Thursday, April 10, 2008

Setting a realistic budget


How to Set a Realistic Wedding Budget


from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Setting a budget for a wedding can save you a lot of disagreement and heartache if discussed early, openly and honestly.

Steps


  1. Set aside some time to review your own opinion on how you should split the wedding expenses. Do you want to go traditional (parents of bride pay & bride)? Do you want to be more modern (pay for it yourself)? Do you want to be progressive (and share the wedding expenses with your fiancee)?
  2. Since today is not the 1950s and most brides are working full time and plan to continue working full-time, I would strongly advise asking your fiancee to share the expenses of the wedding. Traditionally the groom's family only pays for the rehearsal dinner and possibly part of the honeymoon. The bulk of the expense is really the wedding (the flowers, the cake, the gown, the food, the music, etc.).
  3. Research the vendors and get price quotes before setting the budget. This is really critical. You may think flowers would cost $500, but really they can cost $2,400 easily. Many vendors have minimums - get this information up front.
  4. Write a detailed list with vendor name and projected cost and tally everything up. It may be good to use software like Excel to easily update this and make cost comparisons between different vendors for the same thing (like different flower shops).
  5. Once you have an idea of what your wedding may cost in your area (with vendors that you like), discuss the finances with your fiancee. How? Asking questions about his views would be a good place to start. Sharing the list of potential costs with him would be wise. Better yet, look into venues and costs together - reviewing purchases and setting budgets based on one another's needs is something you'll be doing for the rest of your lives!
  6. At this stage, start formulating a guest list, because many budget items are proportional to the size of the wedding you host. Keep in mind that if your families are paying for all or part of the wedding that they may feel entitled to add to this guest list. Be up front with them about this.
  7. Come to agreement with your fiancee about how you would like to pay for the wedding. Will you pay for it yourself or ask your parents for assistance? Do you both feel right even asking your parents for financial assistance?
  8. Meet with your respective parents to speak honestly and openly how much they are willing to contribute to the "wedding fund." Special note: money from family has strings attached, so be careful about setting expectations that this is YOUR wedding and that you appreciate their financial contributions.
  9. Create a spreadsheet using Excel or OpenOffice to write down and track your budget. The top line should have the total amount you are willing to spend and the end of the sheet should have a running total of projected and actual wedding related expenses.
  10. Try to enjoy the busy and stressful wedding planning process, knowing that you have made one of the first and important financial decisions with your fiancee!


Tips


  • OpenOffice and StarOffice are low cost alternatives to Microsoft's excel and let you calculate your budget easily. Pen and paper also work fine.
  • Ask your close friends who are married for suggestions on how to budget for your wedding.
  • Ask local married friends suggestions on low cost but quality vendors.
  • Be sure to start the planning process as early as possible. The more time you have the better chance you have in getting what you want.
  • Think about purchasing wedding insurance to protect your big investment. Don't forget to read the fine print!
  • Build some flexibility into your budget - plan for things to end up costing about 10% more than you estimated.
  • Make your budget as detailed as possible to avoid surprise costs. There are lots of wedding planning/expense lists out there on the internet - look at a few to see what you might be forgetting about.
  • Work with your fiance to prioritize your spending - you may be able to reduce or eliminate some costs in order to get the dress/flowers/band etc. that you really want. Just because *everyone else* has a certain something at their wedding doesn't mean you have to!
  • Keep in mind that some of your wedding choices - the rings, the photographs, the video, will be with you long after the guest have gone home. If your budget is tight, consider prioritizing these items.
  • Think about you and your fiance's long term financial goals, and make sure that your wedding budget is not interfering with them. If you need to use credit to pay for your wedding, consider carefully whether taking on debt is something that fits with your long-term plans.


Warnings


  • Planning a wedding can unfortunately bring out the worst in the extended family and even cause contention between you and your fiancee. Remember why you are planning this - to celebrate your choice.
  • Add the cost of pre-marital counseling to your budget. I would strongly recommend pre-marital counseling especially if talking about finances has been a problem between you and your partner.
  • Please know that not talking about the financial side of the wedding and pending marriage can only lead to greater heartache and misunderstanding. Be courageous - it'll pay off for both you and your life partner!


Related wikiHows




Sources and Citations





Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Set a Realistic Wedding Budget. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

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Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Low budget wedding in two weeks


How to Plan a Wedding in Two Weeks and for Under $500


from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Whether you're in a hurry, you have a tight budget, or if you simply want to get married without making it a big production, it's still possible to have a real wedding. Instead of spending huge amounts of time and money, use your own creativity and resourcefulness, and that of understanding family members and friends.

Steps


  1. Recognize that the soul of a wedding and the marriage it begins is love. It is not money, fanfare, ceremony, or status. Then, aim for sincerity and simplicity.
  2. Take care of the legal stuff as soon as you decide to get married. Go to the courthouse and get the marriage license. (Note that in some countries you may need to wait a month or more after acquiring a licence to have a legal ceremony.)
  3. Spread the word. Invite people by email, phone, or (if you trust your delegates) word of mouth. If you have more than two weeks, use a computer to design and print your own invitations, but remember that they'll take time to go through the mail. One couple having an informal wedding in a small town put up flyers around town and let people decide for themselves whether to come!
  4. Find an officiant, but don't look in the phone book first. If you don't have somebody in mind, ask people you know. Just about anybody can become an officiant, and chances are that word of mouth can put you in touch with somebody who has, or is willing. Choose somebody you are comfortable with.
  5. Write the ceremony yourselves. This step is not about haste or budget, but about having a ceremony that is meaningful and comfortable for you.
  6. Obtain rings, if you choose to wear them. Jewelry stores may try to sell you the fanciest, priciest thing, but meaning is far more important here than cost. Choose rings that are to your tastes, or that have special meaning to you. Simplicity never goes out of style. The author had her grandmother's old ring resized.
  7. Go casual. Let everyone know that your wedding is a barbecue, picnic, beach, or luau theme. It is much easier and less costly to orchestrate these gatherings than something more formal or fancy, and nobody will mind that everything doesn't all match. Tell everybody to wear jeans and sneakers, sandals and shorts, and their favorite Hawaiian shirt. People are a lot more comfortable in casual clothing, anyway, and it will put everybody at ease.
  8. Wear clothes you already own, or buy something simple that you can wear again.
  9. Don't have an entourage (bridesmaids and groomsmen), or if you choose to have them, keep it to one or two people and let them wear what they want, so long as it is loosely within your theme.
  10. Stay local. If you really want to get married on the cheap, don't fly everybody to Hawaii to do it.
  11. Stay home. Find someplace you can use for free or very low cost. Get married in your home, or your back yard, if you can. If that won't work, find out whether local beaches, parks, or community centers have places you can reserve, or see if you or somebody you know has a clubhouse attached to their apartment complex.
  12. Have the wedding and the reception in the same place. Your guests won't have to stop everything and get lost going from here to there, and you won't have to prepare and clean up two different venues.
  13. Keep the guest list small, under about sixty people. A short time frame will work in your favor here, since many people may not choose to attend on such short notice. If you have more than two weeks, you give as much advance notice to your guests as you can, especially those that will want to fly in from someplace distant. With a smaller group, you may be able to visit and talk with everybody, instead of making a token stop at each table to exchange greetings.
  14. Borrow chairs and tables, if your chosen location does not have enough, from friends and relations, or inquire about renting them. Local schools, churches, or community centers may be able to supply tables and chairs, too. Ask around and get creative. Otherwise, rent from a local party center. In a pinch, ask your guests to bring their own folding lawn and patio chairs. If this is an outdoor event, ask around to see if anybody you know has portable canopies or picnic umbrellas you can borrow for shade, too.
  15. Keep cleanup simple, since you will be doing it yourselves. See if a party store near you has an inexpensive roll of plastic tablecloth material in the color of your wedding. Cut it to length and don't forget to tape it down, especially if you're outdoors. Use paper plates and plastic utensils.
  16. Don't assign seating for the ceremony or reception. Yes, this goes against all the big wedding etiquette books, but it will save you time. As an added benefit, your guests will actually mix and get to know each other, instead of feeling pinned to a table or group.
  17. Don't serve alcohol, or have only enough for the toast, or suggest to people that want it that they bring their own. Alcohol could easily double the cost of your menu, and you won't have a wedding memory of anybody drunk.
  18. Plan your own do-it-yourself menu. The local big-box warehouse store is your friend. Here is one well-rounded sample:
    • Marinate boneless, skinless chicken breasts or tenders in zipper bags in lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, salt, and herbs. Take your choice of herbs (rosemary, oregano and pepper are a good combo). Grill or pan-fry in advance, then refrigerate them in the casserole dish where you'll serve them, covered with foil. The day of the event, re-heat the whole casserole dish.
    • Bake one or two of those pre-marinated pork roasts. Remember that you'll have to cut it up to serve it.
    • Purchase potato salad. If you'd like to dress it up a bit, serve it in an attractive bowl with a few slices of hard-boiled egg and a dusting of paprika as a garnish.
    • Purchase frozen meatballs and put them in a crock pot or slow cooker with enough of your favorite barbecue sauce OR other marinade (try Cattlemen's or Mr.Yoshida's, if you can find them). Turn on the crock pot to low a couple hours before you will eat. Set out a dish of toothpicks.
    • Purchase a sack or two of dinner rolls.
    • Purchase pre-washed and pre-cut salad greens and a couple of different kinds of salad dressing.
    • Purchase a prepared vegetable platter and place it near the salad. People can munch the veggies separately, or add the ones they like to their salad.
    • A fruit salad is an easy way to add color to a large-group meal. You may be able to buy pre-cut fruit. If not, go for fruit that's easy to cut up or doesn't need cutting. Strawberries, melons, and grapes are all good choices. Peaches and nectarines will shed their skins effortlessly if dunked briefly in a pot of boiling water. Cool them in a pan of room-temperature water so you can handle them and slip off the skins. Choose freestone peaches if you can. Don't bother to peel apples, if you include them. A bit of lemon juice or Fruit Fresh (ascorbic acid, better known as vitamin C) will help keep everything from turning brown, as will refrigerating and reducing exposure to oxygen.
    • Chips and dip or salsa.

  19. Buy prepared foods. Many stores offer party platters. They'll cost a bit more, but they'll save you the time of chopping up vegetables and slicing cheese, and if you are doing everything yourselves, that's time well saved.
  20. Buy a sheet cake or make a cupcake wedding cake. Most stores have a bakery department that can set you up with something appropriate for a fraction of the cost of a wedding cake. The cake is a temporary item. You can also buy any other prepared cake or cakes that look good to you. (The author is extremely partial to chocolate.)
  21. Prepare as much of the food as possible in advance.
  22. Ask neighbors for the use of their ovens. You may be heating up a lot of food. If you must transport food, ask friends with station wagons or minivans.
  23. Alternatively, make it a pot luck, or plan to serve just the main course and cake and invite guests to bring side dishes. Many people enjoy showing off favorite dishes for crowds. This would be a great opportunity to flatter your guests by asking them to share their recipes with you, too.
  24. Don't forget drinks. Chances are you have friends and neighbors with tubs or coolers you can borrow. Purchase sodas, bottled water, and juice, and plenty of ice. Sparkling cider and its cousins can stand in for the alcohol and lend a little elegance to your gathering, plus it's okay for kids to have it, too.
  25. Appoint a "stage manager", if possible. A level-headed high school or college student is ideal, particularly anybody who has had experience in band, drama, restaurants, or the like. This person will help you watch timing, direct and assist with setup, run last minute errands, line people up for group photos, and so on. Offer to pay this person, especially if he/she is a "starving student", treat him/her to a nice dinner, or return the favor.
  26. Keep favors simple, or omit them entirely. Avoid making favors that will require a lot of assembly. For our wedding, we got a selection of attractive dollar-store fans as favors that doubled as colorful centerpieces, plus some pinwheels and bubble juice for the kids who attended. The total preparation was unwrapping them and placing them in a basket by the entrance. The weather was warm the day of the wedding and the fans were very well received.
  27. Skip the flowers or buy just a few from a supermarket (go for color, not price) or ask a friend who gardens to contribute some. A single open rose or camellia floating in a bowl of water can be very elegant.
  28. Alternatively, for centerpieces, consider simple candles or enlist any children in attendance to make something truly unique and special.
  29. Skip the photographer, unless you know an amateur or hobbyist who is eager to try her hand at it. Let your guests know that you'd like copies of their snapshots. You'll probably have dozens of cameras in the crowd, and some of them will get good pictures. It's easier than ever to share photos. You'd have a hard time stopping people from taking hundreds of photos of your wedding. Do take the time to line up different groups of your guests for photos after the ceremony.
  30. Do your own hair and makeup, or enlist fashion-conscious friends to assist. You already know how to do your hair, and you're not dressing for the Oscars. Use this preparation as an opportunity to spend some time with your friends.
  31. Place plenty of trash cans and, if possible, well-marked recycle bins in discreet but visible locations. Many guests will naturally clean up after themselves when given the opportunity.
  32. Consider doing your own DJ booth, ask a friend who is in electronics to help, for under $1,000 you can purchase your own reciever, speakers, and stands. You can borrow, or rent them even cheaper (about $250 to rent) Borrow a laptop, and viola, you have a very cheap DJ booth. Get a friend to play DJ.


Tips


  • Don't feel guilty or timid asking for help. Most people will understand completely and they'll be delighted to pitch in.
  • If people offer to help, let them! You might be surprised at how many people volunteer, when given an opportunity to do something besides dress up, show up, and eat. Let your "stage manager" assist you in putting these people to work.
  • For the people you couldn't invite, or who couldn't come on such short notice, make a point to see them individually, some other time. Send photos to anybody who wants them.
  • When you're writing thank you notes, don't forget to acknowledge the contributions of all those who pitched in.
  • Return favors. Let anybody who volunteers their services (your officiant, DJ, stage manager, hairdresser, photographer, florist, etc.) join you for food, and make a point to be the first in line the next time they need help.
  • Return everything you have borrowed. If several people are lending chairs or other items, masking tape and a marker at the door will help everybody keep straight whose are whose.
  • If you'd like to get a fresh haircut in preparation for the big day, do it a few days in advance, so you have time for it to settle in. Don't change your style dramatically right now. This is not the time to discover that you don't look good in your favorite celebrity's favorite 'do.
  • Gifts may be a bit haphazard on short notice. As you open them, ask somebody to help you write down what and who, so you can write thank-you notes accurately. If you have no time to register, expect a high proportion of money and gift cards, and be prepared to advise those who ask that the pleasure of their company (and perhaps their assistance) is gift enough.
  • Relax and have fun, knowing that by letting this event be informal, you've saved yourself and your guests a lot of stress and hassle!


Warnings


  • Be aware that things can go wrong during weddings, even ones that are planned over more than two weeks. If something does go wrong, ask your guests' forebearance, improvise as best you can, keep your sense of humor, and, if worse comes to worst, you'll have something to look back on and laugh.
  • If you're marrying in a public place, find out what their rules and regulations are and comply with them. Above all, leave the place clean and in good condition. If there's a deposit for the facilities, it'll help you keep it. Even if there's not, be a good citizen and encourage your guests to do the same.


Things You'll Need


  • A willing partner.
  • An officiant.
  • A minimal budget. With many weddings costing as much as luxury cars, $500 is a very minimal budget.
  • Helpful friends and family members.
  • A location.
  • A quantity of food.
  • Imagination.


Related wikiHows





Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Plan a Wedding in Two Weeks and for Under $500. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

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Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Affordable Beach Wedding


How to Plan an Affordable Beach Wedding


from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Today, many busy couples find that they are rushed for time and short on cash when comes to planning and financing their wedding. Beach weddings offer a sensible yet elegant solution to the expense and headache normally associated with a traditional wedding. Typically, a beach wedding is easier to plan, cheaper to pay for and a whole lot more fun - for everyone - including the guests! There are some 'special issues' though that must be considered when planning a beach wedding.

Steps


  1. Choose your location wisely. Beaches are usually breezy. Try to pick a cove or area protected from direct winds for your ceremony. Be mindful of the tides.
  2. Decide how many guests will be attending. Most beaches do not require a special permit for small informal weddings. Check with local authorities to be sure.
  3. Find a wedding officiate local to the beach of your choice to perform your wedding ceremony. Often they specialize in beach weddings and can provide useful tips as well as very affordable package deals. Wedding packages are becoming very popular and are ideal for busy couples. Often they include everything you need from the bouquet to the photography to the filing of your marriage license.
  4. Minimize your reception expenses by planning a sunset ceremony followed by a simple but elegant wine and cheese reception right on the beach.
  5. Rent an outdoor canopy to protect your reception area from rain showers and uninvited seagulls. For a tropical flare, decorate the canopy with tulle and twinkling mini-lights and silk flowers. Use hurricane candles for lighting.
  6. Remember your guest's comfort and safety. Provide seating for the elderly as well as sunscreen and insect repellent just in case. If some of your guests have mobility impairments recognize that it's nearly impossible to push a wheelchair in the sand, and it's very hard for people who have difficulty walking to negotiate sand as well. Many beaches have walkways or platforms. Use these accordingly.
  7. Thank your guests for sharing your day by presenting them with beach wedding favors such as personalized sand-dollars, seashell candles or Hawaiian Silk Leis.


Tips


  • Remember, depending on the time of year, the beach can be very hot, even in early evening. Choose your wedding dress accordingly.
  • A casual hair style works best for beach weddings. If the day is breezy, your hair will look beautifully natural and 'tousled' as opposed to looking 'messed up'.
  • For a larger, more formal beach wedding with many guests, you may want to choose a nearby ocean front hotel or restaurant with an outdoor deck to cater the reception following your beach side ceremony.


Warnings


  • Although there are many wedding companies that offer all-inclusive beach wedding packages, do not wait until last minute to try to book one! True, these packages eliminate much of the time and planning normally required of a wedding, but they are also very popular. If you cut it too close, you may be disappointed to find the day of your choice already booked. Give yourself no less than six months and more if possible to book your wedding package.
  • In addition to considering the heat, keep in mind that some areas are prone to hurricanes or just nasty storms at certain times of the year. Plan accordingly.


Related wikiHows




Sources and Citations





Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Plan an Affordable Beach Wedding. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Posted by Cheesesays at 8:45 AM 1 comments
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Monday, April 7, 2008

Get a good price on your Wedding Cake


How to Lower Wedding Cake Price


from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Believe it or not, there are ways to lower a wedding cake price while still going for the classiest of cakes. After reading this article, you'll be able to treat your guests with a mouthwatering cake which was bought at reasonable price.

Steps


  1. Make sure that the decoration and design is the right kind to suit your taste, before you agree to give an order to the baker. Go through referrals and see what prices are being quoted. Look through the samples first before deciding on your cake. A supermarket could offer a wide range of cakes at a lesser cost than your bakery.
  2. Decide on how you want to decorate your wedding cake, whether you want to keep it simple and cute or splendid and rich. Avoid over-decorating the cake. It is not necessary to have a five-tiered cake. You can have your cake stacked if you want.
  3. Remember that bakers who do not specialize wedding cakes could still bake the best cakes and cost less. Home bakers do not charge much and could make lovely cakes.
  4. Consider borrowing the pillars. There are disposable pillars available with your local baker or rental companies which are a better alternative than those crystal pillars if you want to cut down on the cost of the pillars. Let the baker or your local rental company help you with the disposable pillars instead of the crystal ones.
  5. Find prices at a cake making or culinary school near your place. Students have baking and decorating cakes as part of their curriculum. You can be assured that you will get a gorgeous cake and have it made at a very low price.
  6. Save on your wedding cake topper prices. Often relatives and well-wishers ask what you need as a gift. Ask them for a wedding cake topper.
  7. If you buy a multi-tiered cake, see that you decorate it yourself or have the florist do it for you. If you want flowers on your cake but the cost of the artificial flowers isn't fitting in your budget, let your florist put real flowers on the cake. Just make sure that they are non-toxic. Check the price of the organic edible flowers.
  8. Consider a smaller tiered cake for effect, and get a sheet cake to feed the guests, once the cake is cut, no one can tell what shape it was in originally!


Tips


  • Before signing up with your baker, shop around or decide what is the topper you would like, what style you would want for you cake, what flavor is the taste of the season for you, and how tiered it should be. Most importantly, see that your mouthwatering wedding cake comes at a mouthwatering price.
  • Expect to pay per slice of the cake as the cake cost depends more on style than flavors.
  • Ask whether it will save to use cardboard for the bottom tiers and real cake only on the top tier; this is the one you'll be cutting into. Then the cake is taken in the back to be sliced. Sheet cakes decorated the same as your wedding cake are then sliced and served to the guests. (Note that this will not always save money, as the biggest expense in wedding cakes is often the decorating.)
  • Many local grocery stores and big box stores do very well at baking nice cakes


Related wikiHows




Sources and Citations





Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Lower Wedding Cake Price. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Posted by Cheesesays at 9:51 AM 0 comments
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Friday, April 4, 2008

Personalize your Wedding


How to Personalize Your Wedding


from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Instead of letting a wedding planner or catering consultant turn your wedding into another cookie cutter event, use your imagination to make the event one-of-a-kind. Creativity can help to make any wedding look like it cost a million dollars.

Steps


  1. Consider all your invitation options. Don't limit yourself to the conservative engraved variety. How about one that's folded -- origami style -- into a crane? Why not use a delicate blue or shell pink paper stock instead of white? Simple is always better for a bride. Engraved is nice, but a small wedding might use calligraphy -- or even your own personally handwritten invitation. Did you fall in love while on vacation? How about printing the invitation on a postcard from the site of your meeting?
  2. Choose interesting mood music. "Here Comes the Bride" is traditional but boring. No one will call a halt to the proceedings if you choose the Toreador song from "Carmen" or "Love Will Keep Us Together" by the Captain & Tennille. Pick a song that has real meaning for you both.
  3. Instead of rounding up the usual catering suspects, call on your favorite restaurant and see if they can provide the wedding goodies. And it doesn't have to be a dinner. An early wedding brunch after a sunrise ceremony or an intimate supper following a late afternoon wedding are more glamourous than the usual reception. Pick foods you love, not run of the mill chicken-or-fish. Can you serve chili and beer? Why not? Mushroom risotto and a 100% vegan menu? Absolutely.
  4. Make it your celebration. And don't forget dessert. The wedding cake can be the usual bridal delight, or you can let your fantasy take sweet flight...cakes come in virtually any shape, size or configuration. They can be covered with real flowers, or dripping in edible pearls. The happy couple can be displayed in icing, or the cake can pay homage to the hobby that brought you together. It's your choice to make.
  5. Don't forget the personalized M&Ms. Yes, it's true. You can pick your own M&M colors and have them monogrammed or printed with your name (short names work best...this is an M&M we're talking about). You get two lines of 8 letters/spaces. Enough for an I Love You, or your wedding date, and a choice of 13 colors, including silver. An 8 oz. bag is 8.50.


Tips


  • Use personalized postage stamps for your invitations. You select a photo, go to photostamps.com, zazzle, stamps.com or similar, upload the picture, pick out a stamp you like and place your order. Voila, about a week or so later, you've got personalized postage stamps.
  • Your favorite "couples" picture is perfect for wedding invitations...and think long term: This could be the start of a family tradition, with babies, anniversaries, all the milestones marked by your own family stamps.
  • Include your special pet in your wedding, and be sure to dress them up in a dog tuxedo or dress! Some pets can be excitable, though, so to save your dress, be sure to visit the groomer and have vinyl nail caps applied to your pet's nails. They are made for cats as well as dogs, and they come in several colors.
  • Consider a dress of another color! Or order a custom corset with matching skirt. It can be cheaper than many wedding dresses from local retailers.


Warnings


  • Remember to check with the post office about any possible rate increases in postage. If you don't it could cost you a lot more that you budgeted for.


Related wikiHows




Sources and Citations





Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Personalize Your Wedding. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Posted by Cheesesays at 9:21 AM 0 comments
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Thursday, April 3, 2008

Make inexspensive Wedding Invitations


How to Make Cheap Homemade Wedding Invitations


from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Would you like to save money on your wedding invitations and
still have lovely invites that will impress everybody who
receives one? Of course you would! Why not make them yourself? You are probably thinking that you have no idea of how to make cheap homemade wedding invitations. It isn’t difficult, saves you quite a bit of money and can be great fun.

Steps


  1. Decide on the level of formality your wedding will have. This will have an effect on your design and wording choices.
  2. Browse the web, looking for, do it yourself wedding invitation ideas. Many sites offer free templates with or without designs and wording samples. They allow you to download templates to use as is or to adapt to suit your needs. Some sites only allow you to download free templates if you purchase your wedding stationary from them.
  3. Decide on your design, or graphic image and the wording that you will use.
  4. Pick a font that goes with the theme and style of your invitations.
  5. Buy your wedding invitation stationery, including cards for any enclosures, such as RSVPs, Thank You cards and programs. You may want to use your stationery blanks which are available in a wide variety of sizes and colors, purchase a few extra in case of a printing mishap, such as an ink smear or paper jam.
  6. Purchase extra ink cartridges, so that you don’t run out in the middle of this important project.
  7. Schedule an afternoon or evening to create your invitations and then print them. The whole thing shouldn’t take more than a couple of hours to complete.
  8. Before telling the printer to begin making X number of copies, print one copy of each piece on plain paper cut to the sizes of your stationery, to make sure that everything is lined up properly, and to check for typographical errors.
  9. Make sure that the printer you plan on using adjusts to the different sizes of your stationary.
  10. Enlist family and friends with nice handwriting to help you address your invitations.
  11. Have fun while learning how to make cheap homemade wedding invitations.

  13. If you're printing on vellum or other specialty paper and find it smears, you might google "The Perfect Printing Pouch"--by ScraPerfect Here's a and typical comment from the website:
  14. "If I had to describe this product in 2 words, they would be, 'Like Magic!'
  15. Seriously, this saved me further frustrations. I was printing Wedding
  16. invitations with vellum and no matter what I did (that I researched on the
  17. inter-net) it still would eventually bleed! When I came across your product,
  18. for the price, "I thought what do I have to lose?" Your service was
  19. top-notch and within 2 days, I was printing invitations that were keepers!
  20. Thank you! You may print my comments, although it seems you have plenty of
  21. very satisfied customers!
  22. Christina H. from Winfield, KS"


Tips


  • Are you feeling overwhelmed, by trying to choose a design for your invitations? What is your theme? If you are having a destination wedding use clip art, photos or original art work that represent your destination, such as a beach scene, flip flops, palm trees, sunsets, or mountains.
  • Here, are some design ideas, that you may want to use on your invitations. For a western wedding a WANTED poster is at present very popular. Cowboy boots, and hats are often seen on western invitations. Couples often use fonts that look like logs or rope on this type of invitations.
  • Disney weddings are also extremely popular, and you can download free clip art of Cinderella and Prince Charming to use on your invitations, as well as other Disney icons like Lady and the Tramp.
  • Many couples are choosing to honor their religious or ethnic roots, for example, a Celtic Cross might be chosen by an Irish Catholic couple, and a Star of David or a rolled Torah scroll by a Jewish couple. A native American bride and groom might use a dream catcher on theirs. Consider honoring your heritage on this special day. Photos of landmarks from your ancestral homeland, also make great images for wedding invitations.
  • Where to find wording examples? How about using a quote from your favorite love song or poem or the Bible. We hope these tips on how to make cheap homemade wedding invitations, have inspired you to give it a try.


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Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Make Cheap Homemade Wedding Invitations. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Posted by Cheesesays at 9:26 AM 0 comments
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Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Choose flowers for your Wedding Day


How to Choose Flowers for Your Wedding Day


from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

A wedding would just not be the same without flowers. Every bride wants her wedding to be memorable and her choice of flowers or arrangements should reflect her specific taste and personality. Her flowers should create a theme to make her wedding day special and provide the finishing touch to this very special day.

Steps


Wedding flowers can be simple or elaborate depending on the type of wedding that is being planned. They should have a look of individuality and look as if they have all been specially created for the bride.
  1. The style of dress, the height of the woman, the overall theme of the wedding should all have a bearing on the choice of the flowers.
  2. There are various styles of bouquets. These include round, trailer, sheaf, crescent, line and cascade bouquets.
    • Round bouquets made of roses are a popular choice for many brides.
    • Large trailing bouquets particularly suit romantic style wedding gowns.
    • An elegant line bouquet of lilies would be a good choice for a slim fitting gown.
    • A modern style bouquet made of exotic flowers and tropical foliage will suit the contemporary bride.


The bride's bouquet should be the largest and most spectacular bouquet in the wedding party. White is still traditionally the most popular color for the bride's bouquet, but many different colors are used in weddings today for the bride and bridesmaids from soft pastels such as pale pink through rich, vibrant colors such as hot pink, burgundy and violets.
  1. Pearls and crystals can be incorporated into bouquets for a touch of added glamour.
    • For a delicate touch sheer organza ribbon can be used to create ribbon bows and long streamers.
    • Wide satin ribbon will give a rich, luxurious look.

  2. Know that bridesmaids flowers can be a smaller version of the brides flowers or a different shape. If the bride is carrying a trailer bouquet the bridesmaids could carry round bouquets. Each of the bouquets can be the same colour as the brides bouquet or a different colour.
  3. Learn that to give a different look, the bridesmaids could carry elegant evening bags filled with flowers. The bag would need to be lined with a piece of plastic to prevent staining the inside of the bag. A piece of soaked florist foam can be placed in the bag and the flowers and foliage arranged in the foam to extend gracefully from the top of the bag.
  4. Notice that the flower girl could carry a small basket of flowers to match the bridesmaids flowers. The basket can be sprayed white or a pastel shade. Another alternative is to attach a spray of flowers to a piece of ribbon and tie it around the flower girls wrist, tying the ribbon ends in a bow with long ends. This is particularly suitable for a very young flower girl who may find a basket awkward to carry.
  5. Remember that the bridegroom and groomsmen wear a buttonhole which often consists of a single flower such as a rose or a carnation or another flower the same type as used in the brides bouquet.
  6. Notice that the mothers of the bride and groom also wear corsages. Often grandmothers and special aunts also wear corsages. It is helpful to know the colour of their dresses so colours will not clash. White or cream is always a safe choice


Tips


  • Flowers really do provide the finishing touch to a wedding! By choosing flowers to complement your wedding theme it will give you wonderful memories to treasure for a lifetime.


Warnings


  • Planning a wedding can be stressful. By working out the style and colours of your wedding flowers ahead of time will help you work to an overall theme to have the wedding of your dreams.


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Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Choose Flowers for Your Wedding Day. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Posted by Cheesesays at 10:12 AM 0 comments
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