Tag: wedding planning

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How to Pick Your Wedding Date

Are you recently engaged? I’m sure the first thing many people ask when they see your ring is, ‘when is the wedding?’ and you may not have an answer. But that’s perfectly alright! Many couples do not settle on a date immediately, and many things can factor in to picking the right date, from what kind of wedding you want, to who will be attending, where it will be held and possibly most important of all, the cost. So how do you pick the wedding date that’s right for you?

Think About Your Wedding Location

Is your reception hall cheaper in the spring than it is the summer? Do they offer discounts in the winter months? If it’s an outdoor wedding, you’ll have to of course consider weather as a factor. It’s always good to have a “Plan B” in case of bad weather. Is this a destination wedding? The general rule of thumb is make sure your invites go out at least three months in advance (provided you’ve already sent a ‘Save the Date’ card).

Cost

It’s true that weddings can be very expensive, but if you pick the right date (for example: a Friday instead of a Saturday), you may be able to get things like your reception location, transportation and accommodation for a little bit cheaper. Be mindful of your guests though if you are picking a non-traditional day in the week to hold your ceremony and reception, as some may need to leave work early or may only be able to attend the reception.

Pick A Date Special to You

Many couples pick a date around when they first started dating, or a year anniversary after their engagement. Some others tend to choose ‘lucky dates’ (like those who went to Vegas to get married on 7/7/2007 for example) but it’s completely up to you what date suits you best.

Consider Other Events

If your wedding is around a holiday or a major event your friends and family usually attend, make sure to take that into consideration. Never be afraid to ask your bridal party or family their input so there will not be any conflicts.

Don’t forget to check out Best for Bride as your one stop shop for everything you need for your special day. From dresses to invitation, we’ve got you covered.

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The Ultimate Wedding Planning Timeline

Wedding planning can be overwhelming. There are so many decisions and purchases to be made to get ready for the big day. Not all couples have a long engagement for planning a wedding. Whether you have six months or two years, the ultimate wedding planning timeline can assist you by providing a checklist and general times to set up the essential elements for your wedding.
A wedding planning timeline can act as a To-Do list for the happy couple. This helps to ensure that details are not forgotten until the last minute. When looking at the ultimate wedding planning timeline, you may need to make adjustments according to how much time remains before the wedding day. Destination weddings may require additional preparations and travel to secure the venue and documentation.

Up to One Year Before:
Set a date for the wedding.
Discuss the budget and decide on a spending limit.
Announce engagement to family and friends.
Hire a wedding planner if one is being used.
Book a venue.
Choose the members of the wedding party.
Begin the guest list.

8 Months Before:
Hire the necessary professionals such as the officiant, florist, caterer, photographer, and the band or DJ.
Plan the honeymoon.
Register for gifts.
Find the perfect wedding dress, veil, and shoes.
Select the bridesmaids’ dresses and shoes.

6 Months Before:
Order wedding invitations.
Choose the traditions and rituals to be included in the ceremony such as the unity candle and selected readings.
Obtain passports if necessary for the honeymoon.
Purchase wedding night lingerie and any additional clothing and personal care items needed for the honeymoon.
Arrange the music for the ceremony and hire an organist.

4 Months Before:
Finalize the guest list and send out wedding invitations.
Shop for wedding cakes and place the order.
Purchase the cake knife, topper, and stand.
Buy the wedding rings and any additional wedding jewelry.
Create or purchase the centerpieces.
Arrange for parking if extra parking is necessary.
Buy a guest book.

2 Months Before:
Get the marriage license.
Purchase gifts for the bridal party.
Find makeup artist and stylist or do the necessary planning and purchasing to do your own.
Reserve tuxedos for the groom and groomsmen.
Finalize the menu with the caterer and the flowers with the florist.

1 Month Before:
Create a seating chart.
Print seating cards and programs.
Final dress fitting for bride and bridesmaids.
Finalize vows and details for the ceremony.

Days Before:
Have rehearsal and rehearsal dinner.
Get a manicure and pedicure.
Confirm arrival times for the professionals involved with the wedding.

Wedding Day:
Clean engagement ring.
Confirm that the professionals have arrived and are setting up.

This wedding planning timeline can be helpful for any time frame. Though your wedding planning may be rushed, you can still use the list as a basic checklist. Add additional items to this list as needed. Weddings are not one size fits all. Therefore, some weddings may require adjustments to the order of events. For example, a couple who is having a destination wedding would want to give guests extra notice about the wedding date and location. A destination wedding can be a beautiful choice for a memorable wedding, but the process of planning this kind of wedding is more demanding. For tips on planning a destination wedding, please visit this article about destination wedding tips.

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Things To Consider Before Planning A Winter Wedding

https://www.flickr.com/photos/coreyann/4519428462/in/photolist-aEaLjr-pP7DLG-9ivXKr-9ivXHR-b1g1YZ-6rfp7w-dFcAb5-biZ1Jk-a48aeH-daTxhX-dgZAmT-99t8r2-aRQYXc-cxw2zs-9981hY-c6tsFd-bVjQHc-gC1AhW-9b4dW1-etshVT-nTqxbr-cLbgbo-7TneT3-pivdh2-99t2K6-aEeCrN-aEaP8k-aEaM86-bx1vs4-5Rsv7z-9ANQer-jtgF3t-aEaL5c-aEaPaZ-dBJ8MV-aFwRP2-gursQw-oaeXUz-kDnfbo-8gsEZc-5RswpM-9j24J-91y6Uh-i8Cu1U-9paeHp-fV2PK2-dDBLFC-6ukdZd-97wgpB-7TnfCo

Winter is a magical time filled with wonderful holidays, snow and more. More and more couples are deciding on having winter weddings. But unlike weddings any other time of the year, there are a few things to consider before you start planning your winter wedding. Here are some things you should think about before setting a date:

Weather

Although a winter wonderland wedding sounds amazing to many, the weather isn’t always as nice as it is in Spring, Summer and Fall, which is the biggest thing you’ll have to consider. If you live in an area that sees harsh winters with snow storms and non-stop rainy days, you might have one on your wedding day and that can really ruin a bride’s special day. If you don’t mind the weather, it’s advisable that you get some type of wedding issuance just in case you need to cancel or postpone your wedding due to a big storm. Talk to all of your vendors if they offer this because you don’t want to get stuck with a huge bill for a wedding that didn’t happen because of blizzard. Have a backup plan, too just in case it rains or is foggy the day of your wedding. Get a venue inside and buy some massive umbrellas so that you don’t ruin your dress.

Venues

Via Flickr
Via Flickr

Although the weather is a downfall, one great thing about winter weddings is that you’ll get a huge discount on venues since many are open during this season. A lot of brides don’t want to chance it and venues are often scrambling for any business so they are more willing to give you huge discounts if you book them for a winter wedding. You’ll be able to afford that dream venue you’ve always wanted like a huge mansion or that unaffordable country club. Also, choose a venue where you can have the ceremony and the reception so that guests don’t have to drive somewhere else in potentially dangerous weather.

Decor

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Via Flickr

Another great thing about a winter wedding is that you can find lots of holiday decor for cheap and easily incorporate it it into your wedding. Why not take advantage of the festive season? You’ll be able to find lots of amazing bridesmaid dresses in the perfect shades of red and green. And since many venues are already decorated for the holidays, you’ll be able to save on decorations.

Attire

Best for Bride
Best for Bride

When planning a winter wedding, you’ll also have to plan your attire around the season. It’s cold during the winter, so strapless dresses for bridesmaids with open-toe shoes might not be so great. So it’s wise to pick things that go with the weather so that everyone can be comfortable during your winter wedding. Also, ask guests to dress warmly so that they come prepared.

A winter wedding can still be a beautiful and wonderful affair when you take all the aforementioned things into consideration!

Best for Bride

Let Best for Bride help you plan the perfect winter wedding! They are a one-stop bridal shop that has a wide assortment of beautiful wedding dresses, bridesmaid dresses, accessories and can even help with other things like wedding flowers, decor and so much more.

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Avoid These Tacky, Outdated Wedding Traditions

something blue

Wedding traditions can give the wedding a sense of timeless charm. Some wedding traditions show little sentiment. They simply look dated and cheap. After months of careful wedding planning to make sure everything is chic and stylish for your perfect day, don’t destroy it all by adding tasteless traditions.  Avoid these six wedding trends and traditions that do more harm than good.

something blue
something blue

Asking for Money

It’s hard to imagine a situation where asking for money isn’t tacky. Maybe it’s acceptable when dressed in a Santa suit and raising money for charity outside the mall. However, it definitely doesn’t belong on a wedding invitation. The money dance is another tacky, panhandling trend that has faded.

Announcing the Wedding Party at the Reception

This isn’t necessarily tacky, though sometimes it is done in an annoying way such as a choreographed dance entrance. Usually, the announcement of the bridal party by name is just a waste of time. If the guests don’t know every single member of the wedding party, then chances are they won’t find the announcement of their name to be enlightening. As wedding guests, maybe we are supposed to care, but do we?

Garter Belt Removal

Sometimes awkward and always tacky, the garter belt removal has been part of the wedding reception traditions for many years. The new husband would remove his bride’s garter belt and toss it into the crowd. Wedding planners see this trend is disappearing. Less than a quarter of newlywed couples are participating in garter belt traditions during their receptions.

Chocolate Fountains

Once upon a time, people became fascinated with the cascading cocoa of a chocolate fountain. While these are still featured in some buffet restaurants, they are hardly suitable for a grand affair like a wedding reception. They are gaudy and messy.

Partial Invites

Under pressure of looming wedding costs, some engaged couples try to save money by only inviting certain people to the wedding reception meal. They invite numerous people to the wedding and the dancing portion of the reception but not the meal. The meal is reserved for a select group. Separating guests and basically declaring that some guests don’t matter much is in bad form.

Serving Premium and Cheap Meals According to Importance

Another way newlywed couples are playing favorites with their guest list is by serving costly meals to some guests and cheap alternatives to others. This is not a case of guests getting a choice of meals. In order to save money, the couple assigns a cheaper meal to some of the guests. Sitting at some tables, you may have some guests being served steak while others receive chicken or beef tips. This is hurtful, tacky, and causes family conflicts. When you don’t treat guests equally, you are inviting drama. It would be better to serve an affordable meal to everyone or trim the guest list.

Traditions have their place. They should uplift and reflect the values of the couple. Including the best wedding traditions can enhance your special day.