The only things a good wedding really require are the bride, the groom, an officiant, and love. Anything besides those essential things are just extras which may be nice to have, but they can cause problems if you aren’t careful. The following article will guide you to planning and preparing a very happy and memorable wedding day.

Remember to consider how you would like the alcohol at your reception served, and how much it will cost. An open bar is very costly and can become extremely expensive if open for long periods of time. See what other serving options are available for your alcohol.

If you will be catering your own wedding, look to wholesale markets such as Sam’s or Costco to buy supplies. When you shop this way, you can buy your food cheaper than at regular retailers. Also, ask friends and family members to help cover the cost of the food.

Wedding Dress

The wedding dress may be a major expense. When shopping for your dress, consider dresses that may not be categorized as a wedding dress. You should check out the selection of bridesmaid dresses at the bridal store. One could fit your style at only a fraction of the cost. You can choose to alter the dress and add your own flair, while still saving plenty of money.

Do not starve yourself just to fit into the wedding dress you want. If you rush the weight loss process, your health will surely suffer. The last thing you need is to pass out as the vows are being given. Instead, buy a dress with a corset back so you can take it in or out as necessary on the day of your vows.

When choosing a makeup artist, ask to see a sample book of makeup the artist has done. Do you like how they do their work? Make sure that the style matches your vision. You don’t want to be stuck with a bad makeup artist.

Practice going down the aisle while wearing the shoes you are going to wear at the wedding. If you’re worried that you will twist your ankle, you can wear flats instead. Not falling beats wearing sexy shoes.

Rent a venue, with lights that are capable of being dimmed, for your wedding reception. This may seem minor, but lighting is important to setting the mood and dimmed lights are preferable for your first dance. Be sure to find out about these details before you decide for sure.

Even if you’ve chosen and bought your wedding dress, think about keeping it at the shop until your special day. Bringing it home could expose it to dust or dirt, getting it stained or other damages. Having it at the shop means it will be unwrinkled for the big day.

It can be expensive to place centerpieces at your table at the wedding. Use a small, simple center piece instead of a large one that takes up a lot of table space. This will allow for the free flow of conversation, as guests will be able to view each other without distraction.

If dinner isn’t being served at your reception, you should consider renting comfortable furniture instead of having tables for everyone to sit at. Things like cushy sectional couches, chaises and lounges can provide a great way for your guests to interact. You can use sectional pieces to create areas for relaxing throughout the reception venue. In addition, your guests will relax more when sitting on plush, comfortable seats and be more likely to have a good time.

If you can’t afford expensive floral arrangements, consider using potted plants throughout the reception and ceremony areas. You can put them in decorative pots, or decorate their pots yourself with paint and ribbons. The guests are able to take the plants home with them, or the couple can take them home and plant them.

A gift registry is a wedding tradition. Make sure your guests know that they don’t have to bring a large gift if they’re unable to. Give them several gift options at a wide range of prices. Everyone should feel comfortable with what they can spend.

Use floral arrangements of varying heights. Try using vases that are tall for more compact heads with long stems. Then, place flowers such as sweet peas, hydrangeas or peonies around the tall vases. Short, full blooms ought to be light in color.

Make sure the bridemaids know what type of gown they’ll be wearing before asking if they will be in your bridal party . A simple disagreement over the bridesmaid’s gown can severely strain a friendship. Pick something affordable that goes with your wedding theme and that all the bridesmaids like. This will ensure that everyone has a good time and no ill feelings are bred.

You can plan a wedding even if you don’t have lots of money. There is no reason to go into considerable debt when planning your wedding. Doing a lot of things yourself can save a lot of money for you.

In conclusion, only very few things are necessary to have an ideal wedding. Everything else is strictly optional. They are all nice to have at any great wedding ceremony, but it can be hard to determine one things that may work well for everyone and relieve the stress of needing to be precise in your decisions. Follow the advice in this article, and your wedding planning will become easier and more manageable. It will make your wedding happier for everyone involved, including you.