| He proposed! He got on his knee and asked you | | | | charge, but beware, they will encourage you to |
| to marry him! A tremendous feeling of joy and | | | | buy a dress that is way too large so that the |
| happiness soon followed by panic! I have to plan a | | | | seamstress has more alterations to do, and |
| wedding, a reception, and a honeymoon! I have to | | | | hence, more money for the seamstress and the |
| get a dress! Who are my bridesmaids? Who am I | | | | store.Now let's get into the nitty-gritty, the |
| going to invite? How am I going to pay for it? | | | | reception! The food and banquet hall are quite |
| As a wedding consultant, I know that many of | | | | possibly the most expensive part of the wedding. |
| these questions are swarming around the bride's | | | | Do you research and plan ahead! Banquet halls and |
| head. Yes, these details are all important. Let's put | | | | caterers offer discounts for early booking. Also, |
| this in perspective, though. Your wedding day is | | | | think about having your reception on a Sunday or |
| about you and your future husband making a | | | | a weekday. Banquet halls usually offer discounts |
| commitment of a lifetime to each other. It is only | | | | for less popular days like Sunday afternoon. |
| one day, but a very special day.Now, after you | | | | Once you have picked the date, get the details |
| have calmed down a bit and thought about some | | | | about the offerings from the banquet hall, country |
| of your dreams for the big day, you need to sit | | | | club, or caterer. Is the menu all inclusive or is it a |
| down and set a budget. You need to realistically | | | | la carte? Find out if the bar service, champagne |
| think about it, taking into account your income, | | | | toast, wine at the table, hors d'oeuvres, ice |
| your future husband's income, and anyone else | | | | sculpture, dessert table, and wedding cake are |
| who is contributing to the event. Put it on paper | | | | included or whether there are extra charges for |
| and get an exact amount from those contributing | | | | these items. Do you want and need all these |
| or find out what parts of the wedding they are | | | | items? Consider your options carefully and decide |
| planning on paying for. Do not plan on paying for | | | | what is a must have and what would be just nice |
| the wedding on credit, if you can help it. If you do | | | | to have.One item that has several options to |
| pay with credit cards, make sure that you can | | | | choose from is the bar service. This can be a |
| pay the balance off each month! Also, do not | | | | good chunk of your reception cost! You can either |
| count on your wedding gift money either, | | | | pay for an open bar with or without top shelf |
| because you do not have any idea how much | | | | liquor (but who knows what that will cost!) or you |
| that will be. Plan to save your wedding gift money | | | | can look at the options and pick a package. |
| and use it to start your nest egg. | | | | Consider the basic wine, beer, and soda package |
| Once your budget is on paper, start your planning. | | | | which is usually the least expensive option, or just |
| Get a wedding planning notebook, binder, or CD | | | | offer wine at the table with a champagne toast. |
| for your computer. Or check out the myriad of | | | | Another important factor affecting your budget is |
| wedding planning options on the internet. Write | | | | the time of day for the event. If you have your |
| down the things you would like to do, but make | | | | reception earlier during the day and offer a lunch |
| sure you think of all aspects of the big day from | | | | or brunch you can get away with having fancy |
| the church to the reception. Some of the items | | | | etched plastic dinnerware rather than fine china |
| you need to plan for are the wedding dress, | | | | dinnerware. The banquet hall may not offer the |
| invitations, wedding favors, cake topper, unity | | | | option, but don't hesitate to ask and see. |
| candle holder and gifts for the bridal party. Do | | | | Also, your guests are not going to expect a full |
| your research and save time by checking the | | | | bar during lunch or brunch, so you can easily get |
| internet first. Be sure to compare prices and keep | | | | away without having a bar and just having a |
| in mind delivery charges. | | | | champagne toast, as mentioned previously.Once |
| Let's start off with one of the bride's most | | | | you have nailed down the reception details, make |
| favorite items, the Wedding Dress! I encourage | | | | sure to book the church or reverend, florist, and |
| you to look at all of the bridal magazines and go | | | | the band or D.J. (the D.J. is usually the less |
| to the big department stores or the cute | | | | expensive of the two). Another nice option to |
| boutiques and try on everything you like. But think | | | | consider, is hiring another type of musician such |
| about the following questions before your | | | | as a pianist, violinist, or flutist to provide music |
| purchase. Can you find the dress at an off the | | | | while dinner is served. |
| rack store? Is the dress available online at a | | | | Once again, check to see if you can get a |
| discount web store? Is the same or a similar | | | | discount for booking on a less popular day. As |
| dress being offered on eBay? Also consider | | | | you can see, there are many ways to keep to |
| borrowing a dress from a friend or a relative. Talk | | | | your budget for your wedding day. You may not |
| about inexpensive! Just be sure to have it | | | | be able to afford all of the bells and whistles, but |
| dry-cleaned and boxed after wearing!Another | | | | by keeping to what is important to you and |
| quick note about dresses, rather than getting | | | | remembering that the day is about you and your |
| alterations at the store, consider going to your | | | | future spouse, your wedding day will be a |
| dry-cleaner or a local seamstress. Most of time, | | | | wonderful celebration of the start of your |
| the stores will offer to do alterations for an extra | | | | marriage. |