Planning the wedding of your dreams doesn't have to be stressful and certainly doesn't have to break the bank! Use your smarts and delve into your creative side to help keep things simple and concentrate on the things that are important to you. Here are a few tips to help you keep a hold of your wedding plans...
Limit the number of guests at your wedding
Whatever theme, location or venue that you go for try to limit the number of guests you invite, a small wedding can be just as fun and often more memorable than a huge lavish affair - you will get to spend more quality time with your guests, it will be more intimate and relaxed for you and your guests. Plus small runs are no problem for us so if you only need a few coolers then we can help!
Choosing Your Wedding Dress - and keeping within your budget!
The Dress ... This may be the most important thing to the bride and the one thing that she will want to spend a bit more money on - however it doesn't have to break the bank!
Make sure that you spend some time looking though bridal magazines, borrow some if you can as they can be a little pricey, check out what dress types will suit your body shape and what styles will match the feel of your wedding. This will help you to narrow down your search and help to find those hidden bargains.
If you are handy with a sewing machine, why not find the perfect pattern for you and make your own? Maybe you have a friend that is into dress making too, you could collaborate to make the ultimate gown!?
Perhaps you have a family heirloom that your mother or grandmother wore on their wedding day? You could make a few alterations to give it a modern twist and have a dress that is one of a kind.
Check out second hand online shopping sites and the charity shops too... remember that a wedding dress that is for sale may be a second dress that a bride decided against that has never been worn, or a loved dress that was cared for and worn once! If you would prefer something new and off the shelf then check out the department stores - they often have a line of wedding dresses that are stylish and within budget.
Another option is to rent your dress, this will save any worries about where to keep it after the big event!
Savings on your Invitations!
With the changes in digital technology and the smart phone starting to slowly take over the world... you could definitely take advantage of that and save some cash. Why not take a look at one of the many design packages for your computer and have a stab at designing your own invites - you can then email it to those in the digital world and only have a few to print and send in the 'snail' mail. Plus once you have it designed you can send your artwork through to your suppliers to match your invite colours and patterns to your favors/bombonniere ideas. Consider
If you want to send a physical invite you could go for something different, like creating it in the form of a magnet or stubby holder - something that will be kept and appreciated and not just thrown away after the invitation has been accepted.
Flowers for Your Wedding - Cheap & Cheerful...!
Have you ever thought of becoming a florist? There are some great short courses out there that will help to prepare you with the basic information about arranging flowers - that way you could organise your own and save yourself stacks of cash!
Try to choose flowers that are in season, and inexpensive types such as carnations, daisies and chrysanthemums. You could also consider using fresh or dried fruit for your table decorations, they are also inexpensive and can look fantastic as part of a centrepiece design.
With digital cameras coming on leaps and bounds you could ask a family member or maybe a couple of friends to take some photographs for you? Obviously this can put a little pressure on the individuals and may take them away from the experience of the day, so it might be an idea to display the link to a digital share site where all of your guests can upload their own photos - that way you will get to see so many different angles! Or maybe a disposable camera for each table - they are always a blast when you come to developing the films!
Try contacting your local school, university or amateur photography group, they may be looking for an assignment as part of a photography course and would most likely jump at the opportunity of some extra experience and shots for their portfolio.
If you do employ a professional wedding photographer for the job make sure that you give them a clear list of the shots you would like, both the where and the who, that way it can be extremely organised and you can make the most of the time that you book them in for.
A Bargain Wedding Cake... Tastes so good!
The price you may pay for a wedding cake can vary depending on the complexity of your design, how much work is involved and how many tiers you choose! You could pay anything from $100 to thousands of dollars!
If you are looking to save some money on the cake then why not make your own! Take a look at some helpful videos you can find online, you can learn how to make the cake, ice and decorate it or even how to create a cupcake tower, if you can make it a DIY job then you will save so much money!
Maybe you have a family friend that is a fantastic cake maker; often the personal touch will make it taste so much better too! Alternatively, you could choose a plain iced off the shelf 'birthday' cake and add your own cake toppers to wedding it up and match your theme!
Hair & Makeup
"I've never seen a smiling face that was not beautiful."
If you are employing a professional stylist to make you look stunning on your wedding day then it is likely to cost you top dollar! Some hair & makeup artists will even stick around for a quick touch up between the ceremony and reception, but you may have to pay extra for this service. When it comes to weddings artists tend to use high quality products, something that will stay on all day and night, and the price will certainly be reflective of both that and the fact that more time is spent on the job as a whole.
If you are looking to save some cash why not do your own makeup and ask a friend to help you with your hair, it would be great fun to have a few girly nights to practice in the run up to the big day so that you can perfect your look. One of the girls could keep some touch up and hairspray in their clutch bag to be on hand if you need a little spritz throughout the day.
Don't forget, beauty comes from within and you will be beaming with joy on your wedding day! All you will need to wear is your smile and you are sure to look happy and radiant!
Bombonierre, Gifts and Wedding Favor ideas on a Budget...!
When choosing your wedding favors and bombonierre make sure that you consider something that is going to give you real value for money and be sure to go for something that your guests will keep as a memento of your special day! There are so many items out there to choose from that will look great on your tables to match your decorations!
Choose something that you can add individual guest names to, that way you are adding a really personal touch and combining the gift as a place name-card so you will of course make a saving there! Check out some of our gift ideas including Coolaz Stubby Holders, Koozies, Coasters and Save the Date Magnets at www.coolaz.com.au
Choose a Destination Wedding - so your budget doesn't fly away with you!
More and more couples each year are escaping the traditional big celebration wedding in favour of a smaller more intimate ceremony in an exotic location.
This can work out a little more expensive for your guests as they will have to go that extra mile to get there, but many resorts offer a full package deal so that you know exactly what you are getting and whether it will suit your budget?! You can also spoil your guests with a little gift on arrival or on the day of your wedding - Coolaz Stubby Holders are ideal as they are light weight and will pack flat in the bottom of your suitcase!
Don't forget you can stay on at your destination for an extra week or so after your guests leave - that way it will become a combined wedding & honeymoon... and will be sure to save you some money!
Happy Planning!
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