We all know the saying "You can't please everyone"! While that may be true, these types of guest criticisms are easily avoided by careful planning -- and addressing them now will make everyone's memories of your wedding day so much nicer.
1. The DJ was obnoxious or played lousy music. Find the best wedding DJ available using recommendations from other brides and the advice of wedding industry professionals.
2. The music was TOO LOUD. Again, hire a great DJ who is experienced and focused on creating a fantastic overall experience for you and your guests. Other suggestions to avoid this common complaint: Move tables and chairs away from speakers and seat older guests further from the sound equipment.
3. Speeches were TOO LONG and we couldn't decipher the words. Keep speeches under five minutes. Ideally, they should last between two and five minutes. A good DJ will spend a few moments with each person making a toast or speech, teaching him or her how to correctly operate and speak into the microphone. He will also use a quality microphone!
4. We didn't know anyone at our table. Take the time to carefully plan your seating arrangement, placing guests at tables with others they know. They don’t have to be fast friends, just acquaintances or people with some kind of connection. Try to seat out-of-town guests, who aren't likely to know anyone, with others having similar interests.
5. I resented paying a dollar to dance with the bride. Unless it’s a long-standing family tradition, and you will offend someone if you break the ritual, the dollar dance is best forgotten.
6. We stood forever in the receiving line. The bride & groom, and their parents are the only required greeters. Better yet, couples should instead consider visiting individual tables during or immediately following dinner. (See #10 below)
7. We had too much time to "kill" between the ceremony and reception. Out-of-town guests are often at a loss for ways to fill the time between a two o'clock wedding and a six o'clock reception. Try to keep the down time to a minimum. When it isn't possible to hold the events within an hour or so of each other, ask the hall if it will open its doors early for your visiting guests (and ask them if there’s a charge). Other options include asking relatives or close friends to invite them to their home for a light snack, or arranging a hospitality suite for them at their hotel.
8. The centerpiece was so large that I couldn't see or talk to guests seated across the table. Smaller, shorter arrangements are best. Your centerpiece shouldn't be the center of attention (or main topic of conversation) at the table.
9. I was offended that I had to pay for drinks. Open bars are the accepted norm. If your budget is tight, offer wine and beer only -- or limit drink choices to “call” brands. You can also close the bar during the dinner hour to save on costs.
10. The bride and groom didn't stop by to say hello. Make the rounds of guest tables at your reception, but don’t spend too much time at each. A quick greeting, thank you or compliment will suffice.
11. I was never thanked for my gift! Share this task with your husband. Divide your list, write your notes at the same time, and make a pact to finish a certain number every night until they are finished. Dangle a carrot in front of your noses. When the last note is FINALLY written, reward yourselves with a special bottle of wine or dinner out. It is customary to mail thank-you notes within three months. You don’t want to wait that long for your carrot anyway, do you?
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Wedding Budgeting 101
Wedding Budgeting 101
Weddings are suppose to be a joyful time in our life, but for many people, they turn out to be a costly nightmare! However, this does not have to be the case at all. In fact, there are tons of different wedding budget ideas out their that you can use to get the most out of your wedding without having to spend an arm and a leg. A wedding budget is also a good way to make sure that you do not go to over the top with planning the wedding. After all, you are starting a new life with the person you love, and you don't want to start off that life in debt because of your wedding! Today we are going to cover a few wedding budget ideas that could save you a ton of money but still give you that wedding you have always dreamed of.
Sample Wedding Budget Ideas that you can use:
•First of all, you already know that flowers can make or break a wedding. However, that does not mean that you have to hire someone to make your flower arrangements. Online you can find tons of different flower arrangements that you can do yourself. After finding the flower arrangement that is right for you (weather it's with fake or real plants), you can gather friends and family together to help you make them. Budget wedding flowers like these can save you tons of money on your wedding.
•The next budget wedding idea has to do with planning your wedding during an off peak season. There are some seasons that are always loaded with weddings. During these times, the prices of popular vendors are going to go through the roof. However, if you can get married during off months, like November through April, then you are going to get a much better deal on services.
•A wedding budget is not complete without a wedding coordinator. When people think of a wedding coordinator, they think of extra expenses. However, wedding coordinators of today can help you by keeping you within a budget that you need. Not only can they help you stay within the budget you have set, but they can help you plan everything, which will take stress off of you.
•Another very costly thing at weddings is the bar. There are many companies that you can hire that will set up a “five hour bar” for you. This is a bar that serves drinks for five hours. Normally this is long enough to get people through the party. However, a great alternative to this is to use a budget bar. This is where you have a bar set up where people can just grab beer or wine all night long. Maybe for an hour you will serve cocktails, but mostly it will just be the beer and wine. Also, champagne punch is always a very classy touch if that is what you are looking for. It allows you to be a little classy without having to spend too much money.
•Next you have to note that a wedding budget can not be put together if you wait until the last minute, meaning that you don't need to put tasks off until the last second. Start planning early. It is better to be over prepared than under prepared. You may also note that this helps you to be more relaxed about the wedding.
•Another good task to give you the feeling that you are saving money is to pay ahead of time for things. Do not wait until the wedding day to pay for everything at once. Although you are really still paying the full price, it will feel like you are spending less money, because you are paying for it a little at a time. This helps out more than people know.
•Next, be sure that you are on a realistic track! It is one thing to tell people what you “want” for your wedding and another thing all together to tell people what you “need” for your wedding. Cover the things that you need first, and find out how much it will be before you get into ordering things that you want.
•Another good tip for budget weddings is to have place card favors. This is a great way to tell people thanks for coming to the wedding without having to spend a lot of money. After all, wedding favors should not have to break your bank.
Overall, when it comes to weddings, you want to be debt free by the end of it, or at least not add any more debt to what you already have. You want your wedding to be a fun day, and a day that you remember because you married the person of your dreams, not because you went further into debt!
Weddings are suppose to be a joyful time in our life, but for many people, they turn out to be a costly nightmare! However, this does not have to be the case at all. In fact, there are tons of different wedding budget ideas out their that you can use to get the most out of your wedding without having to spend an arm and a leg. A wedding budget is also a good way to make sure that you do not go to over the top with planning the wedding. After all, you are starting a new life with the person you love, and you don't want to start off that life in debt because of your wedding! Today we are going to cover a few wedding budget ideas that could save you a ton of money but still give you that wedding you have always dreamed of.
Sample Wedding Budget Ideas that you can use:
•First of all, you already know that flowers can make or break a wedding. However, that does not mean that you have to hire someone to make your flower arrangements. Online you can find tons of different flower arrangements that you can do yourself. After finding the flower arrangement that is right for you (weather it's with fake or real plants), you can gather friends and family together to help you make them. Budget wedding flowers like these can save you tons of money on your wedding.
•The next budget wedding idea has to do with planning your wedding during an off peak season. There are some seasons that are always loaded with weddings. During these times, the prices of popular vendors are going to go through the roof. However, if you can get married during off months, like November through April, then you are going to get a much better deal on services.
•A wedding budget is not complete without a wedding coordinator. When people think of a wedding coordinator, they think of extra expenses. However, wedding coordinators of today can help you by keeping you within a budget that you need. Not only can they help you stay within the budget you have set, but they can help you plan everything, which will take stress off of you.
•Another very costly thing at weddings is the bar. There are many companies that you can hire that will set up a “five hour bar” for you. This is a bar that serves drinks for five hours. Normally this is long enough to get people through the party. However, a great alternative to this is to use a budget bar. This is where you have a bar set up where people can just grab beer or wine all night long. Maybe for an hour you will serve cocktails, but mostly it will just be the beer and wine. Also, champagne punch is always a very classy touch if that is what you are looking for. It allows you to be a little classy without having to spend too much money.
•Next you have to note that a wedding budget can not be put together if you wait until the last minute, meaning that you don't need to put tasks off until the last second. Start planning early. It is better to be over prepared than under prepared. You may also note that this helps you to be more relaxed about the wedding.
•Another good task to give you the feeling that you are saving money is to pay ahead of time for things. Do not wait until the wedding day to pay for everything at once. Although you are really still paying the full price, it will feel like you are spending less money, because you are paying for it a little at a time. This helps out more than people know.
•Next, be sure that you are on a realistic track! It is one thing to tell people what you “want” for your wedding and another thing all together to tell people what you “need” for your wedding. Cover the things that you need first, and find out how much it will be before you get into ordering things that you want.
•Another good tip for budget weddings is to have place card favors. This is a great way to tell people thanks for coming to the wedding without having to spend a lot of money. After all, wedding favors should not have to break your bank.
Overall, when it comes to weddings, you want to be debt free by the end of it, or at least not add any more debt to what you already have. You want your wedding to be a fun day, and a day that you remember because you married the person of your dreams, not because you went further into debt!
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