Determining the Ideal Timing for Your Wedding Day

The start time for your wedding ceremony may well be set in stone by your church. If they only do ceremonies on 1pm on Saturdays, then a 1pm ceremony it is. Knowing that, you will have to find a reception venue that can host your reception at a reasonably close time to the end of the ceremony. A typical marriage ceremony at a church runs for about 45 minutes to an hour. After that, there will usually be a receiving line outside and people may hang around and chat outside the church for a few minutes. The newlyweds and bridal party will also have pictures done at this point.

Long gaps between the ceremony and reception are often caused by extended photo sessions. A good way to prevent that issue is by doing a lot of the wedding pictures before the start of the ceremony. Some couples like to do a “first look”, where the bride and groom can get together to take some photographs before their ceremony. If you do not want your groom to see you before the ceremony, you can still do all of the formal pictures with your bridesmaids and immediate family to get those out of the way. That will limit the time you need to do pictures following the ceremony so you can keep the day moving forward on schedule. Besides, it is nice to get some pictures when you have just gotten into your bridal gown and elegant wedding jewelry while your hair and makeup are freshly done.

Cocktail hours typically last for 45 minutes to an hour. Anything less than that feels rushed, but if it runs too much longer, people drink too much. After about an hour, people are definitely ready to move on to the main part of the reception. Everyone moves into the dining room, and the bride and groom make their grand entrance. A lot of newlyweds will do their first dance immediately upon entering the room and being announced, while others will wait until after dinner to do the spotlight dances. You will need to decide if you will open the floor up to general dancing if you do your first dance in the beginning of the reception or move from there directly to the meal. People do not like to be kept waiting too long for dinner, so limit how long those pre-meal dances last.

The total length of your reception will be anywhere from three to six hours, depending on whether you serve a full meal or not, if there is dancing, and if you have a late night snack or Viennese hour. When you schedule your day well, your wedding will flow seamlessly from one part to the next, and everyone will have a fantastic time!

Practical Wedding Planning Advice About Florists

A successful working relationship with your wedding florist starts with determining your flower budget. You have to know what you can spend before you start picking out bouquets and centerpieces. Also think about what you really want from a florist. While most brides hire a floral designer to do all of the wedding arrangements, some brides DIY some of their decorations and only hire a florist for specific things. For instance, you might want to make your own centerpieces, but have the florist create the bouquets and boutonierres.

It is helpful to know what role you want a florist to play in your wedding planning before you start meeting with them. You may find that some are very flexible about providing a la carte services, while the big name floral designers may want to have creative control over the entire event. It is also smart to have at least a general sense of your wedding decorating style in mind before signing a contract.  While most can certainly create beautiful arrangements in a wide range of styles, it helps to have a florist who “gets” your sense of style. A florist who specializes in formal, elaborate centerpieces might not be the best one to decorate your whimsical reception or rustic casual wedding.

Come to your initial interview with a florist prepared with color swatches, pictures of bouquets and centerpieces that you like, and photos of your wedding venue. Be sure to let them know if you have any special requests, as that can affect the quote they give you for their services. Perhaps you want to have crystals added to your bouquet to match your crystal bridal jewelry or you would like to carry the same variety of orchid that your mother did. At the same time, it pays to be open to suggestions from the florist. They are the professionals, after all, and if they are advising against choosing a specific out-of-season flower or recommend switching out one variety for another to trim costs, they probably have a very good reason.

Something else that will enhance your working relationship with your florist is to expect professionalism, but not unrealistic perfection. Flowers are natural things, after all, and each one is unique. It is always possible that your roses might come in looking more peach than apricot or that a certain flower is suddenly unavailable at the last minute due to a weather issue. As long as the florist delivers gorgeous arrangements in the generally agreed upon style and color, it’s all good.

Help! My Sister Is Taking Over My Wedding!

Sometimes, there can be too much of a good thing. This is definitely true when it comes to wedding planning. While some help from family and friends is great, it becomes overwhelming when one person decides to designate herself as the unofficial wedding planner. Find out what to do when your sister tries to hijack your wedding.

The first step is to think about why your sister has decided to take over your big day. Does she see that you are swamped with work or school and she is trying to ease your burden? Does she know that you are struggling to get everything organized, or that you tend to have a hard time making choices? When your sister is trying to do you a favor, the key to getting her to back off is reassurance. Let her know how grateful you are for her help so far, and that you feel like she has gotten your planning off to such a great start that you can take it the rest of the way. Of course, if it is true that you have no time or agonize over every choice, maybe you could benefit from having some sisterly help, just on your own terms. The way to handle this is to let your sister know that you will be grateful if she can help you shop for unique bridesmaid jewelry or source the perfect table linens. She will feel useful, and you will be able to take back the reins.

Not every sister’s motivation is quite so pure. A lot of times, an older sister just thinks that she knows more than her baby sister about everything, and feels like it is her duty to be in charge. This is a sister who needs to be informed that you are all grown up now (you’ re old enough to get married, for goodness sake!), and that you can handle it. Sometimes sisters also don’t trust the taste of the other one, and feel like taking over the wedding planning is the only way to make sure that everything is done “right”. This is a sibling who needs to be delicately informed that while your tastes are different, your wedding will nonetheless be beautiful.

The green eyed monster is often the cause of an overbearing sister. It could be that she is jealous of your upcoming nuptials, and taking over the planning is her way of dealing with it.  She might also be worried about losing you to your husband, in which case, plenty of alone time together is important. Don’t make it all about the wedding, since that will only reinforce the idea that your lives are taking two different paths. Go out to lunch, go shoe shopping, take in a movie, or whatever else you used to do together before you became engaged.

How to Plan a Wedding Even the Men Will Enjoy

Weddings tend to be super girly events, but if you think about it, probably half the people there will be men. Is it any wonder, then, that most guys groan at the idea of attending a wedding? With a little extra thought, it is entirely possible to plan a wedding that all of your guests will enjoy – even the men.

While every couple should feel free to plan a wedding that is as formal or casual as they like, the truth of the matter is that most men do not enjoy dressing up. Your female guests might find it a treat to have an excuse to shop for wedding jewelry and a fabulous new dress, but the men would be much happier wearing something that they already have in their closet. Consider a semi-formal afternoon wedding so the guys can wear jackets and trousers instead of suits or tuxedos. That way, they can take off their jackets and relax after the ceremony. As the bride, you will still get to splurge on a stylish bridal gown and special wedding jewelry, so everyone should be happy.

The next tip for designing a guy-friendly wedding is to have it at a less stuffy venue. Few men feel at ease in a grand ballroom or an historic mansion crowded with fragile antiques. They will feel much more relaxed at a wedding on a lawn, in a rustic barn, or at a casual country club. The nice thing about outdoor receptions is that you can take advantage of the new trend of having lawn games during the cocktail hour. Set up activities like cornhole (bean bag toss), horseshoes, and bocce ball so the men feel like they have something to do other than chatting over cocktails. Croquet is another great lawn game for a wedding reception, and it is one that the ladies will also really enjoy.

Many weddings feature lounge areas during the reception, but if you really want to make your event a hit with the men, think about setting up a man cave. Arrange comfy leather sofas and club chairs in a corner of the reception site. Have a special bar offering “manly” after dinner drinks like bourbon. If the man cave will be outdoors, you can even set up a custom cigar rolling station if you like. Just be careful not to make it such a comfy place that the men will never leave. This means no televisions and no video game stations, no matter how hard your groom tries to talk you into them!

The Pros and Cons of Sunday Weddings

For a lot of couples, the biggest incentive to get married on a Sunday is the lower cost. Venues and vendors typically offer discounts for non-Saturday events, especially if they would have otherwise gone unbooked. (This may not hold true in communities where there are a lot of Jewish weddings, as they traditionally do take place on Sunday.) Considering that the average American wedding costs something like $27,000, saving even 5% would come out to over $1000. It is no wonder that Sundays are becoming more popular!

Another pro to having a Sunday wedding is better availability for top locations, photographers, caterers, musicians, and so on. The best venues in some locations can be filled up on Saturdays for two years. If you do not want to wait that long to be married, exploring a Sunday date might just get you in the door far sooner. The better availability of venues and vendors on Sundays can be particularly helpful for couples who are trying to plan a wedding within a relatively short time frame. Added to the idea of getting a non-Saturday discount, the appeal of the Sunday wedding can be considerable.

Of course, there are some potential disadvantages to Sunday weddings as well.  One thing to consider is the time of day you hope to have your wedding. If you want to have a formal evening wedding, with your attendants in long dresses and crystal bridesmaid jewelry sets, it would make more sense to have it on a Saturday. People are typically in a more festive mood on a Saturday night. They usually don’t want to stay out late on a Sunday, since most guests will need to be at work bright and early Monday morning. An afternoon ceremony and reception will be the better option in this situation.

Another drawback to a non-Saturday date is that you may have fewer people who are able to attend.  When the wedding is on a Sunday, it will mean taking off work on Monday to travel. Not everyone is willing or able to do that, so some of your friends and family who live far away may end up having to send their regrets. Each couple needs to weigh the pros and cons to determine which day of the week will work the best for their individual circumstances.

How to Have a Wedding For Under $5000

Going into this project, it is important to prioritize. What you absolutely must have for a wedding is a bride, a groom, an officiant, and a couple of witnesses. Everything else is really gravy. So the first step in pulling off a wedding for less than $5000 is to accept that you will not be able to have all of the little extras that you see in the bridal magazines. This is okay! The main rules to remember are: shop smart, DIY what you can, borrow or barter when possible, hire students or young professionals, and accept all offers of help.

A great way to have an affordable wedding is to have the ceremony in a free location. Some state parks will waive the rental fee if you do not bring things like chair and arbors. Keep your ceremony short and sweet, since guests will be standing for it. If you live in a state which allows individuals to become ordained online, you can even have a close friend act as your officiant instead of hiring a justice of the peace. Music can be quite simple. It would be lovely for the bride to walk to her groom accompanied by the sounds of classical guitar. Ask a talented friend to play or hire someone from a music college. The total cost for your ceremony will be next to nothing.

Some brides spend more than $5000 on just their wedding gowns! For the bride on a budget, the custom designer gown is not the most practical idea…unless you happen to score big at a bridal clearance sale (think Running of the Brides) or find one being sold on Craig’s List. But you can still look every bit the beautiful bride in an elegant gown with sparkling wedding jewelry without spending thousands. Consider a long white or ivory formal dress from a department store instead of a traditional wedding gown. You can find something gorgeous and chic at a place like Nordstrom for under $200. Definitely use the Internet to shop for wedding jewelry and veils at the best price, as well. Rather than buy white bridal shoes that you will never wear again, get a great pair of silver evening sandals that you can use again and again.

Wedding decorations are another area where you can save big. Plan on ordering your flowers online and arranging them yourself. The most affordable option is to decorate primarily around candles, and use the fresh flowers as accents. You can get 100 stems of roses for under $200 from an Internet floral wholesaler, which will go a long way if you are using them for bouquets and with candles for the centerpieces. Another idea is to spring for a more costly blossom like dendrobium orchids. It only takes one or two stems of these exotic flowers to create a stunning submerged centerpiece. For the rest of your wedding decorations, shop at craft stores at the end of the season clearance sales. Also check out wedding chat boards for newlyweds selling off their extra wedding supplies so you can create a gorgeous look without having to pay retail.

When is a Wedding Too Extravagant?

A recent article caught my eye about the excesses of weddings in India. Apparently the economic growth in India has inspired newly-wealthy (and probably plenty of old-monies families as well) to throw lavish weddings which are designed to impress their guests beyond all belief. According to the families who host these opulent parties, anything less would cause them to lose face. According to the Indian Food Minister, however, the shocking amount of food that is thrown away at the end of the over-the-top receptions is criminal. In a nation where tens of millions of children suffer from malnutrition, many have come to feel that it is absolutely terrible to waste so much food when so many go hungry.

In the United States, 30 course meals are not so common, but there are certainly plenty of weddings which cost more than most families make in a year. In the current economic climate, some people find such extravagant displays to be distasteful. Perhaps even worse, when brides with less impressive financial means see the photos of the lavish weddings in every bridal magazine and wedding television show, they can come to feel like their wedding will be a flop if they don’t have a custom lighting designer, crystal chandeliers, and personalized wedding favors. All of the extras have become expected, even for weddings where the couple has to go into debt to finance the event.

There is nothing wrong with having the wedding that one wants if it the family can afford it, but there are some things that a couple can do to ensure that their wedding does not cross the line into being an excessive show of wealth. If you are going to spend a lot of money on reception food, work with the caterer to support a local organic farmer. The big issue with extravagance is waste, so make an effort not to let your leftovers become trash. It is often possible to arrange for a homeless shelter or soup kitchen to take uneaten food. Centerpieces of cut flowers can be donated to a hospital or nursing home.

Finally, no one should feel like they have to overspend just to compete. It also pays to be a smart shopper; if you can score good deals on your flowers, bridal jewelry, invitations, and other necessities, you will have more money to splurge on the extras. Remember that in the end, what really makes a wedding memorable is the heart that goes into it, not how much it costs.

Top Advice for Planning a Wedding Around a Holiday

The first tip is to give careful thought to the timing of your holiday wedding to ensure maximum attendance among your guests. If you want to plan your wedding to coincide with a fun theme like St. Patrick’s Day or Halloween, it would naturally be appealing to host the event on the actual date. That said, if St. Patrick’s Day happens to fall on a Wednesday, how many of your friends and family will be able to come to your wedding to admire your green bouquet and crystal shamrock bridesmaid jewelry gifts? In some instances, it might make more sense to have your wedding on the weekend that is closest to your favorite holiday to make sure that all of the important people will be able to join you.

Some holidays are considered sacred. You would not plan a wedding on Christmas Day or Easter if you want anyone to be in attendance (nor would you be allowed to have a wedding on those dates in a church). But having a Christmas theme wedding in mid-December would be absolutely delightful. You can decorate it in gorgeous shades of red and green, using sumptuous fabrics like velvet or tartan with gold threads. Your bridesmaids can wear velvet dresses with burgundy crystal bridesmaid jewelry gifts and carry bouquets with holly sprigs in them. As long as you schedule your wedding so that it does not interfere with the family holiday plans of your guests, they will be thrilled to attend your holiday season nuptials.

Long holiday weekends like Labor Day and Memorial Day are very popular for weddings. Since most people have an extra day off work, it makes travel much easier for the invited guests, and attendance tends to be quite good. Additionally, these are not weekends that are typically very family-oriented, so most people will not mind leaving town to go to your wedding. The main consideration for these long weekends is that due to their popularity, all of the best venues and vendors are likely to book up early. Add several months to your lead time when planning for a very competitive date. Also be sure to send out a save the date notice at least six months in advance so that your guests do not make other plans for the long weekend. Something else to think about when planning a wedding around a holiday is how much of the holiday’s theme you wish to incorporate into your decorations. When planning a holiday wedding, these are the personal choices that every couple gets to make for themselves.

Rude Things That Brides Do By Accident

While the majority of brides do their best to be pleasant and polite, there are times when even a well-meaning bride does something rude. It is often accidental, but that doesn’t make it any less offensive to those people affected by the behavior. Learn about these rude things that brides do, so you can make sure to avoid these mistakes at your own wedding.

Money is often tight when planing a wedding, and one typical mistake is to put the comfort of the bride and groom above the comfort of the wedding guests. Common money-saving measures like cash bars are often seen as very rude by the guests who discover they are expected to pay for their own refreshments. This is doubly true when the couple decides to spend less on their guests so they could spend more on something for themselves like a designer wedding gown or a stretch limo. Whether you have a lot of money to spend or just a little, make your guests the top priority in your wedding budget. The same goes for your bridal party, by the way; it’s no fair skipping the bridesmaid jewelry gifts to afford a more expensive veil.

One thing that is sure to drive your guests crazy is a big gap between the wedding ceremony and the reception.  It is often a result of an early afternoon church ceremony followed by an evening reception or the couple wanting extra time for photography. While the bride and groom surely to not intend to be rude, expecting your guests to hang around for a couple of hours with nothing to do really is quite inconsiderate. If you need extra time for photography, take some pictures before the ceremony. And if your church only performs 1pm ceremonies, plan an afternoon reception that can follow, rather than scheduling an evening party that won’t start for hours.

Something else that is a common faux pas is putting bridal registry information on the wedding invitations. Brides are often talked into it by the store that set up the registry, touting it as a “convenience” for the wedding guests. Unfortunately, many guests are more likely to see it as an attempt at a gift grab than something done to make their lives easier. Avoid this perception by leaving bridal registry information off of the wedding invitations. People who are interested in shopping from a registry will ask you where you are registered. You can be sure that a bride who is thoughtful and considerate is always noticed and appreciated.

Survive the Heat During Your Summer Wedding!

Baby, it’s hot outside! From coast to coast, people are sweltering in the summer heat and looking for ways to stay cool. What about if you have a wedding that is going to take place during a heat wave? Check out these practical ideas for surviving the heat during your summer wedding.

Hopefully anyone getting married on a 100 degree day is doing so in air-conditioned comfort somewhere. But for those who booked an outdoor wedding ages ago and now have to deal with the crazy high heat and humidity, there are some steps you can take to make your wedding more pleasant. When temperatures soar, shade is essential. If you did not book a tent for your outdoor ceremony or reception, do so a.s.ap. For the reception tent, it is possible to have the rental company install ceiling fans to move the air around. An even more effective solution is to close the sides of the tent and use air conditioners. It might obscure the view, but at least your guests will not melt into puddles, leaving nothing behind but their nice outfits and wedding jewelry!

A very practical thing you can do for your guests is to provide fans they can use during the wedding ceremony. Have your wedding program printed on pretty paper fans to kill two birds with one stone. Or you can have the fans printed as wedding favors. Your guests will definitely be glad to have them! They will come in handy even for an indoor wedding, because when the mercury soars, even churches with air conditioning can get pretty stuffy.

It is important for everyone to stay well hydrated when the weather is brutally hot. Alcohol is dehydrating, so be sure to provide your guests with many non-alcoholic options. Provide chilled bottles of water before the ceremony so guests can sip while they wait for the bride to appear in her spectacular bridal gown and dazzling wedding jewelry. For a country wedding, it would be really cute to set up a lemonade stand. Display fresh squeezed lemonade served from large glass jugs with spigots so guests can grab a refreshing drink on their way into the ceremony or cocktail hour. A melon fruit salad would be a nice addition to the cocktail hour selection because it is also refreshing. Serve it in a watermelon carved to look like a basket for a charming detail.