15 TIPS TO CREATE THE PERFECT WEDDING
You’ve just gotten
engaged, and you couldn’t be more thrilled. You also might feel a little
overwhelmed by the sheer volume of wedding-planning books out there. Where to
begin? From timing to budgeting to breaking in your shoes. In this article,
bebeakinboade.com presents to you some
of the most important concerns to keep in mind when planning a wedding, along
with helpful budgeting tips.
engaged, and you couldn’t be more thrilled. You also might feel a little
overwhelmed by the sheer volume of wedding-planning books out there. Where to
begin? From timing to budgeting to breaking in your shoes. In this article,
bebeakinboade.com presents to you some
of the most important concerns to keep in mind when planning a wedding, along
with helpful budgeting tips.
WHAT’S THE RUSH?
Sure, you’re
excited when you get engaged, but don’t act impulsively. So many brides rush
out and start putting down deposits without thinking through the logistics of
what goes into planning a memorable day. Bride and groom should let it all sink
in and wait for a few weeks after they get engaged. Then start.
excited when you get engaged, but don’t act impulsively. So many brides rush
out and start putting down deposits without thinking through the logistics of
what goes into planning a memorable day. Bride and groom should let it all sink
in and wait for a few weeks after they get engaged. Then start.
GET THE BIG PICTURE
You need to
envision the kind of wedding you want; outdoors, cocktail reception, beach.
When you know it’s a beach wedding, for example, you can choose your colors,
and the rest of the details; décor,
flowers and food will start to fall into
place.
envision the kind of wedding you want; outdoors, cocktail reception, beach.
When you know it’s a beach wedding, for example, you can choose your colors,
and the rest of the details; décor,
flowers and food will start to fall into
place.
CREATE A ‘WANTS’
AND A ‘NEEDS’ LIST
AND A ‘NEEDS’ LIST
Try to separate
your ‘wants’ from your ‘needs. “The ‘needs’ list consists of the items you
have to have to make your special day work, such as a good photographer and an
affordable venue, while the ‘wants’ are the items you get after the ‘needs’ are
acquired (such as ornate centerpieces or customized favors).”
your ‘wants’ from your ‘needs. “The ‘needs’ list consists of the items you
have to have to make your special day work, such as a good photographer and an
affordable venue, while the ‘wants’ are the items you get after the ‘needs’ are
acquired (such as ornate centerpieces or customized favors).”
WORK OUT YOUR
BUDGET
BUDGET
Do not spend a dime
or book a single service until the two of you have thoroughly worked out your
budget. This is where a couple can go wrong early in the game and never
recover. They fall in love with a venue and book it right away, then find they
have to skimp on everything else, including necessities.
or book a single service until the two of you have thoroughly worked out your
budget. This is where a couple can go wrong early in the game and never
recover. They fall in love with a venue and book it right away, then find they
have to skimp on everything else, including necessities.
EXPRESS YOURSELF
WITH A THEME
WITH A THEME
Anyone can choose
pretty colors for a wedding. To make your celebration feel truly personal,
decide on a theme that you and your betrothed have a real connection to. Carry
it all the way through your day, from the first save-the-date cards to your
getaway car at the reception.
pretty colors for a wedding. To make your celebration feel truly personal,
decide on a theme that you and your betrothed have a real connection to. Carry
it all the way through your day, from the first save-the-date cards to your
getaway car at the reception.
Your theme can center
on how and where you met, hobbies you share together, or perhaps you’d like a
vintage wedding with the stylish flair of a particular time period.
on how and where you met, hobbies you share together, or perhaps you’d like a
vintage wedding with the stylish flair of a particular time period.
DO YOUR DRESS
HOMEWORK
HOMEWORK
Don’t rush off to
the salon without doing a little advance planning. Otherwise you can easily get
overwhelmed by all the dress options on offer. Before you go, make your options
manageable by picking the dress silhouette you want. Choose from a classic A-line
(fitted at the bodice and flowing down in an A shape), a dramatic ballgown, a
sexy fitted mermaid gown, a column gown or sheath, or an empire dress with a
high waistline. Do you want a long train or a shorter tea-length dress? It
can’t hurt to think about color, too. Do you want white or ivory, or something
stronger?
the salon without doing a little advance planning. Otherwise you can easily get
overwhelmed by all the dress options on offer. Before you go, make your options
manageable by picking the dress silhouette you want. Choose from a classic A-line
(fitted at the bodice and flowing down in an A shape), a dramatic ballgown, a
sexy fitted mermaid gown, a column gown or sheath, or an empire dress with a
high waistline. Do you want a long train or a shorter tea-length dress? It
can’t hurt to think about color, too. Do you want white or ivory, or something
stronger?
DON’T MULTITASK
One thing that always works out really well
for my clients is a ‘one task at a time’ planning schedule.
for my clients is a ‘one task at a time’ planning schedule.
Give yourself
twelve to fifteen months to plan, and tackle one item on your checklist at a
time. Some things will take one hour, others will take three weeks or a month,
but having just one goal at a time allows you to focus on the task at hand and
not get overwhelmed.
twelve to fifteen months to plan, and tackle one item on your checklist at a
time. Some things will take one hour, others will take three weeks or a month,
but having just one goal at a time allows you to focus on the task at hand and
not get overwhelmed.
CHOOSE A PRO
PHOTOGRAPHER
PHOTOGRAPHER
A pro photographer
is definitely the way to go. Even if your best friend is a superstar at
snapshots, always choose a pro photographer. Your wedding is too important to
entrust to anyone else. And you want your friendship to last beyond your
wedding day!
is definitely the way to go. Even if your best friend is a superstar at
snapshots, always choose a pro photographer. Your wedding is too important to
entrust to anyone else. And you want your friendship to last beyond your
wedding day!
Before picking a
photographer, think about your style. Do you want traditional or posed, candid
or journalistic, flash lighting or natural? Spend time with different
photographers before settling on one, and make sure you see photos they shot at
more than one wedding to get the big picture.
photographer, think about your style. Do you want traditional or posed, candid
or journalistic, flash lighting or natural? Spend time with different
photographers before settling on one, and make sure you see photos they shot at
more than one wedding to get the big picture.
CHOOSE THE PERFECT
VENUES
VENUES
You’re not limited
to your childhood church for your ceremony or the local hotel ballroom for your
reception. As with your theme, your venues express your personality and the
special qualities of your relationship.
to your childhood church for your ceremony or the local hotel ballroom for your
reception. As with your theme, your venues express your personality and the
special qualities of your relationship.
Did you meet at
university? Look at alumni clubs, libraries, botanical gardens (and possible
alumni discounts for the rental fee). Do you love the theater? Exchange vows on
a dramatic stage. Other venue ideas include planetariums, aviation museums
(plenty of room to dance), aquariums (wonderful light), old-fashioned barns,
wineries and historic inns.
university? Look at alumni clubs, libraries, botanical gardens (and possible
alumni discounts for the rental fee). Do you love the theater? Exchange vows on
a dramatic stage. Other venue ideas include planetariums, aviation museums
(plenty of room to dance), aquariums (wonderful light), old-fashioned barns,
wineries and historic inns.
HIRE HELP FOR THE
BIG DAY
BIG DAY
Even if you choose
not to hire a wedding planner to handle the bulk of the wedding, then at least
hire someone for the day.
not to hire a wedding planner to handle the bulk of the wedding, then at least
hire someone for the day.
Even if you’re a
planner at heart and you’ve got things well under control, the best stress
reliever is to have someone professional there, taking care of the things that
can and do come up.”
planner at heart and you’ve got things well under control, the best stress
reliever is to have someone professional there, taking care of the things that
can and do come up.”
ORCHESTRATE
Seven to 10 days
before the wedding, call your vendors to confirm details. Give everyone a
timeline of the day. The biggest mistake is leaving any of this to chance.
before the wedding, call your vendors to confirm details. Give everyone a
timeline of the day. The biggest mistake is leaving any of this to chance.
BE SMART WITH YOUR
STONES
STONES
A diamond ring can
easily dwarf other wedding costs if you aren’t careful. Remember that diamonds
are rated by the four C’s – cut, color, clarity and carat weight, and if you
compromise on one of the C’s you can save some cash. Does it matter if your
diamond is not perfectly colorless? It can still sparkle brightly. In addition,
round stones are the most popular and can be the most expensive. Could you love
an oval or a princess-cut?
easily dwarf other wedding costs if you aren’t careful. Remember that diamonds
are rated by the four C’s – cut, color, clarity and carat weight, and if you
compromise on one of the C’s you can save some cash. Does it matter if your
diamond is not perfectly colorless? It can still sparkle brightly. In addition,
round stones are the most popular and can be the most expensive. Could you love
an oval or a princess-cut?
BEBEAKINBOADE is the fresh voice of African style, offering an informative, inspiring and entertaining mix of fashion,beauty ,entertainment,events ,place, inspirational and much more
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