Your wedding dress:

Start shopping right away. You won’t feel rushed or pressured into buying something and you’ll be able to shop smart.

Simple plain dresses are usually less expensive than the ones with lace, pearls/beads etc..

You could buy a plain dress and add lace, beads etc.. yourself. Or get someone to do it for you.

Rent or borrow a dress. If you like your mother`s, sister`s or friends dress ask them if you could borrow it. But don`t be offended if they refuse as a wedding dress is very sacred to most women.

Look around second hand shops/charity shops. You`ll be surprised at the amount they get given, and they are usually inexpensive.

The venue:

Book the ceremony/reception well in advance you may be able to negotiate a better price then you would if you left it to the last minute.

Have your wedding on off-peak months. November to April rates will probably be reduced. Christmas weddings are more expensive though so if you are planning a Christmas wedding you will have to cut your finances.

Instead of a grand ballroom or banquet hall, think less-expensive venues, like publicly owned buildings and parks, registry office, the church or temple hall, the backyard, the beach, a restaurant’s private room. You may have to get a permit to marry in a public place, but it will be less than a private banquet room.

Catering:

Look around for caterers. Get different quotes before you decide on one.

Choose cheaper entrees, like prawns instead of lobster, vegetables like broccoli instead of asparagus will cut the cost, too.

Cut down on courses. If you’re having a cocktail hour, do you really need an appetizer course? Do you need soup and salad?

Instead of waiter service, have a buffet bar.

Think ethnic! Mexican, Indian, Italian, or Chinese food is fun and much cheaper per person than the traditional wedding menu. See if your favorite restaurant caters.

If you are having a themed wedding create your menu around the theme.

Have the wedding cake only as dessert and eliminate any other sweets (eclairs, pastries, etc.).

Consider a wedding breakfast or brunch (omelettes, muffins, pancakes, French toast), or a tea (a variety of tea flavors, finger sandwiches, scones and jams, etc.) to save money.

The more tiers and decorations your cake has the more expensive it will be.

Buy your own drink it will work out a lot cheaper than paying the caterers or venues prices.

Photos:

Compare hourly fees and package deals to see which is more cost-effective for you.

Give disposable cameras as wedding favours. Then you can get copies of the day’s events from family and friends.

Have a professional photographer take the formal pictures and shoot the ceremony; have guests take all reception photos.

Visit your local college`s photography department and check out some of the students’ portfolios. They will do your photography a lot cheaper and just as good as a professional

Ask friends and family to video the big day for you.

Flowers:

Use flowers that are in season and/or locally grown they’re less expensive than out-of-season flowers that must be shipped to your area.

Have bouquet with just a few large flowers, like orchids, tulips, lilies, or sunflowers, tied with a ribbon.

If you are marrying at Christmas or Easter, your church may already be decked out beautifully.

Arrange to share the cost of ceremony decorations with the couple marrying directly before or after you that day.

Use silk or dried flowers instead of fresh ones in table centerpieces.

Music:

DJs are less expensive than live bands.

Ask a family member or friend’s child to sing at the reception.

Hire music for the evening reception only. People are usually too busy chatting to notice anyway.

Ask at the local college/university for young musicians.

Invitations:

Send invitations that are light enough when completely assembled to require only a single stamp for mailing.

Make your own invitation cards. They are cheaper and more personal.

If you are having a themed wedding make cards to do with the theme.

Transportation:

Limousines are cheap enough to hire for an hour. Find out in advance how long the ceremony will take.

Only hire a limo for the bride and groom; have attendants driven in relatives’ cars, or have them drive themselves in groups.

You might be able to hire a horse and carriage for just as less. Check the Yellow pages for any in your area.

We hope these are of some use to you. Good luck.

Forget the Traditional Wedding Planning, Go for a Theme Wedding!

Your wedding day is the most important day until the birth of your children, so make it special for you and your fiancée. Start the wedding planning with a theme wedding; these are very popular these days and so much more fun than the traditional, stuffy types almost everyone tends to lean toward. Be different and your wedding will be one of the most memorable events of the year.

There are many themes to choose from in the wedding planning phase of things. If you are to be married on a beach, then go for a theme such as Hawaiian luau, Caribbean islands or for the very fun hearted a pirate theme. If you are getting married outdoors then you could choose to have wedding planning for a garden party theme, Country theme, Backyard BBQ theme, Night under the Stars theme if it is at night or a casual elegant affair for just a few friends and family.

You can also mix things up a bit and have  the wedding planning done around themes such as Disco Party, Hippy Days, the Big Hair 80’s, favorite sports themes, favorite hobby themes, the list are endless of what you can come up with.

Just bear in mind this is you and your fiancée’s day and no one else’s, so the wedding planning should be all about the tow of you and what each of you likes not what everyone else will like. Don’t be afraid to go outside the box, after all creativity is something all of us should use more often. This is how beautiful things come about.

You could even do wedding planning around certain places in the world you would love to travel together, such as an Italian, French, European, Mexican or Portuguese themed wedding with foods from that area and favorite desserts as well as decorations that make everyone feel as if they were magically transported there for one evening only.

For More Information, please visit www.mgproduction.ca

Your wedding dress
Start shopping right away. You wont feel rushed or pressured into buying something, and youll be able to shop smart.

Simple plain dresses are usually less expensive then the ones with lace, pearls beads etc..

You could buy a plain dress and add lace, beads etc.. yourself. Or get someone to do it for you.

Rent or borrow a dress. If you like your mothers, sisters or friends dress ask them if you could borrow it. But dont be offended if they refuse as a wedding dress is very sacred to most women.

Look around second hand shops charity shops. Youll be surprised at the amount they get given, and they are usually inexpensive.

The venue
Book the ceremony reception well in advance you may be able to negotiate a better price then you would if you left it to the last minute.

Have your wedding on off peak months. November to April rates will probably be reduced. Christmas weddings are more expensive though so if you are planning a Christmas wedding you will have to cut your finances.

Instead of a grand ballroom or banquet hall, think less expensive venues, like publicly owned buildings and parks, registry office, the church or temple hall, the backyard, the beach, a restaurants private room. You may have to get a permit to marry in a public place, but it will be less than a private banquet room.

Catering
Look around for caterers. Get different quotes before you decide on one.

Choose cheaper entrees, like prawns instead of lobster, vegetables like broccoli instead of asparagus will cut the cost, too.

Cut down on courses. If youre having a cocktail hour, do you really need an appetizer course Do you need soup and salad

Instead of waiter service, have a buffet bar.

Think ethnic Mexican, Indian, Italian, or Chinese food is fun and much cheaper per person than the traditional wedding menu. See if your favorite restaurant caters.

If you are having a themed wedding create your menu around the theme.

Have the wedding cake only as dessert and eliminate any other sweets eclairs, pastries, etc..

Consider a wedding breakfast or brunch omelettes, muffins, pancakes, French toast, or a tea a variety of tea flavors, finger sandwiches, scones and jams, etc. to save money.

The more tiers and decorations your cake has the more expensive it will be.

Buy your own drink it will work out a lot cheaper then paying the caterers or venues prices.

Photos
Compare hourly fees and package deals to see which is more cost effective for you.

Give disposable cameras as wedding favours. Then you can get copies of the days events from family and friends.

Have a professional photographer take the formal pictures and shoot the ceremony have guests take all reception photos.

Visit your local colleges photography department and check out some of the students portfolios. They will do your photography a lot cheaper and just as good as a professional

Ask friends and family to video the big day for you.

Flowers
Use flowers that are in season and/or locally grown theyre less expensive than out of season flowers that must be shipped to your area.

Have bouquet with just a few large flowers, like orchids, tulips, lilies, or sunflowers, tied with a ribbon.

If you are marrying at Christmas or Easter, your church may already be decked out beautifully.

Arrange to share the cost of ceremony decorations with the couple marrying directly before or after you that day.

Use silk or dried flowers instead of fresh ones in table centerpieces.

Music
DJs are less expensive than live bands.

Ask a family member or friends child to sing at the reception.

Hire music for the evening reception only. People are usually to busy chatting to notice any way.

Ask at the local college university for young musicians.

Invitations
Send invitations that are light enough when completely assembled to require only a single stamp for mailing.

Make your own invitation cards. They are cheaper and more personal.

If you are having a themed wedding make cards to do with the theme.

Transportation
Limousines are cheap enough to hire for an hour. Find out in advance how long the ceremony will take.

Only hire a limo for the bride and groom, have attendants driven in relatives’cars, or have them drive themselves in groups.

You might be able to hire a horse and carriage for just as less. Check the Yellow pages for any in your area.

We hope these are of some use to you. Good luck

A wedding is considered a traditional occasion since it involves a solemn ceremony as gathered guests witness the exchange of vows between two people. Nowadays, there are couples that may choose a specific wedding theme while planning for the celebration.

If you are one of the many people who are looking for a different and enjoyable wedding, why not try and pick a fun wedding theme for you and your guests. Just ensure that your guests will have easy access to the requirements of your themed wedding such as attire and gifts.

Here are 7 fun wedding theme ideas that you may like for your own wedding:

1. Viva Las Vegas Wedding Theme

If you and your loved one had been to Las Vegas and enjoyed the fun and excitement of playing craps, slot machines and poker, you can also have a wedding based on your Vegas experience. It doesn’t have to be an all-out Vegas style from top to toe. You can ask your planner to scout for roulette and craps tables and poker dealers, as well as a celebrity impersonator to entertain your guests at the reception. You can also give away personalized deck of cards, crystal dice or sets of poker chips as wedding favors.

2.  Country Style Wedding Theme

If you’ve heard of a shotgun wedding, why not put it into good use in your own wedding. A country western theme is a good choice if you and your loved one are from the west. But hey, you can enjoy a country western theme even if you’re from the metro. A wild wild west theme complete with horses, barbecue cookout and a country band can surely make your wedding enjoyable.

Finding attire for you and your guests shouldn’t be too difficult as well. But if attire is a bit over the top, you can stick with the basic outfits and concentrate on the other areas such as the reception, wedding favors and decorations. A country style wedding theme is also best celebrated outdoors because of the barbecue cookout, country band stand and dancing.

3.  Hawaiian Wedding Theme

If you want more fun for your guests, why not throw a Hawaiian luau for a reception. Attire shouldn’t be a problem because you can ask them to wear something comfy and something that screams Hawaii. White or beige dress and shirt and trousers for you and your loved one are perfect to complement the theme. You should also go for colourful flowers such as orchids, mums and daisies for the bouquet and decorations for the reception.

You may serve roast pig, tropical fruits, seafood, pina coladas and other Hawaiian treats. This wedding theme is best held outdoors if you cannot have it on the beach.

4. Sporty Wedding Theme

If you wish to have a sporty wedding theme, make sure that both you and your loved one enjoy sports. Choose once sport or team for your wedding theme particularly for the decorations and favors. You can go all the way or partially if you love a specific sport (i.e. baseball, basketball, tennis, etc.), but you also need to inform your guests about it especially if you prefer them to wear sporty attire.

5. Chocolate Wedding Theme

Now, don’t think only of confections because chocolate is synonymous to sugar, candy, pastries and desserts. When you think about chocolate, think of the entirety of your wedding- from color motif, wedding cake flavor and desserts that will be served, and others. You can have a chocolate brown motif for your bridesmaids’ and flower girls’ dresses. Your table setting can be a combination of chocolate brown accents on white or beige table cloths.

A chocolate fountain is also a good attraction and it may also add fun not just for the kids but also for the adults. And how about adding an extraordinary dish for your guests that truly say chocolate? Mexico’s famous mole poblano is a dish that has chocolate as one of its main ingredients. You can have your caterer prepare it for you or you can order from a Mexican restaurant that serves it.

And of course for favors, you should give away chocolates- a variety of bonbons, truffles or custom-made just for your wedding.

6.  Wine and Spirits Wedding Theme

This is an elegant way of celebrating your wedding but you can always put fun in it by combining food and desserts with wines. A variety of cheeses for appetizers or for wine tasting can be fun and educational for everyone. You can hire a professional sommelier to help put together the best wines for you and your guests. If you have a couple of favorite wines, serve them together with the meal and desserts.

Wine and champagne color motifs can also be incorporated so long as they meet your preference.

7. Tropical Paradise Wedding Theme

Some couples may want to have a tropical paradise theme for their wedding probably because of a previous trip or a personal experience that inspires them. The colors and flavors of the tropics can bring in fun and enjoyment for everyone.

Colorful tropical flora and fruits are the best representations for this wedding theme. Serve your guests with colourful and fragrant fruits as accompaniment for dessert, and let their eyes feast on a mixture of colors as your motif. Yellows, reds, oranges, pinks and greens are the best colors for this theme. You can also have the occasion outdoors with matching plants, flowers, trees and parrots as part of the decor.

When it comes to wedding theme ideas, the possibilities are endless. Your imagination and creativity can play a big role when planning for one. And of course it doesn’t always have to be expensive.

Undoubtedly, the food will be one of the major costs of your wedding reception. Of course you want to make sure that you have enough food for all your guests, but you shouldn’t break the bank with inflated catering costs.

Here are some tips on how to cut costs on your catering bill.

Don’t order too much. Oftentimes couples want to order a few extra trays of hors d’oeuvres, or offer three or four entree options instead of just two. Though these ideas are pluses, they aren’t necessities. You certainly can get away with having minimal hors d’oeuvres, in addition to breads and salads. And when choosing entrees, one chicken (or seafood) and one beef is enough.

Offer only one or two very basic desserts (such as ice cream or mousse) if you are having a large wedding cake. Most people don’t eat dessert (or at least don’t finish it) at a wedding. So don’t waste your money in this area.

Food such as lobster, salmon and shrimp will definitely raise your catering bill. Instead of offering these expensive foods as entrees, use them as appetizers instead.

Choose buffet stations instead of a sit down meal. Food stations that offer different types of sauces and pasta are very popular and relatively inexpensive. You can also also have Mexican, Chinese or Indian cuisine, which are all more inexpensive in food stations than as a sit down meal.

Offer a signature drink rather a full open bar. Having one or two signature cocktails is unique way to add a sophisticated touch to your reception, while also saving you a bit of cash. Here are some cocktail recipes that are perfect to use for signature drinks.

Other ways to save money on your wedding catering bill:

* Plan a daytime wedding – Lunch meals are quite a bit cheaper than dinner.

* Have a dessert only reception – This is an elegant way to save money, but make sure your guests are expecting a full meal.

* Ask your caterer for discounts on children’s plates – The cost to feed a picky child should be cheaper than an adult.

* Have a hors d’oeuvres/salads only reception – Like desserts, these come a lot cheaper than full dinners.

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