Five Budget Friendly Wedding Ideas

September 26, 2013 Leave a Comment

Who doesn’t love to save money? Even brides with mega-sized budgets want to save cash in one place so they can spend more in another. Budget simply means getting more bang for your buck! Bridal Hot List has narrowed down five of the most practical and classy budget friendly wedding ideas to use in planning for your big day!

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1. Limit your bar to beer, wine, & champagne only. The majority of guests will have more than just one drink during the celebration, so offering a nice array of beers, red, and white wine will satisfy these folks throughout the meal and reception. It is also difficult to plan for hard alcohol drinks with all the different brand choices and mixer preferences that might be ordered. The hard liquor drinkers will either choose an alternative beverage, or hit a bar on the way home. Eliminating hard liquor from the reception also reduces the chances of possible over consumption and resulting horror stories courtesy of your guests!

2. Enlist a talented friend or family member for beauty services. Here’s why: licensed professionals charge more because they bring their own make up & fresh applicators, plus the cost of advertising and opportunity cost for not being available to other clients all day. They also charge brides extra because they see dollar signs! There’s a good chance that out of all the women (& men) you or your friends and family know, somebody has a knack for applying make-up and/or styling hair. Ask around and start contacting these people for a trial. They don’t have to be professionals or have a portfolio, but you do have to love their work and feel comfortable with them. You already have make up that works for you, and plenty of it. Your bridesmaids do too. Why not use what you already have & work it?

3. Cut your floral costs. There are a few things you can do to keep your floral costs low. The first is to choose a floral scheme that only includes blooms that are in season. This not only makes sense financially, but will tie your wedding in with the season it takes place. Second, talk to your florist about incorporating greens to ‘fill out’ arrangements. Fronds from palms and ferns add an exotic and dramatic touch to centerpieces and décor. Lastly, have your florist set up sturdy vases with water at your table and where your bridal party will sit. Your bouquets will have a special place to go, instead of lying on the table looking all sad & wilted!

4. Order plain invitations & add fancy details yourself. Unless you absolutely hate doing crafts, this idea will please your wallet as well as your creative side. You can glue on lace, feathers, decals, add monogrammed stickers, tie on a ribbon….whatever you like! But, don’t over-do it! Be sure to order extra invitations to practice on and have someone you trust give you honest feedback. Also, factor in postage. Extra large, heavy, or awkward envelope shapes may need extra stamps. You’re well on your way to expensive looking invitations that you can take pride in!

5. Choose a Friday or a Sunday for your wedding day. Saturday is typically the most expensive day to book a venue for your wedding, because it is the most popular! Most people don’t mind taking Friday off work and enjoying a long weekend for the sake of attending your lovely wedding. If you have it on a Sunday, a daytime wedding is equally delightful, and gives your guests plenty of time to travel to your venue the night before and check into their hotel room. Extra party points if you invite your guests out to drinks after the rehearsal dinner!

Budget saving ideas are actually really all about incorporating creativity into your wedding and affording you freedom to splurge on the things you want. If you find yourself fretting about money as you plan your trip down the aisle, one or all of these ideas will slash costs without sacrificing quality.

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Four Tips on Planning a Memorable Wedding

July 24, 2013 1 Comment

Wedding Wednesday is here and we have some amazing wedding day tips to share.  When the advice from your friends and parents just isn’t what you’re looking for when planning a wedding, you need another source you can turn to for inspiration. So when you’re ready to have a great wedding, use the tips in today’s Wedding Wednesday  to guide you.

  • When sending out your wedding invitations, remember that it is your day, so avoid any person or combination of people that will ruin it in any way for you. It may be an insult to someone not to be invited, but if having them at your wedding will cause even the slightest of issues for you or your future spouse, it is really in your best interest to keep them off your guest list.

 

  • Have an unexpected twist at your wedding to make it more memorable. If you are planning to have your wedding during the summer, consider having a winter related theme. If your wedding is planned for the winter, you could try a beach theme. Guests will remember that your wedding theme was different from the actual season.

 

  • If you’ve been asked to photograph a wedding but are new to the job, your most important task it to create a shot list. Ask the couple what kind of photographs they would like you to take and then make a checklist to guide you through the wedding and ease your stress level.

 

  • Make sure that the groom has appropriate socks for the wedding! Socks are such a small item that they may seem insignificant, but when he realizes that all his good socks are in the wash he may end up scrambling to buy a new pair at the last minute. Save him the hassle by picking him up a pair of “wedding socks” and keeping them aside for the big day.

As you can see from these fabulous tips, a wedding doesn’t have to be a complicated or stressful thing. You can use some practical advice, streamline the process, hit every note, and ultimately pull off a simplistic wedding that you can truly make you proud.

 

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Three Fun Summer Wedding Ideas

July 14, 2013 1 Comment

Good Morning lovelies, Sunday morning is looking oh so gorgeous today. Hot, but still gorgeous. It is Summer, and that means barbecues, cold drinks, and days at the pool or beach. I am loving summer. What I like even more than summer, are summer weddings. Summer weddings and all the fun that you can have. Here are some fun summer wedding ideas for you and your guests. Ready to jump into some fun goodness? I know I am.

  • Beach BBQ: Treat your guests to a lovely day at the beach and enjoy some burgers, hot dogs, lemonade, and some sweet watermelon. Why not replace this with the traditional rehearsal dinner. Who says you have to have your rehearsal dinner at a fancy restaurant  If you are more of the beach gal and beach guy, why not be at a place which you are most happy? Enjoy the beach, the sun, the soft sand on your feet, and some relaxing too.  One word of caution is to make sure not to get too much sun, or wear that sunblock, so you are not a tomato on your wedding day. You want to make sure you are looking fresh and photo ready. Yes, go ahead and head to the beach, but just make sure to take care of that skin! 
  • Cool off: With gorgeous outdoor weddings comes the summer heat, so it is time to cool off your guests with something cold and delicious. At the ceremony, have a drink station serving cold lemonade, ice tea, or cucumber immersed water. Something besides water can attract your guests to a cold treat without being too boring.  You may not want to serve alcoholic drinks during this time, save that for after the “I Do’s”. Your ceremony is special and the most important part, so you probably want it to be as romantic and sweet as can be.
  • Smoothie/Juice Bar: If you are opt to a more healthier treat for your guests, then try a smoothie/Juice Bar at your summer wedding. There are ice cream bars, s’mores stations, and candy bars, which are oh so amazing and so delicious. However if you are more on the healthier side and your guests may be too, go for the Smoothie/Juice Bar. You can even have a signature juice which can be served to your guests, and make it more personal and fun.  Why not take wheat grass shots? Get energized and ready to party and have a great time!

 

 

 

 

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Five July 4th Inspired Wedding Ideas

July 2, 2013 Leave a Comment

The 4th of July means something different to everybody. Picnics in the park, barbecues, and of course fireworks, are all memories I’m sure many of us have.  There are so many ways to celebrate this special day on your special day. So I pulled together five great 4th of July inspired wedding ideas:

Let Them Eat Cupcakes: Although you may not want a three tiered red, white, and blue wedding cake, you can however do cupcakes with red, white, and blue icing. You can even place them in clear cupcake boxes. This allows your guests to take their cupcakes home. You have now created an edible souvenir for your guests!

Drink Up: Festive drinks are great no matter the occasion. So why not serve one that will help people celebrate the 4th? Try this 4th of July layered drink, Sobe Pina Colada, Fruit Punch, G2 Blueberry-Pomegranate. It’s not only visually appealing, it’s also delicious.

Dress Code: Give your guests a dress code. Ask them to dress in the colors that represent the 4th. Whether it’s a navy suit, red dress, or a white shoe, it doesn’t matter. Giving your friends this kind of creative freedom may be a little scary. It’s okay to give rules that may help rein in those friends who may take it a little too far. There is such a thing as being too festive.

Kiddie Blankets: If your reception is outside, this tip may be perfect for you. Often times kids aren’t allowed to attend the reception. If by chance you are allowing them to do so, instead of a table for the children, try laying out picnic blankets for the them to sit on. Create a space where they can eat, and make a mess. It’s also helpful for parents who worry about their children spilling on the beautiful tablecloth, or knocking over the centerpieces. This is also great if by chance you’re going to have a fireworks show.

Ending The Night: It’s traditional to throw rice, rose petals, or even blow bubbles. Try bending tradition a little. Give sparklers to your guests to light for your exit. You can then walk down the lit aisle arm in arm with the one you love, and into your wonderful new life that’s sure to be filled with infinite happiness.

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Top Three Wedding Ideas

January 16, 2013 Leave a Comment

Everyday is a wedding day here on BHL, and we can not get enough of it. Today, we get to reveal the top three wedding ideas for your inspired eyes to view. Yes, we are pretty darn excited.

  • The Groom’s Cake: We all know that most brides think of their wedding day, as their day, and all about them. Right? The groom just shows up and says his ” I do”, and enjoys the party. Right? Well, it may be sometimes be true, however it is great when there is a touch of the groom in the wedding, and that really the day is about a couple who love each other, and want to the world to know about it. What we love about this wedding, was that they incorporated something special for the groom. It is not just a ordinary cake which says “Groom” on it. No, there was for sure some real thought for this one. Being a huge baseball fan, and more than that, a Boston Red Sox fan, the groom’s cake is perfect for the groom. Isn’t just super cool? What was the groom’s reaction? Pure happiness and awe.

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  • Dove Release:  Whether it is bubbles, butterflies, rose petals, rice, or confetti splashed up into the sky after you are married, it is a symbol of happiness, joy, excitement, and love which is shared with all your guests. We are in love with this wedding as it was not just any ordinary dove release.  No. This is much better. After the couple gets married, they each got to hold a dove, and as they kiss, they released the dove up into the sky. Simply magical.

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  • Ring Bearer:  We adore ring bearers and flower girls. We love how sweet it is for a little niece  nephew, cousin, or own child to walk down the aisle and be part of such a special day. However, this wedding had the cutest ones we have ever seen.  We love the idea of the ring bearer with a sign wore over his neck, and a perfect adorable flower girl at his side. All cameras were out for these two, and smiles from cheek to cheek from not only the parents, but all the guests as well. Just so darn cute!

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