Tag: alteration

Posted on by — 6 Comments

Wedding planning: 5 Mistakes you can avoid

girl-476977_1280

You are bound to make mistakes when you attempt something for the first time. Your wedding is no exception. With so many details to look into, it is easy to make a few errors along the way. The sad part is, some mistakes can cost you dearly.

Here is a roundup of the common mistakes many brides make, and what you can do to avoid them at your wedding.

Doing it all yourself

You certainly want your wedding to be perfect in every way, but is it worth burning yourself out by doing every task yourself? Many brides find themselves dreading their wedding day, as they are overwhelmed with the number of things they have to tackle.

Instead of worrying yourself to death, it is best that you realize some things can be done better if you delegate them. Save your energy for important tasks like choosing the wedding dress, vendors and planning the dates. The sub-tasks can be handled by capable friends or assistants. Curb the temptation to micromanage, and leave out details that aren’t extremely important. You will enjoy your planning your wedding this way.

Blowing your wedding dress budget

via Best for Bride

When brides budget for their wedding dress, they should set aside a particular amount for the dress itself and distribute the rest for accessories and alterations. Do not exceed the wedding dress amount, by looking only at those that fit your budget. If you go over-budget with your dress, you will have to compensate by cutting down on accessories like shoes or jewelry, as you cannot skimp on alterations if you want to look perfect.

Not figuring in additional costs

You have planned your wedding budget, and you intend to stick to it when ordering things and booking vendors. However, have you figured in the overhead costs as well? There are additional charges for cleaning up, taxes and tips. Make sure you incorporate these into the budget and that your bookings are all within the limit. This can prevent you from receiving a shocking bill in the end.

Being fixated on a specific idea

woman-387511_1280

This applies to your wedding dress, flower arrangements, wedding venue, décor, bridesmaids dress and all the other aspects of your wedding. If you are too particular about your choices, it is likely that you will be disappointed when things don’t work out exactly as intended. Keep yourself open to ideas and you may even be pleasantly surprised with what you find. When you go with your bridal consultant’s advice, you may discover a better wedding dress than you ever imagined; allow your florist to choose the flowers for your bouquet and you may receive a stunning but affordable one that complements your wedding theme.

Hiring family or friends who aren’t professionals

Unless your cousin is a professional photographer, or your aunt is used to baking wedding cakes, don’t hand the task over to them just because they asked for it. Whether you will be paying in full for their service or not, you will risk things going wrong on your wedding day by entrusting it to someone who isn’t capable of handling it on the required scale. Your wedding is not the occasion to take such risks, and you will be better off with a vendor who knows what they are doing, even if they charge more.

For more wedding related tips and advice, visit us at Best for Bride.

Posted on by — 3 Comments

5 Wedding expenses that you may overlook

It is important to budget everything at your wedding. Only then will you stick to what you can afford. A common mistake is to not account for the overhead costs when booking a service or vendor. These aren’t usually stated upfront, and unless you ask, you may have a nasty surprise when you receive the final bill.

These are the usual areas where couples wrongly budget and it leads to costs they didn’t expect.

Shipping Costs for Invitations

postage-stamps-484991_1280

Vendors usually do not mention charges inclusive of shipping when you place your order for your wedding invitations. Remember that the bulkier your card is, the more postage stamps or courier charges it will cost. Where hundred or more invitations are concerned, this can quickly add up, especially if many are to be sent overseas. When you receive an estimate for invitations, make sure you account for the postage charges as well. You may rethink your preferences when you figure it in.

Wedding dress fittings and alterations

via Best for Bride

It is unlikely to find a dress that fits perfectly when choosing off-the-rack. Every bride requires minimum alterations. Alteration services depend on the extent and nature of the work involved. You may have to pay more if you want custom changes, such as changing the neckline or adding sleeves.

First, fix an amount and set aside roughly 20% of it for alterations. Inform your bridal consultant of your wedding dress budget and mention that it is inclusive of all the overheads, so she can direct you to suitable ones. Make sure that you choose a dress that doesn’t need too much work by choosing the right size and finding one that has most of the features you desire.

Taxes and extras on services

money-256290_1280

There are taxes on everything from venue booking to caterers, florists and other services. The actual rate may depend on the amount you spend. Find out the cost inclusive of taxes, so you know whether what you chose is an option you can afford.

Extra charges at the reception include costs for cutting and serving the cake and serving wine. Unless you take an all-inclusive package where the cake and drinks come with the venue, it is likely you will have to pay the staff who perform the service. Make sure you discuss the rates before committing to the deal.

Cleaning up

If you have chosen a full-service, cleaning up after the function is usually included. However, if you are only renting the place and arranging the caterers and decorations yourself, you have to arrange for clean-up following the function, or else pay for it. Even if you book a full-service venue, make sure you know about any extra charges you may have to pay for late-night cleanup, should your party extend beyond midnight.

Extra equipment and overtime charges

waiting-410328_1280

Unless you stick to your original wedding schedule, you have to compensate for any extra time your service providers spend at your wedding. This applies to the band, DJ, caterers, wedding photographers, wedding officiants and wedding makeup artists. Book with a realistic time schedule, and you shouldn’t have to pay too much extra. Any additional equipment such as speakers or microphones, that will be required at your venue, will come at an extra cost. So, check this outright in the beginning.

For more wedding tips and advice, visit us at Best for Bride.

Posted on by — 7 Comments

Wedding Dress Tips For Brides In Their Forties

It isn’t unusual to find brides who wait till they are in their forties to tie the knot. However, our opinion is that forty is the new twenty, and many women look their best at this age. So, if you are a bride in your 40s, plan your wedding just like you would when you were in your twenties or thirties.

This article is dedicated to those of you beautiful women who are worried about the appropriate wedding attire when you plan your wedding in your forties. So, here goes.

Continue reading Wedding Dress Tips For Brides In Their Forties
Posted on by — 2 Comments

3 common wedding dress mistakes brides make and how to avoid it

Your wedding dress is one of the most important dresses you will ever wear in your life. So, making the right choice is a tough, but important task. Not all brides enjoy a fantastic experience choosing their wedding dress, and many have regretted their decision at a later time.

Let us look at 3 of the most common mistakes brides make when choosing their wedding dress, and how you can avoid it.

Buying your dress too early, before actually planning your wedding

via Best for Bride

You may be tempted to do wedding shopping the minute you are engaged. However, this isn’t wise. Many factors determine the right choice—the venue, theme of wedding, weather,budget, etc. Shopping without a definite idea of what would be practical based on the time and location of your wedding, could cause you to regret your choice later.

Remember, not all wedding dresses are equally suitable for all situations. So, purchasing a formal wedding gown for an indoor ceremony may be the wrong choice if you finally decide on an outdoor ceremony. Wait till the wedding details are more or less decided, before shopping. You should buy your wedding dress 6-9 months before your wedding, to allow sufficient time for alterations and changes.

Buying a wedding dress that’s in the wrong size

via Best for Bride

You have a whole year till your wedding, and you are determined to lose several pounds before it. So, you might as well get your wedding dress a size or two smaller than you currently measure, right? Wrong! Many brides make this mistake, and later struggle to fit into a dress that is too tight.

Remember that it is easier to take in a gown, than adding additional inches to it. If you live up to your weight-loss plans, you can always have your gown altered to fit your exact measurements at the time. If you can’t, you will be glad you chose a gown that actually fits you.

Not accounting for the extras when you buy your wedding gown

via Best for Bride

When you fix your wedding dress budget, always account for the extra money you will have to pay for fittings, accessories and customization. It is unlikely that you will find a dress off-the-rack, that will perfectly fit you. It may have to be adjusted to fit your measurements or the hemline may have to be moved up to be at the right length. In some cases, you may want to add sleeves or add accessories like a waistband to improve your look.

All these come at an additional cost. Apart from this, you will have to spend money on wedding accessories like jewelry, shoes, tiaras and veils. When all these are finally paid for, many brides find that they have gone over-budget.

When you create your wedding dress budget, divide it into the actual money you can spend on the dress, and the additional amount for the rest. Tell your bridal consultant the actual amount you can afford on the dress, which includes the charges for all the fixes, and she should help you find one that fits your budget, while meeting your other preferences.

Now that you are aware of the common mistakes, you are ready to find the dress of your dreams and be happy with your choice. For more wedding tips and advice, and to find the perfect wedding dress for your big day, visit Best for Bride.