Browsing Category: "Wedding Plans and Ideas"

Anticipating The Impact Of Your Wedding

Everyone knows how important something like marriage is, and it’s very rare the people will rush into something like this without fully considering what it means. You understand that you will be spending the rest of your life with the person you’ve chosen, with your big day marking the start of this life-long connection. What a lot of people fail to consider, though, is that this sort of event can have a massive short-term impact on your life, and it’s worth making sure you’re ready for this before you start.

Time: Planning an entire wedding is no mean feat, and a lot of these events will take over a year to complete in full. Of course, the impact in this area will fully depend on the size and scale of your event, with larger weddings taking much longer to plan and arrange. While you’re working on this, it will be hard to focus on your work like you used to, as you will have to be thinking about the event all the time. To help you out with this, there are loads of companies out there which are dedicated to wedding planning. While having time, this could also improve the end result you find yourself with.

A handpainted sign reads "Happily ever after"

Money: More importantly, most people will also be aware of the extreme costs of a wedding, though over 23% of US citizens don’t bother with a budget for their big day. Finding loan places near me to cover the costs of a day like this can be a good idea, as it will help you to avoid the time it will take to save up. Once the day is over, though, you will have to repay this bill, and this could go on for many years. This is something you should plan very well, looking far into the future of your money to make sure that you can afford the day that you’re planning. Saving money on something like this is easy, and will often involve simply cutting down on the luxuries you have at the venue.

Socially: For a while after your wedding, you’re going to be known as the newlyweds amongst your circles of friends and family. While this is very nice, as it will show that people are thinking about you, it can also have some negatives. People will often assume that married couples don’t have time for parties, special events, and other occasions which single people have the time for. Of course, being married doesn’t make you want to avoid things like this, though, and this could make life hard. To avoid these sorts of issues, it is worth making sure that you don’t disappear after your wedding, even if you have a long honeymoon.

Assessing the impact that something like a wedding can have will often be overshadowed by the day itself. Financial planning, time management, and all of the other aspects of your big day will impact the rest of your life. While this is worth it for the end result, it’s still something you have to consider, as things could be changing quite a lot.

Five Tips that Will Ensure Your Outdoor Wedding is Perfect

Have you dreamed of having an outdoor wedding surrounded by nature and all the natural beauty? It’s easy to form a whole vision in your head of how perfect the day will be, but reality isn’t always so simple. In fact there are a number of steps and tips involved in planning an outdoor wedding that goes off without a hitch and ends up being all you had hoped for.

[Photo courtesy of Inna Lesyk/pexels.com]

Here are five tips you will want to keep in mind as you work to plan your very special day.

You Need a Backup Plan

This very first tip is probably the most important out of all the tips, granted it isn’t the greatest to hear. No-one wants to think about having a back-up plan when their dream is to get married outside. Unfortunately you can’t control the weather, so a back-up plan is necessary. This could be a tented area you can move to or an indoor space on the property.

Provide Outdoor Facilities

If you plan on holding the ceremony and reception outdoors, then you will need to think about washroom facilities for you and your guests. Obviously you’ll want something nicer and bigger than a traditional outhouse, so this is when you can look into luxury bathrooms for outdoor weddings.

A great example of these types of facilities is the Versa Luxury Restroom Trailer from On Site Co. This is in fact a trailer that houses four washroom stalls in it. The trailer offers running water in the sinks, flushing toilets, and even air conditioning or heating to ensure the washroom is a comfortable temperature.

Consider the Temperature for That Time of Year

Another tip is to give thought to the average temperature at that time of year. You can then add special little touches that will help to keep your guests comfortable. For example if it is usually extremely hot and humid at that time of year you can offer small fans to guests as they arrive, and also ensure you’ve got large electric fans blowing (they can run off a generator).

If the weather tends to be a bit chilly for the date of your wedding, then you could offer cute little mittens, lap blankets, scarves, shawls, and you can run portable heaters off the generator instead.

Make Sure the Venue Isn’t Too Spread Out

Another tip is to make sure the spaces between your ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception aren’t too spread out. You don’t want your guests feeling lost or confused as to where they need to be. If it’s too spread out, guests really won’t be mingling with each other either.

Work with the Natural Décor of the Venue

When it comes to décor, an outdoor wedding doesn’t need a whole lot. Let’s face it, the venue itself often acts as the décor. Instead of adding a whole bunch extra, look for ways you can highlight the natural beauty of the setting.

The Wedding of Your Dreams

With a little planning and organizing you’ll be sure to put together the outdoor wedding of your dreams that all will enjoy.

Planning Beyond the Big Day

Wedding planning can be hectic and overwhelming, but overall, it should be a positive and enjoyable process. One thing that people forget when they’re caught up in the works is that the day itself isn’t the be all and end all of the beginnings of your married life. You should also look a little further ahead to ensure that once the big day draws to a close, the romantic magic spreads to other areas. For now, let’s take a look at your exit from the venue and your honeymoon!

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The Exit

At some point, your wedding day is going to come to a close. So many events tend to fizzle out, with the bride and groom being the last members of the party, waiting for the stragglers to leave so that they can return to their wedding suite. But why let it all come to such an anticlimax? Just because the day revolves around you, you don’t necessarily have to be there until the very end. Instead, you can make an exit almost as dramatic as your entrance to the venue as you walk down the aisle! Don’t leave too early; you want to make the most of the celebrations. But you can leave at a peak time, with everyone waving you off and wishing you well. The others can then return to the celebrations with one another while you and your new husband or wife get to finally spend some quality time in each other’s company. Check out https://www.sparklersonline.com/blog/creative-ideas/30-wedding-send-off-ideas-for-the-perfect-exit/ for some inspiring ideas that could create the best send off possible! A couple of highlights include wedding bells and flower petals or confetti. You could even keep things especially traditional and leave in a car with “just married” on the back and tin cans trailing behind!

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The Honeymoon

So many people treat the honeymoon as an afterthought in the wedding process. But it can be just as important as the ceremony itself. After all, it’s an opportunity for you and your partner to spend an extended period of time together in a wonderful setting. So rather than booking the first thing that your wedding planner suggests, somewhere that your friends went on theirs, or whatever may be on offer, choose something personal for you and your partner. Perhaps return to the place that you met. Maybe there’s somewhere you’ve both dreamed of going. Whatever you choose, look into options that will make your travel stay extra special and particularly luxurious. If you’ll be flying, don’t forget small details like reserving seats next to one another, travel insurance, and a sufficient baggage allowance. Many hotels will have especially romantic rooms such as honeymoon suites, or you could request bubbles and flowers on arrival. If you’re feeling particularly organized, you even can look into pre-booking seats at high-quality restaurants too!

By planning a little further ahead than the day itself, you’ll make sure that your married life begins as smoothly and happily as possible. Being organized only takes a little more time and effort, so it’s worth getting on top of things!

Don’t Leave Him Out: Involve Your Future Husband In The Wedding Prep

Congratulations; if you’re planning your wedding, you’ve obviously had a recent proposal which you must be so excited for! You’ve probably been thinking about planning this particular day for a while now, and might well have a clear idea in your mind about how it will all pan out. Most brides-to-be have been pinning things to a Pinterest board, even in advance of any proposal, so you’re not alone. However, sometimes it can be easy to forget that your future husband might want to be involved in the process too. Your beloved will obviously want you to be happy, so they can often feel that you’re best left to organise and prepare things, along with making any of the big decisions.

Planning a wedding and all the details that go with it can be exciting, but also, exhausting. Therefore, it’s a smart idea to get your other half in on all the action. You also want a day that reflects the both of you and to start married life as you mean to go on; as an equal partnership and an unstoppable team. There are all sorts of ways t get your fiance on board and ensure that he’s well and truly part of the wedding planning and beyond. The following are some ideas, inspiration, and tips for future brides who want their wedding prep to be a joint effort.

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[Photo courtesy of Andrii Nikolaienko/pexels.com]

The Rings

Assuming that you’ll both be wearing wedding rings after the ceremony; why not ensure that they reflect both of your personalities and tastes. If your future hubby proposed with a “stud” ring; make sure that he’s part of the process regarding getting something just right. You can do your research together online and design your own engagement ring as a team. The same goes for your wedding bands; visit the jewellers together and see how you can both get a bespoke piece to last a lifetime.

The Stationery

When it’s time to send out those save the dates or wedding invites; you’ll want your guests to open the envelope and know whose wedding it is immediately from the design. Therefore, it’s vital that you visit the stationers together, or if you’re making them yourself; ensure that you both decide on the design before you print or craft anything. Whether it’s the words, images, colours, or all three that you use to put your character as a couple on paper; it’s a process you should both be a part of.

The Venue

The venue where you say your vows should also be meaningful to the pair of you. Whether it holds sentimental value for you as a couple, or simply takes your breath away when you go together to visit it; you need to both feel special there and that the venue is perfect (as it can be). The more effort you put into your wedding as a couple, the more all the guests will see the influence both of you had, and you’ll begin your long and happy marriage with one another.

How To Plan a Memorable Event

Most people value memories and experience, which means they will remember events that are unique and impressive. These are things to keep in mind while planning your next event. Whether it is a company picnic or personal celebration, the occasion can be spectacular when you pay attention to details such as remote control paper lantern lights and other particulars that changes the atmosphere from blah to outstanding.

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[Photo courtesy of Startup Stock Photos/pexels.com]

Plan Ahead

You will need a master plan before you can begin planning a memorable event. The smallest of details get missed when there are a lot of moving parts. Generally, you want a plan that covers all aspects of your event. Create a checklist like the one below to avoid forgetting something.

  • Venue selection (along with contracts, insurance and permits if necessary)
  • Catering management
  • Identifying and confirming speakers
  • Entertainment and activities to engage guests
  • Publicity and promotion tactics (includes online and offline through social media, signage and printed programs)
  • Registration and tracking methods for sign-up and payments
  • Sponsors
  • Volunteer recruitment

This is not an exhaustive list of what you may need for your event. Some items may apply and others may not. Details will change based on the type of event, location and other factors.

Brand an Overall Theme

One way to set your even apart from others is to choose a compelling theme. Come up with something that stands out and gives guests an idea of what they can expect. Consider giving the event an actual name as an attention-getter.

Table With Plates and Flowers Filed Neatly Selective Focus Photography

[Photo courtesy of Ibrahim Asad/pexels.com]

While brainstorming a dynamic name, think about how your event is different from others. Is there a message you want to convey? Your answer to this could be long, try coming up with a tagline so there is a memorable branding slogan to describe your event.

Use Creative Fixtures and Decor

Another way to ensure your guests have a great time is to use some creativity when decorating. Lighting fixtures and decorations connected to the theme creates the right type of atmosphere. Clever use of special equipment can transform any room into a remarkable place.

Planning an event can become stressful even if you are enjoying the tasks. Make your guests feel welcome by catering to their interests while also accomplishing goals for the event. Food, entertainment and decorations are significant parts. As long as you know your objectives and plan accordingly, your next event will be memorable and the talk of the town for all the right reasons.

Thinking Of The Fine Details Before Your Big Day

When planning your wedding months in advance, you likely still have a never-ending list of things to do, and that list only seems to keep growing. The importance of making sure all guests attend and that the venue is dream-like are both things which will play on your mind the most, but it’s also important that you don’t forget the finer details of your wedding. It’s the little things that ensure your big day goes off without a hitch, and failure to think about them could cause problems for you. Here are some of the finer details you should consider before you get married.

Bad weather.

Outdoor weddings are very popular right now, and the ideal scenic wedding embedded in nature will likely be a beautiful setting for your beautiful day. Nonetheless, something that’s never mentioned in the films when people have glorious outdoor weddings is that weather can be unpredictable. You should be prepared for this fact and organise your wedding for the height of summer if it’s going to take place outdoors. Regardless, there should always be an indoor backup plan just in case the weather takes a turn; you can never know for sure that nature will play ball.

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[Photo courtesy of Lukas/pexels.com]

Preparing for problems.

You don’t want to entertain the possibility that something could go wrong on your perfect day, but you need to do so if you want to protect yourself. You and your soon-to-be spouse love one another, but problems can arise in different forms; valuables can be broken, or suppliers can mess up. You might want to consider a company such as wed insure to add a layer of protection to your big day. Having insurance just gives you extra peace of mind so that, should something go wrong with the venue, the suppliers, or the bride or groom falling ill, you have coverage to save you the thousands you spent on your big day.

Essentially, you’d want to be able to re-plan your wedding in the near future if there were any problems, but if you sink a huge amount of money down the drain then you might not be able to afford another wedding for a long time. It’s important to prepare for things going wrong so that you have a safety net in place to ensure you can re-plan the wedding shortly. Thinking about money isn’t very romantic, but it’s the only way that you can afford to create the perfect wedding.

The table plan.

Making sure you’ve invited all your friends and family and that they can attend on your specific date is obviously the most important part of planning the guest-list. However, your work isn’t quite done, yet. You need to think about the finer details in terms of the table plan. Think about the politics of seating certain people together; you don’t want any of the children to have to sit on a table with stuffy, boring old adults. Likewise, you don’t want a close friend to feel out of place on a table with your family members. Mix and match, but try to make sure that your guests have people on their tables with whom they’ll click.

5 Common Wedding Mistakes And How You Can Avoid Them

While you want to have the perfect wedding day, invariably things will go wrong. While you shouldn’t worry too much about the minor problems, here are common mistakes you can avoid.

Ensuring you have a dream wedding, no matter the cost

From the time when you were a little girl playing make-believe with your Barbie dolls, you have probably always had an idea of your dream wedding. Sometimes dreams do come true, but there has to be some level of realism to counter your imagination.

While your dream may involve a horse-drawn carriage, a fairy-tale wedding dress, and a magnificent castle for a venue, your bank balance may not be able to accommodate everything you want. Think big, but cut down on costs when you know you can’t afford certain things. You don’t want to start your marriage in debt, so be wise and budget. While your wedding may not be as glamorous in reality, you can still have a beautiful day.

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[Photo courtesy of opertv/pixabay.com]

Forgetting the needs of others

From choosing the wedding date to finding the right location, make sure other people can attend your wedding. You may want to fly abroad and get married, but how many of your friends and family can afford to make the trip? Before you arrange a date, talk to the people closest to you, and encourage them to make room in their diaries. While you can’t accommodate everybody on your guest list, at least make sure the people you want to be there can make it on the day.

Failing to account for the weather

When planning an outdoor wedding, the best time of year should be the summer. However, as we all know, we can’t predict the weather, no matter what the forecaster says on tv. Always have a plan B, such as hiring a marquee should the hot day suddenly turn into a deluge of rain. After all, you want your guests to enjoy the wedding, and not run to their cars when the sky darkens over.

Not hiring a photographer

Your wedding only lasts for a day, but you want to keep your happy memories alive. Now, while you could hire a family member to take pictures, you never know how competent they really are. Somebody who won’t accidentally leave the lens cap is on is a professional photographer, who will capture those perfect moments throughout your wedding, giving you something to treasure for many years to come.

Missing people from the guest list

You don’t want to invite everybody you know as you will end up paying a fortune. However, there are people you probably should invite, if only to keep peace within your family. So if your mum insists you invite your cousin Billy-Bob from the other side of the country, smile through gritted teeth and add him to the list.

Of course, there are people you really want to be at the wedding, so plan in advance and make sure they get an invite to make your day complete.

Documenting Your Lives Together From The Moment You Say “Yes”

From the moment he proposes, your lives will never be the same again. You are now officially a team, working together to enjoy a beautiful life as a married couple. Of course, the months between this moment and the time you arrive home from your honeymoon are going to whizz by. So much will happen, and it will change so fast that you might not have a chance to savor any of those beautiful moments. This is why more and more couples are documenting their journey from ‘Yes’ to ‘I Do’ and beyond.

It’s going to happen fast, so it’s worth planning or scheduling the important bits. Hire a photographer for the big proposal (assuming it’s not a surprise.) This gives you a chance to enjoy the moment and allows a professional to capture the look on each of your faces. If it’s a public proposal, then be sure to document everyone else’s reactions too. There will be cheers and congratulations to capture. You might want to include moments with each of your parents as they hear the happy news.

As you plan your wedding, there will be many more occasions that you might like to record. Sometimes it’s nice to take plenty of pictures of all the things you tried, even if you didn’t select them for the big day. This could include cake tasting, menu sampling, bouquet choices, and even dress fittings. These are the moments that add to the excitement of a wedding but seem to be forgotten by the time you reach your big day.

Last Moments Before ‘I Do’

What about your stag and hen parties? These events are very important to the bride and groom. It’s always worth preserving a few pictures of the night for the album. By now you already have plenty of images to compile in the book. You might start to consider how you wish to present them all when you come back from honeymoon.

Of course, by the time you reach your wedding day, you will have selected your preferred wedding photographer. There are often several different packages to choose from. Why not include shots of the bride getting ready and the wedding party assembling? The bride arriving at the ceremony, the happy couple saying their vows, and leaving the venue as a married couple are just the standard shots. Consider some posed shots to show off your hair and dress.

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[Photo courtesy of Pixabay/pexels.com]

Now You’re Married!

Your reception will be a happy event attended by everyone you love. It’s important to capture group photos as well as individual pics of the people who were there. You might leave notes on the tables asking guests to upload pics of each other to your Instagram or FaceBook pages. This can help you decide which ones you want to include in your album later on.

Don’t forget to take a good quality camera on honeymoon with you. There will be plenty of interesting sights to see as well as amazing activities to share with your husband. All of these moments will be over all-too-soon. Thank goodness you have all those wonderful photos to relive and reminisce!

How You Can Add a Touch of Luxury to Your Wedding Day Without Spending a Fortune

So, your wedding is fast approached, but are you ready for it yet? If you haven’t yet thought about how you can add some luxury to your wedding day, now is the time to do that. Don’t worry, though; you don’t have to spend a lot of money to make your day special and luxurious. Here are some great ways to add a touch of luxury to your wedding day without spending a future. Learn about them below.

Try Out Candles and Creative Lighting Solutions

You should give some thought to the lighting options in your home if you want to add more luxury to your wedding day. Something as simple as adding some candles to your wedding reception and the tables can make a huge difference. They add a bit of lowkey, pared down luxury. You should also look at other lighting options in order to get the atmosphere of your wedding day just right. This can make your wedding feel better than it ever otherwise could.

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Use a Luxury Car Service That You Pay for by the Hour

Everyone needs a way of getting the their wedding ceremony, and for many people, having an element of luxury here is key. No one wants to turn up in the back of a taxi. However, hiring a car and driver for the day can be really expensive. You don’t have to do that, though. Instead, you can hire a car that you pay for by the hour. This limousine service does that, as do many others. The benefit of this is that you only pay for the service for a short period of time, keeping costs down.

Use the Best Silk Flowers

Every wedding needs to have flowers, but it’s easy to forget about how much buying flowers for a wedding can cost. You might not have the budget to have the luxury flowers that you want for your wedding day. If that’s the case, why not just make the most of silk flowers? They can look great and convincing, but they won’t cost the huge amount of money that you often have to pay for authentic wedding flowers. So, don’t assume that flowers have to drain your budget.

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Make the Most of the Decorative Details

There are lots of decorative details that you can make the most of. And this is not just about making things look good. It can also make your entire wedding day seem more luxurious because those small things really do stand out and change how your entire wedding feels. For example, you could choose a retro and vintage theme for your wedding. This gives you plenty of scope to try new things and make small changes that give a luxurious feel to the wedding.

As you now know, there are lots of great ways to add some touches of luxury to your big day. And you don’t need to break the bank to take advantage of them. That has to be positive, so try these out.

Things To Do When Choosing Your Dream Wedding Venue

We know what it is like; when it comes to your wedding there are more decisions to make than you can ever possibly comprehend. That’s why prioritizing your list is so important. Knowing what matters most on your big day is the only way you will be able to make sense of the endless options you’re staring at, but nothing is more important than your wedding venue.

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This is one of the most important decisions you and your husband to be will make. This is because choosing where you will get married is a massive deal; it is what sets the tone of your day and is the superglue that will hold so much of your wedding together, and so much of planning will hang in the balance until you finally decide.

As such, we have come up with a few things to make a note of when it comes to choosing your venue. Enjoy.

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Know The Budget

You and your partner need to be open, honest and committed to how much of your total budget you are willing to spend on getting the venue of your dreams. Is it going to be 25% of the budget? Or maybe half? This can be tricky, so make sure you know what you are getting with that money. Think about capacity, location, and how much bang they offer you for your buck.

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Number Of Guests

You don’t need to have a fixed number. You don’t need to say, we are having 112 adults and 14 children. That’s because this number will change; it’s part and parcel of the guest list game. However, you should have a rough idea of how many people you want to join in with your celebrations. By knowing this, your vendors will be able to tell you how much they’ll charge, meaning you’ll know how much you have to spend, and what sort of wedding you’ll have; big or small.

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Tour With The Photographer

This is often the most stressful and most fun part of the venue hunt, but to lean more toward the fun side of things we recommend is you take your chosen photographer along with you, if you can that is. Your photographs are going to be your reminder of that big day for years, so you’ll want to get this right. If you know you want to have the wedding in Lake Como, and you know you want to use Vittore Buzzi, then take them to the venue and let them help you decide what will look best. This will help this go smoother on the day and let them plan their shots a little more in advance.

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Know Your Theme

Knowing what theme you want to run with on your big day will have a big sway over what venue you choose because certain style will complement certain venues more than others. Your wedding venue is going to be a huge party of love story you tell, so decide whether you want it to be inside or outside, formal or casual, country chic or black-tie. Your wedding planner and photographer will be able to help you understand how to best interpret this and bring it to life when it matters.