Cover all your wedding planning bases with these expert tips no to-be-wed should be without. When planning your wedding, there are top tips for brides book that are nice to know, and there are things you need to know—advice so essential any bride who’s lucky enough to hear it thinks, “I’m so glad someone told me that!
This will ensure there’s ample space for your crew. As a rule of thumb, allow for 25 to 30 square feet per guest. Here’s a handy list of potentially problematic wedding dates coming up in the calendar. Guests have been known to skip out early from hotter-than-hot summer tent weddings and improperly heated winter loft receptions.
Consider renting pest control tanks to alleviate the problem or including bug repellent in guests’ gift bags. Pay It Forward Let one vendor lead you to another. Your wedding photographer can tell you which florist’s blooms really pop, and your reception manager should know which band consistently packs the dance floor. Remember, half of your wedding expenses go to wining and dining your guests. Later on, though, they may be less inclined to meet you halfway. Make a Meal Plan Another unforeseen expense? Before you sign the contracts, make sure you’re not required to serve the same meal to your vendors that guests will receive.
Otherwise, you could be paying for 20 additional lobster tails. Set up a special email address dedicated to your wedding, and store important vendor numbers in your cell phone. Tend to Your Bar Typically, you need one bartender per 50 guests to keep the line at a minimum. 8 percent for miscellaneous items like a wedding coordinator. When working with them, you should feel free to really explore what it is you want—maybe it’s serving a late-night snack instead of a first course or doing a bridal portrait session rather than an engagement session. The bottom line is that you should feel like you can have an honest conversation with them about what it is you want.
The closer your date, the more bargaining power you have. Since most people book their wedding venues at least six months in advance, calling for open dates two months prior to your desired time can save you up to 25 percent. And, Friday and Sunday weddings should cost about 30 percent less than Saturday weddings. But not all stamps are widely available at every post office, especially in large quantities. Save yourself scouting time by ordering them online at USPS. And be sure to weigh your invitation and all the additional paper products before you send them out so you can attach the right amount of postage.
