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Things to know when planning a backyard wedding

The intimacy of a wedding held in your own backyard is unbeatable. Not only is the environment homely, it is joyful.

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Although backyard weddings were initially chosen for vow renewals, now more and more first-time marriages are also choosing this option, for various reasons. Some of these include

  • getting married on any day of the year.
  • not worrying about a venue being available, or battling other couples to get bookings for a particular day
  • saving the extra cash required for a wedding venue
  • Getting married at the place that is most dear to them

Nevertheless, don’t be fooled into believing that a backyard wedding is easier than one in another location. It isn’t! In fact, it requires more effort and lot of planning. Here are some details to take care of, so your backyard wedding is a hit.

Make sure home improvement work is completed well-ahead of schedule

Your guests will be in and out of your home, throughout the wedding day. So, it is necessary that your house is presentable. This takes time. So plan ahead to take care of any paint jobs, cleaning or repairs, so you are prepared to welcome your guests into your home on your big day.

Prepare for every weather

Backyard weddings are usually done in spring and summer. If you live in an area that is prone to showers, make sure you have a Plan B for such a scenario. Will you have tents put up in any case, or can your house accommodate all the guests, should it rain? Similarly, if the temperature rises too high, do you have fans in the tents?

Take care of pesky little bugs

The last thing you want is your guests complaining of insects crawling over them. Unfortunately, this is a possibility, when you plan your wedding outdoors. Get set for it, by buying bug spray and clearing the area of any potential infestation sites.

Make arrangements for toilets, electricity and water

It is unlikely that the loos in your house will cater to the needs of all the guests at your party. You do not want them your guests to uncomfortably wait in line, all day. Make arrangements for portable toilets. Similarly, rent a generator and make sure your water tanks are full.

Check the legalities

Before you go about planning the wedding at home, check if it is alright to do so. If you need permits or there are space restrictions in your locality, make sure these are taken care of. Also, inform your neighbors of the event. Nice neighbors may even lend their parking space, or offer help.

Consider Your Home Design

The exterior aesthetics of a home provide a visually appealing backdrop that complements the wedding theme and enhances the overall atmosphere. That’s why calculating exterior home design is a crucial aspect when planning a backyard wedding – it sets the tone for the entire event. Whether it’s a rustic countryside affair, a modern and sleek celebration, or a classic and elegant gathering, aligning the backyard wedding with the exterior design creates a harmonious and cohesive experience for guests.

Hire help for before and after

You will need extra hands to get things done on time. The same goes for cleaning up after the wedding. So, plan accordingly and get your help on time. You don’t want to be over-stressed and running around in the chaos, while you should actually be relaxing and enjoying the experience.

Having a backyard wedding may seem fun, but it calls for plenty of organization and keeping cool. Whether you decide to have it, or go with another venue, visit us at Best for Bride for all your wedding shopping needs for the perfect wedding.

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7 Tips to Help You Sell Your Wedding Dress [Step-by-Step Guide]

7 Tips to Help You Sell Your Wedding Dress [Step-by-Step Guide]

The wedding dress is usually one of the most important things that reminds a bride of her wedding day. Nonetheless, it is a dress that is seldom worn more than once. Unless you plan to have a vow renewal ceremony wearing your original wedding dress years later, or wish to hand it down as an heirloom for the future generations, it will usually just be boxed and sit in your closet in the years to come.

Although most brides aren’t too eager to sell off their wedding dresses soon after they are married, many decide to let it go after a while. When you think that you’ve spent a huge amount of money on it, it is pretty sensible to recoup some of that amount by selling it. This money could be used to celebrate a honeymoon, or it could go into the family’s financial budget, wedding day debt or a similar need. Then there are also those dresses that are sold for other reasons. It could be that the marriage didn’t work out and the bride decides to give up everything that reminds her of it. Or, it could be that the bride wasn’t sure she wanted to wear the dress she bought, and so decided to sell it and buy another.

Continue reading 7 Tips to Help You Sell Your Wedding Dress [Step-by-Step Guide]
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16 Nature-inspired ideas for your wedding

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I have the perfect word to describe a nature-inspired outdoor wedding—Romantic!

The epitome of romance, an outdoor wedding that draws inspiration from Mother Nature herself is beautiful, classic and refreshing in every way. Is there a better way to start your lifetime of happiness, than in a splendid organic surrounding, with nature’s own bounty standing witness to your union and forming a mesmerizing backdrop of unparalleled beauty?

The brilliance of a nature-inspired wedding is that it can be executed in many ways. There are several details that can easily contribute to a nature-inspired wedding and make it truly special. Let us take a look at some of our favorites and be inspired. So, come along.

Continue reading 16 Nature-inspired ideas for your wedding

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Plan your wedding after picking your top priorities

Your wedding plans depend on the amount of money you are ready to spend. With thousands of big and small details to look at, it is often difficult to determine what deserves more attention than the other.

If you are like most couples, your wedding may be the first occasion when you plan a party, so huge. So, it certainly isn’t easy. If you enlist the help of a wedding planner, you will receive very useful guidance on this front. This is because they are professionals, who have practice planning on a budget. Additionally, when working with a wedding planner, you don’t end up with nasty shockers like mentioned on this APW article, where something turns out to be twice the price you anticipated. One or two such instances, and all your budgeting goes for a toss. Nonetheless, wedding planners come at an added price, and not every couple can afford them.

In such a scenario, the easiest way is to prioritize what is most important to you, and plan your budget around it. Pick three priorities, allocate funds to these first, and then decide how to distribute the rest of your budget.

Take a look at this list, and choose the three most important things you want for your wedding from it. Once you do, you can divvy up your budget to accommodate the remaining details.

Dream venue and décor

Are you open to looking at various venue options, or do you have your heart set on a single location? All-inclusive wedding packages cover everything at a reasonable price, but do you want everything customized with the added price tag? Are you particular on a specific color palette, seating arrangement, or centerpiece design? If so, set aside a chunk of your budget for all this.garden-550991_1280

 

Menu and bar

Must you have a classic five-course plated meal, or will a buffet do? Do you want an open bar, or serve custom drinks only? Do you want your wedding to be remembered for the food and drinks you served, or is it just one of the other things at your wedding? Hiring local vendors and customizing your menu around seasonal dishes can reduce your food bill, if serving gourmet fare isn’t very important, to you.

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Entertainment and photography

Wedding entertainment, in many cases, is what makes a reception a hit or miss. Here, you have to weigh the price of a live band against a DJ, consider the cost of games and hiring special entertainers for children. Similarly, do you want a particular professional photographer to cover your wedding, even if it means he charges twice as much as the others in the area?

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Flowers, centerpieces, wedding cakes and favors

If you are prepared to try out various floral combinations, you may get a better deal. Similarly, how important is having exquisite centerpieces? As for favors, do you want to gift expensive one-of-a-kind favors, or is it enough to choose a keepsake, without a hefty price attached to it? In the cake department, how important is customizing it with very specific details? Or can you work with the best packages on offer?

 

bouquet-603738_1280Dresses for the couple

The wedding dress is expensive. Do you want to buy it brand new, or is it better to rent your dress, or even use mom’s dress, and save the rest of the money for something more important to you? The same goes for the groom too. If you plan on keeping the dress, figure in the cost of professionally preserving it as well.

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Visit our bridal gallery on Best for Bride, and find wedding dresses in all budgets for your big day. We make the decision much easier for you.