Money-Saving Tips for Brides on a Small Budget

Budget-conscious brides need to pay extra attention to wedding details if they want to save money planning a wedding. Here are some money-saving tips for brides on a small budget.

Brides who find themselves on a small budget can benefit from wedding planning money-saving tips for a number of reasons. Not only do money-saving tips help you stay within your budget limits while planning your wedding, but they can also help simplify the entire wedding planning process. For example, combining services or opting for sale items can often give you what you need quicker and more conveniently.

If you’re on a small wedding planning budget and need to watch your spending, then it’s important to focus on the details, because that is where all of your expenses will add up very quickly. Here are some money-saving tips for brides on a small budget:

Buy wedding favors in bulk—This is one tip that really pays attention to the details. Wedding favors are typically seen as extras or tiny details in the grand scheme of things, but their expense can really make a difference in your overall spending. To save some cash and get the favors you need, consider buying your favors in bulk. You get plenty of favors and you end up paying less per favor this way.

Condense with a wedding package—One of the best ways to save money and stick to your modest wedding budget is to condense your larger ceremony and reception venue expenses by condensing with a package deal. Many resorts and venue locations offer affordable package deals that save you money if you use the venue space for both your ceremony and reception, instead of having each part of the event at a separate location. Talk to your wedding planner and on-site coordinators at the venues you’re interested in to discover your options.

Seek alternative dress options—Dress shopping is another area you can save big. Consider bridal dress rentals, which some bridal shops offer, or buying a gown secondhand. You can also buy a gown style that is discontinued and save significantly on your bridal gown expense. This is one of many great money-saving tips for brides on a small budget.

U.S. Castle Wedding Venues for Your Fairytale Wedding

Want a real fairytale wedding, one that is complete with the castle? Check out this amazing list of castle locations in the United States that provide wedding accommodations.

Looking for castle wedding venues for your fairytale wedding? Not willing to travel abroad to experience that perfect castle wedding? Never fear! There are plenty of beautiful, romantic, and fairytale-worthy castles in the United States. Check out this list of U.S. castle wedding venues for your fairytale wedding and decide which one will best suit your needs.

OHEKA Castle Hotel & Estate, Huntington, NY

Joey Fatone wed his childhood sweetheart at the OHEKA Castle Hotel & Estate, and you’ll see why the moment you enter the gates of the French Chateau-inspired venue. The OHEKA Castle schedules only one wedding per day, so the entire venue is yours. Located just an hour from Manhattan, the OHEKA castle offers high-quality service, an exquisite formal dining room, and 32 luxurious guestrooms for you and your guests. Considered to be one of the most unforgettable wedding venues in existence, it is one of the most luxurious castle wedding venues for your fairytale wedding.

Falkenstein Castle, Burnet, TX

According to the owners of the Falkenstein Castle, plans for the castle were designed by the same architect and designer of the infamous Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany, King Ludwig the II. Located 50 miles west of Austin, the Falkenstein Castle offers guests the culture and romance of the medieval time period. Between natural beauty of two State Parks and 3 of the Highland lakes, the French Gothic carved altar, and beautiful butterfly gardens, the ambience of Falkenstein Castle is practically unmatched. Rented out to only one couple a week, the Falkenstein is one of the most picturesque castle wedding venues for your fairytale wedding.

Biltmore Estate, Asheville, NC

Offering beauty, elegance, sophistication, exquisite accommodations, tailored services, and mounds of activities for you and your guests, the Biltmore Estates in Asheville, NC offers more options to brides than almost any other wedding vendor in existence. Built by George Vanderbilt in 1895, this French Chateau-inspired wedding venue offers true 19^th century style, elegance, and service to their brides. Biltmore Estates even offers carriage rides to the lovely couple on their wedding day, making the Biltmore one of the most enchanted castle wedding venues for your fairytale wedding.

Questions You Should Ask Your Caterer before Hiring Them

With most weddings, catering accounts for the majority of the wedding budget. Make sure you know what you’re paying for and that your reception will go off without a hitch with these important questions to ask your caterer before you hire them. 

Like all of your vendors, there are some very important questions you should ask your caterer. Some of the questions may help you in your hiring decision. Others will help you avoid any last-minute catering mishaps at your wedding. So, whether you are trying to decide which caterer to hire or just trying to make sure your catering services are planned and ready to go, these questions you should ask your caterer will keep you right on track.

The Legal Stuff

Some of the questions you should ask your caterer have to do with the legalities of their business and how they relate to your wedding. If you plan on serving alcohol, you will need to know whether or not the potential caterer has a license to serve alcoholic beverages. If not, you may have to hire separate staff to do so.

References and Portfolios

Having a catering business doesn’t necessarily mean professionalism or high quality. Take the time to check your caterer’s references. Ask them if they have a portfolio of some previously catered events. Look over their portfolio and ask them a lot of questions about the event featured so that you can get an idea as to whether or not the caterer in question can handle your wedding day needs.

Billing

Your catering bill can account for almost half of your total wedding budget, so billing questions should be on the prioritized list of questions you should ask your caterer. Some billing questions you might want to ask include:

Do you require a deposit? How much is it and when is it due?

When is the balance due? How much will it be?

Are there any cancellation fees?

How much is the cost per head? Are gratuities and taxes included?

Are tables, linens, barware, glassware, and other serving items included? How much are they if they cost extra?

Is there a cake cutting fee?

Can you offer a large-volume discount on beverage purchases?

 

Remember that these budget questions you should ask your caterer are meant to help you keep your budget under control and on track.

How to Choose the Music for Your Wedding Reception

Music at your wedding can make a lasting impression on your guests. It can also be one of the most fun aspects of your wedding to plan. But be careful, because planning the music for your wedding can quickly turn into a nightmare. To keep this from happening, try some of these useful tips.

Trying to choose the music for your wedding reception but feeling a little flustered? Don’t worry. You’re not alone. A lot of couples overthink the music for their wedding. They get nervous about choosing just the right songs. They can’t seem to decide on the type of music they want. All of these issues and more can suck all of the fun out of choosing music for your reception. But never fear—there are a few tips you can use to help you choose the music for your wedding reception.

Deciding on a Live Band or a DJ

If you’re like most people, you know that nothing can really replace the sound of a live band. On the other hand, a really good DJ can keep the party hoppin’ and have your guests on the dance floor doing the “Chicken Dance” in a matter of mere seconds. Often, the decision between a live band and DJ rests in the hands of the wedding budget. If you are on a limited budget, you probably don’t have enough to hire a good, quality live band, so go for the best DJ you can find when trying to choose the music for your wedding reception.

Pick a Few Good Songs

Some couples get overly stressed because they try to line up a full night’s worth of songs. If you hire a good band or DJ, you shouldn’t have to do this. You can give your musician a short list of songs that are important to you, fill them in on the theme of your wedding, tell them what kind of music you like and have faith that they can plan accordingly. Most professional musicians, both bands and DJs, are experienced in setting the tone and the atmosphere wherever they go. Save yourself some stress; let the professionals do their job and know that you don’t have to choose the music for your wedding reception from beginning to end.

Non-Floral Wedding Reception Centerpiece Ideas

Not interested in floral centerpieces? Try these centerpiece ideas for your wedding reception instead.

There are a number of reasons brides consider non-floral wedding reception centerpiece ideas. Whether the bride and groom sufferer from allergies or the couple wants to spare their guests from possible allergy attacks, floral centerpieces can be avoided.

Some brides even want to bypass floral centerpieces because of cost or to experiment with an unconventional decor trend. Flower arrangements for wedding receptions can be costly, and it never hurts to play with new decor trends, so if you fall into one of these camps, we have some non-floral wedding reception centerpiece ideas for you right here.

Embroidery hoops with Bohemian flair—One of the latest non-floral wedding reception centerpiece trends is to use decorative embroidery hoops with uptown, chic Bohemian flair. You can incorporate this centerpiece idea with the rest of your place setting spreads and even your table linens and chair covers.

Pillar candles of various lengths—This is a great wedding reception centerpiece idea for both modern and classic, vintage-style weddings because the types of pillars you use is entirely up to you. A hot trend as of late is to use bright, bold colors to create an abstract work of art. You can use a combination of colors or the same colors for a uniform look. Choose pillar candles of all different sizes and group them together to create your centerpiece. Try placing the arrangement on a round, beveled mirror and toss a few rose pedals around it to top off the look

Fruit centerpieces—This wedding reception centerpiece idea works great to accentuate the season you are getting married in. For example, use mini pumpkins or squash in the fall or pinecones with apples and peppermint scented potpourri for a winter wedding. Place the fruits and potpourri mixes of your choice in large, clear bowls to get the full effect.

Seascape touches—Having a summer or beach wedding? Try using centerpieces made of various corals and sea-themed items, such as sea sponges, starfish, sand dollars, and conch shells. You can collect your own shells from the seashore and gather coral and starfish replica items from specialty stores.

Try any of these non-floral wedding reception centerpiece ideas for fun, fresh centerpiece arrangements on your wedding day.

Decor Tips to Help Make Your Wedding Reception Cozier

Do you want to create a warm, inviting atmosphere at your wedding reception? Are you looking for ways to make the reception environment cozier to encourage a friendly, comfortable occasion for your large number of guests? Try these decor tips.

There are plenty of reasons to use decor tips to make your wedding reception cozier. Decor tips that cozy up your reception can really come in handy if you have a large guest list and you want to make your event warmer and more inviting. Also, if you have a love for vintage, romantic style, cozying up your wedding reception can express your sense of style and your personality.

Try these decor tips to help make your wedding reception cozier:

Area rugs—There is something about an area rug that warms a room right up. Maybe it’s the “lived in” feel it provides or the additional patterns on the floor that make the area feel less open. Whatever it is, one thing is certain—using area rugs at your wedding reception can make the whole event feel instantly cozier.

Centerpiece vases with character—If you’re going to use traditional flower centerpieces on your table, consider switching up the vases. Try different vase styles on each table instead of making them uniform, and search for pastel vases with cracked, chipped coating, or old preserve jars, cans, or flowerpots.

Candlelight—This is “Cozy Decor Tip Number One.” Overload the room with candlelight and opt for the dimmest lighting possible. You don’t want your guests struggling to see one another in the dark, but the dimmer, the better.

Foliage—Finally, don’t forget to add additional foliage. In fact, use as much as your budget and space restrictions will allow. Large plants in the corner, extra green filler with the centerpieces, various floral arrangements, and even with the chandeliers or cake table will do the trick. Add more foliage wherever you can to create a lived-in feel. 

Also, pay attention to the color scheme you use. Warm brown tones mixed with chic ivories or a combination of cool pastels can do wonders for warming up your reception. By using these decor tips, you can make your wedding reception cozier and more stylish.

Top Dos and Don’ts for Planning Your Wedding

Need a simple, straightforward approach to planning your wedding? Then take a look at these top dos and don’ts for planning your wedding.

Our top dos and don’ts for planning your wedding will help simplify your wedding planning process. They will even help you sort out the fluff from the really important stuff. Keep reading and find out what you should and shouldn’t do on your big day with our top dos and don’ts for planning your wedding.

Do: Choose a Theme

This might seem pretty self-explanatory, which might make you wonder why it made our list of top dos and don’ts for planning your wedding. The answer is simple, though. A theme will ensure a cohesive look and feel throughout your wedding decor from beginning to end. Your theme should be incorporated into every aspect of your wedding, from the ceremony to the reception. You may even want to use your theme for your honeymoon location, especially if you choose an exotic theme.

Don’t: Micromanage

This is probably the hardest rule to follow on our list of top dos and don’ts for planning your wedding. It can be hard to surrender some control on your big day and the weeks leading up to it, but giving away some control is essential to the survival of your sanity. Stress overload can create a very edgy bride and a day that is less than perfect. Remember, the most important detail of your wedding day is the beginning of your new life together.

Do: Hold Your Reception after Dark

Make your reception a night to remember by holding it after dark. The late night hours are intended only for adult guests, so you’re creating something more like a date night out for busy parents, making this rule on our list of dos and don’ts for planning your wedding a way to create a night everyone will remember. Serve drinks, food, and have lots of dancing to keep the night hoppin’. You may even consider serving a late-night “breakfast.”

Don’t: Forget the Sparkle

Forgetting the sparkle takes the magic out of your reception. This is important for all weddings, but especially when the couple is planning a nighttime reception. Holding your reception in a ballroom offers automatic sparkle, but you can also create your own with crystals and candle accents. And don’t forget—this rule on our list of dos and don’ts for planning your wedding also applies to the bride and her attire!