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Bridal
September 17, 2016
INSIDE: 4 How to build your wedding budget
Northern Virginia Daily
Your DIY wedding guide
5 Reconnect during wedding planning 6 How to organize wedding planning 7 The pros and cons of Friday weddings 8 Build a registry to relish 9 How to handle a wedding around a holiday 10 Information to include on your wedding website 11 Provide guests with added comfort at your wedding 12 Save your rainy wedding day 13 Master wedding reception seating charts 14 Choosing a hotel for wedding guests 15 Make the first dance even more special 16 Add a twist to bouquet toss traditions 18 Rein in destination wedding costs 19 Keep your gown wedding white ON THE COVER: Photos courtesy of Brad & Allie Fauber. Photos by Aaron Riddle Photography
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s the cost of the average wedding continues to rise, itʼs understandable that couples ready to tie the knot may be seeking any and all ways to save money. While some aspects of a wedding are better left to the professionals, others are prime for a little do-it-yourself cost cutting. Couples should just be sure they have the skills and resources available to handle portions of their weddings on their own. Otherwise, the cost savings may be negated by trial and error. The following are some areas that may be a good fit for couples looking to try their own DIY techniques.
Floral centerpieces: While floral bouquets and boutonniéres are probably best left to professional florists, couples may want to try making their own reception table centerpieces. Such centerpieces can be simple displays of fresh flowers in vases or more intricate designs. Test out any ideas prior to the wedding. Remember to keep arrangement height in mind. You do not want to obscure the views of seated guests. Cake: Ask a pastry chef or bakery to make you a small cake that can be used for cake-cutting traditions and photo opportunities, but have your own cake available to serve. Sheet cakes are much less expensive than more intricate tiered cakes, but they can be just as delicious. Guests may not even know the difference if the cake is sliced and served out of the reception siteʼs
kitchen. Purchase the cake or make it on your own. Invitations: Professionally designed invitations can look beautiful, but not everyone has the budget for embossing or engraving and expensive paper stock. Thanks to graphic design and page layout software, computersavvy couples can design and print their invites right from home. That makes it easy to create a new invitation if you miscounted or if you have a last-minute addition to the guest list. Favors: Create favors that work with the theme of your wedding and make them yourself. These can be candles, fruit preserves, soaps, baked goods, or anything else that appeals to you. The cost of making them in bulk may turn out to be less than purchasing manufactured items. Plus, guests get to take home something that came directly from you. Video: Enlist a friend or family member to capture the wedding and after-party on video for you. You can use videoediting software available through popular apps to piece together your own wedding video memento. Couples about to tie the knot can become more hands-on in wedding planning and execution. By handling some of the work themselves, couples can save a considerable amount of money. A do-it-yourself approach also may foster feelings of pride in a job well done.
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September 17, 2016
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ngaged couples have a lot on their plates as they begin planning their weddings. Whereas tradition once demanded parents of the bride pay for a coupleʼs wedding, nowadays more and more engaged couples are completely or partially financing their own nuptials. That means prospective brides and grooms must develop wedding budgets that wonʼt ensure their first act as Mr. and Mrs. is paying down debt. In its 2015 Real Weddings Study, online bridal resource The Knot found that many couples still receive substantial financial support from their parents to pay for their weddings. The survey found that, on average, the brideʼs parentʼs contributed 44 percent of the overall wedding budget in 2015, while couples financed 43 percent (the remaining 13 percent was financed by the groomʼs parents and additional sources). Couples who hope to follow that formula or pay for their weddings on their own can heed the following tips to build wedding budgets that wonʼt break the bank but will still ensure a day to remember forever. Examine your collective finances. Few couples know the details of each otherʼs finances before getting engaged. While some may still hesitate to share their personal financial information upon getting engaged, an open and honest discussion
Bridal
How to build your wedding budget
and examination of each personʼs finances is the only way to develop a realistic wedding budget that both partners can live with. Once couples know what they can contribute, they can then consult their parents to determine if their mothers and fathers are intending to contribute. Develop a preliminary guest list. A preliminary guest list can give couples an idea of how large and expensive their weddings will be. According to the Real
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money back via wedding gifts. While many guests will give financial gifts, counting on such windfalls is a recipe for accruing debt. Do not build potential wedding gifts into your wedding budget. If you do so and your expectations fall short, you could be facing considerable debt upon returning home from your honeymoon.
Gather quotes before choosing where to tie the knot. Where couples get married will have a great impact on how much money they will spend on their weddings. For example, the Real Weddings Study found that, in 2015, the average wedding in Manhattan cost couples slightly more than $82,000, while the average Alaskan wedding cost just over $17,000. Venues within the same city can vary greatly with regard to pricing and offerings as well, so couples should give themselves ample time to gather quotes and find an affordable venue they Weddings Study, the average cost per wedding guest in 2015 was $237. While that like. cost can vary greatly depending on Build extra costs into your budget. When geography and other factors, couples should determining a budget you can live with, keep that figure in mind when drafting their remember to include a little extra for guest lists. If need be, keep costs down by unforeseen costs. Weddings are large trimming the guest list so it includes only undertakings, and itʼs reasonable to expect close family members and friends. some unforeseen costs to arise. Building Donʼt count on gifts. Many couples justify runaway wedding budgets by telling themselves that they will ultimately get the
such costs into your initial budget will make these unforeseen circumstances that much easier to handle.
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September 17, 2016
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Reconnect during wedding planning W edding planning can be intense and often requires dedication and many hours of work. Coordinating a wedding often requires that couples make many different decisions and spend a considerable amount of time in the wedding-planning trenches.
Couples expend so much energy planning their weddings that it can be easy to lose sight of the bigger picture — namely the relationship that is the basis for the marriage in the first place. But as easy as it can be to get lost in wedding planning, couples can use this time together to connect on a deeper level and learn to work cooperatively.
Establish a mutual budget. Even the healthiest couple argues over finances from time to time, but budgetary debates should not set a negative tone for wedding planning. Couples should discuss their potential budget before they even begin to plan their weddings, and both partners should do their best to compromise while also understanding where the other person is coming from.
Schedule time for fun. Do not let wedding planning be all-consuming. Schedule days that allow you to enjoy yourselves together without having to think about or discuss your pending nuptials. This may include date nights that may have fallen by the wayside since getting engaged or periodic day trips to get away from it all. Explore your mutual hobbies or try something new.
Divide and conquer. Separate wedding planning duties so that both of you feel you are contributing equally and no one Learn to laugh at the little things. Not person gets overly stressed out. Stress every detail will go off without a hitch. can lead to short tempers and arguments. How you react as a couple may influence
how much you enjoy your wedding. Recognize that certain things will not go your way, but that unforeseen circumstances will not ruin your wedding day, no matter how unpleasant they may seem. Laugh at what cannot be changed and recognize that, in the long run, the details you think are major today may actually prove trivial when you look back on your wedding day in the years to come.
Couples expend so much energy planning their weddings that it can be easy to lose sight of the bigger picture — namely the relationship that is the basis for the marriage in the first place.
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How to organize wedding planning W eddings require a lot of planning. Couples hosting large weddings or even intimate gatherings can easily be overwhelmed by the amount of planning they must do to make their weddings into events they will remember and cherish forever.
Staying organized when planning a wedding is a tall task. Itʼs wise to expect the unexpected when organizing a wedding, and the more organized couples can stay, the more fun they can have during the planning process and the better they can handle the unforeseen circumstances that are bound to arise in the months leading up to the wedding. Create separate filing systems for each aspect of the wedding. Rather than maintaining one massive file with information about various elements of the wedding, maintain separate files for each aspect of the wedding. For example, when receiving quotes from prospective florists, keep all florist quotes in a single folder that remains separate from information about other parts of the wedding. Separate filing systems make it easier to find quotes and contracts when you need to, saving you the trouble of digging through pages upon pages of quotes, notes and other information you store.
planners are invaluable resources who can help couples quickly connect with vendors who can meet their needs while staying within their budgets. Planners also can advise couples on ways to save money and which areas of the wedding should not be bargain basement. Maintain a spending spreadsheet. Many couples plan weddings on carefully Couples planning destination weddings should inquire about resort-affiliated constructed budgets. But couples can wedding planners before choosing a easily exceed those budgets if they are venue to host their ceremonies and/or not routinely monitoring and recording guests. their spending or the spending they are committing to upon signing contracts with Start early. According to The Knot 2015 vendors. Create a spending spreadsheet Real Weddings Study, the average that allows you to track how much you length of engagement for couples who have already spent, how much you are wed in 2015 was 14.5 months. That committed to spending and when means todayʼs average couples have wedding bills are due. Update the more than a year to plan their nuptials. spreadsheet whenever you write a check By starting their wedding planning early, or sign a new contract, and periodically couples can avoid having to plan examine the sheet so you can make sure everything at the last minute, which can be hectic, nerve-wracking and you are still on track to remain at or unorganized. In addition, starting early under budget. affords couples more time to find great Hire a planner. If wedding planning is proving especially overwhelming or if you deals and stay within their budgets. simply donʼt have time to do all the legwork necessary to plan on your own, hire a wedding planner. Wedding
Staying organized when planning a wedding can make for more enjoyable planning and a happier wedding day.
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The pros and cons Did you know? of Friday weddings T
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ouples give a great deal of thought to the day they choose to get married. Many engaged couples are more attached to a particular season than a specific day, but some couples will consider any time of year to say “I do.”
Weather factors heavily into many couplesʼ decisions regarding when to get married. According to The Knot 2015 Real Weddings Study, 39 percent of the nearly 18,000 U.S. brides and grooms surveyed chose to get married in the months of September, October or November, three months of the year when the weather tends to be both predictable and pleasant.
But more and more couples are paying more mind to which day of the week to get married as well. While Saturday is widely considered the most traditional day to tie the knot, couples may want to consider walking down the aisle on Friday. Friday weddings can be just as enjoyable as Saturday weddings, but there are some pros and cons to choosing Friday over Saturday.
with guests. Bridal party members may be obligated to take two days off from work in order to make it to the rehearsal dinner on Thursday night, and that might not sit well with friends and family who do Pros not have much vacation or personal time. Perhaps the biggest advantage to getting Even guests who are not in the bridal married on a Friday is the cost. Wedding party may need to take a day off from venues tend to be most expensive on work that they otherwise can avoid taking Saturday because thatʼs when the if the wedding was scheduled for majority of couples prefer to get married. Saturday or even Sunday. While each venue is different, couples Couples also should know that Friday willing to get married on a Friday might weddings tend to begin later at night, as find it far less expensive than getting itʼs customary to start the ceremony in married on a Saturday. the evening so guests who have to work Another advantage to getting married on can still arrive on time. Couples inviting a Friday is the opportunity to spend more several elderly guests or children may time with guests. Couples who get find that these people miss the ceremony married on a Saturday tend to be busy and/or reception because of the later most of Friday and Saturday, and that start time. leaves little time to spend with their Brides- and grooms-to-be may find their guests, many of whom will return home options with regard to venues and first thing on Sunday morning. But by entertainment are more limited when getting married on a Friday, couples then they choose to get married on a Friday have Saturday to spend with their guests, instead of a Saturday. Some venues may and they can even plan a laid back getonly host weddings on Saturdays, while together like a backyard barbecue or entertainers like deejays or bands who Saturday brunch with guests who will work day jobs during the week may not likely stay in town through the weekend. be available on Friday nights.
Cons
Couples considering tying the knot on a Likely because they are so extraordinary, Friday should consider a host of factors before making their final decision. Friday weddings may be less popular
hough the idea that white wedding dresses symbolize virginity and purity is often cited as the reason behind wedding dresses being white, a 2014 exhibit at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London indicated that white wedding dresses were a symbol of wealth and had little, if anything, to do with virginity. The exhibit, titled “Wedding Dresses 1775-2014,” noted that, during the 18th and 19th centuries, white wedding dresses indicated a family could afford to buy a dress the bride would wear only once. During that time, white dresses were especially difficult to clean and that made it impractical for any but the wealthy to purchase dresses that would likely never be worn a second time. Englandʼs Queen Victoria, who married Albert of Saxe-Coburg in 1840, is widely credited with popularizing the white wedding dress. White dresses remain a traditional and popular choice today, though many brides opt for various shades of white if not an entirely different color.
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Northern Virginia Daily
Build a registry to relish R
egistries are a wedding tradition, not unlike a coupleʼs first dance or the best man/maid of honor toast. But as practical as wedding registries are, many couples approach their registries with a degree of hesitation, fearful that they might appear presumptuous or simply uncertain about what to include on their lists. The following tips can help engaged couples build a registry to relish and utilize for years to come. Establish an online registry. Whereas guests once had to visit a coupleʼs favorite retailer(s) and ask what remained on their registry, online registries now allow well-meaning family members and friends to peruse potential gifts from the comforts of home and ship gifts directly to the couple. Online registries even indicate which items have already been purchased, saving couples the trouble of returning duplicates while reassuring buyers that their gifts are fulfilling a need or want.
purchased. If you have your eye on an especially expensive item, include it on your list without worrying about how it may look to your guests, as they will understand when you explain the postwedding discount youʼre eligible for.
Donʼt limit your registry to expensive items. While itʼs perfectly acceptable to include expensive items on your registry, remember that variety is the spice of life when adding items to your Share your registry information on your wedding website and stationery. registry. Include items at a range of price points for guests working with Guests need to know where you are registered, so share that information on various budgets. Donʼt hesitate to include low-cost items, as some guests your wedding website and include it on your save-the-date cards and invitations. may enjoy building a wedding gift basket with various affordable items Register with multiple retailers. By from your registry. registering with more than one retailer, Remember that no gift is too couples can give their guests more obscure. Thanks to the Internet, just options to choose from. Try to include about any item can now be tracked one brick-and-mortar store, ideally one with a national presence, so guests who down by ambitious gift givers. If you prefer to shop in-person wonʼt be forced want to include items that might not be available at run-of-the-mill retailers, to buy online. choose an online retailer such as Donʼt be afraid to list expensive Amazon to host one of your registries. items. While few guests will break the bank to buy wedding gifts, that does not Such sites are great places to find specialty items or more obscure mean couples should avoid including offerings that might be out of stock at expensive items on their registries. more traditional retailers. Some couples might feel itʼs inappropriate, but it can actually prove practical. Many stores offer couples steep discounts on items they listed on their registries that ultimately were not
Encourage donations. If you are truly hesitant to ask for gifts or youʼre tying the knot later in life and already have everything you need, encourage guests
to donate to a favorite charity in lieu of making a donation. A wedding registry provides a practical
way for well-meaning wedding guests to show their love for brides- and groomsto-be.
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How to handle a wedding around a holiday
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hile summer and fall are the most popular times of year to get married, couples can tie the knot whenever they choose, including on holidays.
availability of your ideal venues before making your date official.
Allow for a longer engagement. Regardless of which holiday you choose, keep in mind that many people make plans well in advance of a holiday. Holiday weddings tend to stray from the Holidays tend to be accompanied by long norm, and that can make for a weekends, and your guests may already memorable night for couples and their have plans for that time off from the guests. For example, couples who choose to get married on Halloween may office. In addition, families often travel to visit relatives during the holiday season encourage their guests to arrive and at the end of the calendar year. If you celebrate in costume, making for a plan to wed on a holiday or holiday unique experience for all in attendance. weekend, allow for a longer engagement But planning weddings that take place on so your guests wonʼt have to cancel a holiday or holiday weekend may existing plans or miss the wedding require a little extra effort. because they already have travel plans Research venues before finalizing the that weekend. Let guests know your date. Couples who have their eyes set holiday-wedding intentions as soon as you finalize the date. on certain venues to host their ceremonies and receptions should Start looking for vendors as soon as research the availability of those venues possible. Vendors, including caterers on holidays or holiday weekends before and photographers, tend to be busy on finalizing their wedding date. Some holiday weekends, so start looking as venues may have preexisting early as possible. Itʼs important to agreements with local community comparison shop, but couples who wait organizations that may prohibit them too long to sign contracts with vendors from hosting weddings or limit their might find themselves paying more and/or choosing whoever is available as available time slots. Confirm the opposed to their top choices. Plan to pay a little more. As noted, vendors tend to be busy on holidays and during holiday weekends, and their prices may reflect the high demand for their services. Budgetconscious couples should anticipate paying more on holidays than they might pay on other weekends.
Let guests know your holiday-wedding intentions as soon as you finalize the date.
Expect some declined invitations. While an extended holiday weekend may seem like the perfect time to tie the knot, guests may not share that perspective. Many would-be guests likely cherish their existing holiday traditions and may be unwilling to abandon those
traditions to attend a wedding. Every couple has at least a few friends or family members decline their wedding invitations, but those numbers may be more substantial for couples hosting
holiday weddings. Holiday weddings can make for some great memories, but couples must be especially diligent when planning weddings on holidays or holiday weekends.
Special moments in your life deserve careful attention.
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Information to include on your wedding website
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ersonal websites are an invaluable resource for couples planning their weddings. Wedding websites provide a great platform for couples to share all sorts of information regarding their big day, making them an essential element of modern-day wedding planning. Wedding websites need not feature all the bells and whistles of more permanent sites. But while there are specific guidelines governing what to include on wedding websites, couples should be mindful to share certain information to ensure their guests stay in the know about the pending nuptials. The participants Wedding websites can be used to inform guests about the couple getting married as well as the various participants, such as the bridesmaids and groomsmen. Extended families of the bride- and groom-to-be may not know much about their loved one始s betrothed, and the wedding website can help guests get to know both people getting married. Include information about the bridal party as well. A brief story about each bridal party member始s relationship to the bride and/or invitations if you still plan to mail more groom can be a great way to illustrate just traditional invites. how much each person in the party Accommodations means to the couple tying the knot. Many couples arrange for discounted The big day hotel rooms for their out-of-town wedding Invitations were once the go-to source for guests. Include this information on your wedding website, and aim to include at information about couples始 wedding least two hotels where guests can ceremonies and receptions. But unlike invitations, websites won始t get lost around register under your party and receive discounted lodging. In addition to the the house or in the mail, making them hotels you arrange a deal with, include more reliable resources for guests. Include all the pertinent details about the some extra information about other lodging options in the area. Out-of-town big day on your website, including the guests will appreciate having as many time and location of both the ceremony options as possible, and couples and the reception. Include directions to providing that information saves guests and from the venue (both the ceremony the trouble of researching certain and reception venues if they will be held neighborhoods to determine if they are at separate locations), and include a safe or close to the ceremony and Google maps feature if possible. reception sites. RSVP info Registry Save guests the trouble of returning Wedding websites also provide a great RSVP cards by including an RSVP way for couples to share registry section on your website. Establish an information. Include links that take guests email address solely for RSVPs, and directly to your online registries. check it regularly so you can update who is and who is not attending your wedding. Wedding websites are a great resource for couples who want to share information Couples can save the expense of postage by requesting that guests RSVP about their weddings. As the big day draws closer, couples can update their exclusively through their websites. Just sites to reflect any new developments. be sure to include that request with the
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September 17, 2016
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Provide guests with added comfort at your wedding Couples can treat wedding guests special by increasing their level of comfort throughout the day.
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eddings are special days in couplesʼ lives. No wedding would be complete without the witnesses, including the happy friends and family members who are anxious to celebrate the special day.
While weddings are largely about the couple tying the knot, itʼs important the couples do not overlook the comfort of all of the well-wishers at the ceremony and reception. Every effort should be made to ensure guests are comfortable and feel welcomed at the event.
Plan for inclement weather. The weather is unpredictable, so establish a backup plan should the weather not cooperate on your big day. Outdoor weddings in warm, sunny locations can get hot quickly, so make sure there is shade available. Ask ushers to hand out sunscreen so guests donʼt burn in the sun. If thereʼs a chance for rain, have umbrellas or a tent available to keep guests dry.
easily accessible for those with mobility issues? Are restrooms located close enough to seating areas so elderly guests wonʼt have to walk far to use the bathroom? Put yourself in your guestsʼ shoes and figure out solutions to any potential obstacles that might affect your guests. Offer welcome drinks and snacks. A cocktail hour might be on the horizon, but guests may arrive with an appetite. Make a few light refreshments available, such as crackers, chips, pretzels, and some soft drinks. Ice-cold water or lemonade can make an outdoor ceremony more comfortable in the heat. Conversely, hot chocolate or coffee warms up a body in chilly weather. Consider ice-breaker games. Little games can help guests who have never met get to know one another. Games also may help pass the time until the reception begins.
Provide a program of events. Clue Choose a venue that can support your guests into what will happen and when. This way they can adjust their schedules guest list. Guest comfort can be around the compromised if everyone is packed into wedding. If a reception room that is much too small. photos of the Everyone should be able to sit and move bridal party around freely. This notion also applies will take to the dance floor. Be certain guests place can dance comfortably and have a immediately good time. following Verify basic needs can be met. the When selecting venues or ceremony, ceremony sites, investigate mention it whether guests will have an
easy time getting to and from the room. Are paths
on the program. Guests will appreciate knowing what to expect and when to expect it.
available for guests with sore dancing feet.
Weddings may focus on the couple tying Provide other creature comforts. Stock the knot, but guests play a key role in the extra toiletries in the restrooms, and festivities as well. Keeping them happy consider making inexpensive sandals and comfortable is a benefit to all.
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Save your rainy wedding day
N
ature can make a coupleʼs wedding day that much more special. Beautiful backdrops like ocean waves or rolling country hills lend a lot to a wedding, making the day even more special for couples and their guests.
coupleʼs only option if their chosen venue has no indoor alternatives.
Establish a cutoff time. Depending on how remote the ceremony location is, couples might be able to wait until a few hours before their weddings to decide if they will still tie the knot outdoors. Make But Mother Nature is the inherent risk of the call earlier if your wedding is to be held hosting an outdoor wedding. Weather is unpredictable, and couples who hope to tie at an especially remote location. But no matter where the wedding is, establish a the knot in the great outdoors must cutoff time to let guests know if the develop a contingency plan just in case wedding will be indoors or outdoors. Mother Nature decides to rain on the Include such information on your wedding parade. While outdoor wedding venues often have backup venues in place should website and/or invitations. Use a social the weather prove uncooperative, couples media platform such as Facebook or Twitter to inform guests of your final can take some additional steps to ensure their rainy wedding days still go off without decision. a hitch. Provide umbrellas. Some inclement weather may not be enough to deter Find a place to take photos. Wedding couples or guests from braving the great photos document a coupleʼs big day, and many couples arrange for outdoor photos outdoors. Couples getting married in the summer may be able to withstand a whether theyʼre tying the knot indoors or summer shower, but provide guests with outdoors. But couples must arrange for a umbrellas just to be safe. The umbrellas place to take photos in case outdoors is not an option. If possible, walk the grounds will make for a nice wedding gift, and hopefully couples and guests wonʼt even of your ceremony or reception site with your photographer in the weeks before the need to use them. wedding to scout out potential areas to Insure the wedding. Couples who are shoot indoors in case the weather is not hosting destination weddings on tropical cooperating. Ask a representative from the isles should look into insuring their venue to recommend potential photo weddings. Such islands might be locations around the building. susceptible to harmful storms like hurricanes that can prevent weddings from Consider a tent. Some wedding venues taking place. Insurance can cover couples are exclusively outdoors, meaning they donʼt have backup options indoors on their for a host of unforeseen circumstances, including weather. premises. If thatʼs the case, couples can rent tents to serve as their safety nets. Outdoor weddings can be magical, but Tents can be expensive, and some couples must build contingency plans in couples may not want to pay for a tent they case Mother Nature proves uncooperative ultimately may not use. But tents may be a come the big day.
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Master wedding reception Couples may find it seating charts challenging to lay out seating arrangements at their wedding receptions.
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fter the vows have been exchanged and couples have donned their wedding rings, newly married couples and their guests often enjoy some well-deserved fun at the wedding reception. Though wedding receptions are all about fun, couples may find it difficult to plan the reception seating arrangements. Such a task requires a good deal of time, sorting through guest responses and an intimate knowledge of which personalities will mesh and which will not. But some patience, diplomacy and even a little help can make the process of planning seating arrangements much easier.
Group related people together. This relation does not have to be familial. For example, seat work friends together rather than scattering them at various tables. ItĘźs easier for wedding guests to mingle when they have some common connection. Younger guests are more flexible. Recognize that younger guests are less likely to complain about where they are seated than older guests, so you have more wiggle room when arranging their tables. They can be placed at tables closer to the dance floor, near the entertainment or by the kitchen door, while older guests might want to be
closer to the bride and groom and further away from distractions. Seat immediate family members nearby. Seat immediate family members closest to the bride and groom. Guests who fall under the acquaintance category as opposed to the family category can be seated further away. Place friends or party animals near the entertainment. Guests who are up for a good party may appreciate being seated close to the dance floor or within armĘźs length of the refreshments. Address mobility concerns. If a guest is elderly or needs to be close to exits or the restroom, make those accommodations. Embrace the kidsĘź table. Seat young guests together if there are a number of them. Kids will have more fun sitting with one another than with adults or their parents. And seating kids together makes it easier for servers if children will be ordering from a special menu. Expect the unexpected. Some seating arrangements may not work out. Be sure the reception site is flexible and can easily put another place setting together if an unexpected guest arrives or if someone needs to be moved to another table. Couples must map out seating arrangements when planning their wedding receptions. Learn to master the techniques and etiquette to make the process easier.
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Choosing a hotel for wedding guests A
s engaged couples compile their guest lists, many might realize their friends and family are spread out across the country, if not the world. Technology has made it easier than ever before to stay connected to faraway loved ones, and engaged couples no doubt have a handful of guests on their lists who will need lodging when the wedding weekend arrives.
Many hotels cater to wedding guests, so finding a hotel should not be too difficult. However, finding the right hotel requires couples to consider a host of factors.
Location: Location is arguably the most important consideration when choosing a wedding hotel. Hotels that are close to transportation hubs such as airports or train stations will be a welcome relief to guests who traveled far and wide to make it to your wedding. But hotels located in close proximity to your ceremony and reception sites will also be appreciated, especially come the end of the reception when guests who danced the night away will want to return to the wedding hotels. Travel is hotel as quickly as expensive, so if your list possible. If the includes a lot of out-ofwedding reception is town guests, try to find far from the nearest the most affordable rate airport or train without settling for station, try to find a unsightly hotel close to the accommodations. Guests reception site so will appreciate the cost guests donĘźt feel like savings, and some might they have been be more inclined to traveling all weekend long. attend the wedding if the lodging is a bargain. Attractions: Attractions are another important factor to consider when Transportation: Another thing to consider choosing a hotel for your wedding when arranging lodging for out-of-town guests. Brides- and grooms-to-be will be guests is transportation to and from the busy throughout the weekend, but wedding. Many hotels offer shuttle service wedding guests who arrive in town on for wedding guests, which can save guests Friday for a Saturday ceremony will have the added expense of renting cars to get lots of free time on their hands. Unless around on the day of the wedding. your wedding weekend is intended to be Couples may need to foot the bill for hotel a weekend retreat for you and your shuttle service, though some hotels guests, try to find a hotel in a lively include the service if enough guests book neighborhood with plenty of nearby under a certain wedding party. Some attractions so guests have something to hotels even offer airport shuttle service, do in the days and hours before the which can save guests even more money. wedding. Couples hosting many out-of-town guests
Cost: Many hotels offer discounted rates to wedding guests, so couples should expect to do some negotiating before making a final decision regarding their
for their weddings should do their best to find a hotel thatĘźs affordable, accommodating and close to their wedding venues.
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For Information and reservations Call 540-636-9061 Located minutes north of downtown Front Royal, just off I-66, on Country Club Road.
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Northern Virginia Daily
Bridal
September 17, 2016
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Make the first dance even more special
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onna Summer may have sung about making the most of life with her song “Last Dance” in the 1970s, but during a wedding reception most of the focus is on the first dance of the evening when the newlyweds take to the dance floor for the first time after tying the knot. Not only does the first dance give the couple an opportunity to shine on the dance floor, but it also can help set the tone for the reception to follow.
A coupleʼs first dance is significant. Traditionally, the first dance was performed to a slow waltz, but now the first dance is not governed by any rules. Many couples like to push boundaries or get creative with their first dances, and this can make the wedding even more memorable. In fact, some couples enroll in dance classes or enlist the help of choreographers to ensure an epic opening dance number. Social media is full of videos of innovative couples performing spot-on dance routines from classic dance movies like “Dirty Dancing” or beautifully choreographed dances to popular first dance songs such as “At Last” or “Canʼt Help Falling in Love.” Whether a couple wants to perform an intricate tango or simply wants to sway to the music on the first dance, here are some pointers to keep in mind. Choose a wedding song that has meaning. It may be fun to do a dance
routine to DNCEʼs “Cake by the Ocean,” but remember your first dance song will forever be linked to your life as a couple. Select a song that has deep meaning to
you. Read over the lyrics to make sure itʼs an appropriate wedding song. Tame those nerves. Practicing is a way to feel more confident in your steps, and
that will help keep nerves at bay. Many couples experience a bit of stage fright. Just keep in mind that these friends and family are at the wedding to support you and not judge your dance moves. Choose an uncomplicated routine. If dancing is not your strong suit, select an easy song that allows you to simply sway back and forth and move around minimally. Dancing takes practice, but with that practice even the selfprofessed “worst dancer” can cut an impressive rug. Work with a professional. If you desire something more intricate for the first dance and you have the budget to pay for some dance lessons, go for it. An instructor can take you through dance basics or help you choreograph a more polished piece. First dances are memorable moments at wedding receptions. Guests canʼt wait to hear the song couples choose, and some couples exceed guestsʼ expectations with their impressive moves.
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Bridal
September 17, 2016
Northern Virginia Daily
Many couples are ready to toss aside the idea of a bouquet toss and reinvent the tradition.
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art of what makes weddings such enjoyable events is the many traditions that are built into the day. Tradition lends familiarity to the proceedings and serves as unwritten cues for guests. Certain traditions invite guest participation, and these can make great memories for both couples and their guests. Just because something is a tradition, however, doesnʼt mean couples canʼt put their own unique spin on things.
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The bouquet toss is one tradition that may benefit from a little personalization. In a 2015 Jezebel poll of about 4,500 readers, 19 percent supported having a bouquet toss, but 81 percent were against it, suggesting that this tradition is ready for some updating. The bouquet toss traces its origins to Olde English times. In those days, women used to try to rip pieces of the brideʼs dress and flowers in order to obtain some of her good luck. To escape from the crowd, the bride would toss her bouquet and run away. The bouquet is tossed to single women with the idea that whoever catches it will be the next to marry. This may have placated the throngs of single ladies in olden times. Today, however, some single women are no longer interested in finding matches at a wedding and view the bouquet toss as a somewhat archaic tradition. Others dislike the expectation that they stand on the dance floor with the hopes of finding
a spouse. For couples who want to embrace the traditional bouquet toss while giving it a more modern twist, consider the following suggestions. Girls-only dance: Invite all of the women out on the floor — not just the single ones — and play a female-centric empowerment song or one that mentions ladies having a good time. This puts the emphasis on having fun rather than finding a spouse. Attach a prize to the toss. To encourage people to participate, explain that the bouquet- and garter-toss winners get prizes — and that the prize has nothing to with finding a partner. Wedding anniversary countdown: Invite all of the married couples to the center of the dance floor. The DJ or band can play a beautiful love song and count up the years as the song plays. As each year is mentioned, couples leave the dance floor after their most recent anniversary has passed. The last couple on the dance floor marks the couple who has been married the longest. That couple gets to take home the bouquet. Have a bridal piñata. All guests can take a turn at hitting a bouquet-shaped piñata. Itʼs fun and entertaining and doesnʼt discriminate based on age or marital status. With a little ingenuity, the traditional bouquet toss can be reborn.
Bridal
Northern Virginia Daily
Did you know?
A
ccording to The Knot 2015 Real Weddings Study, the average wedding cost, excluding honeymoon costs, in the United States in 2015 was $32,641, an increase of more than $1,400 from the year prior. Couples did not figure to fare much better in Canada when tying the knot in 2015. According to the Annual Reader Survey from the Canada-based online wedding resource Weddingbells, couples expected to pay slightly less than $31,000 for their weddings. However, those estimates included honeymoon costs. While no information is available regarding the cost of weddings in specific Canadian cities, the 2015 Real Weddings Study found that couples looking to tie the knot in New York Cityʼs Manhattan borough can expect to pay well above the national average. Manhattan weddings cost couples an average of $82,299 in 2015. Thatʼs over $20,000 more than in Chicago, the next most expensive city to tie the knot in 2015. Couples who want a more affordable place to get married than the Big Apple may want to look into saying “I do” in central Illinois, where the average wedding cost was $21,818, more than $10,000 below the national average.
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September 17, 2016
Bridal
Northern Virginia Daily
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Rein in destination wedding costs
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estination weddings can make for memorable affairs for brides, grooms and their family and friends. Destination weddings often take place in idyllic locales that make for a gorgeous backdrop to the happy couple, setting the perfect ambiance for such noteworthy occasions. Destination weddings ask a lot of both the couple and their guests. Couples may need to visit the location of their destination wedding several times before the big day, and those costs can quickly add up. Guests, too, will need to budget for flights and lodging to attend a destination wedding. But there are some ways for couples to rein in the costs associated with a destination wedding to ensure everyone has a good time without having to worry about finances upon returning home.
your honeymoon. Guests will understand, and you will ultimately get the chance to celebrate with all of your loved ones anyway. Go simple and save. Many traditional weddings include all the bells and whistles, such as lavish floral displays, elaborate gowns and additional expensive accoutrements. But itĘźs acceptable, if not expected, to simplify things at destination weddings, especially those in island locations. Let nature do the decorating and opt for native wedding attire if itĘźs more affordable than potentially costly gowns and tuxedos.
Resist peak tourist season. Much like thereĘźs a peak wedding season throughout North America, many countriesĘź economies depend heavily on tourism seasons. Avoid peak tourist season when choosing the date for your Look for convenient, affordable travel. destination wedding, as costs may be Some resorts may offer great prices on considerably more to marry during this destination wedding packages, but be time of year than less hectic and popular careful to avoid locations so remote that seasons. you and your guests will be forced to pay Look into discounts on all aspects of for expensive flights. Destination the wedding. Popular destination weddings have become more popular wedding locations may be willing to over the last decade, and many resorts negotiate prices on all aspects of the now offer competitive destination wedding, and those discounts might wedding packages as a result. But if keeping travel affordable for your guests increase as more guests commit to attending. Resorts recognize that is a goal, find a location that guests can destination weddings bring guests who visit after purchasing reasonably priced will need lodging, food and flights rather than choosing a location entertainment, and couples can use that based on the cost of the wedding to their advantage when negotiating package. Shorten the guest list. Shortening their prices. Couples may even be able to negotiate with airlines for discounted guest lists is how many couples curtail airfares if they can guarantee a certain destination wedding costs. Invite only number of travelers. your closest family and friends to the wedding and reception, and then host a second, less formal party for your remaining relatives after returning from
Destination weddings need not break the bank, as savvy couples can find numerous ways to trim costs.
Bridal
Northern Virginia Daily
Keep your gown wedding white
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any brides walk down the aisle in white gowns, which have long been considered the most traditional choice. Wearing white can be a frightening prospect to some brides, who fear that white clearly shows every blemish or stain. Protecting a white dress so it looks pristine on oneʼs wedding day takes a little effort, but such efforts are well worth it. Before the wedding When trying on the gown, be sure that your hands are clean and you are not wearing any makeup. You may want to wear a thin pair of gloves so any oils from your hands are not transferred to the gown. If anyone helps you in and out of the gown, ensure their hands also are clean. Try on the gown sparingly before the wedding, ideally only for fittings. When you are not trying it on, store it in a protective garment bag until it needs to be steamed just prior to the wedding. Some seamstresses or tailors will hold onto the gown until the final alterations are done and then steam out any wrinkles prior to delivery.
Wait until just before departing for the service to get fully dressed in your gown. Again, make sure your hands and the hands of any helpers are clean. Ask for help so that the gown can be placed gingerly over your head, avoiding any makeup in the process. Some brides may find it helpful to leave lipstick application for the very last step in getting ready. Should an accident occur, bright lipstick on the white gown can be especially difficult to conceal.
September 17, 2016
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Pack an emergency stain-fighting kit to bring along to the ceremony and reception. This way, should a minor stain occur, it can be treated right away. Use sparingly because you will not know just how the cleaning product will react with the gownʼs fabric, and overuse may make the stain worse. If possible, test the product on a small swatch of gown fabric prior to use. After the wedding
Wedding day
Use caution when removing the gown and then promptly repackage it into its garment bag. After the wedding, take the gown to a professional dry cleaner to have it cleaned and preserved. Then the gown can be used by future generations or simply saved as a keepsake.
On the day of the wedding, resist the urge to handle the gown early in the day. The gown should be the last thing you put on during wedding day preparations.
White gowns are traditional wedding fixtures. Brides-to-be can keep their gowns looking beautiful throughout and after the wedding.
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September 17, 2016
Bridal
Northern Virginia Daily
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