Wedding Planning

Every woman has dreams of what her wedding day will be like – she can picture the dress, the chapel, and even the cake. Most can even envision the bride and groom dancing on top of the cake in the traditional white gown and tuxedo. With any wedding reception, the cake is always the focal point. You could have ice sculptures, crystal punch bowls, and a famous rock band – the guests will still “ooh” and “ahh” over the cake.

However, not every woman can afford to spend thousands on the cake alone. This can seem like a devastating issue to a nervous bride, but there are solutions when you’re planning a wedding on a budget – you don’t always have to sacrifice glamour for price. There are many ways to get that “oh so perfect cake” without breaking the bank. As long as the cake is beautiful and everyone gets a piece, who cares how much it cost?

When considering the size of the cake, you can consult a local bakery to see what size yields the most pieces. You may find that purchasing a sheet cake, instead of a traditional tiered cake, will feed all your guests for much less money. Make sure whichever style you choose has enough pieces for every guest, plus a few extras – there’s always the inevitable piece that hits the floor and needs to be replaced. In addition, make sure you have someone on-hand who knows how to cut the cake as well, as a cake’s yield is determined by the way it’s cut. If you plan just right, you can save yourself money by not buying more cake than you need.

The ingredients that make up the cake will also add to the cost. In most cases, the frosting and decorations chosen for the cake will be your largest fee. After all, flour is always flour, right? In most cases, you can choose a butter cream frosting to save on cost. Your other options would be fondant or marzipan, but most people agree that butter cream has a better taste. The other thing to consider is whether to have the cake include a filling or not. While a filling can be a tasty addition to any cake, it can cost significantly more, depending on your choice.

After you’ve chosen all the tasty aspects of the cake, it will be time to decide on decorations. Very few brides realize how quickly these expenses add up, or how much of the total cake cost can be attributed to decorations alone. Some cake boutiques or bakeries hire professional decorators to come in and create signature styles, which can include real jewels and even gold dust. When it comes to choosing these styles, the cake design can often cost more than your dress!

However, there are simpler ways to make a very elegant cake. You might consider using edible flowers or ones that aren’t harmful for decoration. You could even choose flowers that will match your wedding bouquets. Another great idea is to choose imitation crystal pieces to decorate the cake. You can typically find these items at bridal and wedding supply shops. You could even consider having a family member or friend design the cake to save a little cash. In this case, be sure to ask for examples of what they can do before accepting their services.

There are many ways to save on the costs of a wedding cake, so budget brides need not fear. Besides, in the end it is the event – not the frills and details – that matters most.

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While the wedding ceremony allows family and friends to witness your commitment to one another, the reception occurs so that they can share in your joy. Wedding receptions give the two families a chance to mingle and learn more about one another while having a good time. As they say, music sets any mood, so the band or musician you choose should be excellent. With that said, it’s not always an easy task to find the perfect entertainer for your reception.

In most cases, a professional musician will cost quite a bit of money and will have very strict demands about what they’re willing to perform. It may also be hard to find a professional that has your date available, as many of the best musicians book up quickly for popular wedding dates. However, there is another option. In many cases, you can find an excellent student musician to perform for your reception. Students often provide the same quality of entertainment, at a much cheaper cost to you.

When searching for a student performer, the best way to go about finding them is to advertise your need for a musician. Since most student musicians don’t advertise their services, you’ll have to go out of your way to find them. You can use community bulletin boards or try putting an ad in your local newspaper. Another way to find a student is to contact a local college music program. Many times, the teachers or staff will be able to recommend a student or group of students who would be perfect for a wedding reception.

Once you’ve identified a possible option, you’ll want to meet with the student to ask a few questions and hear them play. Of course, you need to know the basic information, such as how long have they been playing and what their preferred genre of music is. But there are other questions as well. Ask the student if they have ever performed before – you don’t want stage fright to be an issue. Also ask if they have their own band equipment and what their space requirements are. Be sure to ask if they have their own play list or if they will be comfortable with yours. Most of the time, this will help you weed out any individuals that aren’t ready for public performances.

After you’ve finished with your questions, ask the student to play a piece or two for you, so that you can get a feel for his or her skill level. If you like what you hear, ask the student for references. One of the reasons some people are worried about hiring a student is reliability. By speaking with the people who have previously hired the student, you can be sure that you’re hiring students who treat their commitments like professional musicians. After all, you don’t want to be at your reception and not have the band show up!

If you’re comfortable with your decision, ask about the student’s rate for the evening. Many times you’ll have to haggle to see what the best rate you get is. While you don’t want to spend a fortune on any aspect of your wedding, the musician won’t play for free either. No matter how personable the student is, stick to your budget. If you go over budget in this aspect of the wedding, you’re more likely to go over in other areas as well.

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If you plan to be married in your family’s church by your childhood pastor, you can stop reading right now. However, if you’re one of the many couples today that are looking for ways to better personalize your ceremony, read on for more information on having a friend officiate your wedding. You’ll save hundreds of dollars on hiring a professional wedding officiant, and you’ll wind up with a special ceremony that’s a true reflection of your love and relationship, not just a canned wedding speech. But, as exciting as this may sound, there are still a few things you’ll need to take into consideration.

First, the legality. Unless your friend happens to be an ordained pastor or a local judge, the ceremony that he or she performs won’t be legal. For some couples, this matters a great deal, while others are more concerned that the wedding ceremony be a reflection of their personal relationship – whether legal or not. Most couples who choose to go this route plan to visit the county courthouse either in the week before or the week after the ceremony to take care of the legal aspects of marriage. In fact, some couples find that doing it this way reduces the stress of their wedding day, since they aren’t worried about completing and keeping track of the paperwork.

Next, you’ll need to consider your location. If you do plan to be married in a church, you may be required to use the church’s pastor or priest to officiate your ceremony. However, if you’re set on inviting a friend to speak during the ceremony, you may be able to work with church officials to incorporate a separate speech into the wedding. If you’re planning to be married at an alternate location – for example, a country club, park or other facility – you shouldn’t have a problem inviting a friend to give the ceremony. Of course, it’s always a good idea to check with the contact person at your chosen facility to be sure there are no issues with holding a non-legal ceremony.

With the legal aspects out of the way, you’ve finally reached the most difficult part – choosing the friend you’ll ask to give the ceremony. There are a few things you should keep in mind. First of all, the friend you choose should be someone who knows both of you well. A friend you only know in passing may be uncomfortable sharing in such a special moment and won’t be able to share the personal stories and memories that make this type of ceremony unique. Of course, it’s equally as important to make sure that your friend has a pleasant speaking voice and feels comfortable speaking in front of groups of people. The last thing you want is the memory of your friend stuttering and stumbling through your wedding ceremony.

Finally, there are a few other tips to consider. First, be sure that you have an adequate sound system and microphone for your friend, if necessary. If you’re having an outdoor wedding, or if you’ve invited more than one hundred guests, using a microphone will ensure that all your guests are able to hear your wedding ceremony. In addition, politely ask your friend to write down a copy of what he or she plans to say during the ceremony. Winging it is a great idea for rehearsal dinner speeches or reception toasts – not for the entire ceremony! Also, make time for at least one complete rehearsal of your wedding ceremony to help get rid of any pre-wedding jitters on your friend’s part and to help clean up any awkward sounding text from the speech. With a little extra prep work, you should be well on your way to hosting the personalized ceremony you’ve always dreamed of.

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