Easy Things to Cut From Your Wedding Budget

Planning a wedding on a budget can feel so challenging. However, brides who have already planned beautiful yet affordable weddings know that there are certain things which are easy to give up when trying to save money. To help you prioritize your wedding funds, learn about these easy things to cut from your wedding budget.

Videographer. This is probably the number one expense that brides say they are willing to drop to save money. A decent videographer is going to cost well over $1000 – that is a big chunk of change to free up for something more important! Even if the money is available, ask yourself how often you would really sit down and watch that wedding dvd. Most people lose interest in it within a couple months of the wedding, and it becomes nothing more than an expensive dust catcher on your dvd shelf. You would be better off investing the cost of a videographer into hiring a top notch photographer.

Wedding programs, menus, save the date cards, and response cards. Unless you are holding a bilingual ceremony and half of your guests will be totally lost without a written program, they are totally unnecessary. No one will miss them! While menu cards can be elegant, they too are an unneeded expense, and your guests will be able to figure out what they are eating by looking at it. If you plan to serve a dish that requires explanation, the server could name it when he presents it to the guest “Tonight you will be dining on a…” It would actually be very elegant and personal, more so than a menu card. Email or phone calls can be used to notify guests of upcoming nuptials instead of save the date cards. And believe it or not, response cards are not in fact proper wedding etiquette, so you can feel good about cutting those from your budget. Simply add an R.s.v.p. line to your invitations, and let the guests handle the rest.

Transportation. No one really cares how the bride and groom travel to and from the wedding, so expensive transportation is another easy thing to drop when funds are tight. Instead of a limo, see if a friend with a nice car can drive you from the ceremony to the reception. Or try a less traditional mode of transportation – how charming would it be to see the bride and groom pedal away on a bicycle built for two? If the distance between ceremony and reception sites is close, it would be really fun for the whole wedding party to walk it in a festive processional (very European!). Just think of all the well wishes you will get from the people you pass while you walk by all decked out in your bridal gown and Swarovski crystal earrings – what fun!

Wedding Rules Meant to be Broken

Weddings are laden with customs and traditions, many of which are quite meaningful and special. That does not mean, however, that every bride is obligated to follow each and every rule about the customary or “right” way to do things. These are some wedding rules which you can feel free to break with abandon…

The White Wedding Gown. For the record: wearing a non-white wedding gown does not mean that the bride is not “pure”, any more than wearing a white gown is proof that she is (which frankly, most brides and grooms aren’t). If the bride is a traditionalist, then by all means, a white bridal gown would be lovely, but every bride should have the right to wear the wedding dress that makes her feel the most fabulous – no matter what color it is!

Father Of The Bride Pays For The Wedding. Fathers of the bride, you can breathe a sigh of relief! While it was a long held custom that the father of the bride was responsible for virtually all of the wedding costs (excluding the bridal bouquet, wedding rings, rehearsal dinner, and honeymoon), these days, expenses tend to get spread around more equitably. Many couples contribute to the wedding costs or pay for the entire event themselves, especially if they are older with established careers. The family of the groom is also likely to become more involved than in the past, perhaps picking up the tab for the florist, the photographer, or the band. The wedding costs should be divided up based on willingness and ability to pay, not on the old custom.

No Sparkle Before Sundown. Once upon a time, it was considered “vulgar” for a lady to wear sparkly jewelry like diamonds or crystals during daytime hours. That old rule is completely outdated (no matter what your grandmother may tell you!), and brides today can indulge in Swarovski crystal earrings, necklaces, and bracelets at any time of the day. It is still true, however, that daytime jewelry tends to be a bit more modest than evening jewelry, so for an 11am wedding, you would select a more dainty pair of Swarovski crystal earrings than the big chandeliers that would be spectacular for a 4pm or 6pm wedding.

Pre-Wedding Beauty Secrets

Secret Number One: Have your eyebrows professionally shaped. A pair of perfectly polished brows will give you that absolutely flawless look in your wedding pictures. On the other hand, scraggly brows will detract from even the most artfully applied makeup. Waxing, in particular, can leave redness, so have your eyebrows shaped a couple of days before the wedding.

Secret Number Two: Wear makeup! Seriously, no matter how natural and low key your everyday style may be, you need to wear makeup on your wedding day. This is not to say that you need to look like you are wearing tons of makeup, just that it should be there. If you do nothing else, use a sheer foundation to even out your complexion, use waterproof mascara to define your eyes, and put on a pretty kiss-proof lipstick.

Secret Number Three: Do not attempt to do your own hair for the wedding. This means seeing a professional for a really good looking highlights if you color your hair and having a professional style your hair for the wedding itself. Be sure to have a trial run before your wedding to make sure you and the hair stylist are on the same page. Bring along any accessories you will be wearing like your headpiece and Swarovski crystal earrings so the stylist can design a hairstyle that works with the rest of your look. Besides, if you have selected a really fabulous pair of Swarovski crystal earrings, you want to be sure that they are not covered up by your hairdo.

Secret Number Four: Get a paraffin manicure the day before your ceremony. There is nothing quite like dipping your hands in hot wax to slough away dead skin and make them baby smooth. By the way, grooms can also benefit from a paraffin hand treatment and a no-polish manicure. The guys who may be least likely to seek such a service on their own are often the ones whose hands need the most TLC, so it may be up to the bride to drag her fiance to the spa kicking and screaming!

Wedding After-Party Ideas

If you can’t stand the thought of your wedding ending, why not keep the fun going into the wee hours of the morning? After the formal reception concludes, more and more couples are inviting their friends to keep celebrating with them in an after-party. Take a look at these great ideas for wedding after-parties.

The after-party should reflect your taste and also the tastes of your friends. For instance, if you and your friends love nature and being outside, this could be the inspiration for your post-reception celebration. After the reception officially ends, invite your friends to join you around a bonfire for singing, dancing, and even homemade s’mores. It is a fun way to kick back and relax with your close friends, especially if a lot of them will be coming in from out of town. Just be sure to note on the invitations that a bonfire will follow the reception and let guests know to bring a casual change of clothes so they can fully enjoy the experience.

Another really fun idea for a wedding after-party is a karaoke party. Hire a d.j. and bring in the microphones and other equipment to encourage everyone to get up on stage and belt out their favorite tunes. The conclusion of a wedding is a great time for a karaoke party, because most people will already have a few shots of “liquid courage” in them to help them release their inner diva. The bride should be sure to have a sassy party dress to change into, along with big sparkly Swarovski crystal earrings to really get into the party spirit.

If most of your out of town guests will be staying in the same hotel, that could be a convenient location for a party after the reception. It could be as informal as an announcement that the newlyweds will be heading to the bar at such and such hotel, and they would love to see their friends there. If you want to be a little more organized about it, see if the hotel has a private room in their lounge or restaurant. Another option is to rent a suite in the hotel and stock it with drinks and snacks for a fun after-party. Any of these options are very appealing when the wedding is done by the early evening and guests will be looking for something to do for the rest of the night. Keeping the party going sure beats staring at the walls in your hotel room!

Wherever you decide to host your wedding after-party, spread the word in advance by email or by word of mouth, or just make an announcement at the end of the reception. There is nothing like keeping a great time going on all night!

Pre-Wedding Photos to Remember

When you book your wedding photographer, you undoubtedly discussed with him or her all of the important shots that you want captured during your wedding ceremony and reception. Often overlooked, however, is all of the special moments that take place on the morning of the wedding, right before the main event begins. These are some pre-wedding photographs that you will want to be sure to remember to get for your album.

Some of the loveliest pre-wedding pictures are those taken of the bride as she prepares for her marriage ceremony. A picture of the gown, pristine on its hanger, awaiting the bride is a gorgeous image, especially if taken in a room with good natural light. In addition to a good long shot showing the whole bridal gown, the photographer should be sure to take some close-up images which highlight the special details of the wedding dress. To complete the suite of wedding attire pictures, have a few snapped showing the bridal veil, jewelry like Swarovski crystal earrings, and the fabulous bridal shoes.

The best pre-wedding pictures capture some of the excitement and behind the scenes action leading up to the main event. It is less about the formal posed pictures and more about getting the feeling of the morning in pictures. The bridesmaids lolling around sipping Champagne with their hair all coiffed still in their jeans and t-shirts is the type of image that shows the progression of time and how the morning unfolded. Of course there will also be special moments, such as the bride opening a wedding gift sent by her groom or an emotional exchange between mother and daughter just before setting out for the church.

Don’t forget about the guys in all the pre-wedding pictures. Definitely send a photographer around to catch the groom and his attendants doing their ties or raising one last toast to the groom. These will be fun pictures for the newlyweds to look through together after the wedding, as it will give each one a glimpse into what the wedding morning was like for the other. The formal and candid photos showing the ceremony and reception are the core of any wedding album, but the pre-wedding shots will really help to tell the whole story.

The Ultimate Bridal Beauty Checklist

Get prepared for your nuptials with the ultimate bridal beauty checklist…

Skin: This is where it all begins. If your skin is in tip-top shape, it will only take a minimum of makeup to attain the coveted bridal glow. Begin with regular facials once you become engaged. Every four to six weeks will ensure that your pores are unclogged and your skin is as radiant as possible. And if you happen to get a nasty pimple the week of your wedding, run to your doctor for a cortisone injection to kill the blemish in a flash.

Eyelashes: I just recently learned that it is possible to get eyelash extensions attached to your existing lashes. Adhered one at a time, the extensions last for weeks, and will hold on through tears at the ceremony as well as splashing in the ocean on your honeymoon. Running close to $2000, eyelash extensions are not for everyone. However, a good makeup artist can add individual false eyelashes for your wedding day for a minimal cost. If you are going for an ultra-glamorous look, you can even have lash extensions with tiny crystals on them; perfect for matching a great pair of Swarovski crystal earrings!

Hair: Nothing less than silky lustrous hair will do for your wedding day. Begin by getting regular haircuts to keep split ends at bay.  Bridal hair looks best when the color is natural, as it is the most timeless. To tame frizzy hair, there are thermal straightening treatments available, and a deep conditioning treatment is a good idea for any bride to make sure her mane is in tip top shape.

Nails: As soon as you become engaged, manicures are a must. Everyone will be looking at your hands to check out your engagement ring, after all! The week of your wedding, treat yourself to a paraffin manicure which will make your hands as smooth as silk. Keep your bridal manicure classic and simple; neutral polish, a French manicure, pale pink, or classic red are the best options for nailpolish. As for a pedicure, the answer is yes, please. You want your nails to be neat and your feet to be free of rough callouses. Not only that, but a good pedicure is just the kind of pre-wedding pampering to help melt away all that stress. After all, brides, the better you feel, the better you will look.

Bridal Gown Tips to Hide Your Hips

Every bride has some part of her body that she does not love. For those brides for whom the trouble spot is their hips, rest assured that with the right wedding gown you can make your problem area virtually disappear. These are the top bridal gown tips to hide your hips.

One: Avoid fabrics that cling. A bridal gown made from a more structured material will always be more forgiving than one made of filmy material. When you are trying to downplay your hips, avoid bias cut gowns like the plague.

Two: Try an empire waist bridal gown to conceal a pear shaped figure. The empire waist hits just under the bustline at the narrowest part of the ribcage. This draws the eye to the smallest part of the body, which is always flattering. A generous A-line skirt is ideal, as it will gently skim the hips, neither clinging tightly nor adding extra fullness.

Three: If you are a true pear shape with a smaller bust than hips, choose a wedding gown which has a lot of embellishment on the bodice above the waist. Details such as ruffles, pleating, and ruching can add volume to a smaller chest, which will help to balance out your figure.

Four: Don’t assume that a very full skirt is the best way to hide your hips. In many cases, adding a lot of fullness on your lower half will actually emphasize exactly the parts you want to minimize. Pleats may not lay smoothly over fuller hips, which will only make the effect unflattering. A generously cut A-line skirt is almost always the most attractive bridal gown silhouette.

Five: Draw attention to your assets. If you don’t want people paying attention to your hips in your wedding gown, be sure to draw the eye upwards. Choose a gown with a pretty beaded bodice, add sparkle to your face with gorgeous Swarovski crystal earrings, and wear an elegant crystal tiara to complement your Swarovski earrings. With so many beautiful details above the waist, the lower half of your body will be de-emphasized.

Modern Wedding Etiquette

Weddings are full of traditions, customs, and etiquette. However, like all other cultural institutions, wedding are fluid and do change with the times, at least in some instances. Even wedding etiquette evolves, and certain things which were once taboo might now be widely acceptable. This is the most up-to-date modern wedding etiquette.

Old Rule: Black is for funerals, and therefore is strictly taboo for wedding attire.

New Rule: Black is acceptable for wedding attire, particularly in the evening, as long as it is party wear (no business suits on ladies) and worn with festive accessories, such as sparkly Swarovski crystal earrings. A word of caution: this change in etiquette is somewhat regional, being widely accepted in big cities, but not in all areas of the country. A black dress at a wedding in a conservative Southern town is going to be the cause of some raised eyebrows.

Old Rule: The rehearsal dinner is an event for the bridal party and the immediate families of the bride and groom.

New Rule: With most wedding guests being out-of-towners these days, the most gracious option is a wedding welcome party the night before the wedding which includes all of the guests who are present.

Old Rule: Guests may not leave a wedding reception until the newlyweds have made their departure.

New Rule: These days, many newlyweds stay and dance all night at their receptions, especially if they are having a late night after-party with a d.j. Guests who do not have the stamina to outlast the bride and groom can leave after the cake has been cut without feeling impolite.

Old Rule: A white bridal gown represents purity. A first time bride wearing another color risks being labeled a “Jezebel” and a second time bride wearing white is an absolute scandal.

New Rule: White is a just a color, if a traditional one. Any bride may wear white if she pleases, just as any bride may opt for a different color, even red. Like the rule about wearing black, this one may vary depending on how conservative the town or family is. A second time bride should avoid a long train and veil, even if she does wear a white wedding dress.

Naturally, brides and guests may always choose to follow the more traditional form of etiquette (personally, I would not wear an all black dress to a wedding), but the updated etiquette does allow for some more flexibility in preparing for a wedding.

How to Be a Perfect Wedding Guest

There is much written about weddings to help the bride and groom, but what about the guests? The people who attend a wedding have a lot to do with how pleasant the event turns out to be, both for the bride and groom and the rest of the guests. This is how to be a perfect wedding guest.

R.s.v.p. Promptly. Always respond to a wedding invitation in a timely fashion. If there is a specific “please respond by” date given, then by all means, please respond by that date. The busy couple will be grateful to have one less person to try to track down at the last minute!

Send a Gift Ahead. Hey, everyone loves getting gifts, and no bride or groom will turn up their nose at a present which is brought to the wedding reception. However, it is technically not correct to bring a gift to the wedding itself, nor is it particularly sensible. Not only do you have to deal with dragging a gift around until you can find a place for it at the reception, but then someone has to keep an eye on it (sad but true, gifts have been stolen from weddings), and transport it somewhere after the wedding without losing the card which gives the name of the donor. Save everyone a lot of hassle and send the gift to the bride’s home before the wedding.

Dress for the Occasion. If you have ever seen anyone wearing sneakers at a wedding (I have!), you will understand why I must state the obvious. A wedding is a festive occasion, so please dress like it. This means wearing something which is both dressy and cheerful. Yes, a black cocktail dress is a wardrobe staple, but a dress with some color to it is really better for a wedding. Add in the jewelry and accessories which will make your outfit come to life, such as sparkly Swarovski crystal earrings, a beaded clutch, and a pair of killer heels.

Have Fun. Seriously. Even if the band is lousy, your chicken was cold, and you are in the middle of a bad breakup, you owe it to the bride and groom to be pleasant and upbeat during their wedding. Before you know it, you may just find yourself having a terrific time, and that would make you an ideal wedding guest.

Sophisticated Ballgown Wedding Dresses

Ballgowns are one of the most popular styles of wedding gowns every year. Though many brides love the fairy tale princess look, not every bride who likes a full skirt wants to look like Cinderella on her wedding day. Happily, there are some gorgeous ballgown wedding dresses with a sophisticated style that will suit the bride seeking the perfect balance between chic and elegant.

A great way to get a sophisticated edge in a ballgown is to choose one with an interesting neckline. One of the most dramatic is an illusion neckline with a heavily jeweled band around the neck, which is almost like having jewelry built into the gown. Paired with a simple silk satin skirt, this style is fantastic for a bride who wants a full and formal wedding gown, but does not want to look like a young ingenue. Add a dazzling pair of Swarovski crystal earrings and sweep the hair up into a chic chignon studded with crystal hairpins to keep the effect chic and grown up (avoid a tiara at all costs if you seek to avoid the princess bride look).

A layered skirt can be a dramatic feature on a ballgown wedding dress. Look for lots of flouncy layers in an asymmetrical tulle or organza with a raw edge to achieve a more edgy style. A bridal gown with an origami layered skirt in a crisp fabric like gazar would also be very distinctive. With these very contemporary wedding gowns, unique accessories are a must. A bold feather headpiece tucked into a low bun would hit the perfect note of modern elegance.

Since most of the princess style wedding gowns are strapless, varying the neckline can be an easy way to get away from the fairy tale look in a full skirted dress. Necklines which are plunging without being overly revealing can be very sophisticated. A great design is a spaghetti strap or narrow tank style with a V-neck which plunges into a wide cummberbund sash at the waist of the bridal gown. This type of gown looks especially fantastic in silk taffeta or silk satin. Allow the neckline of the gown and the full gathered skirt to make a statement, without the distraction of a lot of extra embellishment. A classic pair of pearl and Swarovski crystal earrings with a matching pendant necklace add some sparkle to the simplicity of the wedding gown.