Wedding's Guidelines & Information

 

I.- Cutting the Wedding Budget

From the invitations to the flowers, food, the band and of course the honeymoon, the average wedding can costs between $10,000 up to $27,000 according to Richard Markel, President of the Association for Wedding Professionals International. It's no wonder half of all couples exceed the budgets they set up for themselves, says Daniel Lagani, Publisher of the Fairchild Bridal Group.

If you don't want to get your budget mess up, read the following five tips we offer you to cut wedding costs. This is an article written by Gerri Wills, a CNN/Money contributing columnist. Gerri Willis is a personal finance editor for CNN Business News and the host for Open House. E-mail comments to 5tips@cnn.com

Not only are costs for weddings going through the roof, but you can't rely on Mom and Dad to foot the bill. For that reason, more and more wedding couples are hitting up friends and family for the costs of the photography, the DJ, even the flowers.

And if you're too shy to ask for nuptial money, ask for help paying for the honeymoon. While it sounds tacky, you can do it tactfully, particularly if you use the web to help.

Online registries are now allowing couples to be more creative with gifts they solicit says Rosie Amodioof the Knot. From the wedding to the honeymoon to the future home, there are plenty of ways your guests can chip. in.

The Knot's "create-a-gift" program directs guests to gift checks, selected by the couple. Wells Fargo & Co. offers wedding accounts where friends and family can deposit money online.

Visit www.honeyluna.com is a honeymoon registry service that "breaks down" your honeymoon into specific items, activities and adventures that your guests can buy.

2) Get bidding:

A Vera Wang wedding dress can cost over $15,000. But visit ebay.com, there are dresses you can bid on for as low as $80. Of course, you'll probably need to have alterations done, but the savings speak for themselves.

3) Eat Chinese or Japanese

And who could forget the cake? While a large three tiered cake is a part of the wedding tradition, you can still cut some corners on cost. Order a smaller tiered cake that costs about $10 dollars a slice on display, suggests The Knot, and order a separate sheet cake of the same flavor for about $ 4 dollars a slice to be served to your guests. You can even substitute some fake layers in your display cake that will bring the cost down even more.

4) Be Flower-savvy

The flower can add so much to the decorations, so don't fret, you don't have to skimp on them.

Instead, save money by skimping on the traditional and going with more exotic stems. Even the little substitutions add up. Why not exchange Black Magic roses for more reasonably priced dahlias in your bouquet and table arrangements? You will save about $4 a stem according to The Knot. With a wedding party of five women and a guest list of 150 people, you've just saved $520.00

Judith Rivers-Moore, author of "Beautiful Weddings and Events" suggests placing mirror rounds under flowers to expland their appareance on the table.

Markel suggests getting your flowers shipped in from overseas. Flowers from South America are usually cheaper. You may need to snip some throns, but the savings can be about 20%.

5) Get out of town

Instead of the traditional weding, take your closest family and friends with you to a far-flung location to witness your " I Do's"

Fairchild Publicacions says that couples who have destination weddings spend an average of 41% less on their reception than those who have the average wedding. How come? For one thing, fewer guests may be invited and also many invitees might not be able to make it.

1. Wedding Bouquet - Arm

This is easy to make bouquet features a bunch of long-stemmed flowers secured with a tie or ribbon that rest across the inner bend of the elbow. Ideally to use with long-stemmed roses, calla lilies, sunflowers or delphiniums.

With a composite bouquet, one large flower that has been created by using the petals from other flowers, is usually the focal point. This can be a difficult bouquet to create at home. It's recommended that for this type of bouquet, to contact a professional florist.

The symmetrical includes blossoms and foliage of same length on both sides. The asymmetrical utilizes blossoms and foliage of different length, one side of the bouquet is longer than the other and flowers can extend from either left to right or right to left. A bouquet difficult to make, recommended to have previous floral expertise.

It is a bouquet free in form and style. Ideally to use flowers such as bird of paradise , oriental or asiatic lilies or other blossoms with a unique and interesting shape.

A bouquet easy to make on your own with roses, calla lillies or sunflowers. Generally round in shape and hand tied with a ribbon or other material such as raffia, leaving the cut stems exposed.

A romantic bouquet, is exactly as it sounds. Features two arched shapes at the top of the bouquet that taper to a point at the bottom, completing the heart. This is a popular bouquet to Valentines Day weddings and the romantic at heart. This bouquet, while not difficult if you have floral expertise, should be prepared ahead of time.

Round in shape and small. It can be placed inside of a Victorian style cone-shaped holder (available at wedding supply stores).

A combination of both a cascade and round bouquets since it is elongated in shape, but features rounded shapes on both the top and bottom. Generally the bottom is narrower that the top, but the overall shape resembles an oval.

Simple and elegant. Choose the focal flower of your preference with short stems and arrange them in a simple circular pattern with 8 inches as diameter. Flowers are clustered tightly together and wrapped with ribbon or raffia for a simple look.

Can be as elegant as other bouquets with a single long stem rose. It is a great choice for bridesmaids and flower girls. You can also wrap the stem with ribbon, raffia, choice of streamers or hanging beads.

Elegant long falling style, difficult to make if you are not a professional florist. Flowers are arranged first at the top in a cluster that then tapers downward often with greens or ribbons attached. It is often arranged with roses as the focal point and fillers..

 

We want to share with you a summary of an ARA Content (www.aracontent.com) article on reception tips together with some other ideas from third parties. " Creating a beautiful wedding environment on a budget is simple" says Sandra Lee, entertaining expert and author. "By putting a personal touch on everything from table centerpieces to wedding favor, brides and grooms can save while creating memories for years to come". Look for inexpensive and ready-made items available at discount retailers."

Some great last-minute planning tips for brides and grooms are offered by Sandra Lee:

1. June is still the most popular month for weddings, according to a recent study by Hallmark , but September and October are quickly gaining in popularity.

2. Create a romantic environment with the rented reception tent by purchasing sheering fabric and 2-inch ribbon to drape around the canopy. Create billows of fabric and hang them from the ceiling, wrap around poles and swag in the entryway.

4. Use your creativity to have beautiful and inexpensive centerpieces. You can use simple plates with fruits and candles or clear glass bowls with fresh flower head. Remember to keep centerpieces either low enough or high enough so guests can see each other from across the table.

     

This time of year, most engaged couples are thinking about seating arrangements and tuxedo fittings, wedding showers and honeymoon plans. Financial issues are probably the last thing on their minds. But money is the one thing that people say they argue about most before and after the wedding. The American Bankers Association Education Foundation recommends couples discuss the following.

1. Discuss finances beforehand. The first date is too soon and the honeymoon is too late. A good time to discuss finances is when both of you have realized that your're serious about a long-term relationship.

2. What is your credit history? How much debt are you bringing into the relationship? Do you pay your credit card bills on time? Ask questions so there are no surprises when the two of you make big purchases like an automobile or a home.

3. What is your financial personality? Are you a saver or a spender? Do you live from paycheck to paycheck? Are you a penny pincher who cuts coupons? Have an honest discussion with each other about your habits because it will affect your relationship in the long run.

4. Create a savings plan. Discuss short-and long-term saving options, investments, retirement, IRAs and 401 (k) plans.

5. Communicate and negotiate everyday money matters. Should you open a joint checking account? Who will buy groceries? Who will keep track of monthly statements and bills?

6. Focus on goals, dreams and objectives. Once you've made the decision to build a financial future together, sit down and map it out. Are you saving for a home? What savings plan will you have to your children?

7. Update insurance and estate plans. Make sure your're sufficiently insured and the beneficiary for each policy is updated. You may also need to update other estate documents.

8. Examine your tax situation. Tax laws penalize dual-income families; determine what will benefit you and your partner in advance.

9. Consider a prenuptial agreement. A prenuptial agreement isn't just for the rich; it can cover a variety of thing like property, a home, inheritance and other investments.

V.-  Beautiful, radiant and wonderful for your Wedding Day

 

The big day approaches and you will be the star of the night. Learn the best secrets of beauty to shine and to leave to leave everybody open mouthed. Your make up, your hairdo and figure deserve the best.

 

Getting ready for your wedding day should be fun and exciting, nerves will not defeat your look and you can beat them by welcoming the beauty techniques and latest fashion on hairstyles as well as some secrets to get a perfect figure.  

 

A stunning face

 

If you have enough time, it is more convenient to leave yourself in the hands of experts so they can see what is the most suitable makeup and hairstyle for you.

 

Bear in mind your dress design for these steps. The makeup should be in light colors like pink or ochre, or golden colors are options depending on the tone you have chosen for your wedding dress.

 

Try a facial on the previous months to your wedding day so your skin will be ready and bright.

 

If you want to bring out your eyes and looks, use a combination of eye shadows of cold and warm color tones so you will get a depth of color. Keep in mind your eyebrows and let the experts give you a waxing according to your face shape.

 

Step by Step

 

-          Clean your skin with special products.

-          Use a special gel on your face so that the makeup lasts longer.

-          Use a concealer or an eye-concealer to disguise rings under the eyes.

-          Use cream foundation with a color similar to your skin color.

-          Pressed Powders will be needed to prevent any bright on your face.

-          Use blue toned make up to bring out your natural coloring. Avoid pale colors. Pink and peach colors are the ones for the season.

-          The eyeliner must be natural, and looks better just used on the upper lid. However if you want an intense look you can try a darker color on the lower lid also.

-          Mascara must be waterproof. Maybe you will shed some tears and you do not want your face covered in mascara.

-          Lips must be not outlined. You can go for some bright color on them - it will give them more volume.

-          At the end use a face primer, remember you will have hours and hours to enjoy and look perfect.

 

An impeccable hairstyle

 

Hair is really important and if you are wearing a headdress everything changes. Be sure that the dress design will not lose focus due to your hairdo.

 

If you prefer loose hair try straight hair or curls with less volume to bring out your face.

 

Women with short hair, may have a younger and fresh look, and take advantage of wearing a small accessory.

 

Try several hairdos to choose what is the best option for your day, and ask for advice from experts on this issue.

 

A perfect Body

 

Do not try to lose 20 pounds in the previous days to your wedding. Have a healthy fat free diet and reduce sugar and flour.

 

-          You can start with a Light breakfast, with fruits cereals juices and fiber.

-          Do not forget salads and meat for lunch, avoid sodas.

-          For dinner try Light meals, and try not to eat before you go to sleep.

 

Tips:

 

ü  Keep in your pocket some sunflower seeds, peanuts, fruits or cookies, to eat between meals.

ü  Drink green tea, or flavored fruit drinks from fruits like tangerine, apple or peach, they are easy to make at home and will help you to handle stress.

ü  You will have to say no to alcohol, those drinks are very sweet, you could get fat, and – Horror - you may get acne!

 

Keep fit

 

Do some cardiovascular exercises. If you can lose some weight before the wedding, great! But no more than that - do not force yourself to a hunger routine or endless exercises routines.

Tips

-          Try aerobics. It is a good way to keep fit.

-          Spinning is ideal to lose weight.

-          Swimming will not hurt you and it is good exercise.

-          Work on your back, arms and abdomen.

 

Now you are ready to dazzle everybody!

Courtesy of ARA Content www.aracontent.com  and Terra USA/ Diana Moreno/Luisa Lozano