Archive for December, 2011

Being engaged is a great experience so why rush it? Many couples planning to tie the knot become too stressed out in hopes of having their wedding a year after that big question was popped. Planning ahead not only saves you money it allows you to get what exactly it is you want. There’s no reason to rush things and have to resort to your second or third choices for you wedding venue, photographer or other services you were planning on. Setting up a timeline to get organized ahead of schedule will let you catch those end- of –the- season sales and other various discounts that would not usually be available if your wedding was not planned ahead.

Many wedding venues are booked up months possibly a year in advance and if you have your heart set on that special location or certain date the two of you may be disappointed if you do not reserve that day way ahead of time. Besides all the exciting trips to the bridal gown store or getting creative with decorations make sure your wedding venue is set up before any other wedding planning takes place, you’ll save yourself a lot of stress that way!

Once the two of you have decided on the wedding location and date it is important to figure out what exactly they offer in their wedding package. Many wedding venues will supply tables, chairs and possibly other decorations while others leave you to those details. Figuring this out several months in advance allows you to plan accordingly and plan your budget around those details.

Next comes the fun part, finding a photographer, caterer, DJ, etc.! Although you may have found plenty of online sites with listings for these wedding services, many wedding venues will give you suggestions of past companies they have encountered from previous weddings. This could give you a better idea of what it is you are looking for and possibly save you money if the wedding venue has some sort of partnership with their company.

Enjoy your wedding planning experience, the easy way by planning ahead!

Start saving money right from the beginning with your invitations. I was really surprised to see how much invitations added up being when I was browsing through online selections. A few dollars per card doesn’t sound like much until you realize you are inviting between 150-200 guests and a few dollars each really puts a dent in your purse right from the beginning. The best thing to do is to buy a do-it-yourself invitation kit that has everything included (envelopes, invitations, response cards, etc.). All that is then required is for you to print up what you want to be said and mail your invitations out.

You’d be surprised at the convenience and affordability these do -it -yourself kits offer. Besides finding a wide selection online, many craft stores or wedding shops carry invitation kits with some really elegant designs. A kit including 100ct invitations as well as coordinated extras on average will only cost $30-$50 depending on design and the company. Many times when there’s a way to save money that requires you to choose from a smaller selection but that is not the case. Although you are saving quite a lot of money (sometimes savings over 50%) you will not be denied the quality you are looking for and still have a wide selection of designs to choose from.

Cut costs right from the beginning and save with wedding invitation kits. You could end up saving hundreds just by printing your own invitations on your computer. A few dollars each really adds up and you can easily find a better alternative to what you are looking for from the selection of invitation kits available (you might even find better quality invitations this way).

Once that diamond ring glides onto your finger it’s time to start planning your special day. The venue, wedding theme, color scheme and invite list are all the starters to what is going to make your day one to remember. But then comes the budget talks with the future hubby-to-be and some of those grand ideas you had in mind quickly scatter from your head. The bottom line is weddings are expensive, but who’s to say you can’t have your cake and eat it too? There are hundreds of ways to cut down costs without sacrificing the elegance you are looking to share with your guests. Here are a few tips I’d like to share with you on how to stay within your budget and still have a gorgeous and memorable wedding!

Do it yourself décor and wedding favors There are plenty of wholesale wedding dealers who specialize in providing the base materials to create your own centerpieces, wedding favors and other very creative décor for your wedding. After all, you know what you want on your special day so what better way to avoid the hassles of searching for what you want at various stores and just do it yourself. In the meantime you could possibly be saving hundreds of dollars by not paying those hiked up retail prices as well as creating a more personalized event for your guests.

When having a wedding around the holidays use your venue’s decorations What better way to save money than just using what your venue is already providing! Many wedding locations will usually decorate for those big holidays like Valentine’s Day and Christmas and others also tend to decorate their location with seasonal décor. This will save you loads of money and you will be able to focus on the details of other areas in your wedding that you normally wouldn’t have time for.

Skip out on the photographer for your whole reception Hiring a photographer is great but unless you find a skillful college student that is looking to build their portfolio you are probably spending way too much money per hour. Instead, give out some affordable disposable cameras to your guests and let them be your photographer. This will give you some great candid shots that a photographer normally wouldn’t capture and save you money at the same time! Just a suggestion, but with all those savings you could hire a videographer and be able to watch your special day over and over as well as mail any invited guests that couldn’t attend a copy of your memorable day.

Wedding costs have skyrocketed so it’s time to find ways to cut costs where you can. This doesn’t mean you have to buy lesser quality decorations or have to sacrifice elegance just to save a few bucks. There are ways to buy wedding supplies, favors and other additional decorations at discount prices all over the web. When you buy in bulk or at a wholesale dealer you don’t have to pay outrageous prices for your overlooked decorations as well as major centerpieces and wedding favors.

You can find just about everything you’re looking for in just one place with a wholesale dealer. It is also more likely to find matching sets and other additional decorations to go along more with your theme. Depending on what country you’re from some really great websites I found in the U.S. that sells great quality supplies are weddingfactorydirect.com and koyalwholesale.com. These sites offer a wide range of supplies for your ceremony, reception and post-wedding needs. Artsywedding.com is another great site that you can buy bridal accessories, invitations as well as your wedding dress at really great discounted prices. There’s no better way to be stress-free while planning your wedding than saving money without losing the quality you deserve!