewhere, and their students often love to practice catering at wedding receptions. They may do it for practically free. Check with your local education office to look at catering schools near you. Even if the college doesn't hire out catering teams, you may find some students who will help you on an individual basis. Go through a local company Hiring a local restaurant or small catering company rather than a large, nation-wide catering company can save you lots of money. Many smaller companies won't charge as much for catering, and the service and food will still be great. DIY catering Find friends and family members who will help you cater your own reception. If each person makes a dish or two, you can easily put together a wonderful buffet-style dinner without much fuss. See it differently Worry more about what you want than about what tradition dictates. Instead of a full meal, provide a dessert menu with sweet wines, or simply serve canapés and champagne. For a fun feel, serve a spit-roast or BBQ at an outdoor wedding. Serve less food The tradition of serving a sit-down meal followed by a buffet later on is only a recent thin, and there's no rule you have to follow here. Following the same trends other brides are following will only cost you thousands. If you need to cut money from your budget, consider making your day less stressful by opting for a streamlines, simple reception dinner without the added extras.
About The Author
Nicola Ray writes for Cheap Wedding Success, a website dedicated to planning beautiful budget weddings. You’ll find hundreds of ideas on cheap wedding dresses, catering, venues, stationery and more at http://www.cheap-wedding-success.co.uk.

Posted: October 16,2009

Doing Your Wedding Your Way

When you were a little girl playing wedding dress up with friends, you probably had ideas of spun-sugar cakes, lacy veils, and, of course, white dresses, but does this vision still fit you? Will a traditional wedding really represent who you and your partner are and what your relationship is like? More and more often, brides are deciding that a white wedding is not for them, and the current trend is actually to buck the trend. Now the thing that’s most in style for weddings is to create your own style.

The first thing to think about is what wedding format suits you and your groom. If you both love to hike and garden, consider getting married outside, or if you prefer a quiet, reclusive ceremony, why not just elope? Or if this is a little too atypical for you, you can still put together a small ceremony where you and your groom are married in front of a handful of close friends and family members. If, on the other hand, you love to plan huge parties and put on a show, you can really give a personal touch to your big day by doing much of the preparation yourself.

While getting ready for any large wedding can be a stressful process, doing your wedding the way you want means that you have more control over both the individual touches of the ceremony and reception and the cost of the entire shebang. This essentially means that a unique, do-it-yourself wedding is cheaper and more cost-effective. Instead of paying for a lot of extra tradition-dictated items and plans, you and your husband-to-be can create a day that is really about you, which becomes a day you can really enjoy.

Also, if you don’t let yourself be controlled by traditions and the expectations of others, you’ll not only have a more cost-effective wedding, but you’ll also be able to really let loose and have fun on your wedding day. If you’re not comfortable with the long veil, high heels, and poofy dress, you can dispense with them and just enjoy being beautiful in your own way.

Sometimes a traditional wedding with all the trappings – white roses, lace veils, and hundred-year-old vows – can be gorgeous, but does this style really express you and your love? If not, then don’t worry about it. Feel free to explore other options for dress, decorations, music, and even vows. With this individuality, even your guests will remember your wedding day for years to come.

About The Author

Nicola Ray is the editor of Cheap Wedding Success, a website dedicated to planning and creating the perfect cheap wedding. With lots of advice, tips and ideas to lower the cost of your wedding, www.cheap-wedding-success.co.uk is the perfect place to start. Why not start planning your wedding on a budget?

Wedding Photography - Tips For a Smooth Wedding Photo Shoot

The wedding photographer may just be the most important part of your wedding ensemble well, aside from the person who conducts the ceremony. This person is responsible for chronicling your big day and making sure that every memory is captured on film.

Because you want the whole day to go smoothly, being organized is essential. Whether you, someone in your family or a wedding planner is handling the events of the day, here are some tips to make the photo sessions run smoothly:

1. Make a list of all the photos you want. Be specific about who is in them, the location and what time the photos are scheduled for. So, if you want a picture of you with all of your cousins outside under oak tree-write it down! Once you have your detailed list made, go over it again to make sure haven't left anything or anyone out of the photo shoot.

Then, make sure the wedding photographer gets a copy of the list as well as the planner or a trusted friend. This way, you can make sure the wedding photographer knows what to expect and someone else is there making sure nothing is skipped.

2. Tell people when and where to be for the photo shoot. A list is great as long as you notify everyone on it. Be sure to tell let them know of the times, places and attire for their photo and to be on time. If you have to, tell your chronically late friends and family members to be there earlier than necessary. This is especially important for photos taken before the ceremony so the timing of the actual event isn't delayed.

3. Make sure that you and the wedding photographer have a clear understanding of what you are getting. If you didn't discuss black and white photos with him prior to the shoot but have some listed, he may not be prepared.

Also, if you want candid shots, make sure they are included in the price you decided on. Discussing the details of film type, poses, candid, and number of shots ahead of time means that when you get the bill, there won't be any surprises.

4. Be respectful of the process. Yes, this is your day. But if you're feeling chaotic, just imagine how the photographer feels trying to reign in all the chaos around him for a photo. Bridesmaids, groomsmen, parents, children, friends, family-everyone milling about, talking, and getting in the way.

The wedding photographer is used to dealing with a lot of people at once, but to make sure you get what you want and keep him happy by being organized. It may even be necessary to politely ask those not in photos to leave the room.

Following the steps above can really ease your mind and make the whole process run smoothly for everybody involved. You can make sure the ceremony starts on time and that everyone gets to the reception before all the food is gone! The wedding photographer is responsible for recording this day so treat him well and you'll be happy with the results.

by:Andrew Stratton

How to Plan a Great Wedding

Wedding planning is not as hard as it may seem. First of all, you will need some tools that will assist you in your planning. Secondly, you will need to do some research. However, the right tool will minimize the amount of research that you will need to do on your own. Alternatively, you may hire a wedding planner to eliminate any hassles whatsoever.

The tools in question are online wedding planners. Wedding planners are special software applications that will help you manage all the aspects of a wedding, including guest lists, guest seating, reminders for the upcoming things-to-do, and so on. The good point is that these tools already have a built in list of things-to-do, freeing you from having to do research on your own. All you need to do is keep the points on the lists that fit you, and delete the ones that don't. Once you input the information about your wedding (the number of guests, the budget, the date of your wedding, etc.) the program will create custom reports and reminders for you.

However, if you would like to do some research on your own, it's not that hard either. There are hundreds of websites that can provide you with the additional information required for planning your wedding, including: databases of bridal gowns, databases of the vendors offering wedding products and services , forums and chats with the users experiences, galleries with hundreds of bridal hairstyles, and so on.

Is there an easier way to plan a wedding? How to plan a wedding without any research whatsoever? In order to plan a wedding the easiest way possible you may want to look into wedding planning service providers. These range from amateur planners to large specialized wedding planning services. If you decide to shift your concerns to a wedding planner, you will be able to simply sit back and enjoy, while your chosen planner arranges your future wedding as per your specifications.

The main drawback with hiring an amateur or a professional wedding planner is the cost. According to many sources, a wedding planner will earn a commission of around 10-15% of the total cost of a wedding. Therefore, if you are planning to organize an average-price wedding, which is currently $20,000 in the USA and $18,000 in the UK, around $2,000-$3,000 of this amount will be absorbed by your wedding planner. Is shifting your wedding planning hassles worth $2,000-$3,000? The choice is, of course, yours.

So, how to plan a wedding well? Decide whether you would like to use a wedding planning tool, to do the research on your own, or hire a wedding planner, and start with the planning. In each case, most important is to start planning your wedding way in advance.

Personalized Wedding Cakes

The hottest trend in weddings these days is personalization. From unique gowns to custom bridal jewelry to specialty menus, brides are finding ways to make every element in their wedding tell a story. One of the best elements to customize is your wedding cake; it is literally a blank canvas just waiting for you to make it uniquely yours. These are some clever ideas for personalized wedding cakes that you and your guests will love.

One of the ways that brides and grooms like to personalize their weddings is by writing their own vows. Another idea is to recite the same vows that were exchanged by the bride or groom's parents a generation before. You take it one step further and incorporate a meaningful set of vows into your wedding cake design. Give your baker a copy of your vows, and ask her to write them on the cake in a beautiful calligraphy. If you want them to be easily read, choose a dark color like chocolate icing on a white fondant for contrast, or allow the vows to become a more subtle pattern by using a low contrast color, such as an apricot lettering on ivory frosting.

Lettering can be used to customize your wedding cake in other ways. One of the most fun is to have the newlyweds' names boldly emblazoned across the largest tier of the cake. On the adjacent tier, print the wedding date, and perhaps use a special motto or message on the third tier. This will look particularly nice when done in your wedding colors, and the result will be a truly one-of-a-kind cake.

Maybe you have always believed the old saying that "a picture is worth a thousand words". In that case, your photos can be used to decorate the wedding cake. Small black and white pictures can be attached to the cake behind frosting "frames" with vintage styling. Engagement pictures, pre-wedding photos in your gown and tux, and even pictures of your parents on their wedding days can all make excellent additions to a very unique and sentimental cake.

Custom wedding cake toppers are another really fun way to personalized a cake. You can have toppers specially made in a huge range of styles. They can be anything from life-like miniatures of the bride and groom in their wedding attire to cartoony characters engaged in a favorite activity, such as bowling or fishing. Whichever cake topper you choose, be sure to find a place of honor for it in your new home. It will bring back happy memories of your wedding every time that you see it.

Custom colors are another idea for adding unique character to your wedding cake. Many brides will choose a color that is meaningful to them and carry it throughout their wedding. For instance, if you and your fiance met while you were students at the University of Tennessee, splashes of that signature Volunteer orange can pop up throughout your wedding. Use your special custom color to enhance everything from your bridal jewelry to your bouquet to your bridal shoes. And of course, be sure to feature your color on the largest bridal accessory of all: your wedding cake.

Guy writes on many subjects including travel,customs and society. SilverlandJewelry.com. Treat yourself to fabulous custom bridal jewelry for your wedding. It can be more affordable than you think and it will look stunning. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Guy_Antonelli

Wedding Catering: Buffet Or Service

Another conundrum for soon-to-be married couples is the dilemma of having servers versus having a buffet for the reception. Both have their advantages and disadvantages, so let’s look at both sides before you make your decision.

At the buffet table

The first and most obvious upshot of having a buffet style dinner at the wedding is the opportunity for all of the guests to choose what they want to eat. This way everyone is happy and they can have as much or as little as they want. There can be multiple things for various dietary restrictions as well as a multitude of side dishes for the vegetarian that hates getting pasta at every wedding.

But the downside of the buffet table is that things that are popular will run out. If you do not plan ahead for shortages, then you may have guests that didn’t get what they really wanted to eat. In terms of movement, the buffet table can be tricky. The bride may have troubles moving up there and might be afraid to spill anything on her dress, as other may be as well. Trying to find ways to serve items without having a large opportunity for spillage will help to avoid any dry cleaning bills.

The service is excellent

Having servers for the reception is a classy and easy way to keep everyone happy during the reception. Not only will no one have to move until the dance, but the servers can also attend to any problems without the couple even knowing about them. Drinks can also be served, which is wonderful for everyone—no more needing to get up and down during dinner.

On the other hand, this excellent service does come with a price tag. It will be costlier to have staff waiting on the guests, especially with more guests. You will also take the chance of the staff being nice to the head table and not to the rest of the guests. The best advice is to interview each staff member as well before the reception.

Both buffets and service are great options for reception dinners. If you’re looking for something a little more casual, then the buffet will be great, but for the more formal occasion, service is best. You may want to stop and consider your guests at this point. If they’re older and don’t move around well, service is a great way to keep them comfortable.

About The Author Amy Spade is an expert on planning weddings, and she has written an amazing totally free minicourse on how to make sure that you have the day of your dreams, and avoid wedding day disaster! Get the free course "Your Special Day from Start to Finish" now at at http://www.weddingdata.com. weddingsmarriage@yahoo.co.uk

Simple Steps to Create a Wedding Budget

When you start writing your wedding budget, you might feel a little overwhelmed at first. There are so many things to spend money on that you may not even know where to begin writing budget items. You can, however, write and stick with a successful budget if you follow these easy steps. Where to begin Before you even start crunching numbers, write down the things that are essential for your wedding.

Talk to your fiancé because he might have different ideas from you, and you'll want to figure out the best way to merge your styles before writing a budget. Talk to your fiancé about what your perfect wedding would be like, and listen to him talk about his perfect wedding. If you're coming from opposite ends of the spectrum, figure out how to meet in the middle and agree on a theme or look you'll both love. Next, how much can you spend? This is a pretty important step, of course. The best place to start is usually with your parents. They may want to contribute a lump sum to your wedding plans, or they may have a few particular things in mind that they'll pay for. Any money your parents contribute plus any wedding money you have saved can be set aside for your wedding budget. Don't use credit or loans to up the ante for your wedding budget. Even if you only have a little to work with, adding debt will only stress you and your husband-to-be out, especially at the start of your marriage. You may want to open a bank account or a credit card specifically for your wedding because it will help you track each payment. Each month leading up to the big day, you can look over an account ledger to find out just how much you've spent. (If you decide to go the credit card route, find one with a 0% introductory interest rate, and pay it off every month. You don't want interest rolled into your wedding budget!) Use all your resources If you know people who would make excellent photographers, chauffeurs, invitation-makers, dress makers, or anything else you'll need on your wedding day, make a list. Your friends and family members will most likely be elated to help out on your wedding day. Plus, using the talents of people you know will make your wedding day both more special and more affordable. Make a guest list Create a rough list of how many guests you'll invite. It's really easy for your parents and his parents to add extended family members and out-of-town friends to this list, so be careful here. You really shouldn't invite people to your wedding if you don't want them there or know them well, so here are a few ideas to help you pare down the list don't invite people you just work with; only friends only include relatives up to first cousins have an adults-only wedding Paring down the guest list is difficult but necessary, and you'll need to include your fiancé and his family as well as your family, as they may want to add people you hadn't thought of. Total up the big costs Having an approximate number of guests will help you figure out some of your big costs such as catering, venues, and drinks, and you can include these in your budget plan now. You can start getting more specific by calling vendors you like. See if they're available first of all, and then get estimated costs for the number of guests you'll have. It will be easy to see whether or not the vendors fit into your budget, so you can move on quickly and ask for more specific quotes from the most affordable vendors. Add up smaller costs too Start filling up a spreadsheet with the smaller costs of decorations and favours. Keep the sheet updated as you figure out exact costs for everything. Over budget? If the rough budget you've written out now is much too high, you'll have to consider your priorities. Maybe you need a smaller cake, or a DJ instead of a live band. Decide how you and your fiancé want to splurge and how you can afford to save. You could make your own invitations so that you have extra money for a designer dress. It's really important that you prioritize and stay on budget, as going over budget will be very stressful. If you simply don't have enough money saved to create the wedding day you want, you could consider moving your date back a few months giving you time to save that extra cash. The little things When it comes to your wedding budget, it won't be the costly items that throw your budget off but the small ones. It can be simple to save money on big ticket items, but the little things can really start adding to your budget. So watch yourself when it comes to little things, and keep all your receipts so you can update your wedding budget all the time.
About The Author
Nicola Ray is the editor of Cheap Wedding Success, a website dedicated to planning and creating the perfect cheap wedding. Read more about budgeting for a wedding here.