But gals, if your best friend asks you to be her maid of honor at her wedding, don’t decline just because you’re afraid of the speech that you’d have to give at the reception. And guys, don’t turn down the position of best man just because you don’t think you’re funny enough to garner the laughs that others draw from the crowd.

There is help available! With a little planning and some good advice to back you up, you will be ready to step up to the microphone with confidence. Here are some dos and don’ts to keep in mind when you’ve been asked to give a wedding speech.

1. Think Ahead

You should know well ahead of time that you will be giving one of the wedding speeches at your friend or relative’s wedding. If you put off the planning until last minute thinking you will figure out what you’re going to say the night before, then you’ll find yourself nervous, confused and short of things to say at the reception.

The sooner you start preparing, the better. Give yourself plenty of time and keep in mind, the week before the wedding you will probably be very busy with other wedding duties and might not have time to write your speech then.

2. What To Say In Your Wedding Speech

Noone expects you to be the best public speaker in the world or the funniest. Just think about what you want to say about your friend. Choose one or two tasteful stories to tell about them and put everything together into a short, pleasant speech that will keep everyone’s interest, not make them more interested in their dinner.

If you’re unsure what to say or how to say it, Wedding Speech 4U offers step-by-step guides to creating your own individual speech, whether you are the groom, best man, maid of honor, father of the bride or mother of the bride. They even have prewritten sample wedding speeches and sample toasts that you can adapt to suit you.

Click Here To Get Your Copy Of Wedding Speech 4 U Now

3. Practice Your Speech

You’ve heard the saying – practice makes perfect. The more you practice your wedding speech, the more comfortable you will be on the day.

Don’t be afraid to read your speech out aloud. If the thought of speaking into a microphone in front of everyone leaves you feeling anxious, it’s okay. A lot of people feel the same. In fact, everyone else involved with the wedding speeches probably knows just how you feel. Practicing by reading your speech out aloud is one way you can help reduce your stage fright. Simply write or type out your speech, word for word, and read it.

Practice reading it to a mirror or to a small group of friends so that you can look up occasionally and make eye contact with your audience. Don’t bury your face in your notes. Notes are fine, but make sure you look up once in awhile. Reading your wedding speech off a page is much better than stumbling through, forgetting half your points and finishing feeling embarrassed with yourself.

4. Mean What You Say

Say what you mean and mean what you say. If you are honest and genuine in your wedding speeches, your audience and most importantly, your friend will be able to tell. Think of the things that most inspire you about that person. Think of a special memory you have of the two of them together as a couple. Maybe add a cute story about how they met. Throw a smile or two into the mix and a meaningful hug at the end and you’ll have a wedding speech that will leave the reception guests satisfied and your friend feeling warm and special. Don’t say things that aren’t true or are grossly exaggerated simply because it sounds good.

5. Be Wary Of Humor

Don’t force the humor. Everybody can tell when someone is trying really hard to be funny. And nobody enjoys it. You may get a few canned laughs but that’s not what you want, is it? If you are a naturally humorous person, that’s great; go ahead and use it (but make sure to keep your jokes and stories clean and audience appropriate).

Don’t go out of your way to embarrass your friends. They may laugh along with everybody else, but sarcasm or biting humor in a wedding speech leaves a bad taste in people’s mouths. If your real self is more serious, more straight-forward, stick with a genuine style. Your audience will appreciate it much more.

Wedding speeches really aren’t as bad as they seem. A little forethought and a friendly appreciation for your friend are really all you need to make things go smoothly. Don’t be afraid of the microphone. Use your speech as an opportunity to tell the bride and groom how important they are and how much they mean to you.

Nerves are perfectly normal, even if you have given wedding speeches before. Just make sure you plan ahead. Grab a copy of Wedding Speech 4U so that the words will flow naturally and you will know precisely what to say. The guests will be entertained, the bride and groom will love you and you will go home knowing you have given a wonderful wedding speech for two special people in your life.

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You need something special to help you capture those wonderful moments that slip from memory all too quickly. This is where a wedding videographer comes in to save the day. But how important is it really to hire a professional? Will a relative with a hand-held camcorder be just as good?

Advantages To Hiring A Professional For Your Wedding Video

There are several advantages to hiring a professional videographer to take care of your wedding video. They include:

• Expertise. With their training (and their expensive equipment), video professionals are able to provide you with a video that is a higher quality than anything most amateurs could produce, no matter how careful they are.

• Professional Editing. Professionals generally have specialized editing programs, allowing them to add DVD menus, transitions, music and special effects. They work with these programs on a day to day basis so are much more proficient with them and can create better results than an amateur.

• Multiple Cameras. Depending on the size of your wedding, you may have a team of videographers and two or three cameras, each providing different angles and points of view. The footage from each different camera is then combined with the others during editing to create one spectacular wedding video.

If you’re hoping for a carefully crafted, Hollywood-worthy wedding video, then a professional is definitely the way to go.

Problems With Hiring A Professional

On the other hand, there are several disadvantages you also need to consider when making this decision. These include:

• Cost. A professional charges for his/her services. Equipment is expensive and time is precious, and sometimes a high-quality wedding video may cost more than you can afford (it can easily run into the thousands). Don’t break your budget on this part of your planning.

• Space. A professional videographer takes up much more space than a friend with a hand-held camera. If you really don’t want two or three large spidery tripods blocking people’s view during the ceremony, maybe a professional isn’t the right choice for you.

• Time. It requires a lot more planning on your part if you want to hire a professional. You have to investigate companies, view samples, discuss costs, select music and explain what you want. You need to put in writing exactly what you want and then cross your fingers you’ve made the right choice. This can be an unneeded stress and distraction from the rest of your wedding planning.

If any of these are an issue for you, you are probably better off asking a friend or relative to film your wedding.

Asking A Friend Or Relative To Film Your Wedding Video

There are many advantages to having someone close to you as your videographer. They include:

• Lower Cost. From a practical standpoint, it goes without saying that a relative or friend will be a much more cost-effective option than hiring a professional. They may not even charge you at all (although you should make sure you meet the cost of all expendable equipment like camera tapes and blank DVDs). But even if you do pay your amateur videographer a fee for his or her services, the cost of your wedding video will be considerably less than if you hired a professional.

• Less Obtrusive. One main advantage of an amateur videographer is the fact that the whole process is much more streamlined. The simpler set-up will not be as obtrusive or distracting during your ceremony and reception and a smaller camera will not create nearly as much nervousness or stage fright in you or your guests as a large, imposing machine would.

• More Personal. Having a friend or family member behind the camera can be much more fun. Not only may you feel less self conscious but that person knows you and will have a better idea of what you actually want to see on your wedding video, which guests are closest to you, who has made a huge effort to be there for you etc. It can make for a much more personal and enjoyable wedding video.

• No Disputes. Hiring a friend or family member means there is much less chance for contract disputes.

Hiring a friend or family member can be a wonderful alternative to hiring a professional. However, one thing to keep in mind is how important it is to make sure that the person behind the camera doesn’t mind having this responsibility on your wedding day. Some guests, particularly family members, prefer to enjoy the day without any added pressures.

If you do decide to hire a friend or family member, there are steps you can take to ensure you end up with a wedding video you absolutely love.

For example, talk to your friend or family member about their level of experience. Make sure they really do know what they are doing with a video camera. Anybody can walk around with a camera, but it requires a bit of effort to make it really look good. There are plenty of amateurs around that can turn out high-quality work. Just make sure your chosen friend or relative is one of them. Ask them if you can see other videos they have made or make a practice video so you have an idea of what to expect.

If you are worried that relying on a friend or family member will not give you the results you want, invest in a copy of Wedding Video Secrets. This step-by-step guide is an absolute treasure. It’s full of easy-to-follow advice and tips from the professionals on how to plan, shoot and edit your wedding video. Give a copy to whomever you have chosen to shoot your video so they can capture your special day and give you a wedding video you will always treasure.

Click Here To Get Your Copy Of Wedding Video Secrets Now

Remember, whoever runs the camera on the day, they will be recording your special memories of your wedding so that they will stay with you forever. If you do choose a friend or relative, make sure you give them their best chance of success so that you end up with the wedding video of your dreams.

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I’m guessing though, that you are feeling a little ill at ease with the idea of getting up and dancing in front of everyone. You are not alone. Most of us have felt that way. In fact, for some couples, preparing for that first wedding dance can be one of the most stressful parts of the day.

But, it doesn’t have to be that way for you!

Your special moment should not be dampened by your fear of dancing in front of everyone and not getting everything right. But if you are nervous about taking to the dance floor, the best thing you can do is to build up your confidence before the big day and prepare in advance. So let’s get started…

1. Choosing Your First Wedding Dance Song

You should choose a song that both you and your partner love, and preferably one that has a special meaning for the two of you. Having said that, keep in mind that your song should be between two and three minutes long. If you are nervous about dancing, a long song will only draw things out and make you more nervous.

Traditionally, the first wedding dance is danced to a slow waltz. Of course, this is no longer necessary, but slow songs are often the easiest (and more romantic) to dance to. Whatever you decide, make sure your song has a steady beat rather than one that changes throughout. This will make dancing a lot easier for you.

2. Start Preparing For Your First Wedding Dance Early

Not starting early enough is why many couples are so nervous during that first wedding dance. You cannot wait until a week before the wedding and then expect to suddenly know what to do and have confidence in your ability, especially if you are not particularly comfortable with the idea of dancing.

You need to start preparing for your dance at least 2-3 months in advance (preferably longer). Do not leave it until the last minute. Find a place to take lessons or learn at home with a course like First Wedding Dance. First Wedding Dance is a fun, easy and inexpensive way you and your partner can learn to dance from a professional in the comfort of your own home.

3. Take Lessons

Yes, taking the time to take lessons is absolutely worth it. Even if you are a regular at dance clubs on the weekends, your first wedding dance is different. You need some proper dance techniques to look like you know what you are doing out there on the dance floor.

As mentioned earlier, you should begin your lessons at least two months before the wedding. If you are taking classes, you should attend at least one class a week. The more classes you can fit in, the better you will be but if your schedule is busy, one class a week will still serve you very well.

Make sure you have already chosen your song prior to your first class. If you are taking one-on-one lessons so it is just you, your partner and the dance instructor, you can focus specifically on dancing to your chosen song. Or if you are taking group lessons or learning at home, you can at least work out the type of dancing you should focus on.

All brides and grooms can benefit from dance lessons. They give you such confidence for your first wedding dance that you can enjoy the moment and make it that much more special.

4. Know The Routine

You may decide to choreograph your routine during your lessons or you might just want to wing it on the night. If you do have a routine, make sure both of you practice together plenty of times so you both know the routine inside out.

Also, to avoid any awkward moments on the dance floor, both you and your partner should know exactly how you plan to enter the dance floor and what is going to happen at the end of your dance. Some couples immediately open up the dance floor to all of their guests, while others choose to invite only their parents and other special guests to join them for the rest of the first dance.

Whatever you choose should be decided in advance so that when the moment arrives you both know what to do.

5. Relax

Once you have taken your dance lessons and practiced as much as you could, you will be ready for the big moment. Even if you are still a bit nervous, it’s important to relax.

Yes, all eyes will be on you, but your first wedding dance is not about any of your guests. It is special moment just for the two of you. Don’t let your nerves take over and waste your chance to make a lasting memory.

Don’t stress about making mistakes either. Chances are, unless you are professional dancers, you will make a couple of mistakes during your first wedding dance but so what? No one will even notice! The only thing your guests care about is seeing how happy and in love you are. So if you do make a mistake, just keep on dancing!

Your first wedding dance is nothing to fear. Just prepare as best you can by taking dance lessons and practicing and you and your new spouse will be able to create a beautiful moment you will always remember.

There are plenty of places to go to take lessons and lots of great teachers to help you prepare for your first wedding dance. If you aren’t comfortable taking a dance class or it doesn’t quite fit into your schedule, don’t let that stop you! Get First Dance Fabulous. It’s so much fun, it’s simple, it’s fast and it costs LESS THAN ONE professional dance lesson.

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A lot of wedding day dramas stem from poor or nonexistent planning and most can be avoided with a little forethought. Here are some things for you to consider to ensure that your wedding day will be everything you dream it to be.

1. Your Budget

One very important aspect to a stress-free wedding day is a carefully planned and well thought out budget. Money is one of the most common causes of stress and you don’t want it to be a thorn in your side on your special day. After all, you won’t enjoy eating that delicious steak nearly as much as you should if you know you had to break the bank to have it served at your reception. Similarly, losing one earring isn’t nearly as tragic if the set only cost fifty dollars rather than fifteen hundred. Don’t spend more than you can afford and you will be able to relax on your wedding day, knowing that you still have money left for the honeymoon and your future life together.

2. Sleep

Getting enough sleep is also imperative in the lead up to your wedding if you want to avoid wedding day dramas. Even if you are spending the night with your bridesmaids, you must insist on getting to bed at a good time. Try to get a good night’s sleep every night for at least a week before the wedding so you are well rested and full of energy on your special day. If you would like to plan a late-night party, do it early enough that the lack of sleep won’t affect your wedding day. Everything seems twice as frazzling and distressing if you are overtired.

3. The Big Day

Make sure you don’t have a big ‘to do’ list for the actual wedding day. Take care of as much as you can in the days and weeks leading up to your wedding so you are not overwhelmed on the morning of your special day. There is very little other than actually getting dressed that absolutely must be done on the big day. It’s very tempting to say, “Oh, I’ll just pick that up on the way to the church in the morning,” but don’t give in! You will have enough to think about with your hair, make-up, jewelry etc so don’t intentionally leave anything to clutter up your day.

4. Down Time

Make sure you give yourself time alone in the lead-up to your wedding. It is easy to get swept up with good friends, out-of-town guests and of course, your special someone. You want to spend time with everybody; catch up with old friends, get to know new ones, and carried away with the whirlwind of activity that comes along with planning a wedding. Those are all good, important, even necessary things. But you must take some quiet time by yourself. Think about the importance of the step you are taking. Take a few moments to do some calming deep breathing in the few days before the ceremony. If you are calm, prepared and collected, you will not be nearly so stressed on your wedding day.

5. The Unavoidable

Of course, sometimes things come up on the big day that are completely unavoidable – your make-up artist is running late, one of the floral displays is missing, a stray dog wanders into your reception…All of these things can happen no matter how well you plan ahead. The key is to make a conscious decision that you are not going to let the little things bother you. Instead, focus on all the wonderful things going on and remember that the day is about you and your partner declaring your undying love for each other and making a lifelong commitment to be together forever…not about how many flowers are in the room. Put things in perspective and you won’t be able to take the big smile off your face all day.

6. Friends And Family

Friends and family love to help with your wedding. Appoint two people (preferably one girl and one guy) who are not members of the bridal party to deal with anything that comes up during the day. That way, you don’t even have to worry about it. There will be someone else there to take care of whatever crops up.

Conclusion

Taking note of all of these factors will help you have a wonderful, enjoyable and fun wedding. You will be able to bypass any stress and frustrations that are the norm for so many brides. Not only will you be able to enjoy yourself at your wedding, but you will be starting your married life off on the right foot – happy and stress free!

Planning ahead is really quite easy and can be a lot of fun. Make sure you grab your copy of the Free WeddingDayDelights.com Checklist and a great planning guide like “Amazing Wedding Planning” and you will be all set for your special wedding day!

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Television shows and movies feature brides planning their weddings with unlimited budgets and with absolutely stunning results – the kind of results brides-to-be aspire to. The problem is, a beautiful wedding with an unlimited budget isn’t a challenge to create but most of us just don’t have that much money to throw around! The good news is that a budget wedding can be just as elegant and memorable. It just takes a little thought, some careful planning and the right information at your side.

Here are some ideas to help get you started:

1. Attire

A big part of any wedding budget is going to be the attire. This includes attire for the bride and groom as well as members of the wedding party.

There are many ways to save money on a wedding gown. One is to check out the clearance racks at all of the local bridal salons. You may be able to find a sample dress for a fraction of the original price. Even if it needs a little work from having been tried on so many times, it can still result in a huge savings.

Another place to look is classified ads, such as those on Craig’s List. Gowns being sold in this manner are often sold just to make room in the former bride’s closet, so the sellers are not usually looking for a lot of money.

Renting a bridal gown may be another good option for a budget wedding. You may have to drive a little to find a bridal salon that rents their gowns, but it will be worth the drive. You may be able to rent a designer gown for just a few hundred dollars.

For the men, consider having the groom wear a suit instead of a tuxedo if the wedding is to be rather informal. If he is going to rent a tux, shop around for the best prices. Many rental places will offer the groom’s tux free if you hire attire for the groomsmen at the same time.

2. Flowers

Some brides spend more money on flowers than is really necessary. While flowers certainly add to the overall beauty of your day, they offer a great opportunity for you to trim your costs to create your budget wedding.

Firstly, consider smaller arrangements and bouquets. This is a simple way to reduce your costs without making many changes to the overall design. Put simply – the more blooms you have, the more expensive it will be.

For the bouquets, consider something as simple as a few roses with ribbon wrapped around the stems. Some brides and bridesmaids even carry a single rose or other flower. If this doesn’t appeal to you, you can always add foliage to your bouquets and arrangements to make them larger without adding significant cost.

You could also simply visit a wholesale flower shop and then create the arrangements and bouquets yourself.

Another idea is to eliminate some of the flowers altogether. You probably still want a bouquet to carry, but instead of placing floral arrangements on the altar or in the center of your tables, consider using candles instead. Elaborate candelabras can be rented for a fraction of the cost of flower arrangements and look absolutely stunning. Candles are also wonderful for creating an intimate and romantic atmosphere. This is a great choice particularly for an evening wedding.

3. Cake

Wedding cake is typically priced by the slice. Simply ordering a cake for fewer guests can save you a lot of money and keep you on track for your budget wedding.

Many guests will not even eat your wedding cake, so having fewer slices (or smaller slices) should not cause you any problems. But, if you are worried you won’t have enough, order sheet cakes. They will be kept and served from the kitchen so your guests never have to know. Then you can still have the cake of your dreams and feed everyone while saving on the expense.

For example, say that the cake you like is $5.50 per slice and you are having 250 guests. Your wedding cake would cost you $1375. If, however, you ordered the cake for 150 people, the cake would be just $825. Add a couple of full sheet cakes for another $40 each and your grand total is $905. That’s a saving of $470!

4. Food

Food is often the biggest single expense of a wedding and can easily run into the thousands. There are ways, however, to reduce your food expenses without making your celebrations any less enjoyable.

For example, rather than serving a full meal, consider having your wedding at a time of day when a cake and punch reception would be appropriate.

Or, if a sit down meal is important to you, have a buffet rather than a plated and served meal. This is a great choice as it allows picky eaters to be able to take what they want and, of course, it saves you money on your budget wedding.

Some brides even take on the task of preparing the bulk of the food themselves. This is not as daunting of a task as it may sound, but it can be a bit of work. Make sure that if you choose this option that you have plenty of help from members of your family and bridal party. If you can pull it off, it will not only save you a lot of money, but make your wedding day even more special because of the contributions of all your loved ones.

Your Budget Wedding

These are just a handful of ideas. There are so many more things you can do to reduce your costs without reducing the quality of your special day.

If you are planning a budget wedding, make sure you grab your copy of Erica Yoon’s “Amazing Wedding Planning.” She is the queen of helping you save money while still creating the wedding day of your dreams. Her book is full of insider secrets and ideas that you won’t find in your typical bridal magazines and it is an absolute must-read for the cost-conscientious bride!

Remember, just because your wedding is a budget wedding it doesn’t have to look cheap or tacky at all. With careful planning, a little creativity and the right information on hand, your wedding will look like a platinum wedding, but without the platinum price tag.

Click Here To Grab Your Copy Of Amazing Wedding Planning & Start Saving Now!

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Your wedding theme is one of the first things that must be decided on when planning your wedding and will shape the entire event from your wedding gown to your decorations to your place settings.

Your wedding theme can be as simple or as complicated as you want. A simple theme may be a set of colors that remain consistent throughout the entire event. For example, if your colors were white, silver and light purple, your bridesmaids may wear light purple dresses, you might tie silver bows around your chairs and you may decorate everything with white and purple flowers.

You do not have to limit yourself to just choosing a color scheme though. Some couples like to go all out and have, for example, a medieval wedding in a castle with medieval style clothing and a medieval banquet. Or perhaps a science fiction style wedding complete with aliens and spaceships.

More than likely though, if you are looking for a wedding theme, you are looking for something a little more in between. You want something more original than just a color scheme, but probably not so out there as aliens and spaceships. You want something that makes a statement about you but still retains the sense of occasion that is your wedding.

Choosing a theme to suit you and your partner can be a little confusing and figuring out how to implement it can be overwhelming. That’s where guides like Kari White’s “Unique Themed Weddings – A Complete Guide To Creating Your Own Magical Wedding Day” become invaluable. Not only do they show you how to create the theme wedding of your dreams, but they make it fun too!

If you haven’t chosen your wedding theme yet, here are a few ideas to think about:

1. Seasons

It is very easy to theme your wedding around the time of year in which it is held. For example, if you are having a fall wedding, you may choose rich autumn colors and use colored leaves and berries as part of the decorations. Or if you are having a winter wedding, you may choose glistening whites and silvers and decorate with snowflakes.

2. Holidays

If your wedding is close to a particular holiday like Christmas, you may choose to theme your wedding around it. Christmas weddings are very popular and may feature lots of reds and greens and use poinsettias for the decorations. Other holidays to consider include Halloween, Valentine’s Day or even the 4th of July.

3. Cultures & Destinations

It is common for many couples to include elements of their own family’s culture in their weddings but you can adapt elements of other cultures into your own wedding too. For example, perhaps you want an Irish themed wedding complete with Irish blessings, four leaf-clovers and lots of greens. Or perhaps you want an Asian-style wedding with Asian foods and decorations. If there is a particular international destination that you and your husband love (like Italy) why not include elements of that in your special day?

4. Occupations

In some cases, your or your partner’s occupation lends itself very well to featuring in your wedding theme. This particularly applies if one or both of you serve in the military, as fire fighters or as policemen. But your occupation does not have to be so official to be considered. With a little imagination, just about any type of work can be made into a theme.

5. Hobbies & Common Interests

A common interest you and your partner share can be a great source of inspiration for your wedding theme. For example, if you are musicians, you may choose to have your whole wedding in black and white like piano keys, decorate your invitations and place cards with music notes and place a statue of two people sitting at a piano on top of your wedding cake.

6. History

You may decide to draw inspiration for your wedding theme from history. For example, you might choose and old southern wedding, complete with Scarlett O’Hara dresses and period food selections. Or you may opt for a medieval theme.

7. Flowers & Butterflies

If you are worried about having a theme that is too over the top for you, simple themes like a specific type of flower (like a rose or daisy) or butterflies will not overwhelm your day but can still be used to create a beautiful backdrop and personalize your wedding.

Your wedding theme is a personal choice between you and your partner. Keep in mind that whatever you choose will be immortalized in your wedding photos and videos, so make sure you both love it!

How you feature your wedding theme in your special day is also completely up to you. You can go all out or you can be subtle. It can be reflected in every single detail (like your clothes, venue, food, décor, invitations, place-cards, flowers, cakes etc) or in a few select items. Your wedding can be as elegant and beautiful or as quirky as you wish. The trick is to know how to tie your theme into your special day to create the exact effect you want.

Your theme will help you create wonderful memories on your special day, so make sure you get it right. Grab a copy of Kari White’s “Unique Themed Weddings – A Complete Guide To Creating Your Own Magical Wedding Day” and let her guide you through the steps you need to take to create the wedding theme and the wedding day of your dreams.

Click Here To Grab Your Copy Today!

Technorati Tags: Wedding Planning, wedding theme, wedding theme ideas, Wedding Themes

Brides are now learning that they do not actually need a wedding planner to make their big day perfect, and the money they save by not hiring one can be funnelled back into the wedding and honeymoon (or even into a new home deposit).

The job of a wedding planner is not to make decisions for you. Instead, she gives you suggestions and then, based on your decisions, contacts all of the necessary vendors and coordinates with them on your behalf to be sure everyone is where they need to be at the right time.

While the wedding planner may have a rolodex full of contacts, she doesn’t necessarily do anything that you cannot do yourself.

Here are some tips on how to be your own wedding planner and save a bundle of cash in the process.

1. Make a List & Be Organized

You should get a big binder and fill it with tabs – one for every detail of your wedding. The tabs should include the wedding party, wedding gown, groom’s tux, wedding party attire, ceremony venue, reception venue, colors, décor, flowers, guest list, invitations, favors, transportation, menu, cake, DJ/music, photographer, videographer, rehearsal dinner, honeymoon and any other wedding details you need.

Then, when you have any ideas or information about each detail, it gets immediately filed under the correct tab. As you eliminate ideas (for example, choosing one favor over another) you remove the information about items you will not be using.

Every detail of your wedding should be contained within that binder. Anyone you need to call, price lists, menus – EVERYTHING – should be right there at your finger tips.

When you meet with a vendor, notes about the meeting go in the binder. When you sign a contract, a copy goes in the binder. When you make a payment, the receipt goes in the binder.

Having everything in one place and knowing that you have copies of all phone numbers and contracts at your fingertips is going to greatly ease the stress of keeping all the details organized.

2. Finding Vendors

Many brides hire a wedding planner to alleviate the worry of finding vendors to carry out the various details of your wedding. It can seem a daunting and overwhelming task but finding vendors is actually quite easy and not as challenging as you might think.

You should attend at least one, but preferably more, bridal shows. It will give you the opportunity to see numerous vendors representing every detail of your wedding.

You’ll be able to taste cakes, view photographer’s portfolios, see various wedding flowers up close, look at sample bouquets and see many other samples of wedding related items and services. Collect business cards from anyone in whom you might be interested. Make notes on the back of the card and file it in the binder as soon as you get home.

Another way to find vendors is by word of mouth. Think of weddings you have been to in the past. Did you love the cake? Ask the bride who made it. This is one of the best ways to find vendors because you are already somewhat familiar with their work.

Of course, the good old yellow pages will also list vendors of every type. You’ll want to visit those that interest you and see photographs or samples of their work.

3. Keeping Everyone Organized

While not hiring a wedding planner will save you money, it may require a little bit more of your time. For example, once the final payment has been made to each vendor, it is a good idea to check in with them in the weeks leading up to the wedding to be sure everything is still on track.

In general, you should call two weeks before the wedding. Ask if everything is going well, and if they need anything else from you. Then, you should call again two days before the wedding to verify the time they will be arriving and/or setting up.

This will, of course, involve making quite a few calls but this task can easily be divided up among your bridesmaids, trusted family members and friends.

You can be your own wedding planner with results that are just as fabulous as if you’d hired someone to do the job. And in a lot less time than you might think! Organization and having the right information on hand is the key.

Erica Yoon is one bride who managed to organise the wedding of her dreams while still working 64 hours a week (and without running around like an insane person)! She shows you how you can do the same in her “Amazing Wedding Planning” guide.

Her simple 10-Step process will guide you through the entire wedding planning experience so you can get things done quickly and easily in the shortest amount of time possible while having a wonderful time.

She’ll even show you how to book all of your vendors and your reception hall in just one day! And how to save mountains of money without compromising on your dream wedding and without hiring a wedding planner.

Click Here To Grab Your Copy & Start Planning Today!

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It is only natural that you would want everything to be just perfect, no matter what the cost. But the truth is, money doesn’t grow on trees and you do want to have some cash left for your honeymoon and for your newly married life. Starting your new life together in debt is not much fun.

So what should your wedding cost and is a budget really necessary?

When you look at the figures, the average wedding cost can be a little intimidating. According to market research firm, The Wedding Report, the average cost of a wedding in 2008 was $21,814. While this seems high, you’ll be surprised at how easy it is for hidden or unexpected expenses to add up, giving you a figure even higher than that. That’s why you need a wedding budget and you need to stick to it.

When working out your budget, try to be comprehensive and try to avoid under-estimating. Keep in mind that the average couple spends more than twice the amount that they had originally planned for their wedding.

Here are some things to consider when creating your wedding budget.

The reception takes the largest chunk of the average wedding cost at 40-50% of the total budget. This includes everything from location to food to a DJ or band for your wedding dance.

The cost of venues vary greatly. If you are getting married in your own church, you may only have to pay the cleaning fee. Other locations can charge anywhere from a couple of hundred to several thousand for rentals. Consider choosing a location that can host both your ceremony and reception. That way you only have one venue fee and your transportation costs are lower. Keep in mind that some venues require you to use their bar service, catering service and/or DJ. These may add on extra fees to the wedding cost that you were not expecting.

Count on 10% of your budget for attire. This includes clothing and accessories for the bride and groom. Don’t forget to include jewelry, make-up and hair services. Generally, bridesmaids and groomsmen pick up the tab for their own attire, but you may wish to purchase jewelry for the bridesmaids that they can wear on the day as your thank you gift to them.

Flowers for both bouquets and decorations are a part of almost every wedding and range between 8 and 10% of the total wedding cost.

If you choose to hire a professional photographer and/or videographer, plan to spend at least $2,000, or 10% of the average budget. This may seem like a lot, but consider this aspect carefully. Right now, it may seem a logical place to cut costs, but these memorabilia will be priceless in 25 years time.

Other smaller expenses include:

Invitations, place cards, thank you notes and other paper items (3-5% of your budget)
Transportation (2%)
Miscellaneous items like taxes, tips and insurance (6%)

Don’t forget to also purchase thank you gifts for the wedding party and table favors for your guests.

Keep track of everything you spend and categorize it appropriately. You will soon see the little costs adding up and be able to cut back when you reach the spending limits that you have set for yourself.

Your wedding cost is significant but with careful planning it does not need to be exorbitant. A well-thought-out budget will relieve your money stress and allow you to enjoy your special day. And, of course, there are always plenty of ways to cut costs without reducing the quality of your wedding or sacrificing any of the things that you dream of.

Erica Yoon can show you how to save 50-80% of your entire wedding cost without compromising on your dream, regardless of your budget. She did not hire a wedding planner and yet managed to save over $10,000 on her own wedding with a few insider secrets – secrets she wants to share with you.

If you want to know how you can reduce your wedding cost and still have your dream wedding, you need to read her “Amazing Wedding Planning” book. It’s full of insider tips and tricks you just won’t find anywhere else.

Click Here To Grab Your Copy & Start Saving Today!

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