Category: Wedding Planning

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Simple Tricks To Reduce The Stress Of Wedding Planning

It’s not easy, being a bride.

Planning a wedding is a job in and of itself, and when you have a mountain of wedding-related tasks piling up on top of your everyday errands, stress from work, and maintaining healthy relationships with your soon-to-be husband, bridal party, and others, things can get very. . .meltdown-ish. I’m currently assisting my best friend with the planning of her wedding next fall, and even though she’s the one making the decisions and we have a whole year to get these things planned and done, sometimes I just want to lock myself in my bedroom with a tube of cookie dough. Don’t worry, dears. This, too, shall pass, and it can pass by much more smoothly just by implementing some no-brainer tips and methods of leveling out the stress.

Exercise Regularly

With all that’s going on, it’s so easy to skip on the gym and rely on comfort foods to get you along. Heck, I’m not even the bride, and I’m tempted to drown my sorrows in cookie dough at times. Wanting to veg out with some TV or keep on working until you’re too tired to think are both completely understandable for women planning a wedding, but it’s important to take time to get your workouts in. Exercise has been proven to help reduce stress and releases those feel-good hormones that give us a sense of peace. It’ll also help you stay in great shape for all of your photo engagements and ensure that you look fabulous on your Big Day.

Spend Time With Your Fiancé

Yes, he, too, can be a source of all your wedding-related stress, especially if he’s not as into planning and prefers to let you have your way with it. However, it’s absolutely critical that the two of your spend time together that’s completely unrelated to this major upcoming event. Stay focused on the important things. Go on dates. Have spontaneous dance parties at your apartment. Laugh together. Never let the process of planning your wedding make you lose sight of the strength and depth of your love.

Put Yourself First

Wedding planning is important, yes, but you know what else is important? Oh, just the little things like eating properly, getting good rest, taking a drink of water every now and then (hey — put down that glass of wine!), and just doing things for you. You can’t possibly take on these huge tasks without having taken care of yourself both physically and mentally. You’ll get sick or fall asleep at work or run away to Costa Rica without telling anyone. Ahem.

This is where you want to wind up, NOT hiding away in a different country. Remember that.

 

So, when you feel like you’re about to reach your breaking point, just stop. Stop whatever you’re doing and go for a leisurely walk with your dog. Take your future husband with you and reminisce your happiest moments, rather than unload everything onto him. Vent to your best friend (we love you even if you do want to run away to Costa Rica, it’s fine). Pop in your earbuds and sing Florence + The Machine at the top of your lungs. Just don’t let it get you down. Everything is going to be fine.

 

For more advice regarding wedding planning, check out the Wedding Tips section at Best for Bride, the best place for brides-to-be.

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The Secrets of an Event Planner: Planning your Wedding like a Professional

I’m an event planner.  That is precisely why I wanted to hire someone else to plan my wedding.  Planning a party, event, wedding, shower- each of these things has its own stresses right up until it’s over, and planning all of these things within the space of six months is an overwhelming nightmare.  I have long sympathized with ‘bridezillas’ knowing that under their scales they are generally lovely girls who are simply experiencing the stresses of event planning; stresses which I have learned to take on board (without anyone else seeing the external effects) over the course of a lengthy professional career.  Much as an emergency ward nurse, I imagine, I see people crazed by the pain of a trying ordeal who immediately return to being sympathetic, friendly personalities as soon as the pain is alleviated- in this case meaning the event [wedding] is over.  Is this how a person wants to feel on their wedding day?  I certainly did not.

Alfred Angelo Disney Wedding Dresses

Why Hire a Wedding Planner?

Hiring an event planner is not about outdoing your friends’ or relatives’ weddings, or even about getting a better end result.  Hiring an event planner is about alleviating as much stress from the shoulders of the couple as possible so they are able to fully enjoy their own big day.  It’s about hiring a data entry specialist to get all the contact details, spellings and phone numbers of your friends and family into the event software quickly and correctly; it’s about having someone else taking twenty calls a day ringing up to RSVP, to ask what will be served on the menu (when the wedding is a year away), and to change their minds about attending over and over again; hiring someone to plan a wedding is an investment in always being shown the three best options on flowers, food, cakes, venues, etc. with all the proper research done and dusted, and you simply pointing and saying ‘that one.’

Why, then, doesn’t everyone hire an event planner?  Why didn’t I?  The problem with hiring an event planner is that it takes away from the actual wedding budget, and in the face of dropping all those zeros, a seasoned event planner must roll up her sleeves and say “I’ll do it myself.”

If like me you are planning to go it alone, I have a bit of solid advice for you to help arrive at the altar feeling fresh, prepared, and with only a few slight bumps where the scales are sticking out under your perfectly tailored satin gown.

  • Lock in everything possible– right now.  Sit down with only one other person, your soon-to-be spouse, and decide when and where you will have the bridal shower, the hens and bucks nights, the rehearsal dinner, the wedding and the honeymoon.  Do not leave the room until this is done.  Call and make bookings for everything.  If you need to book catering, book the tasting now.  Pick the three best options for each venue or option, and only explore those.  Do not waste time hemming and hawing, or you will end up with choice #42 on the list instead of choice #3.
  • Plan slightly under all across the board (except for booze and food).  If you can fit 150 people in your reception hall, plan for 120.  Plan to spend only 70% of your ‘full’ budget.  Plan under, because as all event planners know at the last minute there will be expenses, you will have to take in extra guests, and you will have unforeseen battles to tackle.  This wiggle room saves your skin over and over again.  That being said, and for obvious reasons, over-plan for drinks and catering.  A trick of the trade?  Assume each adult will have 6 adult beverages, and 1 Bottle of Wine = 5 Beverages, 1 Bottle of Beer = 1 Beverage.
  • Make technology your friend.  There is fantastic, free, software out there which can help you keep track of everyone invited, their details, what events they are coming to leading up to the wedding, help you create table plans, remind you to call the caterers, remind you of the day to order the flowers, keep track of dietary requirements, and the list goes on and on.  You will reach a point where you literally cannot remember everything and this will make you feel like you are losing your mind and the world is spinning out of control.  Have one resource to go to where all the information has been recorded.  Also remember that a paper wedding invitation is romantic, but that following up with emails, in this day and age, is a luxury that you should afford yourself without hesitation.
  • Delegate.  Ask a family member to take all the RSVP calls.  Ask each bridesmaid and groomsman to take one task on board that you won’t be able to do on your own.  Get the bridesmaids to pick their own dresses.  Get the groomsmen to pick a few wedding bands for you to audition.  Everyone is willing to do one task.  TRUST YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS!
  • Be where the buck stops.  Let’s be honest, as the bride it’s your day that you graciously ask opinions about from one other person and one other person only- your partner.  At the end of the day you are where the buck stops.  There has to be one person sitting at the top of the pyramid that settles debates, makes final decisions, and throws out bad ideas- even the ones that come from your soon-to-be mother-in-law.  Stand firm, stand tall, and put your foot down.  Everyone else will get over it.  Trust me.  I’m a professional.

Author Bio:

Jessica Josh has spent the past 5 years writing and blogging online.  She has worked with a number of different companies in the wedding entertainment and corporate entertainment niche such as http://weddingbandsmelbourne.net.au/

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Planning Your Wedding Budget – Areas Where You Could Save Some Cash

It can be tough reaching a compromise when you’re planning your wedding. Many brides-to-be want to blow their budget, much to the horror of their exasperated fiancé. However, there are plenty of ways you can save cash on some of the smaller things, freeing up the budget for the things you really want to splash out on. By sitting down together and making a budget, you can decide what you could compromise on, and where you’d like to splurge, like the dress and honeymoon. Here are just a few of the areas where cutting costs can be easy.

Sophia Tolli Bridal Collection
Sophia Tolli Bridal Dress

Transport

Many people choose a big white limo or luxury car for their entrance, but think about whether this is necessary. If you are having your ceremony and reception in the same place, then you may not even need a wedding car. However, if you need to make a great entrance, then consider whether having a friend drive your car is an option. If you’re buying a new car soon anyway, then choosing a car on finance can allow you something more luxurious. Add some ribbons and you’ve got a gorgeous, cheap wedding car. Look into an online car loan specialist for further details. You could also borrow a car for the day from a friend or family member who is a car lover. Lots of people own classic cars, SUVs or other vehicles suitable for a wedding, and loaning you their keys for the day could even be their wedding gift to you. With the average wedding limo costing $753 for the day, saving that cash means a big chunk of change to spend elsewhere.

Photography

Although a photographer’s job isn’t easy, they know they can add another zero to the end of their price when it comes to photographing a wedding. It’s not something you want to go too cheap on, as it’s important to have great memories, but consider some other options to cut down the estimate. Many photography students will do the job for a reasonable price, in exchange for using your photos in their portfolio. Have a look through their sample work before making a decision, and if possible get references from previous weddings they have covered. You should be able to find amateur or student photographers advertising on sites like Craigslist, and they are often very talented and enthusiastic.

Cut down on having to have a second wedding photographer at the reception by asking guests to take plenty of candid shots. Couples used to supply disposable cameras, but with so many cellphones around, this is slightly dated. Open a Flickr account and give guests the username and password. They can then upload their photos after the ceremony, meaning you have them all in one place online.

Angelina Faccenda Wedding Dresses
Angelina Faccenda Bridal Gown

Cake

The wedding cake is the centerpiece of the reception, and bakers certainly know how to charge for their creations. Save money by ordering a small but beautiful tiered cake, then having sheet cakes in the kitchen to be cut up and served. Your guests won’t even notice the difference, and everyone is happy as long as they get a slice. Some couples have even gone for fake tiers on a wedding cake, with only the top tier being edible. This can be a good idea if you want something elaborate, but just don’t have the budget. With cakes costing anything from $300 to over $1,000 at times, it’s certainly an area where you want to make sure you’re getting your money’s worth. Speak to your cake maker and be honest about your budget and requirements, together you can find a style that suits your pocket.

Hair and beauty

When it comes to beauty treatments, seeking out talented family members could save you nearly $500. A trainee hairdresser can usually manage a simple up-do, and a make up loving friend can give you and your bridal party a glamorous look. Visit the make up counters of department stores for a free consultation and to stock up on products, and always make sure you do a run through before the big day. If you decide to try some at home beauty treatments like waxing or facials, never ever do them the night before the wedding. If you have any allergic reactions, you’ll need a few days to recover, and products like face masks can cause nasty break outs the next day. Give yourself a couple of days to recover before the ceremony.

Although everyone wants to have the most beautiful wedding possible, every bride has to compromise on one or two aspects of their day. By cutting down on some of the smaller details, you’ll have the money to spoil yourself in other ways, so plan your budget carefully and you’ll have a day to remember. Visit www.BestForBride.com for more tips.

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Budget-Friendly Elegance: Smart Tips to Save on Bridesmaid Dresses During Economic Downturns!

It’s the recession – this much you and your bridesmaid will agree on. Still, the show must go on and it must go on as you envisioned it in your dreams. So, what do you do? Well, you find ways to beat the recession with these tips to save costs on bridesmaid dresses, that’s what!

Go Dutch Treat

Although it is not uncommon for bridesmaids to buy their own bridesmaid dresses, there are instances when you will have to ask them to do just that! Your bridesmaid may even like the idea because then they will not be made, or rather forced, to wear designs they either will not like or will not able to use again.

You must, however, set simple guidelines. These can include hem length, textile type and color combinations while leaving the cut and style to their imaginations. After all, your bridesmaids do have different body sizes and shapes so it is only right that you leave them to decide on what cut suits them best.

Scour the Internet

If you are Netizen, then you must know of the goldmine that the Internet is for cheapskates, or at least, for those looking to find good bargains. In fact, with a little online haggling skill on your part, you can save up to 25% of the list price!

Another source of cheap bridesmaid dresses are discount mail-order sites, which offer 20-40 percent the prices in stores. Plus, you get to shop without leaving the home, which means more savings!

Bridesmaid dress

Check Out the Department Stores

Don’t discount prom dresses at department stores. You can actually convert these into bridesmaid dresses, maybe with a little alteration to take out the prom details like ribbons and bows.

Or better yet, you can always ask for the department stores’ catalogs for more choices. This way, your bridesmaids can look at the pictures first before deciding on initial selections that you can then order for them. You will have to decide whether you will split the cost with them or apply Dutch treat.

Bridesmaid dress

Do-It-Yourself

If you are nimble with your hands at the sewing machine and you still have time on your hands, then you can always sew the bridesmaid dresses yourself. Or better yet, assign one of the bridesmaids with similar talent to help you with the task.

This ought to save you and your bridesmaids tons of money simply because the professional fee of designers take the most cut out of the total cost of the dress. Besides, it will be fun looking for the textile, choosing the right design and sewing the dresses with the girls!

In all your efforts to save on costs for the bridesmaid dresses, one dictum remains true. Always make sure that your bridesmaids will be comfortable wearing them during your wedding day. You want them to be happy, too, and be happy for you!

Besides, do you really want to look at your wedding pictures 10 years from your wedding day and say “Yikes! My bridesmaids looked like Frankenstein’s harem”? Probably not!

BestForBride.com is one of the best bridal shops in Mississauga that offers excellent wedding favors and bridesmaid dresses.Visit them now!