Wedding Tips
- Booking a Venue early is of the utmost importance to guarantee open rooms for your guests. For hotel receptions, scope out available hospitality rooms before booking. Is the area comfortably furnished? How’s the lighting? What activities does the space provide? One final necessity is finding a committed, passionate staff to execute a perfect wedding. Choose wisely.
- Look at several options before selecting your perfect engagement ring. The style you love may not end up looking the way you thought it would once it is on your finger
- Get to know your timeline and stick to it as you plan, book events and reserve various locations and services. This will help to assure that you secure the accommodations you want and are not disappointed
- Coordinate all your wedding stationery from the save-the-dates to your invitations and place cards
- Incorporate talented, experienced wedding artists who understand your vision and with whom you bond well. Avoid vendors who treat you like a number. Remember, you’ll be spending a lot of time with each business. Developing a comfortable relationship will ensure a fun planning process and a smooth, beautiful wedding
- Ask a representative from the venue where you’ll be having your reception if there is a space available for members of the wedding party to gather by themselves between the ceremony and reception. This provides a chance to catch your breath and refocus your energies before getting ready to greet and mingle with guests
- Many couples love the idea of an outdoor wedding and there is something very special about them. If you’re planning an outdoor ceremony, however, it’s absolutely essential to have a back-up plan in the event of bad weather. Look for a facility that provides an alternative, indoor space for your ceremony if it can’t be held outside
- Be sure to let a representative at your reception venue know about any special dietary needs of guests. The site or caterer should be willing to work with you to accommodate any special circumstances
- To avoid wedding day surprises, provide your baker or catering service with reception hall contact information, access times and a specific location within the hall for cake delivery. Also, confirm that your reception venue has air conditioning and will it be turned on. This information will go a long way in eliminating stress on your wedding day
- Rehearsal dinners do not have to be formal or stuffy affairs. A good restaurant will work with you to provide the atmosphere and type of dinner you desire, whether it’s for 10 people or 50. Pick a restaurant that has some significance for you and your fiancé or reflects the flavor of your local area.
- Booking a venue that can accommodate multiple events such as bachelor / bachelorette golf outing, rehearsal party and reception, provides convenience and comfortable surroundings for members of the wedding party and guests
- Vintage typography and design patterns are coming back in popularity and they just might be the perfect option for your print invitations. Monograms also add a nice touch and can be a design element carried throughout your printed material. All of these options, and more, are available at your local print shop. Make it yours, own it, and have your invitation represent your wedding style.
- A big influence on invitation design is fashion. You see a lot of current trends in color and pattern popping up on paper. Other recent trends include coordinating postage, gorgeous textures and heavy paper stocks. But ultimately, your invitation and coordinated stationery package are more than just pieces of paper - they are keepsakes. Most importantly, they are your guests’ first glimpse of your big day. Always remember…first impressions make lasting impressions
- Consider giving gift certificates for fine area restaurants to parents and others who have supported your wedding plans and helped you during the preparation period
- Thinking about a friend or relative for your wedding photography? Consider the potential cost. Photography demands consideration of light, angle, exposure, interest, framing and other elements to assure not one or two great shots but 100 or more great shots. Your professional photographer is trained to capture your planned and spontaneous moments, capturing memories to keep forever.
- The Jewelry your wear should complement your dress and never compete with it but don’t be afraid to glam it up on your special day!
- Couples who choose to forego photo prints in lieu of digital images often are regretful later. Professionally printed photos have stood the test of time. They can be preserved, they make lasting and meaningful gifts and they assure lifelong memories. Trends come and go but printed images have endured the test of time
- Hair, makeup and salon services are cornerstones to your perfect day. So reserving your salon 12 months in advance of your wedding date is highly recommended. A reputable salon will have experience with weddings and will offer a free consultation to ascertain your needs and desires for your wedding day. It’s also a great idea to book a trial run to assure that your expectation are met, with no surprises on your wedding day.
- Complete recovery from LASIK surgery can take up to six months, so plan accordingly if you’re considering having the procedure. Also, consider that most doctors recommend that you avoid using lotions, creams and eye makeup for up to one month following surgery
- Look for a custom floral designer who will work with you to fully understand your preference and the look you want to achieve, and then, while working within your budget, create something that is uniquely you.
- You’ve spent thousands of dollars to create the perfect wedding, so don’t just stand there and rock back and forth on your first dance. Look as good on the dance floor as you do going down the aisle. You can choreograph your first dance as husband and wife and your father / daughter dance. Dance lessons are inexpensive and can be fun for the entire bridal party
- Remember to have your engagement ring, jewelry and other accessories you’ll be wearing on your wedding day professionally cleaned to assure it is brilliant and at its very best for wedding day photographs