Wedding Planning Category


wedding reception

Every Single Thing You’ll Need For Your Wedding Reception

Things You’ll Need For Your Wedding Reception

Your wedding reception should be a fun part of your wedding day. It is the time when you can celebrate your big day with your family and friends. It’s your special day so you definitely deserve to relax and enjoy! But before you get to the festivities of your wedding reception, make sure that everything has been settled during the preparation. To ensure that you wouldn’t miss anything, here’s a list of every single thing you’ll need for your wedding reception:

1. Catering

Make sure to book your caterer and finalize the menu in advance. If you are meticulous with the food that will be served, conduct food tasting if you must. Discuss your preferred set up with the caterer. Will it be a buffet-style or a sit-down dinner? This will determine the resources that your caterer will need for your reception.

2. Dishes and chargers

Since everyone will be eating during the reception, you’ll be needing a lot of plates and bowls. To make it look more impressive, add chargers or decorative base plates. This will give additional accent to your guests’ tables and will elevate the look of the simple plates from your caterer.

3. Utensils and glassware

You’ll also be needing a lot of utensils – from salad forks to soup spoons and steak knives! It would really depend on your menu so make sure to coordinate with your caterer well. Also, ask them to bring extras in case someone drops their fork. 

To celebrate your special day, there will surely be a lot of toasting. So make sure that you also have wine or champagne glasses. Also prepare glasses for alcoholic beverages. Ask your caterer to take care of all these.  

4. Tables and chairs

Choose among a variety of options for your tables and chairs. From round tables to long banquet tables, you can choose one style or be creative and mix various types. Your wedding budget and style will help you determine your choice of tables and chairs. Don’t forget the table linens and chair covers/sashes!

5. Seating chart

To ensure that you’ll be able to accommodate all your guests during your reception, prepare a seating chart. You can prepare this as soon as the response for your RSVPs have come in.

6. Signages and place cards

Aside from the seating chart, signages and place cards will also be useful to guide your guests to their seats. Signages will make it easier for them to navigate within the reception venue. Place cards will ensure that every guest will have their own seat and that the VIP guests will get the best seat.

7. Floral arrangements and other decors

Weddings, even during receptions, wouldn’t be complete without floral arrangements. Your decorator will look at your seating chart or floor plan to identify and recommend where the best part is to decorate flowers. You’ll also need floral arrangements and centerpieces for your tables. The choice of flowers and other decors should go well with your wedding motif.

8. Bouquet and garter

If you’re planning to have a bouquet and garter toss, this should also be included on your list of items that you need for your reception. It would be better to have a separate bouquet for the bouquet toss as you would want to keep the bridal bouquet as a remembrance of this special day.

9. Wedding cake

Of course, you shouldn’t forget about the traditional cake slicing ceremony!

10. Lights and sounds system

Good lighting can transform your wedding reception venue into an impressive one! It will set the mood – you can use bright lights during dinner and turn on the party lights during the after party. It’s not just the lighting that can make your wedding reception impressive. A good sound system should go along with your lighting. Hire a good lights and sounds system supplier so you wouldn’t have any technical problems during your program.

11. Dance floor

Everyone loves dancing – especially if they’ve already had a glass or two of some alcohol. Your guests would also want to enjoy your big day with you so a dance floor is a must!

12. DJ/Band

Pump up the energy of the crowd by hiring a DJ or a band. You can also ask them to play your favorite wedding playlist to set the mood.

13. Bar

Most of your guests are adults who definitely love to drink so having a bar with free flowing drinks can be a good idea. This can be your treat for them for celebrating this day with you.

14. Favors

Another way of saying thank you to your guests is by giving our wedding favors. You can also include a thank you card and include a handwritten note to make your wedding favor more personalized. You can check out Utah Announcements for customized wedding thank you cards.

Don’t stress out too much on the preparation of your wedding reception. If you’ve hired a wedding planner and organizer, let them do the work. Leave them all the worrying. Your wedding is a big day for you. Relax and focus on how you can prepare yourself for the wedding – physically, mentally, and emotionally. 

Don’t wait until the last minute before you focus on yourself. Believe me – there will be too much that will go on during the wedding preparation. With all the things that will be on your mind at the same time, you shouldn’t forget to think about what’s really important – taking care of yourself and preparing yourself for your and your greatest love’s journey to forever.

wedding venues Utah

Wedding Venues Near You That Won’t Break Your Budget

Best Wedding Venues Near

Tying the knot with your loved one is a once in a lifetime event; hence, you want it to be perfect. However, all soon-to-wed couples are working on a budget and are surely looking for ways on how to cut down their wedding cost. The wedding venue takes up a big portion of the wedding budget. But did you know that there are a lot of venue options that are affordable and will suit your budget? Here are some ideas on wedding venues near you that won’t break your budget:

The courthouse

If you have a very limited budget and also working on a tight timeline, having your wedding at a courthouse is one of the best options for you. Aside from its convenience when it comes to preparation, civil weddings are affordable as it only usually costs a small fee depending on your city. Also, courthouses allow a limited number of guests only so it will significantly cut down the costs of other wedding happenings on that day. 

Vacation home

Hosting your wedding at home is definitely a great way to cut down on wedding costs. But if your home isn’t big enough to accommodate a large number of guests, you can explore renting a vacation home. A vacation home offers privacy and enough space for a wedding party while also doubling as a place to spend the night after a festive yet tiring day.

You can find a lot of options that will suit your preferred style, location, and budget in various websites like Airbnb. Prices vary depending on the size, location, and time of the year you will book the place. However, it is still a cheaper option instead of renting out a hotel’s function room. Make sure to inquire if they allow parties as some vacation rentals do not allow event functions.

Local park or garden

Having your wedding ceremony in your local park or garden will provide you with a picturesque wedding for only a minimal cost. Since you already have the beautiful nature as your backdrop, you only need to add a few decorations to align it with your theme and achieve the look of your dream wedding. Your local authority might just ask for a small fee for the usage of these public spaces. They might also ask you to acquire a wedding permit and insurance. 

Aside from being an affordable option, it provides a lot of space which can accommodate a large number of guests. But since this is an outdoor venue, make sure to consider and monitor the weather condition on your wedding date and prepare a contingency plan.

Historic site

If you are a couple who loves going on history tours or exploring art museums, why don’t you have your wedding at a library or a museum. These historic sites will provide a unique and memorable backdrop to your wedding. This option is not popular among soon-to-wed couples so you have a higher chance of getting a great deal and renting these venues for a cheaper price.

With libraries or museums, you get to save money on your wedding venue while also reminiscing your memories in that library or museum.

Backyard

For wedding venues that won’t break your budget, look no further. Why not consider hosting your wedding in your own backyard? You wouldn’t need to pay for a rental fee and you have the freedom on how you want to set-up the venue. Just make sure to acquire necessary permits and inform your neighbors beforehand. You will be having a party and people will be coming over; hence, there will be noise and a lot of cars will be parked along your street.

Choosing the right venue for your wedding can be a challenge especially if you are working with a limited budget. Wherever your wedding venue may be, always keep in mind that what will make it truly remarkable are the special moments during your big day – the vows that you will make to seal your love to one another.

Trending Destination Wedding Locations for 2021 and 2022

Trending Destination Wedding Locations for 2022 and 2023

Trending Destination Wedding Locations

Having a destination wedding is the dream for some couples especially those who love traveling and going on adventures. But with a lot of options of beautiful destinations, it can be difficult to choose the best location for your destination wedding. To help you out, we’ve narrowed down the options and listed down the trending destination wedding locations for 2020 and 2021.

IcelandWedding

Iceland has become a go-to location for destination weddings. With its gorgeous lakes, beautiful hills, and scenic views, it has always been a travel favorite so it’s no surprise that it’s becoming one of the places that couples prefer to get married in. The only downside is that having a destination wedding in Iceland can be a bit pricey but if you have some money to spare and you want to go all-out for your wedding, getting married in Iceland can be a one-of-a-kind experience. You and your guests will surely enjoy the views that this country has to offer.

Negril, Jamaica — the new BahamasTrending Wedding Locations

Negril, Jamaica is the new Bahamas. Both places are known for their long stretches of sandy beaches and turquoise-shaded waters. But if you want a more intimate and private wedding, Negril is a perfect location for small weddings. Its secluded resorts provide a romantic and unique atmosphere that most couples look for in a destination wedding. Also, in Negril, you get to experience authentic Jamaican culture and its infamous cuisine.

ThailandTrending Destination Wedding

Thailand is definitely the place to be if you want a destination wedding that can also double as your honeymoon location as it is a country that has a rich and unique culture. It has tropical beaches, opulent royal palaces, ancient ruins, and iconic temples that you can visit after your wedding day. With all these places that you can explore, it is best to allot at least a week if you plan on having your destination wedding in Thailand. Phuket is a great location to have your wedding as it is home to several romantic hotels which can make a beautiful backdrop for your ceremony. We recommend having a local who can speak your language to help you coordinate with the logistics so you won’t have a language barrier and avoid miscommunication.

Amalfi Coast, ItalyWedding Locations for 2021 and 2022

If you both love spectacular food and wine, Italy can be the best place for your destination wedding. It would be great to get married at Amalfi Coast because of its spectacular scenery. Its soaring cliffs and the sparkling sea provide a great backdrop for your wedding. No wonder it has become a bucket list destination. If you want to spend your honeymoon here, there are a lot of pastel-colored villages to visit, beautiful beaches to lounge on, and you can even take a vintage Italian sailboat cruise along the coast.

Ibiza, Balearic IslandsTrending Destination Wedding Locations for 2021 and 2022

Ibiza will definitely be enjoyed by you and your guests because of its magical scenery and tranquil vibe. Ibizan traditional architecture is a perfect backdrop for your destination wedding. Its chic rural vibe will give your wedding a unique look that will surely be remembered by you and your guests.

Destination Wedding Locations Within US

If you can’t afford to travel outside the state or just prefer nearer locations, there are still a lot of beautiful location options for your destination wedding:

  1. Have a beautiful beach wedding in Florida
  2. Enjoy the colorful backdrop of the vibrant lights in Las Vegas, Nevada
  3. Achieve your dream greenery wedding with the lush landscape of Livermore, California
  4. Get married with the scenic rocky mountain view in Aspen, Colorado

Before you decide on the location of your destination wedding, ask yourself first: what is the place that is remarkable for both of you? Do you have a dream destination? How about a favorite cuisine? These can help you identify which is your dream location for your destination wedding. Your wedding will be more memorable if it will be in a place that is relevant to both of you. After all, wherever you are, what’s important is that you are together celebrating your love for each other.

Wedding Planning

A Guide to DIY Wedding Planning

Whether couples are trying to cut down their wedding budget or they just want to unleash their creativity and be super hands-on with their wedding preparation, DIY wedding planning is the preferred route of some soon-to-wed couples. Unlike hiring wedding planners, DIY weddings will give you the ability to be more flexible with your planning and budget. However, doing DIY wedding planning will require a lot of time and effort. It has its advantages and disadvantages so you should work hard to plan carefully.

As a quick guide, here are some tips on DIY wedding planning:

Make a wedding planning binder.

When planning your own wedding, you need to be as organized as you could. The first thing you should do is make a wedding planning binder. This is where you will put all your references for your wedding. Create sections for all the important categories for the wedding such as guest list, invitations, wedding dress, groom’s attire, venue, vendors, ceremony, reception, etc. By having a wedding planning binder, you’ll be able to have everything you need in one place. This will definitely make your life easier once you get tied up with all the wedding preparations. 

Do your research.

To help you with DIY wedding planning, do your research. Look for resources, articles, and how-to guides for weddings. Find tips from couples who had a DIY wedding and learn from them. Since there are a lot of things that you need to do in planning your wedding, there are also a lot of references online which will help you get started and teach you things about wedding planning that you aren’t familiar with.

Create a mood board.

One thing that you can also include in your wedding planning binder is the mood board. A mood board is a compilation of all your visual references on how you want your wedding to look. What should the backdrop look like? What kind of flowers? What is the color scheme? How do you imagine the reception? Incorporate all digital inspirations that you got online. This will help you further understand your vision for your wedding and guide you on your decisions regarding the aesthetics for your wedding. This will also make it easier for your decor team and suppliers to understand what you’ll be needing from them.

Create a wedding planning timeline.

Another important part of planning is creating the timeline. Since you do not have a wedding planner, you are the one who’s responsible for making sure that all deliverables are accomplished on time. Once you’ve set your wedding date, create a schedule and identify the key milestones that you need to accomplish on those dates. With this, you’ll be able to see a bigger picture of everything that needs to be done for your big day. You’ll be able to make adjustments if needed. This will help you ensure that you are on track and avoid any delays.

Delegate tasks.

DIY wedding planning doesn’t mean that you’ll be doing everything on your own. Seek help from your family and friends. It wouldn’t be efficient if you and your partner are the only ones who are working on everything. You wouldn’t want to attend your wedding looking so stressed out because you assumed all the duties. Remember that this is your wedding and you need to look and feel your best on your special day. It will be a big help if you are able to delegate tasks to specific people but just make sure to monitor them. 

Consider thrift stores.

Since you’ve already saved some bucks from having a DIY wedding, why not make it more budget-friendly by sourcing items from thrift stores. You’ll be using your wedding decors for just a day so it seems wasteful to buy new stuff. It can be a waste of money and is also harmful to the environment. Try looking at Facebook Marketplace. It is a great source of affordable yet quality items. By purchasing thrifted items, you are able to save money while being more sustainable.

Be ready for challenges.

Some problems may arise during planning or worse, during your wedding. With this, you might want to consider hiring partial help on the day of your wedding. You wouldn’t want to troubleshoot problems on the day of your wedding while wearing your bridal gown, would you? Remember that this is your wedding and you deserve to enjoy and relax on this special day. Hire an on-the-day coordinator and ask one trusted friend to help you monitor and ensure that everything is going well. Don’t stress yourself out and focus on the celebration of your love.

Planning a wedding should be fun!

Planning a DIY wedding can be overwhelming. Since you want your wedding to be perfect, the pressure of doing your best to ensure everything should go well during your wedding day is inevitable. While it isn’t easy, always remember that wedding planning should be fun! It is a part of your wedding journey that should be cherished and a remarkable moment of your and your partner’s journey to forever.

Intimate Wedding

How To Plan An Intimate Wedding

Nowadays, most couples prefer an intimate wedding due to various reasons. Aside from cutting down on costs and being able to be more flexible about their special day, who would want to have a wedding with a bunch of people that you aren’t really close with? Intimate weddings make the celebration more meaningful and romantic. Since people are used to attending big weddings, planning an intimate wedding can be quite new to some soon-to-wed couples.

To give you an idea, here are some tips on how to plan an intimate wedding:

1. Trim down the guest list.

The first thing you need to do if you plan to have an intimate wedding is to identify your guest list. This will determine how intimate you want your wedding to be. And since you want to have a small wedding, you do not need to invite the friend of your friend that you’ve met during a night out.

Include your inner circle of family and friends. Invite people who make you feel loved, comfortable, and those who are a big part of your relationship as a couple. Another advantage of having a shorter guest list is that it will lessen your overall budget. This means you can spend a little bit more on the other aspects of your wedding.

2. Plan extra events.

Since you are able to save money by lessening the number of your guests, you will have some spare money to plan extra events for the wedding. This is where you can spoil your guests and give them a memorable experience.

Plan pre- and post-wedding events that will give you more opportunities to spend time with your family and friends. You can spoil them with a welcome party, brunch, spa treatment, after party, or anything that you love to do. These extra events will absolutely make your intimate wedding more special.

3. Find the right venue.

Once you’ve finalized your guest list and identified the events that you want to incorporate to your wedding, it’s now time to find the right venue. Which venue is best for your preferred number of guests? Make sure it complements the size of your celebration. A venue that’s too big will feel empty and may look like some of the invited guests didn’t turn up. On the other hand, a venue that’s too small wouldn’t be comfortable. 

Also, check if the venue can accommodate the pre- and post-wedding events that you are planning for your guests. It would be better to research possible venues in advance and take time to visit them personally.

4. Personalize what you can.

One of the things that we love about intimate weddings is that you can personalize whatever you want. An intimate wedding means that you can put more of your budget and attention to details. Put more meaning to your wedding by making the details more intricate. Add personal touches to your wedding vows. 

Explore having a personalized welcoming gift for your guests to make them feel special. Want to make them become more involved in your ceremony? Why don’t you include a ring warming ceremony where your rings will be passed around for everyone to say their well wishes and love before you put them on?

5. Make it a relaxed atmosphere.

If you’re not a fan of traditional weddings, you don’t have to strictly follow it! Feel free to skip out on whatever you think doesn’t matter to you. This will leave out unnecessary parts of your program, cut down on costs, and save time so you can enjoy the rest of your day with your family and friends.

At big weddings, couples don’t really get a chance to bond with their guests. By having a smaller wedding, couples can take this opportunity to connect and spend time with the guests. Incorporate some time for conversations and bonding moments during your day. This is what’s great in an intimate wedding. You are not forced to follow a strict program and schedule. You just get to relax and enjoy every moment of your special day.

Intimate weddings are simple yet sincere

Aside from being practical, an intimate wedding is a popular option among soon-to-wed couples because of the flexibility that it allows. It doesn’t require tedious preparations. Couples just need to be creative and think about what they really want for this special day. They can incorporate anything that they want and make every part of their wedding as relevant to them as possible. 

If you are not a fan of fancy celebrations, an intimate wedding might be perfect for you. Intimate weddings are simple yet sincere because it emphasizes the celebration of your love and you are surrounded by people who matter most to you.

 

How To Keep Your Wedding Guests Happy | Utah Announcements

How To Keep Your Wedding Guests Happy

Your wedding should be all about you and your partner. After all, it is you and your partner who’s getting married. In fact, everything on the wedding preparation puts the bride and groom first. Is this what you want? Is this your preferred motif? Is the venue memorable to you? What type of invitation do you want? 

You must have read about all the tips and tricks to make sure that your wedding will be perfect for you. But you must not forget about the other important people during your wedding – your guests. 

Here are some of the things that you can do to keep your wedding guests happy:

1. Set up a drinks area.

Once the ceremony is over, it’s now the time that most of your wedding guests look forward to – the reception. This is your time to keep your guests entertained and happy. But transitioning from the ceremony area to the wedding venue can make your guests “hangry”. The ceremony will probably take an hour or two. And before they can formally enter the reception area, there will be a bit of waiting time due to some photo ops and registrations to find their designated seats.

Don’t let them get hungry. Set up a drinks area for some pre-dinner snacks. A few pastries and some bottles of soda will keep them occupied until they are finally able to proceed to their seats. 

2. Think about the seating plan.

It might feel exciting that your friends from different phases of your life will finally be able to get together. It can also be tempting to do some matchmaking out of your friends. However, letting your friends from different circles sit together is totally a bad idea. They might feel left out. Reserve the matchmaking session for your night outs. Your friends and family would just want to catch up with their circle and watch both of you live one of the best days of your life. 

3. Keep speeches short and sweet.

Wedding speeches are touching and it is something that both the bride and groom look forward to on their special day. It is done by someone who is very close to the couple which sometimes leads to a quite long speech especially when you have a very long love story. When you ask your maid-of-honor or best man to do the speech for your wedding, tell them to keep it short and sweet. No matter how interesting your story is, you will eventually lose the attention of your guests if you make it too long.  

4. Give away favors that they will use.

Believe it or not, wedding favors take up a bunch of the wedding budget. So why would you spend money on something that will just get stuck and collect dust in your guests’ cupboard. Let’s face it, people wouldn’t care much about those little home decor with your initials on it. Opt for wedding favours that they will use. It doesn’t need to be anything fancy. Simple personalized mugs or totes will do. Who would leave those behind if they have their names on it, right?

5. Set up an open bar or soda bar.

A celebration wouldn’t be complete without some alcohol. Your guests will thank you for the overflowing drinks that will keep the fun going throughout the night. Serving drinks during your “after party” will also give your guests a chance to socialize with other guests outside their own circle. You might finally have a chance to play matchmaker on your friends! They will love you for being generous for the free drinks and if the matchmaking becomes successful, you and your friends might end up attending another wedding.

6. Allocate a kids’ area.

If your guests are bringing their kids with them, it’s a good idea to have some plans on how to keep them entertained. You wouldn’t want a bunch of kids running around your reception area while the program is ongoing. It would also be a hassle for your guests if they have to keep on looking after their kids. How would they enjoy the open bar? The answer is to allocate a kids’ area. Set up a booth with children’s activities – coloring books, painting, bubbles, and other entertainment that will keep them from running around the venue all the time.

7. Play songs that will make them groove.

Make it a great party by playing songs that will make your guests groove. Hire a DJ and ask him/her to play your favorite songs. Add a few wedding classics and pop hits to get everyone on the dance floor. To make your guests feel involved, when they respond to your RSVP, you can also ask them to give song suggestions. They’ll surely feel excited when they hear the song they’ve requested. 

Your guests made an effort, so you should, too!

Remind yourself that they’ve also allotted their time for you. Some of them might have taken time off from work, have traveled far, invested in new clothes, or bought you a lovely gift. They made an effort to join you on this special occasion and celebrate with you. So make sure that your guests also have a great time at your wedding

Top Pre-Wedding Beauty Tips For The Bride-To-Be | Utah Announcements

Pre-Wedding Beauty Tips For The Bride-To-Be

Wedding planning can be absolutely stressful. When we’re stressed, it usually manifests physically. And those manifestations really aren’t pretty! We’re talking about breakouts, dry skin, eye bags, and other things that make you feel less confident about yourself. For a bride, looking unpleasant on your wedding day could probably be their worst nightmare!

Your wedding is a big day so you would want to look perfect and feel great on this very special day. It isn’t just about your wedding day make-up and hair-do. It’s more than that. To achieve your best self during your wedding day, you need to invest in some beauty preparation. 

Here are some pre-wedding beauty tips to get you started early:

1. Manage your stress

One of the main things that contribute to how you look is stress. If you are stressed out, it will affect your overall health which will eventually show on your physical appearance. Manage your stress. Wedding planning is stressful and can sometimes turn you into what they call a bridezilla so you have to learn how to lessen and manage your stress. Stop worrying about things that you cannot control. Let your wedding planner do the worrying and troubleshooting. 

More than all the beauty regimen that you usually do to pamper yourself, lessening your stress will help you look healthy and fresh on your wedding day.

2. Visit your dermatologist

Before you get started with your skincare regimen, make sure to set an appointment with your dermatologist first. They can advise you on the best strategy to achieve the perfect skin for your wedding. It is ideal to consult your dermatologist first so you know what routine and treatment best suit your skin. It would be better to listen to your trusted dermatologist rather than experiment on your own as you might not have enough time to recover in case something goes wrong.

3. Eat healthier

To achieve that healthy glow, watch what you consume. Eating healthy will make you look healthy as well. Maintain a healthy diet throughout the course of your wedding preparation. It will help you look good and feel good. 

As much as possible, avoid sugary food, sodium, and processed food. Lessen your alcohol intake, completely skip it if you can, and try juicing fresh fruits instead. Drink more water and eat more fruits and vegetables. All these can help clear your skin and make you feel less bloated on your big day.

4. Get active

In addition to eating healthy, you should also start getting active. Working out will help you maintain a good body. Moreover, staying active can make you feel good and happier as physical activity releases endorphins. With all the stress that you might experience with your wedding preparation, exercising can help you manage your stress. A quick exercise can help you clear and calm your mind.

5. Consult your hair colorist.

If you plan on changing your hair color for the wedding, you should plan it ahead of time. Think about how you want your hair to be during your wedding and plan your hair color. Test out the color that you want. Ideally, you should pick a color – either lighter or darker – within two shades of your natural hue. 

By doing this early, if your preferred color doesn’t work for you, you still have time to fix it. If ever you got the right color the first time, make sure to have it retouched a few days before the wedding so it will look its best.

6. Get a good night’s sleep.

After all the beauty preparation for your wedding, the last and very important thing that you should do is get a good night’s sleep. No matter how intricate your beauty preparations were, if you weren’t able to get quality sleep the night before your wedding, your face might appear puffy and your eyes might look tired.

Having a good night’s sleep will also put you in a good mood and give you enough energy to face the day.

 

Don’t stress yourself too much with the need to look perfect on your wedding day. These are just some tips that you can do to help you feel good about yourself. Keep in mind that in the eyes of your partner, you will always be the most beautiful. You are perfect and you are enough.

 

5 Easy Ways to Cut Wedding Costs | How To Cut Wedding Costs

5 Ways To Cut Wedding Costs

When you were a kid, you might have already dreamt of your future wedding. You have probably already imagined how you’ll be walking down the aisle. We’re pretty sure you’ve always had a picture in your mind on how you would like your special day to be. You are free to dream big. We all know you deserve the perfect wedding. But when reality hits, you’ll realize that everything should be based on your budget and it should be one of the first things that you need to consider when planning your wedding. 

Fortunately, keeping your wedding costs down doesn’t mean that you also need to downgrade the quality of your wedding. We’re here to provide you with 5 ways to cut wedding costs without compromising the elegance of your big day.

1. Cut down the number of guests.

One of the main things that you can do to keep your wedding budget down is to minimize your guest list. Invite your family and closest friends only. You do not need to invite the barista who became your and your partner’s acquaintance due to your frequent visit to your favorite coffee shop. Your wedding is a special day for you and your partner so you wouldn’t want it to be attended by people whom you barely know.

Always remember that for every additional headcount, that entails an added invitation, meal allocation, extra booze, and many more. Keeping your guests into a minimum will significantly lessen your expenses.

2. Cut the cake early.

You are probably thinking how this will be able to help you cut down your wedding cost. But this hack will save a few hundred bucks. How? It’s simple. Cutting the cake is usually done during the last part of the reception and is also the last major happening in the program. After this, people are usually just enjoying their dessert, drinking, or socializing on the dance floor. 

If you cut the cake at a later time, your photographer and videographer would have to stay longer which means longer hours to pay. If you cut the cake early, they’ll be able to capture this important moment early and leave the reception one to two hours earlier.

3. Skip the wedding favors.

Another thing that significantly affects your wedding cost is the wedding favors. Imagine having to give out a wedding favor to each of your guests. Although you are able to cut down the number of your guests, wedding favors for each of them are still a lot. If you skip this portion, you get to save a lot. Or opt to give out simple and affordable wedding favors that will be useful to your guests.

In most cases, wedding favors are just items that your guests bring home after your party and eventually throw out. Because what will they do with some trinket with your wedding date carved on it? Even if they don’t throw it out, it will probably just collect dust in their cupboard. Most importantly, they went to your wedding for you and not for the goodies.

4. Do it yourself.

This is a basic money-saving tip for almost every occasion. If you can do it yourself, why hire someone else to do it? This will literally save you a lot of money. But it will also require more time and patience. 

You can start with the simple things like the decorations in your reception. Keep in mind that  although you won’t be spending for a supplier, you still need to take into consideration the amount of money that you will need to spend on the things that you need for your projects.

5. Hire local suppliers.

Our last tip will benefit not only you and your partner but also the small business owners in your area. Before you even go far, look around your area. Ask friends and family for recommendations. Find reliable partners within your area or in the location of your wedding. If you hire suppliers within your wedding location, it will lessen your costs for logistics.

By hiring local suppliers instead of well-known wedding vendors, you get to save money as well as support local businesses. 

Not everything is necessary.

We all know that you want to have all the necessary things (or so you think) for your wedding. After all, it just happens once in your life. But when you actually assess and think about it, you’ll realize that not all of these are necessary. When you take your budget into consideration, you will definitely identify which items are really important. Some are just added expenses which, honestly, won’t affect your wedding even if you leave them out.

 

All of these are just material things. What’s essential in your wedding is the fact that you are getting married to the one you love – and that’s what makes it perfect.

Wedding Planning checklist

Wedding Planning Checklist

Planning your wedding is exciting but it can also be overwhelming. It would be a nightmare if you forget something for your wedding day. You wouldn’t want your special day to be ruined with that little thing that you mistakenly overlooked, would you?

So we are here to give you a rundown of everything you need for your wedding. Are you ready to tick off the items in our checklist?

First Phase

This is the time when you have just been engaged. This part of wedding planning can be extremely overwhelming as you will be starting from scratch and will need to determine the main details of your wedding. 

  • Choose a wedding date.

Of course, wedding planning cannot start without finalizing the wedding date. This will determine the amount of time that you have for preparations so you can manage and adjust accordingly.

  • Determine your budget. 

Check out these tips on how to keep your wedding under budget.

  • Identify your preferred wedding theme. 

Collect inspirations to give you ideas on possible wedding themes. Are you planning to have a backyard wedding? Maybe a greenery-inspired wedding will work for you. Or will you be having your wedding during winter?

  • Look for possible venue options.

Once you’ve already got a visual idea of how you want your wedding, start looking for possible venue options. Here’s how you can choose the right wedding venue.

  • Start creating your guest list.

Identify who you would like to invite to your wedding. Will it be a big wedding or will you opt for an intimate wedding with just family and close friends?

  • Have your engagement photos taken.

Your engagement photos can be used for your invitations and as part of your wedding decor. Furthermore, having your engagement photos taken can be an evaluation of whether or not you’ve chosen the right photographer for your wedding.

Second Phase

You are now in the middle part of your wedding planning process. Make sure to secure everything you need for your wedding day.

  • Secure your venue.

Once you’ve chosen a venue, make sure to book it right away.

  • Book your officiant.

Your wedding won’t be official if you do not have a wedding officiant so ensure that you won’t forget to book one.

  • Make your wedding announcement. 

This wedding can never move forward without announcing it to your guests. Send out Save The Date and Invitation Cards and keep your guests excited. Here are some Save The Date ideas and tips on how to choose the right wedding invitation. Always keep in mind that great invitation designs matter.

  • Hire your photographer, caterer, florist, and all necessary wedding suppliers.

Ensure that you have secured all the necessary vendors for your wedding. Book them ahead so you’ll have more time in case there are adjustments needed.

  • Finalize wedding outfits for you and your entourage.

You and your guests should look perfect during your wedding day. Schedule fittings and finalize outfits for you and your entourage.

Third Phase

Your wedding day becomes nearer and nearer! Are you excited? Finish up your preparation by accomplishing the last items in your checklist.

  • Finalize the menu and the program of the reception.

Make sure that you and your guests will enjoy your wedding reception. Conduct food tasting to ensure the quality of the food that you will serve to your guests. Set the program flow for a more organized wedding reception.

  • Explore wedding day hair and make up styles.

You should look stunning during your big day. Do hair and make up tests to know which look best suits you.

  • Write your wedding vows.

This definitely shouldn’t be forgotten. Reflect on your story as a couple and pour your heart out when writing your wedding vows.

  • Purchase your wedding rings.

Purchase your wedding rings early to ensure you have enough time for resizing and engraving.

  • Acquire your marriage license.

Make it official! Ensure to acquire your marriage license.

  • Prepare Thank You gifts or cards for your guests.

Will you be giving out wedding favors to your guests as a Thank You gift? If wedding favors aren’t your thing, you can opt to give out Thank You cards instead.

 

These can feel like a lot but your special day deserves careful planning to ensure that you don’t miss out on all wedding must-haves. If you want to know more about wedding planning as well as the things that people don’t tell you about wedding planning, read this article.

Go and start ticking off each item in your checklist. You deserve a perfect wedding!

How To DIY Wedding Invitations

How To DIY Wedding Invitations

Have you already created your wedding planning checklist? How about your budget? Were you able to allocate a specific budget for each item on your list? Do you find it hard to divide your wedding budget among everything you need for your dream wedding?

Most couples have already become practical when it comes to their wedding preparation. As much as possible, they do not want to spend too much money as they’d rather save it for their future. To lessen their wedding expenses, they opt for do-it-yourself planning. If they can do some things by themselves, they don’t see the need of hiring someone else to do it. This will help them save a few bucks.

One thing that soon-to-wed couples DIY are invitations. Since it is personal and easily customizable, some couples prefer to do it on their own. Here are the things that you need to consider when creating a DIY wedding invitations:

1. Layout

Wedding invitations aren’t just about the design. What makes a good invitation is the layout. It is how you were able to showcase all the necessary details to your guests. Don’t forget the most important details such as the date, time, and location of your big day. Keep these information the focal point of your invitation.

To help you get started, you can look for templates online. Or if you are feeling crafty, feel free to do it from scratch. Ensure that your layout is organized. Avoid overwhelming graphics and complicated layout. Other elements on your invitation shouldn’t distract the reader from the main details of your wedding invite. 

2. Font

Choose your font carefully. Your choice of font will greatly affect the overall look of your invitation. It will set the mood and tone, not just of your invitation, but also of your wedding. More importantly, choose a font that is easy to read. You wouldn’t want your guests to misread the details of your big day and end up attending on a different day, would you?

For a cohesive look, do not use more than three font styles. Too many font styles in one layout will make your design look cluttered. Once you’ve chosen the font styles, you can apply it to other items such as Save The Date cards, Thank You cards, and other decors during your wedding. This can serve as a unifying element of your wedding theme.

3. Embellishments

Think about how you will spice up your invitation. An additional embellishment is a perfect way to put a unique touch to your invitation. The advantage of making a DIY wedding invitation is you can get creative and more personal with the embellishments. Add a monogram wax seal to your envelope or include lace, twine, or dried flowers – you can customize it according to your wedding theme.

You can also spice it up with the envelope. Including an envelope liner might be a tedious task for a DIY project but it will surely upgrade your invitation to a whole other level of elegance.

4. Printing

After you create your own design for your wedding invitation, it is advisable to have a professional printing service to ensure the quality of your invitations. You wouldn’t want the invitation that you worked hard on to be compromised just because of low quality print and paper. Besides, you will be distributing it to your guests as an announcement of your big day. It is just proper to make it not just presentable, but also impressive.

Quality should still be your priority

DIY invitations give couples the freedom and more leeway to customize their invitations. It can be a fun and memorable experience while also being able to cut down on costs. But there are things that are, ideally, shouldn’t be shortchanged and best left to the experts. No matter how much you want to save money on your wedding, you should still prioritize quality. After all, it is your big day. You deserve a perfect and momentous wedding.

For professional printing services, you can check out Utah Announcements for high-quality prints that will conveniently be delivered right to your door. From invitations, inserts, RSVP, and Thank You cards – we can print it for you! No need to struggle too much about your DIY wedding invitation as you can simply download our invitation templates, create your own design, and we’ll take care of the printing.

If you ever change your mind and decide not to DIY your wedding invitation, we’ve got you covered as well! At Utah Announcements, we also create customized wedding invitations that you will surely love. Check out sample designs in our portfolio.

Backyard Wedding | Backyard Wedding Planning ideas 2021

Guide To Planning A Backyard Wedding

Walking down the aisle of perfectly-grown green grass sprinkled with fresh white flowers, a refreshing breeze of fresh air touches your skin, your family and friends’ attention is on you, beautiful string lights open the reception area — are you dreaming of this kind of wedding?

Backyard weddings are warm, intimate, and can give you a uniquely sentimental and relaxed vibe. It is the perfect choice for couples who love the outdoors. Also, it provides a lot of benefits as it can be fully personalized and is a great option for a budget wedding. 

But since a backyard wedding is an outdoor wedding, it also requires careful logistics planning to be a hassle-free wedding. Here’s a quick guide for the best wedding planning of a backyard wedding: 

1.Choosing a Date

Since your wedding will have an outdoor venue, the first thing that you should consider when choosing your wedding date is the season. Schedule your wedding at the right season. Will it be too cold? Will it be too hot? Make sure that you pick the time of the year when you and your guests will be comfortable staying outdoors. 

Aside from the season, there can be instances when the weather doesn’t turn out how you expected it to be. So you should always be prepared with a contingency plan. Secure tents on the day of your wedding so you can use it in case it rains. 

2. Permits

Some areas require certain permits to conduct a backyard wedding. Be sure to check with your local authorities to avoid problems during your big day. Since you will be bringing in various suppliers and vendors to help you with setting up your wedding, also check if there are necessary permits that they need to acquire.

More than securing permits in compliance with local rules and regulations, you would also want to get permission from your neighbors. This doesn’t mean that you need to acquire an official permit from your neighbors. Since you will be having a celebration in your backyard, it is advisable for you to inform your neighbors beforehand about what will happen on that day. This is to manage their expectations since visitors will be going in and out of your area and the noise from your celebration might disturb them. You wouldn’t want to be reported by your neighbors due to public disturbance on your special day, would you?

3. Space and Set-up

Check the area that you’ll be utilizing for your wedding. Months before your big day, make sure that you plan the maintenance of your backyard. This is to give time for the plants to lush, flowers to bloom, and for you to clear out everything that needs to be cleared.

Measure the area. Will there be enough room for all your guests? Make sure to not compress the chairs and tables too much. There should be ample space for your guests to move around comfortably. Also, keep your older relatives in mind as they might need a dedicated space to feel more comfortable.

Allocate an area for the other festivities that you want to include in your wedding – a dessert bar, drinks booth, etc. Since it will be a backyard wedding, you might want to add a platform for the dance floor so your guests will be able to move safely and most importantly, for the newly-wed couple to safely enjoy their first dance as husband and wife.

4. Logistics – Electricity, Restroom, and Parking

One more important thing that you need to consider for the best wedding planning is the logistics. When it comes to outdoor venues, logistics can be quite more challenging. 

You should ensure that you get enough power to keep your lights and sound system working. It would be best to rent a power generator to supply electricity. Have it set up in a way that wouldn’t disrupt the wedding elements and decorations. Make sure that the wires won’t get in the way of your guests.

Is your restroom enough for all your guests? How about the parking space? You need to find an available parking space for your guests or organize a carpool system. You wouldn’t want all your guests to park their cars outside your house and block your neighbor’s driveway.

5. Time to be creative!

Once all the logistics concerns have already been settled, it’s now time to be creative! Let your imagination fly. Go back to how your love story started. Include personalized elements to your wedding. After all, this is about both of you and the celebration of your love. 

If you are on a budget, this is the perfect time to DIY the decorations. What’s great about backyard weddings is that they do not need fancy decorations to look beautiful. Simple and natural elements as decorations can make the atmosphere dreamy, warm, and intimate. You can even opt to make the decorations personalized for an added sentimental value to your venue.

Backyard Weddings – A Perfect Choice During This Time

Due to the pandemic, most couples prefer small and intimate weddings. Hence, a backyard wedding is one of the top choices among couples for their wedding theme. Besides, with a backyard wedding, you can maximize readily available resources and work with a limited budget. It can help you save money for the family that you will be building in the future.

 

How to Choose the Perfect Wedding Venue

How to Choose the Right Wedding Venue

Looking for the right wedding venue is one of the first steps to planning a wedding. However, to choose the right wedding venue, you should already have a visual idea of how you want your wedding to be.

There are some considerations and limitations when looking for the perfect wedding venue such as available dates, budget constraints, and size of the location. So, what steps can you take to choose the right wedding venue?

1. Draw up a Budget

Before you can look for a wedding venue, you must first decide on a budget. Drawing up a budget is important so that your expenses won’t go overboard when choosing a venue. As bride and groom-to-be’s we can get too excited and emotional when we see a beautiful venue and can tend to decide on impulse.

Average prices of wedding venues differ depending on where you live and where you plan to hold your wedding. You must also consider your overall wedding budget when allocating a budget for the venue.

2. Conceptualize What Type of Wedding You Want

Do you want to have an indoor venue or an outdoor venue? Do you want to have a church wedding or a beach wedding? Consider what type of wedding you want to have when listing down wedding venue choices.

You can also base this on your wedding theme and your personality. A wedding venue can add so much to the ambiance and overall mood that you want to go for.

3. Decide on the Non-negotiables

Think about the non-negotiables that you are looking for in a wedding venue. This includes your ideal wedding date and the number of guests that you want to include.

Do you plan on hosting the ceremony and reception in one venue? What are the venue inclusions and what are the things that you need to rent? Do they have a place where the bride can stay before the ceremony? How about a space for a bar or a dance floor?

Asking these questions is crucial as you might realize that there are hidden costs. Deciding on non-negotiables for your wedding is important to shortlist your wedding venue choices.

4. Research Possible Wedding Venue Choices

Research all the wedding venues where you want to get married that fit your qualifications. List them down on a spreadsheet and start writing and comparing their features, amenities, and other inclusions.

Start shortlisting the venues and ranking them from your first choice up to the last. 

5. Visit and Revisit the Venues

Schedule a visit to your chosen venues. Ask your fian?e, maid of honor, or wedding planner to accompany you to the venues. By visiting the venues in person, you will have a clearer vision of which venue is perfect for your wedding. Don’t forget to list down questions that you may have and to have the foresight to possible problems on your wedding day.

When choosing a venue, visiting once might not be enough. Make sure to revisit the venue and to take your time in exploring and planning your possible wedding layout.

6. Keep an Open Mind

Things might not go as you planned so try to keep an open mind. Your dream wedding venue might not be available on your wedding day or it might be too small to fit your guests. However, you might find the perfect wedding venue in the most unconventional places. 

Ask for recommendations and listen to sound advice. Don’t rush and settle for a mediocre venue. Don’t lose hope just because you’re having a hard time looking for a wedding venue.

Now that you know the steps to choose the right wedding venue, we hope that you can have a smooth and stress-free wedding planning. Don’t forget to have the balance of staying in control while listening to your gut feel.

Things Your Wedding Planner Won't Tell You

5 Things They Don’t Tell you About Wedding Planning

You have probably already heard about what you should do, what you should have, or what you need when planning a wedding. You can find a lot of tips and resources that tell you about various wedding hacks. But the true hack is knowing all aspects of wedding planning (yes, even the messy and stressful aspects!) and preparing yourself on how to handle it. 

There are still some things that they don’t tell you about – which we think are worth sharing.

1. Something will go wrong.

In planning for events, I bet no one has ever told you this before especially when planning for a wedding. This is not just being pessimistic. You just have to understand that not all things are within your control. And there might (emphasis on the might) be at least one thing that could go wrong. When you foresee such possibilities, you are able to make a plan B. Set a game plan with your wedding planner on how you will resolve possible issues. 

This is to also help you compose yourself when something really goes wrong during your special day. It’s because you expected it. You accepted that mishaps are sometimes inevitable. And it’s okay. You can still reclaim that one mishap with the memories you could make with your partner since you still have the rest of forever for yourselves.

And if nothing goes wrong, great! You are one lucky couple!

2. Everyone has an opinion.

Although this wedding is about you and your partner, there surely are other people who would want to give their opinion on various things. It can be the bride’s mom commenting on the choice of your color motif. Or the groom’s aunt telling you about the best caterer in town.

No matter what other people say about your wedding, don’t feel pressured to provide what they want. People will always have a say no matter what you do. Just let them be and do your thing. After all, it is your wedding. Not theirs.

3. At least one unexpected expense will arise.

This could be that one thing that could have gone wrong. Aside from thinking of a contingency plan for whatever mishap that could possibly happen, you should also allocate a contingency fund.

You wouldn’t want to shell out extra money that is out of your budget for some problem that occurred in the process. If you set a contingency fund, there will be room for adjustments – whether it be because of a minor mistake or you just want that extra pair of shoes for your reception. You don’t have to worry if some changes are needed.

4. Throwing a simple wedding is just as much work as throwing a fancy one.

What does throwing a simple wedding and throwing a fancy wedding have in common? They both need to be planned and organized. There must have been an instance when choosing a simple wedding instead of a fancy one came across your mind. 

It’s probably because you thought that simple weddings are easier to plan and organize. That could be true to some extent. But for both options, you still have to contact suppliers, outsource needed items, secure a venue, etc. You still have to do the work. So just follow your heart. Don’t worry too much about the hassle. Hire a wedding planner. Don’t take all the burden by yourself. It’s your special day. You deserve the best.

5. Great wedding invitation design matters.

You would think that a wedding invitation is just a simple piece of paper that you need for a wedding. You just need it to inform your guests that you would like to invite them to your wedding. But that’s actually what makes it so significant.

It is where you will announce your wedding. It will be your way of letting them know that you want them to be part of your special day. Since this is an important day for you, the way you announce this day should also be special. This is where design matters. Your wedding invitation will give a remarkable impression to your guests.

At Utah Announcements, we can provide you with custom designs based on your preference and taste. You can place your order here

We are not sharing these things to discourage you or stress you out. We want you to have visibility of all sides of the wedding planning – even the most stressful ones. Through this, you will be able to try your best to avoid or at least prepare a contingency plan for these possible mishaps that could arise along the way.

Happy planning!

Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding

How to Keep your Wedding under Budget

It’s not a secret that weddings can be expensive. In fact, the average US wedding costs around $35,000. And while many are now opting to have elopement and courtyard weddings, many of us still have that fairy tale dream of walking down the aisle towards our happily ever after.

So, the question now is: How can I have my dream wedding while staying under budget? We’ve thought of five simple budget saver tips to help you save money while still achieving your dream wedding.

1. Discuss what type of wedding you want.

Are you planning for a traditional church wedding or a boho-themed wedding? Different types of weddings also have different costs attached to them. Of course, destination weddings will cost way more than a farmhouse-themed wedding. 

Know what type of wedding you and your partner both want and set a budget. Discuss the non-negotiables and learn to compromise in order to stay under budget.

2. Keep the guest list minimal.

Set the number of guests that you can afford to attend your wedding. List down your closest family and friends first before including other relatives, officemates, and other friends. Don’t be afraid of offending some people by not inviting them, as your expenses on the venue and catering will balloon if you exceed your planned guest list.

Send out an RSVP in advance to have a clearer idea of how many people can attend. Proceed to invite your other friends as your initial invitees confirm whether or not they can attend.

3. Involve your close family and friends in the wedding preparations.

Reduce your stress by asking for help from friends and family. Set a timeline and delegate tasks to them. Brainstorm cheap wedding ideas with them and you might be surprised at the ideas they come up with.

Use your connections to lessen your expenses. They might know people or professionals that you can hire on your wedding day. They might have skills and talents that they can use to help you on your wedding day.

Do you have a friend who sings? Hire them to sing for your wedding. Is one of your best friends good at hosting? Ask them to be your host! 

4. Opt for Do-it-Yourself when possible.

As much as you can, plan ahead so that you would have time to do some of the wedding essentials yourself. Being creative and resourceful will definitely save you a lot of money on your wedding day.

You and your partner can craft the giveaways, table centerpieces, and other wedding decors yourself. If you’re a great cook, you can do your own catering. Or if you’re good at makeup, you can save money on hiring a makeup artist and do your own makeup yourself.

5. Hold the ceremony at home or outdoors.

The venue is one of the most costly wedding expenses. It’s good to look at all your options before you book a venue. If you have a lot of backyard space, you can even hold the ceremony at home. 

Look for unlikely wedding venues. Some great wedding venues might not seem like usual wedding venues at first – but with the power of creativity and resourcefulness, you can transform any grassy meadow in your neighborhood, community center, or even your local park.

Staying Under Budget for your Wedding Isn’t That Hard

Unless you are dreaming of a truly lavish and luxury-filled wedding, staying under budget for your wedding isn’t that hard. It’s true that you have to sacrifice a few things and do some of the work yourself, but you’ll still be able to keep the essence of your dream wedding.

Think long-term and how you can use the money you saved to buy a house, or a new car, or to save up for the family you dream of building. Whether a wedding is expensive or not, it won’t really matter as long as you marry the one you truly love.

Decor Ideas for your Winter Wonderland Wedding | Winter Wedding Invitation

Decor Ideas for your Winter Wonderland Wedding

They say the one you are with during the first snowfall is the person you will spend a long time with or if you will be lucky enough, the person you will be with forever. That’s why aside from the festive feel of winter brought about by the holidays, it is also a very romantic season.

Although winter is an off-season for weddings, weddings during winter can be made extra romantic by the gorgeous snow. The celebration of love brings warmth in this chilly season. To have that dreamy wedding, here are some winter wedding decor ideas:

1. Keep the color palette simple.

To accentuate the whites of the winter season, focus on a monochromatic color scheme. Since white is a neutral color, you can easily pair it up with another color. Choose one and play with the different hues of that color. 

To give a warm feel, you can opt to use deep shades like burgundy, emerald, or copper. You can also apply this to the utensils. Use copper and rustic-toned cutlery instead of the classic silverware to make it look more elegant. Then, mix and match it with decorative accents of the color you chose.

2. Utilize branches and pine cones for a rustic feel. 

Take advantage of the natural elements in your environment. Since the tree’s branches shred during winter, you can use those branches as part of your decoration. You can use it to make an arch and provide a grand addition to your wintery landscape.

You can also upcycle pine cones by using it as a cardholder, table decoration, garland, or even as a wedding cake decoration. With just a few modifications, you’ll be surprised at the numerous decors that you can come up with simple pine cones.

3. Add lights and candles to make it look romantic.

Instead of too many florals, explore utilizing candles. For the ceremony, you can line up candles on the aisle to offer a warm and inviting atmosphere. Also, candles will make the setting more romantic.

In addition to the candlelights, make the setting more dreamy by putting up string lights. Avoid colorful lighting. Stick to the natural shades of candlelight for a more elegant feel.

4. Drape knit blankets as a chair decor.

Although winter is a chilly season, you cannot expect all your guests to attend the wedding wearing too many outfit layers. Be ready with blankets to keep them warm throughout the ceremony. 

Drape knit blankets over the chairs to complement the overall set-up. Aside from its practical use of keeping the guests warm, it will surely upgrade the cozy atmosphere of your wedding.

5. Set up a hot beverage bar.

If guests do not want to cover up their outfit (of course, you would love to flaunt your outfit of the day) with a blanket, a hot beverage bar can be the answer! 

Set up a bar that will offer the guests coffee, hot chocolate, or tea. Decorate your bar with DIY decors using branches and pine cones and add candles to be consistent with the overall feel of the wedding. It can be a nice welcome treat to the guests when they get to the venue. This will surely keep them cozy all night.

Have you already pictured your winter wedding? 

After you’ve thought about all the details of the big day, don’t forget to also think about the pre-wedding essentials. Start with your invitation. Check out our designs for possible winter wedding invitation ideas. To help you create the perfect winter wedding invitation for you, feel free to contact us at 801-810-6065.

LDS Bride

New York Times: LDS Bride Masterfully Plans Wedding in 5 Days

LDS Bride Plans Wedding in 5 Days

By The New York Times

Planning an entire wedding in 5 days, some say she might be crazy, others might say she is in love. Either way sending out wedding invitations via text message was pretty creative! Congratulations Emily and Rob!

It was the day before my wedding, and I still didn’t have a dress. In less than 24 hours, family and friends would be gathering to celebrate the occasion, and at this point my “something borrowed” was going to be an entire church outfit. Was I concerned? Not really, and not for long. I decided to throw a Hail Mary at my mom by asking if she would make a skirt to match the $10 top I found. She did. And it was lovely.

My wedding dress was just one of many things I wasn’t concerned about.

For example, five days earlier (on a Thursday, which also happened to be New Year’s Eve), I was on the phone with the woman who would become my banquet coordinator. The conversation took place about an hour after I was officially engaged (with an $8.88 Walmart wedding ring purchased that morning) while hiking in the Sedona Verde Valley in Arizona.

It went like this:

HER (choking cough) “Excuse me? You’re getting married in five days, and you’re just calling me now?”

ME “Well, I actually think I’m being quite generous. I just got engaged, and you’re my first call. I figured I should work out some logistics before texting everyone. And no, I’m not pregnant.”

HER “Well this is unusual. How many people are you expecting?”

ME “Probably 100.”

HER (cough) “One hundred people with five days’ notice?”

Featured image from The New York Times

Read the rest of this story at NYTIMES.com

Erica-and-Jeff-2-300x200 Wedding Invitations

Salt Lake Wedding Dance

Salt Lake, Utah Wedding Dance

One thing you are sure to find at any wedding reception is dancing. The Bride and Grooms traditional “First Dance,” is always a highlight. A great way to take the first dance to the next level is to sign up for dance lessons to perfect your moves.

Farrah Valdez is the only ballroom dance instructor who specializes in wedding dance preparation in Salt Lake City. With over five years of teaching experience, a bachelor’s degree in ballroom dance, and over 25 years of dance experience, she is fully qualified to help anyone prepare. Her training includes: ballet, jazz, hip hop, modern, ballroom, Latin, salsa, swing, and more. The variety of her background allows her to create a unique dance for every couple she works with.

Erica and Jeff

Erica and Jeff

Farrah started teaching dance at a studio in San Diego in 2011. It was there that she realized she loved teaching couples preparing for their wedding, and that there was a real market for wedding dance lessons. She started her own business and since then her mission has been to help people feel comfortable dancing at their wedding, have fun during their lessons, and create a custom dance unique to their goals.

Why wedding dance lessons? The biggest reason is because it give couples confidence dancing in front of their friends and family, and given it is a formal occasion and the only time they will ever “perform,” why not take advantage?! The second reason is because it is a part of the wedding planning process that couples can do together, and a part of the wedding that is fun and not stressful. Lastly, because it makes the wedding unique! Guests will love to see what the bride and groom have put together, and the potential for creativity is endless.

Every engaged couple has a different vision of how they want their dance to look on their wedding day. The majority of people just want to feel comfortable, and not “look stupid.” (That’s a direct quote, by the way, from 70% of her couples!) In those situations the couple wants to learn some basic steps, enough to not repeat the same step, and finish with a simple dip. The next group is looking for more then the basics, and they want to learn a larger variety of steps and some choreography. The last group wants to impress their audience with something original, perhaps an unexpected song choice, a fully choreographed dance, include members of the family or bridal party, or they want to do a medley of different songs and/or styles of dance. No matter what the goals, Farrah can help everyone!

What drives her in this business is seeing people’s progress, and watching their confidence grow. She loves to watch people develop a love of dance. Lastly, she loves seeing the photographs and videos after the wedding is over. She says, “It is a real honor to be included in someone’s wedding. I feel like I am a part of a time in their lives that they will always remember. I love knowing that I have helped them, and in most cases, took their vision beyond what they expected, and created something they and their guests will never forget!”

For more information about Farrah’s dance background, pricing, and faqs, you can visit her website at Salt Lake Wedding Dance She is also available for dance lessons outside of weddings, such as group choreography, group lessons, single lessons, and on-location lessons.

Fall Wedding Inspiration

The colors are changing and the temperature is dropping – fall is just here! The beautiful scenery is great inspiration if you are planning a wedding in the next couple of months. Incorporating small, subtle fall elements in your decor and theme will help you create a current and seasonal feel throughout your big day. Follow our suggestions for the perfect autumn wedding!

1. Go Rustic
Whether it’s a barn or burlap, fall is the perfect time for a rustic wedding. It doesn’t get more rustic than a barn venue, but if that is not an option, include smaller elements to create that same vibe. Anything wood, such as a tree slice cake stand or barn wood signage, is a good place to start.

2. Get Cozy
If the temperature hasn’t fallen too low, you can take your guests outside to enjoy this wonderful season. If your venue will allow it, set up a firepit with smores supplies for a camp-style feel. Add warm, assorted blankets to keep guests cozy and warm while they are outside. You could also serve hot chocolate and cider to keep the cold away. As long as your guests are comfortable, they will have a blast!

3. Create A Seasonal Color Palette
Reds, oranges, yellows, and browns are traditional fall colors but don’t let that limit you! Fall is a time for deep shades – think burgundy, plum, navy, and scarlet. These darker colors will be a great complement to the changing season.

4. Bring The Outdoors Inside
With colder temperatures, it can be difficult to have a fully outdoor wedding (especially when it gets closer to winter). Bring elements of the outdoors to your indoor venue to make it feel like autumn. Using leaves or pinecones in your decor, such as center pieces, can make it seem like you are right outside.

 

5. Design Your Invites With The Theme
Your invitations are the first exposure guests will have to your wedding. Include rustic elements like wood or burlap to create a fall theme that starts as soon as your guests open their invites.
Check out some of our categories from our portfolio to get started with some fall wedding inspiration for your wedding invitations. Just a reminder, all our designs can be 100% customized to fit your exact style and wants.

Burlap Wedding Invitations
Rustic Wedding Invitations
Wooden Wedding Invitations

What to Include in Your Wedding Invitation Suite

There are a lot of pieces that go into your invitation suite and it’s easy to get confused. From a save the date to an RSVP card to a reception card, all these pieces can start to run together. This post is all about eliminating that confusion. We are here to explain to you every piece that you can include in your invitation suite and what it’s used for. Keep in mind that not all these pieces are required, or even necessary. It’s up to you to determine what you need and how that fits with your style. Don’t feel pressured to include any items unless you see them as necessary or just plain cute. Keep reading for our tips on what to include in your wedding invitation suite!

1. Save the Date Card

If you are having a long engagement and know your wedding date 6-8 months in advance, this is a great way to give your guests a preview of the wedding. This is especially important if guests will need to make travel arrangements. On the card, include the couple’s names and the date and location of the wedding. You can also put a link to your wedding website for more information. If you will only be engaged for a short time, skip this step and go straight to the wedding invitation.

2. Wedding Invitation

This is the most important piece of your entire invitation suite. This piece should include all the major details the guests should know: names of the couple and the date, time, and location of the wedding. Some brides choose to treat this piece as more of an announcement of the marriage and include details about any wedding events on separate cards (which we will explain further down on the list). Alternatively, if you want a wedding suite with fewer pieces, you can use the main invitation to invite guests to the ceremony and/or reception. You can also use this piece to let guests know of your registry and other details about they may need to know about the wedding, like what attire is expected or if kids are allowed.

3. RSVP card (and envelope)

This piece is a small card your guests can use to let you know if they will be attending your wedding. Traditionally, this also includes a stamped envelope for your guests to send their responses back in. To avoid this extra envelope, make your RSVP card a postcard instead. Just make sure to include a stamp on it!

4. Ceremony Card

This piece lets your guests know where and when the actual marriage ceremony will be taking place. If you are not inviting all of your guests to the ceremony, it is best to include this information on a separate card. Include any pertinent information such as the date, time, and location.

5. Reception Card

This piece is much like the ceremony card but instead lets your guests know where and when the reception will be taking place. If you include this information on your invitation, you can skip this step altogether. If not, include any important information like the date, time, and location on this card.

6. Directions Card

Make sure your guests know where your wedding is and how to get there – you can’t always trust the GPS! This is especially important if you are holding a destination wedding or your wedding is in a hard-to-find area. You can approach this piece is two ways. First, you can simply list the directions to the venue. Second, you can include a map of where the venue is and how to get there. You should also include this information on your wedding website.

 

7. Accommodations Card

This piece is reserved mainly for destination weddings and out-of-town guests. Make sure anyone that has to travel has some direction as to where they should stay when they get there. You can often get a lower rate if you book a block of rooms so make your guests aware of this option. You should also let them know on this card if you are paying for their accommodations.

8. Rehearsal Dinner/Luncheon Invitation

Many couples choose to have a dinner the night before or lunch the day of their wedding. If you are doing this, give the information to your guests on a separate card. Just like the wedding and reception card, include all important details especially the date, time, and location. Typically, the wedding party, family members, and out-of-town guests are invited.

9. Bridal Shower Invitation

If you want to skip a step down the road, include an invitation to your bridal shower in your invitations. This makes it easier when the shower comes along because you do not have to send out a separate invitation.

10. Social Media Card

Use social media to collect pictures from your wedding. There are a lot of apps you can use that allow guests to upload photos to a shared drive. Alternatively, you can create a hashtag and have your guests include it on all their posts at the wedding. You can use a social media card to let guests know of this ahead of time so you are more likely to get more photos.

 

 

 

Wedding Resolutions

It’s the beginning of a new year and that means everyone around you is making new years resolutions. If you’re getting married this year, take advantage of this time and make some goals for your own wedding planning. Take a look at a few of our suggestions for great new year’s wedding resolutions.

1. Stay true to your own style.

Pinterest, blogs, and Instagram are a huge help when trying to plan your wedding. They give you great ideas and show you what others have done with their own nuptials. However, looking at others’ style all the time can make it difficult to identify your own likes and dislikes. When planning your wedding this year, don’t let others’ tastes sway yours. Stay true to yourself and create a wedding that YOU love.

2. Don’t procrastinate.

It seems like there are a million things you need to do to pull this wedding off. With so much on your plate, you can get easily overwhelmed and become tempted to just push everything to the side. This just creates a bigger pile of things for you to complete in even less time. Use this year to tackle your wedding tasks head-on. Outline specific tasks and create a timeline with real deadlines for when each item needs to be completed. Getting organized will help you avoid procrastinating and save you a huge amount of stress.

3. Learn to say no.

When you’re engaged, everyone you know, and even people you don’t, have an opinion on what you should do. Everyone wants to have their say and make suggestions for what they think will make the perfect wedding. They mean well, but it can seem annoying or frustrating trying to satisfy all these demands. Stand your ground and learn to say no when someone tries to take over parts of your wedding. Stay strong and take control of this special day so it can be everything you imagined.

4. Stay balanced.

With everything that needs to be done, wedding planning can take over your life if you let it. With decisions to make about cakes, colors, dresses, venues, etc., it seems like there isn’t room in your life with anything else. This resolution is all about keeping this seemingly endless list of tasks in check. When you understand that your wedding, although special, is really just one day, it will help you balance planning with the rest of your life. Carve out a specific time to do wedding planning every day or every week and stick to it. Don’t let it take over your life.

5. Keep your priorities in focus.

Wedding planning puts a lot of focus on the things involved in your wedding, not the people. At the end of your wedding day, the cake will all be eaten, the flowers will wilt, and the guests will go home. The most important part of your wedding is who you are marrying. This year, make sure your groom know that he is the most important part of this wedding. Set a goal to regularly let him know how much you appreciate and love him. Seeing the big picture, that you’ll get to be married to the love of your life at the end of this perfect day, will help you when small bumps come along.

Here’s to a great year of great weddings!

Invitation Timeline

Wedding Invitation Timeline Tips, Template, Wording, Design

With so many pieces, it can be confusing when to send them out. It get’s even more confusing when you try to decipher traditional etiquette versus the more modern, lax rules. To clear all this up, we’ve created a timeline to guide you on when to send each piece of your invitation suite out. Use this invitation timeline to make sure you get everything sent out on time and without any stress! Take a look!

Save the Dates

Traditionally, save the date cards are sent out six to eight months before the wedding. The main reason they are sent out so far in advance is so people have time to make travel arrangements. However, this long timeline isn’t always a luxury for many brides. If you are working with a shorter timeline, try to send save the date cards out as soon as you have set a date and book a venue. Shoot for about four to six months in advance if possible. If you aren’t sending save the dates, then you can skip this step!

Invitations

Invitations should be sent out six to eight weeks before the wedding. This ensures that people can put your event on their calendar before other things come up. This also gives you time to get your RSVP cards back if you choose to send those out. Again, if you’re working on a shorter timeline, just try to send them as far out as possible. Aim for about a month in advance at least.

RSVP Cards

This deadline is not as much for you as it is for your guests. On the RSVP card, let your guests know that you would like their responses two to three weeks before your wedding date. This will allow you enough time to make changes to your seating chart and catering head count.

Thank You Cards

If you receive a gift before the wedding, the general rule is to send a thank you card within two weeks. For gifts received after the wedding, send out cards within four weeks. Make sure you respond promptly to all gifts to let the giver know you are grateful and appreciate their kindness.

How To: Stress-Free Invitations

Getting your invitations out can be a stressful task, but it doesn’t have to be! Especially when you are inviting a lot of guests, the idea of addressing and stuffing all those envelopes can seem daunting. Here are a couple tips for making the invitation process stress-free.

1. Do your research. 

Make the design process easy by doing a little pre-work. Researching design ideas and general inspiration for your wedding will make it easier to determine what you want your invitation to look like. With so many options, it’s important to narrow down the possibilities to avoid being overwhelmed.

2. Have a budget. 

Determine how much of your wedding budget you want to spend on invitations. This helps you avoid over-spending and having to cut costs elsewhere. You can get a free quote for your invitations on our website to determine how much your invitations will cost before submitting an order.

3. Start addressing early.

Even if you don’t have your invitations yet, start addressing your envelopes. Getting an early start on this task can make it easy once you get your invites. If they are all addressed once they arrive, you can stuff them and send them out quickly and avoid stress about getting them out in time. To make this process even easier, we offer an envelope printing service. Look at our website for more details.

4. Give yourself enough time.

Try to order your announcements at least two months before your wedding date. This gives you ample time for the design process and shipping. If you have less than 30-40 days before your wedding, custom invites are still doable, but you may want to consider rushing the process.

5. Budget enough time for RSVPs. 

If you are sending out RSVP cards, give your guests enough time to respond once they receive the invitation in their mailbox. You should request guests to RSVP three weeks before the wedding date, meaning you will need to send the invites out six weeks before the date. This is especially important if you are basing food orders or other logistics on the number of guests attending.

6. Make a guest list. 

Create a spreadsheet or list with your guest’s names, addresses, and other information (like attendance, food choices, etc.). This will help keep you organized and make sure you do not have any duplicates. MyInviteList.com is a great online service to help you organize your guest list online.

7. Recruit family and friends to help. 

Once your invitations arrive, have an invitation party with your friends and family. Get them together to help you stuff and seal the envelopes and you will be done in no time!

8. Go over all invitation proofs thoroughly.

Imagine getting all your invitations and date is wrong – so stressful! Avoid any mistakes before printing by reading and looking over all the proofs you receive several times. Have someone else look at them for you to catch any mistakes you might have missed.

15 Wedding Hacks to Make Your Big Day Stress-Free

No matter what type of wedding you’re planning, big or small, everyone has worries about their big day. You want to enjoy your wedding day, not spend it stressing about the little things. To save you the hassle and the stress, we have gathered a few wedding hacks to make your day easier.

  1. Wearing a veil? Use veil weights to keep your veil in place in case of wind.
  2. Break in your shoes before the wedding day. You can do this easily with just a blow dryer and socks.
  3. Keep the kids entertained. Provide wedding-themed coloring or activity books.
  4. Come up with a wedding hashtag to create a real-time wedding photo album on social media.
  5. Planning for an outdoor venue? Attach Solemates to your heels so your shoes don’t get stuck in the grass.
  6. Create snack packs for you, the groom, and the bridal party to tide you over between the ceremony and reception. Keeping everyone fed will make sure everyone stays happy!
  7. Assign each bridal party or family member to a different vendor. Have them exchange contact information so they can solve any problems the day of and you don’t have to be worried.
  8. Have a spare pair of shoes. The shoes you are wearing for your ceremony and photos may not be comfortable anymore once you get to the reception, especially if there’s dancing. Have a pair of flats or sandals just in case.
  9. Remove static from your dress with a wire hanger. Run the long side of the hanger over your dress and between your tights, slip, etc. and you’ll be static free!
  10. Create a wedding timeline and hand it out to your families and bridal party. This way, everyone will be where they are supposed to be when they’re supposed to be there.
  11. Have a kit of emergency essentials with you at all times. This could include gum, deodorant, bobby pins, lip gloss, safety pins, etc. Have your maid of honor or bridesmaid carry it with them throughout the day so you always have access to it.
  12. Get rid of any morning-of pimples. The last thing you want to see when you wake up on the morning of your wedding is a big zit. Put Listerine or ice on it for a few minutes to reduce swelling and redness.
  13. Give your DJ a “do not play” list to avoid awkward dancing.
  14. Wear a cute outfit while you’re getting ready. If you are having a photographer there during hair and make up, make sure you love those photos by wearing something cute, like a button down shirt, robe, etc. Also make sure whatever you wear doesn’t have to be pulled over your head to take off to avoid messing your hair up.
  15. Find a time to spend time alone with your groom. The whole day really is about the two of you so make sure you have time together away from all the craziness.

Use these tips to make sure your wedding day is stress-free! In the end, even if things go wrong, all that matters at the end of the day is that you are married to the person you love. So enjoy the day and have fun!