What is your best wedding planning tip?
445639
First of all, keep in mind that this is YOUR wedding.  But also be able to compromise too.  Another thing on your wedding day don't stress out, enjoy yourself.  Someone told me while i was planning my own wedding that i shouldn't worry about something going wrong because in the end, not one person would notice except me, cause i planned the wedding.  And you know what i took her advice and my wedding day was perfect, except for a little rain. I enjoyed every minute of that day. So my advice is sure it only happens once in your life but don't make yourself miserable just to please everyone else. IT'S YOUR WEDDING, SO ENJOY IT. CONGRATS!!!!!
655284
See if this site helps!\nhttp://weddingplanning.50webs.com
617732
Just invite your closest friends and relatives.It gets overwhelming if you have to many people there.Remember you have to feed all the people that you invite.I just got married two weeks ago and we spent alot on food and the cake and we ended up with food left over.
104652
I'm a big fan of the website www.theknot.com.  You can go under real weddings and choose the catagories summer and outdoor weddings.  Get creative ideas from others and then cater it to your own vision.  \n1. A pot luck picnic is a great idea, especially if it's family only.  To coordinate the menu though, you will want to designate who brings what.\n2. Make your own invitations and use a postcard for the rsvp (it will save on using an additional envelope plus the postage).  Get ideas off of the knot website.\n3. Compile your own cds.  My brother is going to be the master of ceremonies for ours and has now recruited others to join him.  \n4. David's Bridal is always advertising dresses for $99.  You can also check out what they have online and print out your favorites to bring to the appt.\n5. Enlist the help of the amateurs...that have a bit of skill.  Know anyone who takes good pictures...there's your photographer.  Know anyone who can make a cake...there you go!  You can go with a simple 3 tier round cake with white frosting and decorate it with cascading daisies.\n\nHope this helps!
581996
Start planning the basics now like what hall you have in mind and what church. start looking around at prices and churches might need to book a bit in advance. Just take your time and  check out all the details. Before you know it the big day will be here. And because you have taken your time and planned out everything to go off with out a hitch it will be the best day.\n\n The bridal shower should be 6 months before the wedding date.\n\nStart discussing with your fiancee what you both really want in this wedding and fix a budget. Colours and themes and stuff
656094
Make sure you really want to do it again first!  (Just joking) \n\nAlot of couples with do this if they have had problems and want to start anew, kind of erase the past.  \n\nAs you know most weddings are forgotten, but the reception is what lives on!  To save money, still have the small church wedding, but plan a big reception!  Make your renewed vows special to you, your family and a few of your closest friends!\n\nMake your own invitations. With all the scrapbooking material out there, you can make some really pretty ones.\n\nPick out a beautiful dress, tux and spend money on the pictures! That is what you want to remember your special day!
967995
I am using the Knot Wedding Planner. The ideas are good and it has great checklists. I like it a lot, but you may have to supplement it with a three ring binder with pockets as it doesn't have pockets. Congratulations on your engagement!
445150
* Package a collection of family recipes in a small box with your names and wedding date printed on the back.\n\n* Small stacks of postcards asking guests to "Keep in Touch!"\n\n* Christmas ornaments in ivory, silver, or gold tied with a velvet ribbon (For weddings during Nov/Dec)\n\n* Miniature heart-shape, hand-painted boxes with a single delectable truffle tucked inside.\n\n* Tins of mints labeled, "Mint to Be Together."\n\n* A classic like Jordan Almonds packaged in a new way -- grouped in mini birds' nests or placed inside artfully decorated pill boxes.\n\n* Sparklers, especially for an outdoor Fourth of July celebration, will allow guests to illuminate the skies once the sun goes down -- and light up your grand exit.\n\n* Caramel apples wrapped in cellophane and personalized leaf-shaped tags are the perfect treat for a Halloween wedding.\n\n* Chinese take-out boxes filled with candies and tagged with "Life Is Sweet."\n\n* Glassine bags or tiny terra-cotta pots filled with herbs or flower seeds.\n\n* CDs of the wedding-day music or favorite tunes personally created by the couple.\n\n* Mini photo albums in fun colors are gifts everyone will use.\n\n* Scrolled astrological readings tied with sheer ribbon (ask everyone to write in his or her birth date on the RSVP cards).\n\n* Luggage tags boxed and tied with an "On the Road of Life Together" ribbon.\n\n* Personalized color pencils (some even come scented) are fun and festive.\n\n* Lottery tickets are ideal -- give your guests a chance at good fortune!\n\n* Colorful clusters of miniature floral-scented soaps wrapped in tulle to match your primary wedding colors.\n\n* Romantic: A copy of Shakespeare's love Sonnets or a book of favorite love poems. Custom-create a bookmark to add a personal touch.\n\n* a jar of honey pinned with a personalized tag inspired by James Taylor: "How Sweet It Is To Bee Loved By You."
825408
I would start with a budget. There are a ton of sites out there (theknot.com probably being the most popular) that offer budget planners. Figure out what is important to you...you should get to spoil yourself just a little on your wedding day! \n\nAlso dont be afraid to ask friends and family with special skills if they wouldnt mind lending a hand. For example, my brothers girlfriend's sister went to culinary school, Ive only met her a few times, but she is happy to make my cake (more as a favor to her sisters boyfriend, but Ill take what I can get!) \n\nI just made my hopefully all-inclusive budget, here are the things I included:\n\nReception Dinner - if you have it at a relatives house or hall, you might be able to have family prepare the meals and save money on the site and food costs.\n\nReception Alcohol- limit it to beer and wine and see if you can provide the alcohol yourself if you have it at a restaurant or inn.\n\nRehearsal dinner- try bbq or pot luck\n\nwedding rings\n\ndress, alterations, & accessories- try a consignment shop, or if youre a size 6ish try sample gown sales.\n\nphotography- try posting bulletins at local colleges for photography majors and ask to see their portfolios\n\nDJ- I have heard people hooking ipods up to stereo systems, although I dont know how well that would work\n\nInvitations- you can get pretty basic ones from target/walmart/kmart/etc for cheap that arent bad\n\ncake- have a small one for show, and buy sheet cake from a grocery store to serve\n\nCake Accessories- you can register for the cake topper and knives and hope to get them for your bridal shower, or use your parents or grandparents and they will have added meaning!\n\nwedding party gifts\n\ncenterpieces- Im thinking of ordering bulk flowers from sams club or costco, and getting a friend to take care of it to cut costs\n\ntransportation- if a family member has a nice car opt for that over the ridiculously priced limo\n\ngrooms attire- go for a suit over a tux\n\nHoney Moon- go somewhere close enough to drive to\n\nmarriage license- usually around $50\n\nwedding favors- these are optional any way, but if you want to have them donate a small amount to charity and let the guests know that you have made a donation to charity in their names in leiu of a wedding favor (no one has to know how much, and Im sure you local fire dept or animal shelter would appreciate even a $50-100 donation)\n\npostage- for save the dates (optional), invites, rsvp, and thank you (you may be able to cut costs by asking guests to rsvp online)\n\ninsurance- YES YOU NEED THIS! if someone gets into an accident after driving home drunk from your wedding guess who they will sue! everyone! the bartender, the restaurant, and you! plus, its good if something unexpected happens, i.e. the electricity goes out at the reception site, etc. its only about $100, see if you can get it through your home owners policy, or look online, Im sure there are sites.\n\nHope that's helpful and not overwhelming! Good luck and congratulations!
693477
you CAN def. do this! it will take a bit more time- so you need help. friends and family. \n*draw up a budget ASAP. $7000 total (probably $3000 will be for food and drink) reception location $500. flowers $1000. $250 dress - $900 dj/music etc.  \n*keep the guest list to a min. If you have a guest total of 75- you can get decent food at $30 per person and the rest for drinks.\nAlso keep the bridal party small. \n*host a cocktail and light buffet reception instead of a full meal. this can come off really swanky- like a high-class uptown loft party.\n*skip the party favors. go for candy treats your guests can eat. most of the time the little frames and bells etc. just get thrown away by guests anyway.\n*ASK questions. When you call a vendor- let them know you are on a budget. Oftentimes if they can't help you- they know someone who can.\n*Make your own centerpieces out of a candlescape. Florist centerpieces run about $50 per table. You can do them yourself for around $25. \n\n*Oh- one thing I wouldn't skimp on is the photog. Your photos will be the only things left after the wedding is over. the flowers will wilt. your dress will be stored. the cake will be gone etc. but the photos will last a lifetime.\n\ngood luck! and remember to have fun w/ it. planning your wedding should be half the fun! :D
1097283
My husband and I were in a similar situation and we had a very nice wedding for cheap.  Your best bet...do it yourself.  We had the reception at my parents house.  40 people in the basement and living room and it was great.  everyone had so much fun and it was very memorable because it was once of a kind.  my mom did the food all herself and we got some KFC chicken because my husband is supervisor there.  If you decide to do the food yourself you can contact me through this site and i could give you some ideas and tips no problem.  i got my dress on sale at a bridal shop because the style was no longer made.  it was only $500 (with cleaning, steaming and alterations) marked down from $1000.  There are also alot of prom and brides maid dresses that resemble wedding gowns that you could go for as well.  a plain wedding band can be as little as like $100, then later on in life you can renew vows and give a different ring(thats what we ae doing) and you can make alot of decorations and favours and flowers yourself or get them cheap from like a dollar store.  we got balloons and streamers in pink and silver for the decorations from the dollar store.  under $50 to decorate and you'd never tell we spent so little.  keep the guests minimum and that way you could do an open bar too.  for the 40 guests we bought 5 cases of beer, bottle of vodka, rum and rye and some wine.  it was plenty and everyone was happy not to have to pay for booze.  it was great and such a wonderful day.  we got married a a wedding chapel for like $250, but you could look into doing a ceremony at your home or something for cheap too.  just keep in mind everything that needs to be done can most likey be done yourself for half the price.  dont give up and dont wait if this is what you want to do.  its no impossible and trust me, if you love him that much, its a day you'll never forget.  also remember, you can always renew vows some day and do it the way you want when you have money.  thats my plan. small the first time, then big party when we renew.  best of luck to you.
1098650
www.theknot.com \n\nFirst make your guest list.  One for engagement party (if you're going to have one), one for wedding, one for reception. . . Then, trim it down.  Decide on a budget, then decide if you want to DIY (Do it yourself).  Pick everything from that budget:  The venues, caterers, rentals, dress, accomodations, florals, etc.  Decide on a date before you pick the above mentioned things.  It's easier to schedule a wedding that's at least a year away, because the dates you want are more likely to be open.  I could go on and on. . . just go to the theknot.com, maybe get a coordinator or some software.   You'll be fine, congratulations!!
563141
Buy Bride Magazine.  They all sorts of check lists to help you organize.....
513411
We saved a lot of money by doing fingerfood buffet, purchasing flowers from a wholesaler warehouse, Buy your gown second hand and have it altered, find a park or garden with lots of flowers.  Usually you can reserve areas which are outdoor for really cheap.  If you have a friend or family member with a big yard, that could help you save.  Our local zoo, yes zoo had a beautiful banquet room and garden area overlooking the city and ocean.  The great thing about this was I did not need to buy as many flowers.  Don't discount your local zoo or botanical gardens.\n\nAlso, cakes can be EXTREMELY expensive.  You can either have a mini wedding cake with just 2 tiers done beautifully for "pictures" and then purchase a less expensive sheet cake for serving.  Another idea is to do wedding cupcakes that maybe a friend could make. \n\nA simple and inexpensive, yet meaningful giveaway would be to write your vows down, put on a computer and copy onto nice paper, roll into a scroll and put a ribbon around it.  If you don't have a computer, find someone with really nice handwriting and do maybe 20 a day.\n\nFinally, instead of hiring a caterer and using their food, We found someone who prepped the bulk food we bought from Costco.  They also set up and cleaned up the room and waited on people.  It only took 3 of them since it was buffet and 1 of them set up a mini bar where we only served Champagne and sparkling cider.  We got the champagne for only $2.99 a bottle from Trader Joes. It was a good brand of Asti Spumonti too.\n\nI hope this helps.  Oh the cost was $1,500 for Everything with 150 people and we had a BEAUTIFUL wedding that looked like it cost $6,000.  \n\nCongratulations and remember that the MARRIAGE is more important than the Wedding.
216871
Wow, beyond what you have already listed, I can't think of anything really. How about buying each other a gift on eBay (limit how much spent) with the idea that you want to send them something they think the other would truly love.\n\nHow about a mutual blog in planning the wedding? That way when the date is close, you can break out your list with all the flower type, colors, location etc. all ready.
1051764
Oh my gosh!  How beautiful IS THAT going to be :-D!!\nThe leaves will just be changing....BREATHTAKING!\nIdeas?  Hu, well, if you haven't picked our colors yet I would go with brown and yellows or reds and oranges to of-course accent the changing seasons.\nInstead of flower pedals, the flower girl could sprinkle dried fallen oak leaves down the "isle".\nBeautiful white chairs on eather side of the isle with lots of white tuddle ( that see thew stuff)with the wedding colors accented with bows.\nI see the bridesmaids in a strapless gowns with shawls to keep out the cold.  I am going back to the yellows, oranges, golds, reds and browns.  How would black tuxes, black shirts w/ gold ties be...ooh!  and then have your hubby-to-be have a white shirt.\nor a theme of "cow-boy" could be cute, then you can do the hay-bales for seats and keep with the red and gold them.  Have a pig roast and the dance in the barn.  YEEEHAAA!
429916
http://bridalshop.freeservers.com/BH115.html\n\nFound this, hope it helps!\n\nhttp://www.101weddingtips.com/forums101/show_message.htm?mid=137856