Merry Brides: Budget

Showing posts with label Budget. Show all posts

4/27/08

Some Great Options for Cheap Wedding Favors

By: Linda Ellison

The latest statistics show that many couples in the U.S. spend on average around $20,000 for their wedding, including the dress, the tuxedos, the catering, transportation, and so many other things. For many, $20,000 is about half a year’s salary, and all of that for just one day! Yes, it may be the most special day of your life, but still, many couples wonder just how they can perhaps trim a few things in order to bring down that bill – without compromising the beauty of their special day.

Finding some cheap wedding favors wedding favors that don’t seem all that cheap can be one such way. Wedding favors are meant to be a great way for your guests – and for you – to have a keepsake of your special day, and while you want them to be beautiful and expressive, they don’t need to be expensive either.

The First Step to Choosing Cheap Wedding Favors

The first step in picking out some cheap wedding favors is to think about the theme or design of your wedding. If it’s something more traditional, you want favors that reflect this; if your wedding is more casual, then you may have more options.

Cheap wedding favors for a traditional wedding may include small candy dishes, picture frames, or candlesticks. For more casual wedding, you could tie the favors in with the theme – a beach wedding may be a bag of seashells, an outdoor wedding may be seed packets.

The Next Step – Assembling Them Yourself

The next step is to consider what types of wedding favors you can make or at least assemble yourself. Tulle bags full of Hershey’s Kisses or Jordan Almonds are always a favorite. Do you bake? Homemade sugar cookies in the shape of hearts wrapped in pink wax paper is a special treat.

There are also many items you can purchase if you don’t want edible favors, for example, small soaps, key chains in the shape of a heart, and coasters are good ideas.

Another suggestion for cheap wedding favors is personalized candy bar wrappers. Many companies that offer these products will allow you to just purchase the wrappers and foil by themselves, and you can buy your own candy bars and wrap them yourself, saving you quite a bit of money.

Most companies that offer candy bar wrappers have a variety of designs available that will match your wedding’s theme. You can check leading wedding websites such as The Knot, Wed Alert, and Favors and Wraps; these have personalized wrappers available, and of course their inventory is always being updated with new items.

So if you’re looking to trim a few dollars from your wedding bill but don’t want to look as if you’ve compromised anything, cheap wedding favors may be an option, if you’re willing to take some time to shop and compare.

Additional Wedding Advice

http://merrybrides.blog.com
http://merrybrides.livejournal.com
http://weddingsbyashlee.blogspot.com
http://funweddings.blogspot.com

Article by:
Linda Ellison is a freelance writer who specializes in trends and lifestyles. Her previously published fiction works, including the Dana Ford Mystery Series, have been on bookshelves nationwide. Visit http://www.favorsandwraps.com/ to read more about the latest trends in wedding favors.

2/4/08

Wedding Day Meal Options

Wedding Day Meal Options

(MS) - One of the biggest decisions a couple has to make when planning a wedding concerns how to feed the guests. This boils down to two choices: a sit down meal or a buffet style serving. Each has their ups and downs, and which route to take typically depends on a number of factors.

· Degree of formality: Formal weddings often call for a sit-down meal, as it's generally viewed as more elegant. But this doesn't exclude the buffet- style option from formal weddings. At more laid back, but still formal, weddings a buffet-style meal is perfectly acceptable. For weddings that aren't as formal, it's generally best (and less expensive) to offer a buffet style meal.

· The guest list: The global nature of the world today means friends and family are spread out more than ever. The guest lists at many weddings are increasingly looking like a United Nations summit, with attendees coming from all over the map. If a wedding guest list features many guests who have flown or traveled from afar, it might be more appropriate to offer a more relaxed, sit down meal.

The age of guests should be considered as well before deciding on a meal option. If there will be lots of elderly people or even guests with young children, it's probably easier on them to offer a sit down meal. For weddings that boast a particularly young guest list, a buffet style might encourage more mingling and allow those guests to meet one another a lot easier than a sit down meal would.

· Budget: Buffet-style meals are generally less expensive, but this isn't always the case. Some think a sit-down meal will cost more because a wait staff is required to serve the food and drinks. While this is true to an extent, buffet-style meals still require a staff on hand to replace food that has run out. In addition, the time of day of the reception plays a role as well. For example, a buffet-style lunch will not be nearly as expensive as a buffet-style dinner. In general, though, a buffet at a wedding is almost always more budget-friendly than a sit down, typically costing far less per plate.

· Flexibility: Guest lists are often unique, with each guest having particular preferences when it comes to food. This makes buffets an especially attractive option. Sit down meals can be very limiting, which won't bode well for picky eaters. A buffet, however, offers many selections, and chances are even the pickiest of eaters will find something they can devour.

Recommended Reading

Wedding Menus

Addition Wedding Planning Advice
http://merrybrides.livejournal.com
http://funweddings.blog.com
http://windsor.weddingwindow.com
http://weddingsbyashlee.blogspot.com

12/10/07

Window to your Wedding

With destination weddings on the rise, it is becoming more and more important for couples to have a means for informing their guests of their upcoming wedding plans as well as provide recommendations for out-of-town guests.

Wedding websites allow your guests one-stop shopping when it comes time for them to arrange their travel plans as well as other details. You can be as specific as you wish and link your website directly to the hotel reservation pages that you would like to recommend to your guests. You will find that having a website is not only a time-saver but a budget-saver as well. The multiple mailings that can sometimes become necessary to communicate with your guests can easily eat up a good portion of any wedding budget. Allowing your guests to RSVP online will also cut down on your wedding expenses. No need for RSVP cards! However, you can always order just enough for those guests who may not be web savvy.

Destination weddings have definitely become a way for couples to express their style in a less traditional way. If you choose to have your wedding in a destination location, try to make it a fun experience for you and your fiancé as well as for your guests. Destination Wedding Tips 1. Location, Location, Location. When selecting a location, choose one that appeals to your tastes and wedding style. Keep in mind, however, that because it won't be as easy as going down the street to the local church to attend your wedding, you'll have to assume that your guest list may be smaller. You'll need to get a good sense about the number of attendees you wish to have before selecting your event facility so you can be confident that it will be appropriate for the crowd.

2. Less is More. Destination weddings can be expensive not only for those getting married, but also for those attending. Try to be mindful of that when selecting your wedding site so those who are closest to you can afford to attend. Consider having your wedding during the off-season so costs will be lower. Traditionally, accommodation expenses are covered for the bridesmaids by the bride's family and for the groomsmen by the groom's family. All other guests should be responsible for their own expenses. Most hotels will work with you to offer group discounts.

3. Assist your Guests. You may know the location that you will be flying off to for your dream wedding like the back of your hand, but most of your guests will not. Your wedding website can be a tool to help you educate your guests about the area, local attractions, accommodation ideas, the weather and directions. Making their job easier will only amount in a larger turnout at your wedding. Use your website to remind them of the things they may not consider such as a passport if required for your chosen location.

Recommended Wedding Website Link:

Wedding Window - Design your wedding site in minutes.

Additional Wedding Articles
http://merrybrides.blog.com
http://funweddings.blogspot.com
http://merrybrides.livejournal.com

© 2007 Wedding Window. All rights reserved.