Make sure you don’t make these wedding-planning mistakes!

1. When planning their special day, brides tend to put a lot of pressure on themselves, and everyone involved, to make the day absolutely perfect. What you need to remember is that even though your wedding is one of the most important days of your life, it’s just ONE day. Savor the days leading up to your wedding as well. Your engagement is a very special time. Don’t spend it stressed out and anxious! Besides, stressing leads to overeating, which is never good for a bride-to-be.
2. A lot of brides tend to overspend in a big way. I have seen wedding budgets double over the course of a long engagement. Remember, you do NOT want to start your marriage off broke. Think ahead, and make sure you won’t need the money to buy a house, car, or pay your bills before you spend it.
3. We hate to say this, but it needs to be said! Too many brides buy dresses that are a size too small. A lot of times, wedding dresses tend to run small, so if you wear an 8, you might need a 10. I know that it would boost your confidence to squeeze into a smaller size, but your fat pockets hanging out just aren’t flattering. You will feel better about yourself if you look good– who cares about a number on your dress. (Just cut out the tag!) Plus, you want to be able to dance the night away with your new hubby without feeling too sucked in!
4. Once you get your mother and mother-in-law involved, they will have you inviting everyone you’ve ever met and never cared to see again to your wedding! Brides tend to go crazy inviting too many people, which is a bad idea for several reasons. First of all, you will end up spending too much on invitations and postage… especially when you invite those people that you know have no intention of coming. Secondly, you are paying for a plate of food for each person you invite. Third, you don’t want to waste an hour of your reception (especially if you are limited on time) greeting people whose names you don’t even remember!
5. Sometimes, stress causes a bride-to-be to start obsessing over the small details– the color of the napkins, the font on the placeholder cards, or whether to throw rice or birdseed. Before you start going crazy on the details, ask yourself these question: Does this specific thing really matter to you? Will you remember it in 5 years? Will it make or break your wedding day? If you answer no, then let it slide.
6. One of the most common mistakes of wedding planning is when brides-to-be become too controlling. Remember– it is your fiance’s wedding day too! Men act like they don’t care, but they do– and they SHOULD! They most likely won’t care about flower colors or whether or not you curl your hair, but there are certain things that they will want. And they should be at least partly involved in the wedding planning process.
7. When people get overwhelmed, they tend to put things off. And that is why many brides procrastinate! Take advantage of your engagement to get things done a little bit at a time. Plan ahead, and take care of the major things way in advance so that if there is a problem, you will have plenty of time to deal with it!
8. A classic mistake brides-to-be make is ticking people off who are involved in the wedding planning. Your wedding planner, mother, sisters, and bridesmaids are there to help you, but don’t let the power go to your head. Remember—you can catch more bees with honey than you can with vinegar!
9. Some brides will never admit to this mistake… but it happens all the time! They choose ugly bridesmaids’ dresses to make themselves stand out! DON’T LIE… you know it’s tempting! But the only person it really makes look bad is you… and if you don’t want them to steal the show, don’t give people a reason to gossip about them.
10. It is CRITICAL that you do not make this last mistake… Don’t get so involved about planning your wedding day that it makes you forget what this day means. This is the beginning of your life together. Make this time exciting; you won’t regret it.

Take our “Are you a Bridezilla” quiz if you are guilty of some of these typical mistakes.

I have gotten some “Ask Tinka” emails about throwing a wedding as little as $1000 so I decided to respond with an idea I have.  Afterall, everyone deserves to celebrate their wedding– even those who don’t have $15,000 to spend!

If I were getting married with a small budget and wanted to have a simple wedding day with only close family and friends, this is what I would do: I would have the wedding and reception at my home or the home of a close relative or friend. It’s cozy and best of all, FREE! I would wear a simple white sundress and have my groom wear something casual like khakis and a white shirt. Then, instead of a traditional buffet or sit-down dinner, I’d serve coffee, hot chocolate, and cake! Get your favorite songs together to play on your stereo and have a designated area for dancing. Keep the reception short– about an hour or two and maybe serve wine and beer.

That sounds just delightful to me

1. Gratuity! Gratuity is usually added to the final bill for your caterer. However, it is also polite to tip waiters/waitresses, bartenders, church musicians, and any others who you think deserve it.
2. Taxes! Don’t forget to include taxes in your budget for the dress and tux, flowers, food, and beverages. You may think you are paying $20 per person and end up paying over $25!
3. Overtime! Many wedding vendors such as photographers and DJs charge overtime fees. You never know until the day of your wedding how long you are going to need them so make sure to work this out BEFORE your big day!
4. Food for your wedding vendors! Don’t forget to feed your wedding vendors! Your photographer, videographer, DJ, etc. will probably be at your wedding for more than 6 hours. Unless you want them to leave to get dinner, make sure you have a meal for each of them.
5. Postage! Some invitations can cost up to $2 for postage. If you are sending out 100 invitations, that adds up to $200. Make sure to leave some room in your budget for stamps.

BM= bridesmaid or best man
MOH= maid/matron of honor
GM= groomsmen
FH= future husband
FW= future wife
FG= flower girl
RB= ring bearer
MOB= mother of the bride
MOG= mother of the groom
FOB= father of the bride
FOG= father of the groom

Any others?

COLORS

ATTIRE: A mermaid gown with a chapel train. A short bubble veil will compliment the look perfectly.

LOCATION: A glamorous indoor setting such as a ballroom. Don’t forget your red carpet!

CAKE: Couture wedding cake. A classy, couture cake with red and/or gold accents.

MENU: A sit-down dinner with only the finest foods. Serve steak and/or lobster, and don’t forget the wine!

OTHER IDEAS:
- Don’t forget your red carpet!
- Leave your reception VIP-style in a stretch limo!
- Place disposable cameras on each table and let your guests know they are your paparrazzi!
- Don’t forget to hire a videographer!

When planning your wedding, remember that you are starting your life with the one you love. And it is important to get that life started on the right foot! That means having a special wedding day but also keeping the life ahead of you in mind. You don’t want to come home from your honeymoon to bills, bills, and more bills. So, the question is—how do you have the wedding you have always dreamed about without putting a huge dent in your bank account?

1. Ask recently married friends what they recall and treasure about their wedding day. You’d be surprised at how little some of them remember. Your wedding day is usually like a whirlwind of events surrounded by few moments that you truly hold dear. Friends who have been through the experience before can help trim down the list of what you want to spend money on and help you decide on what is most important.
2. Get crafty! Things like wedding favors and centerpieces can get really expensive really fast. Wedding favors can be as simple as a candy bar in a personalized wrapper that you could design and print yourself! For centerpieces, go for candles and a photograph of you and your significant other instead of flowers, which are extremely expensive. Another idea is to incorporate the favors into your centerpiece, which can save extra cash.
3. Get married on a Sunday instead of a Saturday– in the winter or fall instead of summer or spring. Most wedding venues have discounted prices for these things.
4. Trim down your guest list. You don’t have to invite everyone you and your family members have ever met. This will save money on invitations AND food!
5. Opt for beer and wine instead of liquor. Also, if you have your wedding earlier in the day, less people will want to drink.
6. Keep the reception under 4 hours. Most venues charge extra if you go over time. (And people will drink more if the reception is extremely long.)
7. Have the ceremony and reception in the same location to keep from having to pay two hefty bills.
8. Print out your own invitations and programs. Most of them will eventually end up in the trash can, and that is money literally being thrown away. You can even design online wedding invitations to save money on postage and supplies.
9. Have a budget, and stick to it! After you figure out how much money will be available to you, sit down with your significant other and create a budget for everything you want. You may even want to take cash with you when wedding shopping to keep you from going over your budget.
10. From the moment you get engaged, be on the look out for sales and deals. Don’t wait until the last minute to buy everything! Take advantage of your engagement period and give yourself time to find all the necessities—most importantly, an inexpensive wedding gown.

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, this wedding theme is perfect for a romantic day! Think roses, wine, and candles…

COLORS: Reds & pinks. Use Valentine’s Day as your inspiration to pick romantic wedding colors.

FLOWERS: White, red, and pink roses. Nothing is more romantic than roses.

ATTIRE: A flowing wedding dress with an empire waist & sweetheart neckline. You can add flowers in your hair for a nice touch.

LOCATION: A church or outdoor setting would be most romantic. Include a lot of flowers and candles. Have the flower girl sprinkle red rose petals down the isle.

CAKE: 3-layer with a heart-shaped top tier. You can have it decorated in many ways with red and pink roses. Sprinkle rose pedals around the cake for a beautiful look.

MENU: An Italian sit-down dinner. Include stuffed mushrooms and Italian meatballs for your appetizer. Serve a ceasar or Tuscan garden salad. Your main course options can include chicken marsala and eggplant parmigiana. Make sure to offer wine as well.

OTHER IDEAS: For this theme, you should definitely write your own wedding vows. (Read our related article: The Secret to Writing your Own Wedding Vows). Have your wedding party read love poems for a romantic touch.

A romantic ceremony should include a lot of slow dancing. Play love songs or have a live band.

Finally, leave your wedding in romantic style by riding away in a horse drawn carriage. Europe would be a fabulous honeymoon getaway!

Today, it is more common to use a small alter to hold the sand containers so that the couples is left with a keepsake. You can purchase sand in various colors (to match your wedding color scheme, for example) along with two smaller glass containers for the bride and groom and one larger glass container representing your marriage, relationship and new life.

The sand ceremony can also be away to involve other family members. If you have children, your children may also participate by pouring some sand into the container as well. Parents of the bride and groom may also be involved.

Personalize Your Sand Ceremony Set

The vases for your wedding sand ceremony can be purchased at craft stores, or for a more meaningful approach, consider purchasing special sand ceremony sets. Such sets can be monogrammed with initials or the date of the wedding.

Sample Unity Sand Ceremony

After the minister reads the statement below, the bride and groom pour the two containers of sand into the third container simultaneously.

“(Bride) and (Groom), today you join your once separate lives together. The two separate bottles of sand symbolize your separate lives, separate families and separate sets of friends. They represent your past, your history and your life before today. As these two containers of sand are poured into the third container, the individual containers of sand will no longer exist, but will be joined together as one. Just as these grains of sand can never be separated and poured again into the individual containers, so will your marriage be.”

So many “something blues” in this winter wedding theme!

COLORS: Wintery blues and silver. Let the winter season be your guide in choosing the right blues and silver.
  

FLOWERS: Hydrangeas in white & various shades of blue. Your bouquet can include white and light blue flowers while your bridesmaids’ bouquets incorporate darker blue flowers.

ATTIRE: A shiny, satin gown with light blue trim or a light blue sash and long, satin gloves. Dress up your groom’s traditional tux with a light blue tie and vest. Have your bridesmaids all wear various shades of frosty blues. A super cute idea would be for you and your bridesmaids to all have small fur coats to sport around after the ceremony.

LOCATION: A cabin, church, or antebellum home. You definitely want to have an indoor ceremony & reception for this theme. Even if the weather in your state in bearable, you want your guests to feel cozy. Have a fire going during the reception if possible.

CAKE: White cake with light blue accents. Adding snowflakes would be a nice touch.

MENU: Warm, holiday foods. Have a soup bar instead of salad bar. Serve honey-baked ham, roasted potatoes, and a vegetable medley with warm dinner rolls. As a special treat, offer hot cocoa with dessert.

OTHER IDEAS: AmericanBridal.com has clear jewels to spread on the table that resemble icicles. They also have frosty blue-colored candle wedding favors that would be perfect for this theme.

Don’t let your wedding be just like any other. Below are 6 ways of putting your own personal touch on your special day.

Create a picture slideshow for your wedding reception! Nothing looks as fancy and personalized than a video of you and your soon-to-be hubby over the years. It can start with baby pictures then include pictures of the two of you together. It is unique and definitely entertaining.

Edit a “Dating Story” video for your wedding reception! No one will forget your wedding if you include a segment featuring you and your honey’s love story. Be sure to include individual and joint interviews and some old home movies and pictures of the two of you.

Include personalized music for each person in your wedding party to be introduced! Choose music that fits everyone’s personality so they can have a moment to shine. This is always a fun addition to a wedding.

Have a live band or musician! Nowadays, this is a rare treat. The type of music you listen to definitely shows a part of your personality, and your pick for a live band or musician will give your wedding a personal feel.

Use small frames with a picture of you and your fiance as the favors! No one will forget whose wedding day it is with this as a favor! And they can always replace it with a picture of their choice when they get home.

Personalize your vows! Most weddings include similar vows so writing your own is really the best way to express what the day means to YOU.

Any other ideas about how to personalize your wedding day? Leave us a comment.

TOP 5 WAYS TO GET THE GROOM INTERESTED IN WEDDING PLANNING

Most men are simply not going to be as excited about or interested in planning a wedding! So for you brides-to-be, here are some tips for getting your honey involved.

1. Let him be in total control of something. One thing that may turn off a groom-to-be from even talking about the upcoming wedding is when his bride won’t let him make any decisions. Ask him his opinions about music, seating, colors, etc. and if he feels strongly about something, let him have his way.

 

2. Tell him that he can decide on what kind of groom’s cake he wants all by himself. You can even let him decide the music that is playing while it is being cut. He can arrange it all himself, which is one less thing you will have to worry about.
3. Play to his strengths. If he loves music, get him to help pick a band, a DJ, or the songs that you want played. If he is into technology, let him create a wedding website that tells your guests all of the information they need to know about the wedding. Find something that he likes, and get him excited about it.
4. One thing a man is always going to be concerned about is MONEY! You most likely won’t have any trouble getting your guy to sit down and create a budget with you. Make sure you have some prices of local wedding vendors handy to show him the average costs so he won’t underestimate the price. (Check out our wedding business directory—which is currently being populated).
5. They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. And nothing motivates men quite like food can! Let him take a part in choosing the menu for your guests. A man is not going to tolerate eating something he does not like on his wedding day! Also, you won’t have to drag your fiance to cake tastings. It’s all about finding things to motivate him to get involved.

And remember, once your man puts effort into planning your wedding, he is not going to want to let anything fall through the cracks. If you let him get excited about it, you will have him helping you with all the mundane details in no time!

Budget: $10,000
Ceremony venue: $300
Reception venue: $800
Officiant: $100
Florist: $700
Caterer/Food: $1500
DJ: $800
Wedding dress & alterations: $700
Suit/Tux: 150
Bride & Groom Accessories: $400
Cake: $200
Photographer: $1000
Videographer: $600
Invitations/Announcements: $300
Favors: $150
Hair, Make-up, etc: $100
Transporation: $200
Rings: $800
Wedding party gifts: $200
Marriage license (depends on state): about $50
Alcohol: $500
Other costs (decorations, ceremony accessories, etc): $450