Wedding Tips

Wedding venues are seldom cheap. It is not unusual for couples to budget huge sums to pay for venue rental fees, which could go-ahead to put a strain on their finances in their first year of marriage. If you want to save money on wedding venue fees, here are 6 cost-effective tips for you to explore.

Use one venue instead of two:

An excellent way to save money is to have your wedding ceremony and reception at the same location. If you’re cool with saying your wedding vows in a modern setting, look for a location that has the ability to be both a ceremony and reception venue so you don’t have to pay two separate location fees. This arrangement can also be beneficial to your guests since most of them are happy with not having to drive from the ceremony to get to the reception.

Find a wedding package that works:

Wedding venues offer different kinds of packages to couples but it’s up to you to look at what’s included in each package to see the one that aligns with your budget. In most instances, the best package is usually the one that’s all-inclusive as it means the venue will take care of everything including decorations, food, cake, décor, flowers, and more. It might look expensive at first but it is a great choice as it saves you a ton since the venue will make the deal with the vendors and then pass the savings on to you.

Think alternative:

If you’re looking to keep costs low, going with something a little “off the beaten trail” can help you achieve your goal. Consider hosting your wedding in non-traditional wedding venues like chic industrial spaces, modern lofts, and restaurants, a public park, or even an art gallery. These alternative wedding venues do not have the same exorbitant prices as grand ballrooms, and most of these locations will let you host your wedding there for a fraction of what you could have spent on places that are well-known for being wedding venues.

Select your wedding date carefully:

Summer is the most preferred wedding season due to the friendly weather, which is usually nice and sunny. As a result, couples who decide to get married in summer end up paying more for a venue. In effect, this means you stand a better chance of saving money on your wedding venue by choosing a date that falls throughout the wedding off-season period. This will also save you money when you book your honeymoon.

Timing is everything:

It is typical for weddings to hold on Saturdays, resulting in expensive rates for people who are looking to use venues for that purpose. Most venues charge up to 50% less if you book any other day of the week since there’s very little demand for their locations on such days. But if you choose to hold your wedding on a Saturday, it’s best to have a morning wedding so you will be done with the entire ceremony by noon. It can help you shave some quid off your venue rental fee while giving you plenty of time to spend with your new spouse on your special day.

Think small:

Most times, the capacity of a venue determines how much it goes for. By opting for a small wedding, you can easily choose from the tons of gorgeous small wedding venues available in your area. Besides, few people at your wedding mean fewer mouths to feed and less space to decorate, which will definitely help you stay within your budget. You and your partner will have to agree on the number of people to invite to your wedding.

 Wrap-up

Wedding ceremonies can be quite expensive but you can bring the costs under control by using the tips above. Be sure to get offers from different locations and book early so you can get the best deal.

A wedding is a huge project that requires lots of planning. This is why you should carefully choose your wedding suppliers and vendors. Wedding vendors play a key role in executing your dream day and pull off your big day without a hitch.

Buying a wedding dress and bridal accessories can be exciting and overwhelming. It is exciting because you get to see and try them on, but overwhelming because of the many options and pressure to find ‘the right one.’ Here are the top tips to help you make a great choice when choosing a wedding dress and bridal accessories.

Do your research beforehand

Finding a wedding dress and bridal accessories that align with your style takes time, so you might want to start doing your homework early. Pinterest is a great tool for this, as are real weddings. Start a folder with pictures of dresses and accessories that catches your fancy. Alternatively, you can visit a large bridal wear shop to see if any of the dresses and accessories appeals to you.

Make a budget

It can be frustrating to fall in love with a dress or accessories that you can’t afford. If you find a dress that you love but with a lower price, never feel like it’s not a ‘proper’ wedding dress, keep in mind that high quality doesn’t always mean pricey. Whatever it is that you go for, make sure you stick to your budget.

Start your search early

To be on the safer side, it’s best to begin your research at least six to nine months before your wedding since it takes most manufacturers about six months to make a dress. And because your body might change in the months leading up to the big day, you will need to factor in the time for alterations, which takes an average of 2-3 months.

Make appointments

Once you’ve decided where you want to go, you will need to schedule appointments at different stores so you can try on gowns. So be sure to call them in advance and go with a notebook so you can jot down your thoughts about each dress that you try own (photos are usually prohibited until you buy a gown.) To avoid confusion, limit the number of dresses that you will try on to less than seven as exceeding that number might get you confused. If you have questions about any gown, the shop assistants will be glad to attend to you.

Keep your entourage small

One of the mistakes most brides make is to go bridal shopping with all their friends just to keep everyone happy. Inviting too many people can result in conflicting opinions, leaving you confused about what to choose. Save yourself the dilemma of not knowing who to listen to and go with the few people you can trust. A nice suggestion is to invite your mom and your maid of honor.

Focus on fit, not size

You might have been told to always make your pick based on bridal sizes, but you may end up letting go of a dress you adore. Rather than insist on a smaller size because you intend to lose weight before the wedding, ignore the label and order the one that fits now. You don’t want to be under the pressure of losing weight when you’re already trying to cope with planning your wedding.

Less is more

When it comes to choosing the accessories to wear, it’s important to keep in mind the maxim, “less is more.” Too much detail and too many accessories can make you look undone.

Conclusion

While you’re shopping for your wedding dress and accessories, always remind yourself that there’s no need to rush. Visit two stores per day to try on their gowns and accessories, but don’t be in a hurry to make an order.

Recently got engaged? Congratulations! But, what next? It’s about time you start planning for your dream wedding. Wedding Planning might seem like fun at first, but it can quickly become overwhelming, especially if you’re planning it all on your own. Before you take the dive, here are five tips to help you plan your dream wedding.

Decide the kind of wedding you want:

One of the regrets of most married folks is that they didn’t have the wedding ceremony of their dreams because they didn’t plan well ahead of time. So before anything else, decide the kind of wedding you want. Do you want all your family and friends to share in your special day or you prefer the company of your immediate family and close friends? Do you have a choice location or an important date in mind? Questions like this will help you make concrete plans that are best for you and your partner. 

Make/set a budget:

The next thing to determine is how much you are willing to invest in your dream wedding day. While we all want a fairy tale wedding, it’s important to be realistic and plan with a sum you’re comfortable with. Your budget is important because it will guide your decision-making for everything, including your guest list numbers, venue, honeymoon destination, and more. It also helps to give a clear picture of where the funds will come from so you will know who is paying for what. 

Pick a wedding date (range):

The next thing to do is to pick your wedding date or choose a date range that you are ready to lock-in. Selecting a wedding date (or range) can help you draw up a timeline of important dates, including when the invitations should go out, when to fix the alteration appointments for the dresses, when to confirm the final numbers with the venue, etc. It will also help in situations where you have to book a venue several months ahead.

Find a wedding venue:

Now that you know what you want and the date range for your wedding, you can get an idea of the appropriate options for venues. You can ask for recommendations from friends and loved ones as well as search on Google for popular local venues. However, be sure to tour the options before you make your choice. Photography and recommendations can make things look fantastic when they’re not. 

Choose helpers:

Couples often think they can do everything by themselves, but a wedding can be quite demanding for even the most experienced wedding planners. Decide who you want to help you out so you can delegate some tasks to them. Confirm that they have the time and enthusiasm to help you out and then communicate your vision to them. 

Conclusion

Planning for a wedding is hectic and can get tiring, but keeping in mind that it’s all because of the person you love the most can keep you going. Now that you know what you should do, get ready, and start planning now.

Your wedding day is one of the happiest days of your life and it’s important to hire a videographer that can help you get the most out of your wedding film. Deciding to hire a wedding videographer is easy but narrowing down the selection can be overwhelming. If you’re looking for tips for hiring a wedding videographer, here are a few things you should look out for.

·   Experience is critical

A videographer might be a professional that knows how to do the job well but lack of experience can be a major issue. The reason is that wedding ceremonies move quite quickly and split decision have to be made based on past experiences. A videographer without a good level of experience might find it hard to plan his schedule, work around unexpected hiccups and placate uncooperative relatives. You don’t want to hire someone who will learn with your wedding and deliver disappointing results.

·   Type of equipment

The quality of the film you will get largely depends on the kind of tools your wedding videographer uses. You will need to research the latest industry-standard so you can quiz him to know how well-equipped he is. Apart from using the right tools to cover your special day, you don’t want to hire a fellow with big bulky cameras and tripods as this may cause distractions. It’s critical for your videographer to use small, portable equipment that’s unobtrusive so he can blend into the background without any trouble.

·   Aerial photography

The popularity of drones for wedding ceremonies is constantly rising as it helps capture your monumental day from pretty much any angle. However, you need to check whether your wedding venue permits drones on site as well as confirm that your videographer is licensed and insured. Using a videographer without the correct license and insurance can cost you and your venue, so it’s best to err on the side of caution.

·   Someone whose style aligns with yours

With a variety of filming styles now available, it’s important to pick a videographer whose style and personality clicks with yours. Much like photographers, wedding videographers take a different approach and style to how they interpret each scene. It can be quite tricky to find someone that meets your expectations but a good way to do that is to watch a few wedding videos they filmed for their previous clients to see which one connects to you before you sign the contract.

·   A proven track record

Videography is one of those things that should be done perfectly, especially since your wedding day is a one-time event. As a result, it’s important you do your homework before you settle for a videographer. Don’t just look at just their portfolio; look at their reviews on multiple sites. You can also rely on referrals but avoid recommendations from paid advertising sites for obvious reasons. The most trustworthy referrals are from loved ones and staff at the venue of your wedding ceremony.

 Final Thoughts

Because you will be parting with a significant amount for your wedding videography package, it’s important to find the right videographer that will deliver a quality job. With the key qualities above, you should have no troubles choosing a professional that will deliver a video that you’d love and cherish.