OUR TOP TIPS
Here are a few of our top tips. If you have any of your own that you'd like to share with new brides, please send them to us at info@bridalstudio.co.nz
Dress BuyingDon't go dress shopping on your own -- all the gowns will start to look the same after a while and it will be harder to recall which style you really loved. But be careful about who you do bring. If your mum or sibling can't make the trip, ask a friend who is truly honest. This is the time when you really need to know which dress looks best.We advise not having anymore then 3 people to help you with your dress buying as it can get over powering and not very helpful for you in your hunt for your gown.
Guests come first
Get an idea on the
approximate number of guests you'll invite before settling on a venue.
This will ensure there's ample space for you. As a rule of thumb,
allow for around 2.5 square metres per guest. That may seem like a lot, but
it's not if you count the space you'll need for the tables, bustling
waiters, the band, and the dance floor.
Investigate Regional Dates
Know ahead of time if
your wedding date falls on the same day as a trade conference, charity
walk, public holiday or other local event that could affect traffic and hotel room
availability.
Prepare your budget
Wedding budgets are all
about balance. Start your budget planning by making a list of the
crucial details, like the music, your wedding gown, the invitations, the
flowers, and the photographer, and assign a number to each -- one being
the most important and three being the least. Invest your money in all
your number ones and cut corners on your number threes. (But everything
can't fall into the number one category!) For example, if a designer
gown and fabulous food are what really matter, you may have to choose
simple invitations and smaller floral arrangements.
Lighten Your List
The easiest way to trim
your budget could be to cut your guest list. Remember, half of your
wedding
expenses go to wining and dining your guests. If it's costing you $100
per person, eliminating one table of 10 can save you $1,000. This can be
very hard to do but it could help you and your fiance financially.
Check Your Credit
Wedding costs can creep up on you especially those few hidden ones. If there isn't funds saved for this special occasion, you could take advantage of this by signing up for a credit card with a rewards
program. Whether it gives you airline miles or great shopping deals,
consolidating all wedding-related purchases to this card will help you
accumulate thousands of rewards points (which could be used for your
honeymoon).
Double Check before Signing
Before signing on the dotted line for you service/reception venue, cars , florist, cakes maker, photographer check all your regards are noted, remember to be polite when doing so. The reason for this if it has not been sorted later, they may have less of a motive to meet you
halfway.
Get OrganisED
Compiling all your correspondences with vendors; notes you make during
meetings; and photos or tear sheets from magazines you want vendors to
see is very important! Set up a special folder in your email account dedicated to your wedding, and store
important vendor numbers in your cell phone.
Tend to Your Bar
Typically, you need one
bartender per 50 guests to keep the line at a minimum. But if you're
serving a signature cocktail that cannot be made ahead of time (or in
large quantities), consider adding an extra server designated to this
task
Prepare for Rejection
Know that as a rule,
about 30 percent of the people you invite won't attend. Naturally, this
depends on the location of your wedding (destination weddings are harder
to attend), how many out-of-towners are on your list, and the timing of
the event (some guests may have annual holiday or summer plans). On the
other hand, everyone could accept -- knowing your wedding will be the
can't-miss party of the year!
Make a Uniform Kids Policy
You have four choices:
you can welcome children with open arms; you can decide to have an
"adults only" wedding; you can include immediate family only; or, you
can hire a child care service to provide day care either at the
reception space, in a hotel room, or in a family member's home. To
prevent hurt feelings, it's wise to avoid allowing some families to
bring children while excluding others (unless, of course, the children
are in your bridal party). Remember its your wedding so its your call.
Prioritise Your People
Pare down your guest
list with the "tiers of priority" trick. Place immediate family, the
bridal party, and best friends on top of the list; follow with aunts,
uncles, cousins, and close friends you couldn't imagine not being there.
Under that, list your parents' friends, neighbors, coworkers, and so
on. If you need to make some cuts, start from the bottom until you reach
your ideal number.
Provide Accurate Driving Directions
Make sure guests know
where they're going. As easy as online map programs are to use,
sometimes the directions are wrong -- or there's a quicker, less
traffic-prone route to take. Ask your ceremony and reception sites for
printouts of recommended driving directions, which they often keep in
stock for weddings and will give to you for free, and test out the
routes yourself.
Keep a Paper Trail
Get any nonstandard
changes to your agreements in writing or send the vendor a confirmation
email saying, "Hello, just confirming that you'll keep the venue open
until 2 a.m. versus midnight." Don't take anyone on their word -- by the
time the big day rolls around, your contact may no longer be working
there to vouch for you.
Schedule the Setup Time at the Venues
You must make sure
there's ample time for setup. If you're renting a venue and bringing in
outside help, ask, "What time can people come in to set things up?" It's worth
seeing if they can do it the day before, or at the very least the entire
wedding day, before the event starts.
Go Over the Venue Ground Rules
Be prepared! Ask the
manager of the house of worship or site where you will be married for
the list of restrictions (if any). For instance, is flash photography
or bare shoulders prohibited? Or, if you're exchanging vows outdoors,
are you allowed to plant tent stakes in the lawn (which is often a
no-no)?
Write Down Your ContactsCarry an emergency contact sheet on your wedding day. Keep the paper with names and phone numbers of all your vendors in your purse -- it may come in handy in case your limo driver gets lost or you decide you'd like your photographer to take some behind-the-scenes shots.
