Wedding Infatuated

When planning a wedding you can expect to spend a large portion of your total budget on catering. Here are a few catering options you may want to consider. Some of these options will cut costs and others are much more extravagant. When it comes to serving a meal at your wedding you will want to decide where your preference lies, low cost, high class, or a fair balance of both.

Buffet

A buffet does not necessarily scream classy but it certainly serves a purpose. Many people enjoy buffet style meals because they can pick and choose what they want. This is a great option when you’re hosting an event for a wide variety of tastes. It also allows people to really get their fill so less food will likely go to waste.

Buffets can also be very inexpensive. The buffet option allows you to cook your own food and simply rent the equipment yourselves. You will want to check with the reception hall before embarking on this endeavor, however, as some places have policies against food made in a non-commercial kitchen.

Seated Meal

The seated meal is the most elegant option for a wedding meal. That being said, this is also the most expensive option. However, there are ways to cut costs. Rather than having every meal plated in the kitchen and served to every individual, you can serve the meal family-style. The servers bring large portions of food to each table and allows guests to dish their own plates. This option can cut out 3/4 of the servers you would typically need and also has the potential of cutting kitchen staff. The less staff the less expensive.

Afternoon Tea

Serving a “meal” afternoon tea style can be both elegant and inexpensive. You can place small sandwiches as well as scones, and other pastries in the center of the table. This display can double as a centerpiece which will cut between $25 - $125 a table on average. If you prefer less clutter on the tables you can set this up in a very attractive buffet.

This option is very inexpensive, comparatively, and would be a great solution for an outdoor wedding, a garden themed wedding, or a Victorian/vintage themed wedding.

Dessert Only

Offering up the cake, and possibly a few other desserts, is a great solution for a late evening wedding. This is by far the least expensive option averaging 1/6 the cost of all other traditional options. If you are holding the reception late enough in the evening that most guests have already eaten they will not want a meal anyway. Dessert only affairs can completely cut the catering costs. Your only cost will be to the baker. If you want to give a more elegant look hire a few waiters and have them serve the cake as the baker slices it in the kitchen. This option is the best money saving option.

Hiring a caterer doesn’t have to exhaust your entire budget. With a little careful planning you can have a fun, elegant event for only a portion of the traditional cost.

If you were not already aware, it is customary to tip the vendors at your wedding. However, when you start to realize what this entails you may start to fret the added and unexpected cost. There are also concerns about who exactly to tip and in which way. When you think of a tip as a gift for a job well done it’s really the last thing you want to worry about. Just follow these simple suggestions and all tipping concerns should be alleviated.

The best way to handle wedding vendor tips is to assign someone the job of handing them out. Depending on the situation this can be the host (often one of your parents) or even a wedding planner/consultant if you have hired one. Give this designated tipper envelopes with the name of each vendor you wish to tip. You can either allow the tipper to fill the envelope at their will or you can start out by filling each envelope with the maximum amount you’re willing to give and allow the tipper to remove what they feel is fair. Just make sure you assign this job to someone you trust wholeheartedly. This is not the job for your shady cousin.  

Always remember this: tips are not mandatory. If your caterer prepares the most wonderful meal you have ever had than certainly tip them, if they burn the pasta and give everyone food poisoning… well… we can just skip that tip. Tipping a vendor is just like tipping your waiter at a restaurant, you tip according to performance.

Other things to look out for is tipping policies. Some facilities and companies may not allow tips for tax reasons. You will also want to examine your bills and contracts before handing out tips. It is not uncommon for a gratuity fee to be written into the initial contract. You do not want to tip twice for a single service.

Listed are the typical amounts you should tip your vendors:

       Bartenders - 10% of the total liquor tab

       Maitre d’ - 15% - 20% of the entire reception bill

       Waitstaff - At least $20 each (maitre d’ will distribute tips)

       Banquet Manager - 15% - 20% of the entire reception bill (less if there is a maitre d’)

       Coat and Powder room attendants - $.50 - $1 per guest

       Delivery (florist, baker, etc.) - At least $5 - $10

       Limo/Car Driver - 15% - 20% of the bill

       Parking Attendants - $.50 - $1 per guest

       DJ or Musicians - $20 - $25 each

       Officiant - A gift or donation if they perform their services for free

     Wedding Consultant - A gift

When it comes to planning a wedding the devil is in the details. Every little rose petal, every table linen, every wisp of hair matters. Since there are so many small details to worry about it can often be a hassle when it comes to shopping for these items. It can be quite handy to find all your wedding accessories in one place. This is why I suggest visiting Weddingstar.

This website has everything from cute little honeymoon flip flops to garters, from children’s gifts to guestbooks. I think the thing I like the most about this site, however, is their variety of themed wedding offerings. Whether your theme is Calla lilies or Ireland they have sets for you. If you have a bronze theme, pink and brown theme, butterfly theme, they have a selection of decor for you. Even if you haven’t picked a theme yet, this site may really help get those ideas flowing.

Are you looking for fun and unique wedding favors? Weddinstar offers hundreds of different favors and the best part is you can order samples before making a large purchase. You don’t have to buy in bulk here so you can really see what the favors will look like before you commit to buy.

Wherever you choose to shop for your wedding accessories and favors just try to look for a one stop shop. If you do this you will ensure that your items will match, you can sometimes find a bulk discount and you will save a lot of time and energy.

A personal favorite touch of any wedding are the invitations. The invitations are the guests first impression of your wedding and are one of those items that will make it into your wedding album and be looked upon again and again. This is why the look of the wedding invitations can be nearly as important as the information they hold. Finding the perfect wedding invitations is growing increasingly difficult, however, with all the options we are now presented. Modern/chic, traditional, ornate, understated, personalized, handprinted, there are litterally thousands of options for each wedding. This is why I have compiled a list of a few of my favorite wedding invitation designers and suppliers.

Wedding Paper Divas

This site offers some of the most beautiful modern styles I have seen to date. They specialize in graphic prints, bold colors, simple lines and a large variety to fit any wedding. They also offer several ornate, flowery and traditional designs. Prices are very reasonable as well. Most invitations run $1.52/ea and other prices are relative. I strongly suggest taking a peek at this site when you’re shopping for wedding invitations.

Rexcraft

If you are looking for traditional wedding invitations on a budget this may be your place. Some traditional designs are only $86.95/100 invitations. That price is hard to beat when it includes envelopes and tissues. To be perfectly honest, this company has recently shifted away from the styles I prefer but I know they provide quality as I have ordered invitations from this company before. They are a high quality printer and, with a little searching, you’re sure to find something you like.

The Wedding Invitation Designer

If you are looking for a design you will not find anywhere else this is the site to go to. They take a little personal information and create a very unique design just for you. Prices start at $350 for 250 invitations.

I Do Design

This company offers some very beautiful modern designs as well as many fun and funky retro options. I Do Design not only manufaturers the invitations, they design them. The company’s wide selection will have offerings for nearly wedding but this company is unique in one important way, you can have the designer custom design an invitation for your event. The only downfall of this company is the price. Most designs run a little over $300/50 invitations. Sometimes though, the old adage is true, you get what you pay for. You can expect a unique and quality product from I Do Design.

Wedding invitations are fun to shop for so take your time, compare designs, compare prices, have a good time. Remember, it’s likely that a few wedding invitations will be around for years to come so choose wisely. Wedding invitations are the first impression of a wedding so make it a good one.

Wedding dresses seem to be central to the entire wedding industry. Each bride is faced with thousands of options from very traditional to the antithesis of normal. Wedding dresses now come in white, black, and every shade in between. Wedding dresses can be long or short. Wedding dresses can be mermaid cut or a-line. With so many choices out there it’s hard to decide which dress will work for you. 

When hunting for a wedding dress, simply search for the phrase, ”Wedding Dresses” in Google or Yahoo! images searches. This can act as a very large wedding dress gallery. From these images you will start to see a pattern in the dress style you like. Once you find a dress you really like take some notes on the main features:

Dress Color

As we all know, white is not just for virgins anymore. Don’t feel pressured to wear cream or ivory when you really want to wear white. Red is becoming a fun wedding dress color for those brides who want to stand out a little more. A black wedding dress can be great for a gothic wedding. Bright blue or green sashes are also gaining wide popularity as a way to tie in a little color to a more traditionally colored dress. Just choose the color you like and you’re sure to look fabulous.

Dress Shape

There are many different shapes available and not all shapes work for all body types. The most popular is the A-line shape because it is flattering on most body types. For more advice on wedding dress shape see the Henry Roth site.

 Dress Length

Wedding dresses come in every length from the mini dress to possessing a train that is several feet long. Make sure to keep in mind what look you’re going for.

Finally, after you compile all your information, start shopping. Try on a hundred wedding dresses if that’s what it takes. This is one area that you are allowed to be very picky. Most wedding dresses are one of the costliest if not the costliest item in a wedding. If you are looking to spend a lot then make sure you don’t regret it. Buyers remorse is particularly bad when it is due to a wedding dress you decidedly hate the second it comes home from the tailors.

Remember, however, you don’t have to spend a fortune to look beautiful. There are many many wedding dresses on eBay that have never been worn. Most bridal shops also clearance out last seasons wedding dresses. Don’t forget to ask about discounts on the beautiful window display dresses. They can be a bit discolored but, if you were looking for a lovely ivory color… there you go! If you do choose to bargain hunt, however, give yourself a little extra time. It may take a while before you find something you love that fits like a glove.

Weddings in Las Vegas were, at one time, reserved for elopers and Elvis fans only. This is no longer the case. Las Vegas has now become the place to have the wedding of your dreams. Any theme or style you’re looking for, Las Vegas can give it to you, no questions asked. Gothic weddings, Rocky Horror Picture Show weddings, romantic weddings, Italian weddings and yes, even Elvis weddings can all be found in the crazy Las Vegas.

If you’re looking to have the most eventful wedding you’ve ever been to, Las Vegas makes a great host. The weather is pleasant year-round and you can visit every corner of the world in just a few short hours, no passport required. Las Vegas is also one of the few places where you can have an extravagant wedding with little to no planning or stress on your end. For a couple hundred dollars the ceremony is completely paid for, you can’t beat that! If you are looking to avoid stress, weddings in Las Vegas are the way to go! This can be the most fun and least expensive destination wedding available.

So, are you ready to start planning your Las Vegas wedding? Try these websites for a few ideas of the unique varieties of Las Vegas weddings available to you:

Gothic Weddings

Viva Las Vegas Wedding Chapel

The Elvis Wedding Chapel

Limo Weddings

Whether you plan to wed in a gondola, under the stars, in costume or even in a limousine, keep these fun Las Vegas weddings in mind.

Sooner or later you are sure to fret over how you want your hair for your big day. Updos seem fancier but down might feel more romantic. Of course the length of your hair needs to be taken into consideration. If it’s short you won’t have as many options as women with longer styles.

When you’re looking at which style you want, the best place to start is Brides.com. They have some of the most comprehensive wedding hairstyle advice available on the internet. They not only have a large gallery of hairstyles, they also give wedding hairstyle advice based on the length of your hair, your dress and your personality or desired effect. You even have the option of uploading a photo of yourself to see which hairstyles and makeup will look best. This site is sure to become a great asset when you’re trying to pull together the look you want for your wedding.

After you determine, more or less, what it is that you’re looking for, try it out. If you’re going to have a professional handle your hair, head over to the salon and start solidifying a plan of action. I suggest doing this about a month out from the actual wedding date. After your hair is complete, take pictures. You can look back and decide from there if you love it or hate it. These pictures will also serve as a great tool for your stylist when you return on the day of your wedding.

If you are choosing to have a friend, who is not a professional stylist, complete your hair make sure you have them run through the styling process several times. You don’t have to be obnoxious about it but two to three times is not asking a lot. Your friend should understand that you’re nervous and they will hopefully be willing to help out.

If you’re choosing to do your own wedding hairstyle, then just remember, practice makes perfect. Keep restyling your hair until you feel like you have perfected your wedding day look. If you’re not sure how to accomplish a certain look, YouTube.com has some great resources. There are video tutorials for all sorts of wedding hairstyles and most of them you can accomplish yourself. Whichever route you choose to go just remember to take pictures and have fun playing with different wedding hairstyle ideas.   

Your bridesmaids have been with you through thick and thin, tears and joy. They’ve help you stay sane during the crazy ups and downs of wedding planning. They are sure to be even more helpful when you’re scraping to get together enough people to decorate the reception hall. To reward all their loyalty and hard work it is only right to get them something to show your appreciation.

Most women give their bridesmaids jewelry, wine or gift baskets. If, however, you would like to make your gift a little more fun try some of these great ideas:

Spa Date with the Girls

As your gift to your bridesmaids, take them all out to a nice spa for manicures or massages. Many spas even offer special group packages complete with a champagne brunch. What’s more fun than getting pampered and yammering on with the girls? A trip like this is sure to create some fun memories.

Party!

If you enjoy going out on the town with your ladies, why not throw them a party? Instead of a bachelorette party, which is all about the bride-to-be, make the bash all about your bridesmaids. Take them out for some drinks and dancing. Do a little drunken karaoke. Just have fun!

A Nice Meal

If your group is a little more tame, than the party crew, take the ladies out for a nice meal. Go to a nice restaurant and have fun just catching up. There’s a good chance that you have been a little distant lately, with all the planning, so this can be a nice way to shoot the breeze and reconnect. 

Check your local bed and breakfast locations for any special events. Some places will do a nice brunch every week. Other locations will host a high tea. For a little extra fun you might search for dinner mysteries. 

Whatever you do, the most important thing is to just show your bridesmaids how much you appreciate them.  

 For more advice on unique gift ideas, visit Argyle Gifts’ gift guide.

It is well known that public speaking can cause more than a few jitters in a large percentage of the population. For this reason, people are often unnerved by the idea of giving a speech for their wedding. However, there are a few things you can do to cool the nerves.The biggest thing that makes people nervous is the fact that they are ill prepared. There is no reason, however, that your speech must be memorized. If you are afraid of forgetting anything then bring along some index cards. I recommend index cards because if you start to shake it will be less obvious than with a full sheet of paper.

If you feel that no matter how prepared you are you will still be terribly nervous, don’t feel bad about keeping it short. Thank everyone in a short and sweet way and call it good. There is no reason you must go on and on about how lovely the evening is, how great everyone looks, how fabulous your great great aunt twice removed has been treating your brother who she hates. Just say a few short meaningful things and be done with it.

The biggest thing is to remember that everyone at your wedding is a friend or family member. They are not there to judge your public speaking skills they are there to celebrate your wedding day. Don’t address them as you would a large group of strangers, address them as you would a small and personal group of friends.

If you still feel tears well up in your eyes every time you even think about the wedding speech, if you dread the speech more than any other aspect of the wedding, skip it. It may even be a much kinder gesture if you personally thank everyone who came. Circulate through the room and greet all your guests. Thank them for coming and avoid the speech. The wedding speech is certainly not mandatory, it is merely a kind gesture.

The last tip is to have only one spouse speak. Let’s be honest, a long line of speeches is not really fun for anyone. If either you or your spouse is comfortable giving a speech allow that person to speak for both of you. Write the speech together to ensure that everything you both find important is mentioned and have a great time dancing the night away.

It is estimated that nearly 50% of weddings involve at least one partner who has been previously married. Second marriages are becoming common fare. So how can you make your second wedding better than your first? 

You likely don’t want your second wedding to resemble your first but you don’t have to go to extremes in order to avoid similarities. Just because your first wedding was small and simple doesn’t mean you need to throw a lavish soiree for your second wedding. You also should not concern yourself with avoiding certain vendors simply because you used them previously. If your baker did a great job, by all mean, employ them! Wedding planning is not the place for supersticious thoughts. As you should know by now it is not good luck or bad luck that determines a marriage’s success, it is love and hard work. Don’t worry about how to make your wedding different, just focus on making the wedding reflect who you are as a couple.

You should also be aware that there are a few bits of ettiquete involved in second (third, fourth, fifth) marriages. First of all it is not appropriate to invite your ex-spouse. Unless you divorced under the most beautiful of circumstances, you will only be hurting feelings when you invite an ex. Another thing to know, pre-wedding parties are acceptable for all weddings. Bridal and couple showers as well as bachelor/bachellorette parties or stag nights are all okay so enjoy them. The last tip, wear what you want. If you feel like sporting a white gown for your sixth wedding, do it! White once meant that the bride was a virgin, however, that is rarely the case anymore. You should not feel awkward wearing what you will feel beautiful in.

Second weddings can be a wonderful thing. They offer a chance to incorporate your children as well as the freedom to do things your way. While your paren 

One bonus of a second marriage is the fact that you are hopefully older and wiser. You will likely fund a larger portion of the wedding and you will have more freedoms to do your wedding exactly the way you want as a result. 

Source:

Judy Lewis. Here Comes the Bride, Again. Hudson Valley Weddings