Our Tips for Brides Planning Their Own Wedding…
Heirlooms & Vintage Pieces
If you have the opportunity to wear or redesign a wedding gown, please consider it. There’s something so special about donning a vintage gown with so many memories. You can get rid of those eighties-style sleeves by using the fabric for your veil!
Also, if you’re lucky enough to have vintage engagement rings passed down through your family, even if it isn’t your style, still consider making it your own by having it redesigned into a style that’s more you.
Cheap Wedding Decorations
We love IKEA for this. Many of their products make beautiful centrepieces just as they are. These wedding decorations certainly aren’t going to break the bank. If you want to go a step further, there are many simple ways to customise your purchases. A bit of spray paint and cheap additions can help cater these low-cost decor items to your theme perfectly.
Artificial Flowers
Real flowers can cost an absolute fortune. If you’re looking for ways to cut costs on your wedding decor, why not try fake ones? The benefits of artificial flowers really are endless: they’re cheap, easy, and their stamens won’t cause any pesky stains. Why not give them a go today? If you’re feeling brave, you can also try your hand at making your own confetti. There are many guides available online about how to do just this.
Try Not To Go Overboard
Your wedding budget should follow this formula: 50% of total budget to reception; 10% for flowers; For attire 10%; 10% for entertainment/music; 10% for photo/video; 2% for invites; 2% for gifts. Don’t forget to allocate an extra 10% of your money for surprise expenses like additional tailoring needs or umbrellas for a rainy day.
The Awkward Plus-One Scenario
If your guest list is bursting at the seams, or you’re only having a small intimate do, then assess the plus-one scenario. If asked why you’re not allowing single friends to bring guests, size or budget constraints or your parents’ never-ending guest list are always good reasons. However, be prepared; there’s usually always at least one who thinks that the rule doesn’t apply to them.
Do Your Research
Unlike your other wedding items like music, flower arrangements, cake etc., photographs aren’t things you can hear, smell, taste or even see at first—you don’t really know what you’re getting until after the fact. That means careful research and selectiveness regarding professional skills, artistic style and personal demeanour are extra important when choosing your photographer. Most contracts stipulate that the photographer owns the rights to all photos taken at the wedding, even the ones of you. In other words, the photographer can use them on their website, submit them for publication and even place them in ads. That also means you can’t just post the digital proofs they send you—most photographers have a policy that you can only share watermarked images or images with their credit on them. Also, unless you negotiate otherwise if you want to print the images yourselves or order an album from another source, you’ll have to buy the rights to the images. We also suggest you check out a service like Wedding Photo Swap for something a little different.
Choosing a Venue
Finally, it’s true to say that without a venue, not much else can happen! So our advice to you would be to leave all of the other decisions that need to be made (for now!) and focus on finding the venue of your dreams. Many of the most popular wedding venues get booked up months or years in advance, all the more reason to make choosing a venue your priority. And if you find that your preferred date isn’t available, don’t be afraid to consider other options such as Sundays or even a weekday, which is becoming more and more popular due to the saving you can make in the venue hire fees.
