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"High Style with a Southern Accent"
"High Style with a Southern Accent"
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Party
Planners Notebook The Few,
The
Proud, The Soon-To-Be-Broke You are getting married. How
wonderful! But as soon as the shock wears off the anxiety sets in about what a
monumental job planning a wedding seems. And next is the realization of how
expensive it can be. However, it really is possible to have a lovely wedding
without having to file bankruptcy after the honeymoon. There are many ways to
keep expenses down and still stage a beautiful and memorable event. The best way to start is to sit
down with your beloved and discuss the kind of wedding you both would like-then
compromise. Females always want a bigger, more formal event than males. Decide
if it will be large or small, how formal, what time of day, etc. Next decide on
your priorities. Do you feel very strongly about having lots of your favorite
flowers? Or perhaps setting a party atmosphere with dancing Into the night is
uppermost in your mind. Maybe the joy of bringing friends and family together is
the most important aspect to you. The least expensive wedding you can
plan will be a private ceremony with a reception between two and five in the
afternoon, serving only cake and punch. The most expensive you can see in bridal
magazines, videos, TV, and on the Internet. So it is your job to go for
something in between. If your favorite part is the
flowers, then use the most expensive ones where they count the most, for the
bridal party. Mass arrangements for buffet tables, etc. can easily use a few
premium blossoms and lots of "filler" flowers and greenery. Also ask
what will be in season, frequently a great money saver. Never plan within two
weeks either way of Valentine's Day-the prices skyrocket then. Other holidays
like Mother's Day and Easter make prices go up, but one holiday, Christmas, may
provide a church and banquet facility already beautifully decorated. Another
idea is to find out about other weddings the day before or after and maybe split
the cost, even if It is only for the greenery and candelabra in the church-but
usually flowers can look just as good the second day. To put most of your dollars on the
party after the wedding and still not skimp, choose champagne punch over an open
bar (very expensive and frequently leads to a guest or two spoiling other's
enjoyment). Choose chicken breasts on a buffet instead of a carving station with
roast beef. If hors d'oeuvres are what you want instead of a meal your caterer
can provide you with lots of hearty hors d'oeuvres to choose from. The heartier
fare will enable you to serve a more limited variety. Less "fussy' food and
fewer selections bring costs down. It is even possible now to use a faux
cake-one made of Styrofoam with a small part of real cake set into the back for
cutting that first slice. Then pieces of sheet cake are brought from the kitchen
for service. For a couple wanting to put their
emphasis on the joining of two families and sharing this with loved ones,
consider a very small, simple wedding and several casual parties over a long
weekend. This keeps the stress level for the bridal couple and their immediate
families to a minimum, frees up their time so they can enjoy guests, and
provides a warmth and unhurried atmosphere that is frequently missing from
large, opulent weddings. Regardless of the size or style you
choose, or the amount of money available, a beautiful wedding is VERY
achievable. It requires a willingness to explore options, keeping your eyes
open, and being flexible when obstacles arise. This is a formula for a
wonderful beginning to the joining of two lives. |
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