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.

8 Tips For Doing Your Own Wedding Catering

DIY wedding catering is a great way to feed a lot of hungry people. Although it isn't easy, it can be done if you plan carefully and look at all your options. Before you begin planning, though, look at the following ideas to create the perfect catered wedding reception.

1. Make it simple As you decide what to serve at your reception, take into account your talents and the time that will be available to you, and make the menu as simple as you can. Find items for your menu that you can make ahead of time and store until the day of your wedding, and don't use complex, difficult recipes that will only stress you out.

2. Ask for help You probably have friends and relatives who love to cook, so ask around to see if people can help with side dishes, salads, and even breads. Those who help might even take care of the cost of the dish they make too, helping you save a little more.

3. Think about health regulations It's essential when preparing your own food to follow health regulations just like a professional caterer would. Wash your hands often, and keep your work spaces clean. Avoid cross-contamination, especially when working with meats, and be sure that items are both cooked and stored correctly. If you're having a summer wedding, be sure you have plenty of fridge space to keep all the food cold. You should have more than enough space, even if you have to beg fridges from relatives or rent them from specialty stores.

4. Remember the utensils Don't forget to count how you will eat the foot and what utensils will be needed. Plates, bowls, spoons, knives, and forks will all probably be necessary, and you'll also need napkins and tablecloths to complete the ensemble. You can probably rent these items from a specialty shop, and the shop may even clean them up afterwards for a little extra money, which will be well worth it.

5. Find Free Service Help Even if you cook the whole meal, you obviously won't be the one serving the food and drinks, so get people to volunteer for these jobs, or hire a few local teenagers for a small fee. Before they serve, though, you or someone you put in charge needs to be sure they know what they're doing.

6. Think About Little Things Professional caterers have been doing this for years, but you might easily forget about salt and pepper, sugar, butter, storage containers, bottle openers, ice buckets, ash trays, and such. Make a complete list of everything you need, and double check it a few days before the wedding.

7. Find Good Deals You can look for deals on storable essentials like flour, sugar, and even butter in the months leading up to your wedding. Having these things on hand will be helpful later on, and you'll save lots of money if you shop around for them. 8. Shop Locally Local shops will have the best quality meats and produce, and they'll probably even deliver the food to your door for free, which makes for one less pre-wedding errand to run! Hopefully these tips will help you understand what goes into catering your own wedding, but you'll still need to think carefully about what to serve and how. Good luck!

*Nicola Ray

How to Choose Great Wedding Invitations

Before you know it the wedding season will be upon us and with the joy of getting married comes all of the preparations we must deal with. Deciding on your invitation and getting the save the date card is something you can not leave to the last minute. Once you have mailed the save the date card, your friends and family know there will be a wedding and now plus plan to set the date aside. It is official you are getting married.

First you must shop around and decide what type of invitation you want, formal or casual. Whether you will have them professionally printed or you will do it at home on your personal PC. There are many options to the bride today. Set a budget and try to stay within the budget. When figuring the cost, don't forget the postage. If you are sending out a large number of invitations it can quickly add up.

Next, you must choose the save a date card that usually has a similar look to your invitation. These can be sent out as early as one year in advance, but 6 months is usually the norm. It is important to send these so your guests can start making plans. Such as plane and hotel reservations. Usually the earlier they plan the better rate they will receive.

Continuing with your choices, it is time to select the actual invitation. Keep in mind invitations can be very expensive or quite reasonable depending on what you select. The type of paper, the type of print, how many sheets of paper are included in the invitation. How the paper is folded and if there is a RSVP card enclosed with an envelope all adds to the price of the invitation. By the time you order your invitations the two of you should have decided with your parents what type of invitation you want to send out. Today with the aid of the internet you can get a vast amount of information without too much foot work.

Lastly, keep in mind the theme of your invitation reflects the theme of the wedding. The colors of your invitation could very well be the colors of your whole wedding theme. The bridesmaid dresses, flowers, tablecloths, and all wedding decorations. So when choosing your invitation put a lot of thought in your invitation as this will set the tone for all things to come. This will be the first of many decisions.

*by: Bryan Burbank

Wedding Planning Services

Wedding planning services - can you find a company or an individual proprietor that would help you plan your wedding? In fact, there are numerous companies and individuals offering their wedding planning services. The question is - how to find a good one?

First, when you are looking for a service that would help you plan your wedding; you should try to find out as much as you can about their background. It's not only important to compare the prices and services of various planners, but it's also vital to find real feedback from the users. Some of the companies have forums and chat rooms where their users can share their thoughts and ask questions. Other companies will provide you with real references of the couples which they have serviced in the past, allowing you to read the feedback from real people or even contact them if you have any questions.

Furthermore, think about if you would prefer a local wedding planner, whom you could visit when you have questions. Local planners are the preferred option of many couples, since the close proximity of the planner allows you to promptly receive assistance.

Next are the costs. It's obvious that if you turn to a large established company, you will most likely have to pay for. The costs rise due to the larger number of staff, renting more expensive offices, and so on. If you turn to a smaller company or someone new to wedding planning, you may get much better prices simply because of the need of these proprietors to establish a larger clientele and collect new references. The pitfall of newer planners is that they are not as skilled as the ones that have been in business for years. Thus, you will have to make your own choice - a reputable and more expensive company or a newly established and cheaper one.

In the end, it's all about the feedback, and the real issue here is the credibility of the feedback, because there is almost no way to tell if the company is providing you with an assortment of feedbacks or only with the ones from their most satisfied customers. What could be a way around this issue? The best way to check the validity of feedback is through online forums and chats. Simply search for the feedback on the planner of your interest in the wedding forums and chats, and you will get the real information. Additionally, here you will be able to find other wedding planners that people recommend to use or not to use.

Wedding planning services will help you organize a wedding with ease. However, try to do thorough research in order to obtain the optimal result.

-Adam Gaines