Gifts to Avoid for Your Friend’s Wedding

When one of your friend’s announces that they are getting married, the first reaction is usually to feel overjoyed and excited for the big day to arrive. Then, reality sets in. Beyond showing up and being a good guest at their big event, there are a whole set of practicalities that wedding guests – especially close friends – have to consider. One seemingly simple task, buying a wedding gift, can be a source of consternation for many. With registries and personal gifts, there are plenty of options that can go terribly wrong. Of course, everyone’s situation is different, but here are a few guidelines to help you avoid disaster and pick out an appropriate, meaningful gift to offer your friend on their big day.

Consider Your Budget

One gift to always avoid is one that doesn’t make sense for your budget. Whether your urge is to spend too much or too little, buying a gift whose cost doesn’t make sense is a sure route to trouble. Some people, feeling swept away with excitement for their friend, may feel compelled to spend far more than they can realistically afford. In these cases, avoid going over the top and making a purchase based on emotion alone. Leave the $1000 cast iron cookware set to an older relative to purchase, and opt for a practical gift from the registry; channel your enthusiasm into a handwritten note attached to the box. Your friends know you and don’t want you to break the bank on them.

Others, sometimes already facing wedding costs including travel, childcare, and new clothes, may try to save a little on the gift. While the couple surely appreciates the financial lengths you have gone to simply to attend the wedding, it can rub them the wrong way to receive a single serving spoon as a gift. Try bundling several small gifts together as a way to save a little money without looking like you are trying to spend as little as possible on them.

Avoid Going Too Personal

Again, when you feel strong emotions about your friend and their future spouse, it can seem too impersonal to stick to the registry, and giving a personal gift may seem like a better choice. While this can be true, depending on what unique gift you have to offer, it can very easily go awry too. Making a scrapbook of photos and memories of you and your friend may seem like a lovely way to express how much you love them on their big day, it takes away from what their wedding is all about: their future together as a couple. Personal gifts can too-often turn into gifts about you and not about the couple.

Instead, focus on giving them a gift, but one that expresses your unique style or feelings about them as a couple. Some popular suggestions are turning a favorite photo of them together into a large-scale framed print or painting, or providing them with an experience to enjoy after the honeymoon like great seats at their favorite baseball stadium or concert venue.

Think of the Recipients (both of them!)

Even if you are only close friends with one half of the couple getting married, the day is about the two of them coming together and your gift should express your celebration of that fact. It’s not your friend’s birthday and leaving their partner out of the equation is disrespectful not only to their spouse, but to your friend as well who loves that person. Make sure that any gift you give is one that they either asked for on their registry (which they made together) or is one that incorporates both of them.

That said, consider what you know about them as a couple and make your decisions based on that. If they love to cook together, getting them a gift to use in the kitchen would be completely appropriate. If the couple doesn’t drink, though, maybe skip the set of wine glasses. It seems simple, but just thinking about the couple will allow you to find a gift that makes sense to you; it also shows the couple that you gave your gift some consideration, which is always appreciated.

It can be easy to be swept away by emotions when one of your friends gets married and lose sight of what a good wedding gift represents. The easiest rule of thumb is to remember that at the end of the day – whatever else you have sacrificed to be there or how you feel about the event – the wedding is all about celebrating their union as a couple, and your gift should reflect that. If you feel any doubt or uncertainty about whether or not a gift is right, it’s probably one that you should avoid.

My family has been in the business of operating amusement, concessions, and confections items on a rental and pay per use basis for three generations now, and the one thing we are all trying to avoid is the open hour, day, weekend, etc.  When it comes to renting items like tents, stages, dance floors, bounce houses, carnival games, concessions items, or mechanical rides; the best way to get the best price is to fill one of these dead times for a vendor.  Next, I’ll give you some ideas as to how to do this.

First, mark off the dates of major festivals or events that involve everyone in your city or town.  In the Houston Galveston area of Texas where I live, we have two main ones.  Galveston has a thriving Mardi Gras season, and Houston has its Live Stock Show & Rodeo.  These events take on a gala status and everything from limos to hair dressers are tied up for weeks.

Next, you can eliminate the major holiday weekends from March through October.  The weeks after these holidays are almost always open with the most dead week in the calendar being the week after July 4th.  Easter is the only exception, but I can’t see most people having a wedding Easter week.

Next, make sure your city isn’t hosting a major sporting event.  Here, I’m talking about events that are set well in advance like the Super Bowl, the Daytona 500, the All-Star games, and the mens and women’s Final Four tournaments.  Most of if not all the best vendors will be booked for these occasions and they are usually paid a premium.

These are some suggestions on how to find that least busy week.  Because if you can give the vendors a date they usually have trouble filling; then they should be in a much more flexible mood.  For those of you who will plan all aspects of your own wedding, there are many providers of rental equipment on my website.  I wish you all the best on your special day.

Written by: Maxwell Ivey, Owner The Midway Marketplace

California has hundreds of marvelously diverse destination wedding locations. Choose a chateau or a seafront option or a picturesque mountainous locale, here virtually any site would certainly make your wedding the most memorable event of your life.

Southern California has many locations to choose from: Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Barbara, San Uan Capistrano, and San Juan Capistrano. Here are some venue suggestions in Southern California which is sure to make your day unforgettable:

La Casa del Camino – best outdoor or indoor location

This venue has several outdoor and indoor locations to choose from. You can choose from a personal reception room, a rooftop resort, or a bright, sunlit patio with spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean, or the lushly planted Italian square. These locations can be made to fit into the budget you are looking for.

Mission Hills Country Club – a perfect venue

Ideally a private and stylish location perfect for a destination wedding. This place takes care of every minute detail to make your day special. The exceptionally trained and well mannered warm staff here welcomes you to experience your magical moments in style. This perfect dramatic milieu has an open Main Dining Room and a Lobby Lounge which allows accommodating around 350 guests.

The Franciscan Gardens – for a queen style wedding

A very romantic destination wedding venue located in the historic downtown San Juan Capistrano. The Franciscan Gardens are filled with blooming rose trees, sparkling fountains, bridal arches, and white pillars. This venue takes you into the bygone era.

Orange County – an all time favorite wedding destination

In Orange County anytime is a great time for a wedding, even though Southern California is regularly hit with “June Gloom” during the month of June when the sun is covered by under a thick marine layer.

Tips to plan a South California wedding in an affordable way

The Southern California wedding destinations can be enormously pricey, especially if it is held near Los Angeles. In order to make your wedding both a memorable and affordable occasion, it is essential to apply some innovative and creative ideas to keep the budgets low.

Some important strategies like holding the wedding on a less popular day of the week, or looking for an affordable banquet hall, or seeking out an alternative location like parks, museums and vineyards. While economical and all-inclusive packages can be negotiated with restaurants and banquet halls, employing your personal caterer can be very sensible, if your location allows it. Here are a few tips for you to plan a reasonably priced wedding:

Plan your wedding at an unusual location like parks, gardens, vineyards, ranches, beaches and small museums. These venues offer lower rates and give you the opportunity to hire your own caterer.

A garden is a good venue for the wedding parties and they charge only $2000 for four hours, but only a caterer from an approved list is accepted here.

Check out for the discount inclusive packages. The banquet halls, VFW halls, restaurants and lodges offer an all-inclusive package and the prices here start as low as $36 per person. They also offer locations across Southern California.

Whatever be the pricing you are sure to have a memorable occasion at Southern California wedding destinations.

About the author: Rebecca is a blogger by profession. She is fond of  Diamond Hoop Earrings. These days she is busy in writing an article on Wireless Headphones.

Start by determining what you can afford. Look at what you have set aside and how much you can save each month before you plan to pop the question, and let this be your engagement ring budget. Once this is decided you are ready to start looking for the perfect ring.

White Gold

Choosing white gold over platinum for your ring’s metal is an easy way to save some money. White gold is significantly cheaper than platinum. Also 10K or 14K gold costs less than 18K. The amount of gold the ring uses can affect the overall cost, so a traditional prong setting not only shows off the diamond, it also uses less metal than a bezel style.

Make The Center Stone “Look Larger”

Since the majority of the cost of the ring is in the center stone consider designs that make it look larger, such as the Halo or Pave settings. These settings add some extra bling, and will give the illusion that the center stone is larger.

Buying Online and Other Tips

Buying online is a great way to keep costs down as well as having access to a wide selection of choices. Online stores don’t have the overhead of brick and mortar stores and no sales pitch either! They often run sales as well.

Another tip, look into buying a wedding set. It is often cheaper to buy both the engagement ring and the wedding band at the same time. Or consider a Diamond Upgrade Program, give her what you can afford now, then trade it in for a larger diamond in the future.

Thanks to the marriage of Kate and Prince William, a colored gemstone for the center stone is becoming a popular alternative to the more expensive diamond. Also consider a family ring or remounting a diamond from another piece of jewelry into your engagement ring.

Understand The Four C’s

When buying an engagement ring, it is important for shoppers to understand the Four C’s: Cut, color, clarity and carats. The Four C’s, along with shape, are the major determinants of a diamond’s price. Buying a stone with a medium color grade of G, H, or I, and clarity grades, VSI2, SI1 or SI2, will help keep costs down. Prices can jump when a diamond’s weight exceeds one carat. A diamond solitaire between 0.5 to 0.9 carats will look great yet be more affordable.

Another place to save is with the diamond’s shape. Carat for carat, a Princess shape will be less expensive than the round shaped diamond. The one place not to skimp is on cut. A poorly cut diamond will appear lifeless and dull, while a well-cut diamond will sparkle and shine in the sun.

About the Author: Linda Neubauer blogs at “Everything Princess Cut“, and writes about Princess Cut Diamonds, Engagement rings, Wedding Sets and other fine jewelry.

Make Your Own Wedding Photo Booth

By Snapshot Pod™

Photo booths have become extremely popular for wedding receptions. And why not, they are fun for all ages and a great way to keep guests entertained and happy throughout your special event. However, if you find commercial photo booth rental prices a little steep for a practical bride’s budget, you can still have your very own photo booth with a spark of creativity and a little elbow grease.

Basically, a photo booth consists of a camera (which may or may not be attached to a computer), a backdrop and an instant printer. A computer may be necessary to produce a single photo containing a series of shots. Here are a few handy tips on how to assemble your very own wedding photo booth.Tip: If you’ve got a vintage Polaroid camera or Fuji Instax lying around, load it up with film and have a blast with an old school photo booth. It is great for outdoor receptions and also perfect for rustic-themed weddings.

Printer. Color printers are handy for DIY brides, so this one is a bonus. Just make sure to check on the ink levels and to pile up the photo paper at the sides to ensure that the fun lasts all night long.

Computer and software. You’ll need a computer, notebook, laptop or even an iPad and suitable software. If you are using a Macbook or an iPad consider software such as Automator. For Windows users, programs like Seemonkey are available for download and can also be used with the laptop’s own built-in camera. Play around with the software and learn the actual picture-capturing process before the wedding day itself.

Camera. If an external camera is utilized, attaching a digital camera to the computer is easy. You can use the camera’s own sync cord and the photos can be transferred instantly. Any digital camera will do, compact point-and-shoots are easy to handle, but digital SLRs can deliver greater quality photos. Invest in a sturdy tripod to avoid mishaps with big groups crowding the photo booth. Also, remote shutter control is a handy tool that allows for the guests to take the photos themselves – no attendant or assistance needed to count to three and click.

Backdrop and props. There are dozens of great ideas for photo booth backdrops, you can use a wide tablecloth with a catchy pattern or have tarpaulin printed to perfectly match your wedding decor. This is where it gets fun and creative, for props you can supply guests with mustaches, speech bubble boards, glasses and even colorful masks. There is no limit to how many you can create. Prepare big wooden frames that can be used by big groups for a picture-perfect moment.

Before the wedding day, assemble the system and try a run-though to ensure everything is working right. At the reception, all you’ll have to do is hook it up and then get ready to flash your pearly whites while partying the night away.

About the Author: Snapshot Pod™ photo booths are the biggest hit in event entertainment. Snapshot PodÔ offers next generation photo booth rental services for corporate and individual clients in North Texas.

Beach weddings are perfect if you live in a coastal area. You don’t need to do much with the setting, just add a few things here and there and you’re ready to tie the knot. The best part about a beach wedding is that the ocean, breeze and sand already make a lovely foundation for the décor so all you need to do is just enhance the set. If you’re planning on a beach wedding but need to work under a budget, worry not as we’ve listed a few tips guaranteed to make your wedding a success besides saving you a small fortune.

1. If you plan to walk down the aisle, then you’ll need to make one yourself. It’s easy, though, and shouldn’t take up too much time. To create a bit of order, you can use wooden stakes that have been painted white to mark the aisle. Decorate the stakes with ribbons and flowers. Be sure to tie the ribbons in a flowing manner so that they dance in the breeze.

2. Most beach weddings are al fresco affairs but you can also choose to set up a mini marquee. These tents come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Choose one that isn’t walled and with only a roof. This will add to the beach setting.

3. Use white beach chairs for your guests during the wedding ceremony. You can tie sheer pieces of cloth to the backs of the chairs and knot them into flowing bows.

4. Place a few candles inside the marquee to highlight the spot. Since it will more than likely be windy, you can use transparent candle coverings that are widely available in the market.

5. Beaches are loaded with shells and if you can’t find the right size or shape, you can get them over the internet or at hobby stores. Use them to decorate the edges of the aisle as well as the area under the marquee.

6. Tall vases filled with white and pastel-colored flowers can be used to add more to the décor of the marquee. Clear vases will look especially good as they will go well with the beach theme.

The tips listed above don’t require you to spend a lot of money. This way, you can save up much-needed cash for your honeymoon and for the initial course of your marriage. Use them to ensure having a memorable wedding and save yourself thousands of dollars in the process. 

About the author:
Rebecca is a blogger by profession. She is fond of Hobo Handbags. These days she is busy in writing an article on Orange Bridesmaid Dresses

Destination Wedding Planning & Budget

Firstly, prepare a wedding budget guide that will help you keep track of your expenses related to planning several aspects of the wedding. This includes not only the venue, but also the theme, decoration, catering, music, florist, reception, etc.

The options for your perfect destination wedding must be first short listed so that you can choose the best out of the list. You have to decide whether you want a beach wedding or a wedding in other exotic locations like a mountainside cabin, a ski resort, a national park, or a culturally interesting city. After deciding which kind of destination you would prefer, you can thoroughly research the options available in that particular category of venue. For example, if you want a Hawaiian beach wedding then there are many beaches in Hawaii which are suitable for your destination wedding. You would have to find out which beach is suitable for your budget, number of guests, their accommodation requirements, etc.

A destination beach wedding also needs to be chosen while keeping in mind the expenses of providing for the transportation and accommodations of your guests. It is your responsibility to arrange for the hotel or resort accommodation. This has to be done with utmost care as the cost of accommodations can be very high and advanced planning has to be done to avoid last minute confusion.

Apart from the cost of the accommodation facilities, the transportation cost must also be carefully considered so that it does not overwhelm your wedding budget. For example, if your accommodation facility is far from your beach wedding venue then you would have to spend on transporting your family members, friends and other guests to and from the venue. In such cases, you may not be able to plan the exact number of times that your guests would need to be transported back and forth. Apart from the guests you may also need to transport some other items needed for your wedding like the flowers, bouquets, etc. So, remember to make the necessary arrangements while keeping your budget in mind.

Know the Rules

It is also advisable to know the rules and regulations of the venue where you have decided to conduct your wedding. If it is a beach wedding then it is all the more advisable to know the rules and regulations governing that beach. This information can be obtained from the local police officials in that particular area. The hotel may also be able to help you get the information you need. You will want to especially look into the local laws governing marriage and weddings. In this way, you can avoid any unnecessary confusion and problems that might mess up your perfect planning and perfect memories of your wedding.

A little pre-planning and following some useful wedding planning tips can result in a most memorable destination wedding for you, your family, and your friends.

About Author:

I am Sophia Joseph, a wedding planner. I love to share my views and experience on wedding planning ideas. In this article I have provided ideas on wedding venues and destination.

First, make sure you get things organized months in advance. You may laugh, you may scoff. But when it gets to a week before the bachelor party and you still haven’t confirmed the accommodation or got all their money in, you’ll know exactly what I mean!

Don’t ask anyone’s opinion about anything. You are the best man. You know the groom better than anyone. So you know what he would like. What other people want is beside the point – they can get precious about bachelor parties on their own.

Get the accommodation booked early and get everyone’s money off them before the rooms need to be confirmed and paid for. Not only do you not want to be saddled with the whole bill on your credit card – trust me, once you have paid for it no-one will care, and it’ll take months before you see any of it back from them – but you will endanger the budget if you don’t keep a tight rein on that cash.

Speaking of cash – arrange a kitty figure early on. Make sure that no-one has to pay more than they can afford – so if there is a cross section of incomes coming in the do, sorry, but the kitty is out of the question. Part of the budget you need to take into account for a really successful bachelor weekend is to budget for people’s feelings. If someone has to pony up more money than he can afford, he will have a miserable time – which creates tension, which, combined with drink, equals arguments.

Find out what the groom wants to do and sort it out, then tell everyone how much they have to pay, when they have to pay by and where they need to be on the day. Send an email two weeks before making sure everyone has paid, has a passport that is valid (if needed) and knows where they need to meet you and when. Include a note in this email, telling them that if they fail to turn up on time they will be left behind – and yes, they will still be expected to pay.

Sounds like looking after an unruly class of school children doesn’t it? There’s a reason for that – it is. A huge party of men, who may not all know each other, and who will all be drinking heavily for two days, needs to be arranged well in advance.

Speaking of “in advance” – paying for everything in advance is the best way of all to budget. Obviously if you have all already paid for accommodations, for food and for activities, then you know in advance what the weekend is going to cost and the only variable left is how much you spend on drink, or the meals that aren’t included in your price.

Yes, I’m talking about package deals. Mock them if you like – but for a budget conscious bachelor weekend, they perform a very solid function. You get your accommodation, your transfers and your activities all in – often with some meals too. What could be simpler?

About the Author:

Tamara Matthews is associated with many wedding planning communities as their free lance writer and adviser. In her free time, she loves to write articles that are related to stag weekends, budget wedding, wedding planning etc.

Exclusive Wedding Thank You Gift Ideas for Parents of the Bride and Groom

You had your dream wedding with your dream person. In fact, you wore the most gorgeous wedding gown, had lip-smacking gourmet food, met the most lovable people of your life and received the best wedding gifts you had ever imagined. For all these blessings, you are grateful to your family without whom your wedding would have seemed like just another event. So, you want to thank your mom and dad for making your wedding a big success.
Well, you should not forget that the parents of your husband are equally responsible for uniting both of you to lead a happy life. Therefore, you are looking for wedding thank you gifts to make them feel happy and excited about the fact that they have proved to be the best parents of the world. Now, you might prefer to get an expensive wedding thank you gift. Remember, it’s not the cost that will matter but the very thought and exclusivity of your present that will be taken into consideration. So, you can always stick to your budget and get your present accordingly.

What about a double photo frame? Buy two such frames for both your parents as well as for the parents of your husband. On one side of the frame, encase a special wedding photo of yours and on the other side a nice photograph of the parents. Although it’s an inexpensive present, it will be highly appreciated by both the families.

There are special chocolate boxes beautified with exclusive ‘thank you’ messages. You can always order them online and add any personal message you wish. The concept of personalising is indeed unique. Whether you bring greeting cards or jewellery boxes, personalising any of these is sure to leave your guests spellbound.

A cruise dinner party with both your families is indubitably an excellent idea. Just imagine the occasion when you would be sitting with the most intimate people of your life for a candlelight dinner enjoying a fascinating journey on a cruise. Well, this option might seem a bit expensive. However, if you talk to online dealers beforehand, they can surely provide you grand arrangements at reasonable rates.

So, these wedding thank you gift ideas are no doubt invaluable and bound to make your parents feel proud.

Author Bio :  Hello, I am Thomas Brown. I am a new wedding gifts planner and full time blogger. Here I am sharing with you some wedding thank you gift ideas that can help you buy a nice gift for the members of wedding party and perhaps their parents without spending loads of cash.

A winter wedding reception should typically be held indoors. You can implement some of the most innovative winter wedding reception ideas without hurting your budget. You simply need to be creative and crafty at times to be able to make your own décor pieces. A DIY wedding reception can be innovative as well as cost effective.

You need to allocate a certain amount of your budget to each and every wedding item you are going to buy and then form a total wedding budget. For this, you would need to research the market regarding various accessories and their price ranges. You would also need to talk with a lot of people like confectioners, florists, etc to get some of the best deals.

Learn how brides like you are saving big $$$ on their dream weddings
 – Plays in New Window –

In the winter, you can experiment with the décor as well as your attire. In fact, the décor can be really cost effective if you use fewer flowers. This is because in the regions with snowfall, very few fresh flowers would be available and they would also be very expensive. However, it is difficult to imagine a wedding without fresh flowers. Hence, you can use some Daffodils, Anemone, Amaryllis, blue Touch-me-nots, etc. in your décor. They are available in winter and hence would be reasonably priced. You can also use Holly, Tulips and Jasmine.

One more option is to use artificial flowers. You can use a few fresh flowers and some flowers made of silk in your bouquet. Silk flowers also look quite beautiful. You can use edible sugar flower decorations on your cake. Many of these flowers are available ready-made with most of the confectioners.

Using plenty of silk and crepe fabric in your decorating is another good option and would be very much in your budget. These fabrics look good on the main wall, pillars, etc. they add plenty of grace. You can use pastel and bright shade combinations like red and pink, white and bright pink, etc.

Christmas style decorations are also a good option for your winter wedding. You can actually put up a Christmas tree and decorate it just the way you decorate for Christmas. Keep this in the center of the hall. One more idea is to surround this tree by gifts and favors and let the guests keep one favor for themselves. You can have some special small gifts if there are any kids in your wedding. This would be fun for kids and would seem more like a Christmas gift. The gifts need not be expensive but should be useful items.

One more option is to fill in your décor with plenty of candles. This looks good especially if you have your wedding in the afternoon or evening. It gets dark early in winters. Hence lighting of candles early in the evening after 4pm would also be a good option. You can make your own candles at home. Also, there is plenty of variety in the market that would surely fit your budget.

It is essential that you have a budget planned for your wedding irrespective of the season you are getting married in. It is possible to have a dream come true wedding absolutely in your budget if you plan it well. Probably, the only drawback of a winter wedding is that you need to start preparing well in advance. You need to contact the wedding planners, confectioners, decorators, etc well before you might think you should approach them.

Some of these people are part time wedding planners and hence work only in the traditional wedding season (spring and summer). In winters you would find them doing something else or a full time job. Hence, it might be difficult to track them down in winters. However, if you do it all on time, it is possible to get the best deals out of all of them.

Author Bio:

Hi, I am Sophia Joseph. I am a wedding planner and blogger. In this article I am sharing an idea about winter wedding and how to plan a cheap wedding or planning your wedding in a budget.

One last thought:

If you decide to go with fresh flowers for your winter wedding and are wondering which flowers are considered winter flowers, take a look at flower delivery and look at the winter flowers page for lots of pictures and examples of winter flower bouquets that can be delivered to your wedding.

How to Plan a Wedding on a Small Budget

A wedding is an extravaganza that instigates tedious planning and a never-ending shopping list. It is a dream coming true for those who are going to redefine this relationship in their lives. Couples have many fancies and visualizations to make their wedding a grand success. But castles are not built in air. In reality every wedding needs to be properly organized and planned well. Everything from setting the wedding date to the time you go on honeymoon has to be pre-planned. Couples need to strategize the wedding plan in a seamless way.

The first step to start planning a cheap wedding involves setting your wedding date sometime in advance. This ensures that you book the reception hall and venue before the rush hour and would not end up cancelling or rescheduling your wedding date. Check with your guests beforehand and plan the bookings in person. Adapting such an approach will save a massive amount on the cost of booking the desired venue.

The next pricey affair is your wedding dress. Brides usually spend lots of time and money to buy the best wedding dress for them. There is no denying the fact that your wedding dress adds a pleasing charm to your wedding. But you could accomplish the same charisma by renting your wedding dress or borrowing it from your mother or one of your aunts.

Wedding jewelry is another sumptuous aspect of a wedding that threatens to consume your budget. Those brides who have limited finances and want a cheap wedding can buy artificial or imitation jewelries like Cubic Zirconia, Artificial pearls, Rhinestones, Sterling Silver or white gold in place of diamonds. Furthermore, you could also rent jewelry that matches your dress.

Another wedding budget friendly idea is that you could decorate your reception area or venue in a very creative and imaginative manner. Instead of using fresh flowers to decorate the reception hall you could use some artificial flowers to adorn the room. Besides being expensive, fresh seasonal flowers demand very careful handling or they will quickly appear wilted or damaged. Another thing to consider is that the centerpieces do not need to be an extra expense if you wisely use your favors as centerpieces.

I would not recommend spending a large amount on the cake. Though cutting the cake is an indispensable customary function, there is a great way that you can save money on the cake. You can have a professional wedding cake decorator make and decorate the piece of cake that gets cut by the bride and groom. If you want it to be a three tier cake, have the top tier be real cake but the lower two tiers be styrofoam cake forms that are iced and decorated along with the top tier. Then, you or someone you know can make the sheet cake that gets served to your guests at cost. So, instead of paying the professional for all of the cake making, you just pay the professional for the bit of cake that has to be decorated and look good for the pictures. Your guests won’t care who made the sheet cake they’re eating as long as it tastes great.

Whether you want a lavish extravaganza or an elegant and well planned wedding is entirely up to you.  The above tips on how to plan a wedding on a tight budget should help you to accomplish the wedding of your dreams and save some money wisely for your future.

About the Author

I am Sophia Joseph. I am a wedding planner and blogger. I love to share my ideas and views of how to plan a wedding perfectly, cheap wedding and all wedding planning ideas.

When you’re trying to cut costs, the wedding dress is a great place to start. When sold at a dress shop, a wedding dress can cost thousands of dollars, leaving you little money in your budget for flowers, catering and other needed accessories. The best way to cut costs? Shop online. Online retailers don’t have fancy showrooms to keep up, warehouses to heat and cool and sales staff to pay. Instead, they have great wedding dresses at lower costs. Shop carefully, and you may find a great deal.

This doesn’t mean you can’t set foot in a wedding dress shop. In fact, the opposite is true. Consider your local dress shop your first stop. Try on as many dresses as possible, taking note of what shape best flatters your figure. Feel the fabrics and learn the names. Think about whether you like dresses with many details or as few details as possible.

Then, head home and crack open the computer. Armed with the knowledge you’ve gained from your day at the dress shop, you’ll be ready to make an informed decision about the shape and fabric of the dress of your dreams, and you’ll quickly see the price difference between brick-and-mortar dress shops and online shops.

One word of warning: Make sure you buy your dress from a reputable online retailer. Look for guarantees that the photos shown represent the dresses sold. Be on the lookout for stock photography that doesn’t represent the dresses the retailer sells. Make sure the retailer offers returns, so you can send the dress back if there’s a problem. And, finally, ask for samples of the fabrics, so you can feel the quality between your fingertips and make sure it matches your expectations.

About the Author and SPECIAL OFFER

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The manager of SimplyBridal.com is extending to readers of the Wedding Planning on a Budget blog a Special 15% Discount on top of their already low prices. When you make your purchase, simply enter the promo code SAVEBRIDAL15 for huge savings at the SimplyBridal.com wedding gown online store.

Well, here is your chance to make that wish a reality. Oprah’s new television network OWN is now casting for a reality TV show called “Don’t Tell the Bride” that is set to premier this fall with eight episodes.

Each episode of “Don’t Tell the Bride” will feature a different couple who has been given $25,000 to plan their wedding. But before you get too excited maybe it’s time to consider that you should be careful what you wish for: The bride will have ZERO input during the entire wedding planning process. The groom on the other hand will be exclusively responsible for planning everything: The bridal gown, the location, the music selection (do I hear the theme song from Star Wars?!?), the invitations, the reception, EVERYTHING!!!

Now, Oprah wasn’t born yesterday. She knows that brides will want to give their input and will try to offer guidance to their overwhelmed guy. That’s why all communication between the couple will be stopped for three weeks before the ceremony.

So, if you consider yourself to be a brave, adventuresome couple who aren’t afraid to try something unique (and probably a bit scary) for your wedding – along with $25,000 to help make it possible, here is how to apply to become one of the eight couples cast in OWN’s “Don’t Tell the Bride” reality TV show:

Casting Requirements:

• Must be over 18 years of age
• Currently engaged
• Willing and able to get legally married between July 2011 - September 2011
• Have a few groomsmen and bridesmaids with big personalities willing to be on the show with you
• No long distance or destination weddings. You must be willing to marry within driving distance of couple’s residence(s).

Please email bride@shedmediaus.com with the following information:

• Bride’s name and Groom’s name
• Bride’s phone number
• Bride’s email
• Bride’s resident city
• Groom’s phone number
• Groom’s email
• Groom’s resident city
• A few sentences about you and why you are an ideal couple for the show
• Wedding status – where you are in the process
• Current photo of bride and groom (make sure we can clearly see you both)

Since the producers of this show have just begun actively searching for their eight couples who not only meet all the above requirements but are also brave enough to give this a go, you should apply right away if interested before these eight slots get filled up. When you apply, tell them you found out about the casting call from www.WeddingPlanningOnABudget.com Good luck and have fun!

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Best Honeymoon Deals – Wouldn’t it be nice if all the best honeymoon deals from all over the internet could all be seen and compared in one place? That’s exactly what the Best Honeymoon Deals Blog offers the bride and groom looking for that perfect honeymoon deal.

How to Keep that Honeymoon Feeling – Everyone says that your romance will never last. But they will only be right if you let them. Our love for one another is as fresh as when we were looking goo-goo eyed at one another on our first date. We want you to know how to keep your romance fresh for the long haul. Grab yourself a free copy of our e-Book The Newlyweds’ Guide to a Happy Marriage: How to Keep that Honeymoon Feeling

For help planning your wedding day on a budget, visit Wedding Planning on a Budget

This contest may not be for everyone, be sure to read all the details and understand how this contest works before submitting your entry (due by March 31). You can learn about the contest, see photos of last year’s winning couple, read all the rules (Highly Recommended!), and enter at UltimateWeddingContest.com or at CrateAndBarrel.com where there is a nice overview of the contest.

This is not a sweepstakes drawing. It is a contest. So, you will have to put some effort and investment into this but if you beat out the competition you could win really big!

Here is a video featuring the winners of last year’s Ultimate Wedding Contest




Crate and Barrel Ultimate Wedding 2010 Video