A wedding takes a lot of time, effort and energy. From selecting flowers to selecting attire, most people expect to only do this once. The ideas in this piece is meant to assist you every step of the way so that you get the most from your budget.

When planning your wedding, think about what type of alcohol serving you want, and what type will be the most cost efficient. Open bars are expensive, especially if they’re open for a long time. Speak with the people at the venue about any alcohol serving options.

If you will be catering your own wedding, look to wholesale markets such as Sam’s or Costco to buy supplies. If you’re shopping wholesale, you are able to get a lot of food for less money than shopping retail. See if your friends can split some of the cost.

You don’t want to starve yourself leading up to your wedding day just to fit into your dress. Starving yourself or resorting to unhealthy weight loss tactics causes you to feel dizzy, weak, and light-headed. You don’t want to faint as you’re saying your I do’s! Instead, choose a dress that has a corset back that can be taken in and out as needed on the big day.

You don’t need a big, expensive, flashy wedding cake. Talk to your local bakery owner about something smaller, or pre-cut into individual portions. Alternatively, consider something like low-fat cupcakes, gluten-free cake, fruit-filled low calorie cakes, or other such healthy alternatives.

You can embellish your bouquet with tiny crystals, rhinestones or perhaps diamonds if you can afford to. You can achieve this look by using heat-fixed or adhesive crystals or small pieces of costume jewelry. To create a cohesive look, be sure that the colors, cut, and the size of any stones you use match or compliment each other.

Practice your walk for the aisle when you’re standing by a mirror so that you can be sure of how to walk right, especially when you want to wear heels. Should you be worried about a mishap, consider some nice flats. Having less than sexy footwear is an easy trade-off for not falling on your derriere!

A reception held around lunchtime is a great idea. Most people will drink less during the day, which will cut back on the cost to fill the bar. Lunch receptions tend to be cheaper than dinner ones because of a possible lower need for alcohol. That money can then be used for other wedding expenses.

Find out if the lights at your reception venue are the type that can be dimmed. This small detail allows for little things like low lights on the first dance, and bright for the duration of the event. Before committing to the venue, ask them about this.

If you want to discover local talent to assist with your wedding, try Craigslist. Be certain to take the time to meet them and interview them before making any agreements or giving them money.

Do not allow your guests to get bored or restless between the courses of your meal. Sugary roses that match the wedding theme and colors are ideal.

Consider borrowing a special piece of jewelry from a friend or family member. By doing this, you can get the look that you want and add a special touch to your wedding.

Individual centerpieces at each table can quickly add up to a big expense, unless you keep them simple. Rather than buying huge centerpieces that obstruct your guests’ view, consider simpler centerpieces that can be taken by guests as a keepsake. This will allow people to converse without any distraction, improving the experience for your guests.

Research your wedding planner in advance. You can create a board with different books, fabrics, and elements that you want to incorporate into your wedding. Use photographs, magazine clippings and the lyrics of a special song to describe your perfect wedding to your planner.

Make sure the theme of your wedding extends to all decor, including the flowers you choose. You want the flowers you choose to be in line with the theme of your wedding. These include aromatic pink and yellow peonies, bright daisies and red poppies.

Make your floral arrangements more complex by incorporating different heights. Use vases that are tall for long stem flowers. Inside the taller vases, to keep them from looking bare, you should use full arrangements to fill in the gaps around the opening. You can make the shorter flowers a lighter color than the blooms on the taller flowers.

You want the bride to be happiest on her big wedding day, so make sure that you run everything through her first so that no surprises arise. If she feels it’s her responsibility to undertake the planning and worry about a below par celebration, it will ruin her entire day. Make sure she approves all aspects of the wedding, or she might get annoyed.

It doesn’t matter what size you wish this celebration of love to be as long as it was created and carried out to perfection. It doesn’t matter if this is your first wedding or your fifth. Either way, you don’t want to rush through the preparations. The useful ideas in this piece will assist you in making smart decisions and steering clear of common pitfalls.