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Planning a recession wedding?
Recessions and weddings just don’t mix. Do they? But if you are a bride planning her wedding in today’s economic landscape, you’re going to have to be one savvy girl to pull off a stylish, yet affordable wedding. You can do it! First, you’ll need to put down those wedding mags for just one minute.
You must read these tips, before you step one foot in that bridal salon. Trust me. Here are wedding tips for every recession bride:
- Set your budget — you’ll need to have a figure in mind before you can plan your special day.
- Set your guest list — know your numbers are you having 50 or 500 people?
- Make a list — write down the three things you can’t live without on your special day.
- Be inspired — start a note book with all the things that inspire you colors, dresses, flowers etc.
- Do your research — ask around and find out how much wedding cost in your area, you’ll need to know what the going rate is for venue, photography, flowers, and more.
I know spread sheets and budgets aren’t too romantic. You’ll need to know what you can afford. Like before you get convinced you’ll need to release a colony of Monarch butterflies when you exit the church, you’ll need to know how that will effect your overall budget. It’s your special day and if you want butterflies then, you should have ‘em but that might mean forgoing that $10,000 hand made wedding dress.
How big is your wedding gonna be? Will it be a massive event in which you invite every person you know? Or will it be a small event for family and close friends only?
You need to determine what you can and can’t live without on your special day. This will help you make important decisions. For some brides lavish floral bouquets are the thing for others it’s gourmet food. Make your must have list and stick with it!
For today’s bride, the choices are truly endless and it can be overwhelming. An inspiration book will help you figure out what speaks to you in terms of colors, themes, dresses and more.
Before you meet with any wedding vendors in your area, make sure you know how much the average wedding costs in your city or town. You don’t want to find out later that you paid waaay more than other brides for the exact same service. On the flip side, it will give you a reality check on what services cost in your area. If you are budgeting say $200 for flowers and in your town florist charge $2000, you’ll need to come up with a plan B.
You’ll find that planning a wedding is an emotional event and getting clear on what you want and what you can afford will give you some much needed focus.
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Be The Hostess with The Mostest
To be a successful hostess, when guests arrive say, “At last!” and when they leave say, “So soon?” - UNKNOWN
If the thought of hosting a party gives you hives… never fear, Moments of Elegance is here! Here to help you truly be the hostess with the mostest. Being a true domestic diva is equal parts planning, organization and old fashioned elbow grease. Just remember, an organized hostess is a relaxed hostess and a relaxed hostess is a gracious one. And a relaxed and gracious host can then focus on the most important part of any event — the guests.
If you feel like you need to brush up on your entertaining etiquette, here are some tips for hostesses and their guests.
- Use a check list to guide your preparation and do as much as you can before your guests arrive.
- Ask about any food or pet allergies beforehand and plan accordingly.
- As the guest, arrive on time and bring a gift for the host that suits her tastes or interests.
- Hostesses should personally greet guests when they arrive, take coats, offer drinks and make introductions to other guests.
- At dinner parties place cards are preferred. If there are not place cards, ask the host if she has a placement for seating arrangements. If not, alternate male and female guests. Be sure to reserve the ends of the table for the hosts.
- Do not eat until the hostess is seated and ready to eat.
- Pass condiments and food around the table in one direction, and take small portions to ensure that there is enough for all guests.
- Hostesses should be aware of foisting unwanted seconds and thirds on guests.
- At the end of the meal, guests should offer to assist the hostess with cleanup.
- Guests should be mindful of not overstaying their welcome.
If your etiquette is still a bit rusty, then be sure to check out more helpful suggestions from The Little Pink Book of Etiquette ($9.95, Amazon) by Ruth Cullen. It is a quick reference for any etiquette question you may have.
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Want to be the best maid of honor ever?
Let’s face it being a maid of honor is a huge responsibility. Your job is to single- handily handle any issues that come up. Deflect the crazy soon to be mother-in-law. It’s on you. Hold up the bride’s dress so she can pee. That’s your job. Make a wedding speech that will insight both tears and laughter. That’s on you too! So before you totally freak out, take a deep breath. And read on sister, because you have it in you to be the best maid of honor EVER! I know you do. All you need is a little help.
Follow these quick tips and you will win the badge of honor as the best maid of honor ever:
- Keep calm and carry on — you’ll need to be the eye of the storm on the big day regardless of what goes down you are the one person who needs to keep a clear head.
- Be prepared — make sure you have a phone list of all the wedding vendors, brides maids and groomsmen. If someone is late or doesn’t show give ‘em a call.
- Come prepared– prepare a Wedding Day Survival Kit because you’ll never know what you’ll need. The kit should include: water, aspirin, hair spray, extra panty hose, clear nail polish, safety pins, Tums, breath mints, tampons, Kleenex and lip gloss (seriously can you ever have enough?).
- Remember it’s all about the bride — be sure to remind anyone who forgets it too. It’s her special day. Every girl deserves to be the center of attention on her day.
- Thanks for the memories– Throughout the wedding festivities (bridal shower, bachelorette party, day of the wedding) take pictures and present the bride with a photo album after the wedding. Trust me some presents are truly priceless.
Still feeling like you need more advice? The check out these books:
- To Bridesmaids With Love – A Guide to Being in Your Friend’s Wedding and Remaining Friends Afterwardby Schyuler Broughton Bates.
- Everything Bridesmaid: From Planning the Shower to Supporting the Bride, All You Need to Survive and Enjoy the Wedding by Jennifer Lata Rung.
And and one last thing, remember to enjoy the day and remind the bride to enjoy it too.
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Plan a Monogram Themed Wedding
A wedding monogram can really personalize your wedding. It can be used in a number of places including napkins, on the cake, on bridesmaid and groomsmen favor bags, on your wedding favors, on the tablecloth at the bridal party table during the reception, as the introduction to your photos slideshow, and anywhere else you can imagine. Here’s a guide to using your wedding monogram in your wedding décor.
Dos and Don’ts
· Don’t use your married name monogram on anything before the wedding. It’s traditional to use your first initials and married name at the ceremony and later.
· Do use a combination of your first names or initials in pre-wedding correspondence or on shower favors. A wedding invitation with your first initials in the style of your wedding monogram is a great touch.
· Do use it everywhere you can think in the reception décor.
· Do use four initials if the bride will keep her last name. It’s perfectly acceptable to have a wedding monogram with four initials, use your first names only.
Ways to Use a Monogram Before the Wedding
· Use the first initial of the bride and groom’s first names to create a beautiful monogram for the wedding invitation, save the date cards, shower invitations, etc.
· Use this same monogram for wedding shower favors. Put it on champagne glasses for the bachelorette party or for the bridesmaids’ luncheon.
· Use it on the rehearsal dinner napkins.
Ways to Use a Monogram in Your Ceremony Décor
· Use your wedding monogram on your aisle runner.
· Put the monogram on your unity candle.
· Have the monogram put on the ring bearer’s pillow.
· Place the monogram on the front cover of your wedding programs.
· Monogrammed water bottles and fans are a great way to keep your guests cool during your outdoor wedding.
Ways to Use a Wedding Monogram at the Reception
· Have someone design you a cake topper in the style of your wedding monogram.
· Have your cake decorator screen the monogram on the icing in a contrasting color.
· Use your monogram as your decorative theme napkins, place cards, and toasting flutes. It’s a formal touch that adds class to your reception.
· Get a monogrammed guest book.
· Put the monogram on cookies or other treats. Find some great options here.
· Work with the lighting specialist to cast your monogram on the curtain behind the wedding party table. Have them put it in the spotlight on the dance floor.
· Use the monogram on the disposable cameras at the reception.
· Almost any wedding favor can be customized to include your wedding monogram. Find some great options personalized favor options here.
· Use monogrammed match boxes for sparklers at an evening wedding.
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Bride and Groom Sachet Place Card Holders
Our satin bride and groom sachets are hand-made and filled with a fragrant lavender scent. Each sachet stands on their own and comes with a convenient place card clip. Add your seat assignment cards, or a favor tag with your names or thank you message. About 5 inches tall, these holders are sold individually in your choice of the bride or groom design.
Sachets available favor-wrapped in cello with matching satin ribbon.