More Wedding Planning Tips

Here are some more wedding planning tips –

– Make a checklist for everything that needs to be done – vendors, guests, venue, etc.,and check things off as all the details are completed. The checklist will really help you to stay on track with your planning and can save you from overlooking things that need to be done.

– Consider handmade decorations and jewelry

– Be creative with food ideas to reduce costs. You don’t have to have a fancy wedding cake. You can use something else in place of the cake – a tower of pasteries, for example. Consider pre-made sheet cakes in different sizes that can be stacked and decorated economically. You can also get a small cake just for the bride and groom to share. Consider having a wedding breakfast instead of a fancy reception. One of yesterday’s tips applies here – consider a restaurant instead of a rented hall.

– One of Martha Stewart’s suggestions: buy the booze yourself and keep the champagne at the bar for those who request it (many people don’t drink champagne so open bottles just go to waste. Alternatives – limit the bar to one particular signature “drink-of-the-day” or serve a really yummy punch instead – alcoholic and non-alcholic.

– Make-up tip: Martha Stewart suggests that if you use a make-up artist, you should ask them to leave you a touch-up kit (rather than having them stick around for hours). If your wedding look is done at a cosmetic counter, buy only the products that you’ll use again and purchase sample quantities.

– You can rent your jewelry or use vintage pieces from your family and friends. Martha Stewart suggests borrowing something – a veil, earrings, etc. that will add meaning to your celebration while keeping costs contained.

– Look for a photographer whose work you like, but one who isn’t in high demand for weddings. This goes for the band, too. Try a non-wedding band – it’s generally cheaper. Plan to use taped music for parts of your big day.

– Use smaller flower arrangements and vases, even bud vases, rather than large showy baskets of flowers. Use large flowers to cut down on the number of flowers and look to local farmers for flowers for your arrangements. Attractively packaged potted plants will make great flowers for the tables and they can become take home gifts for your wedding party and guests. Use small corsages for bridesmaids and attendants rather than individual bouquets.

– When you select shoes and accessories, pick items that you will actually wear after the ceremony. Consider some of my vintage jewelry pieces Martha Stewart suggests getting on wedding gown designers’ e-mail lists for updates on trunk shows and sample sales.