Getting married ? - top tips for a special day!

Getting spliced? Preparing to say I do?

There is so much to organise for your special day and Portishead People is here to help, offering you tips and advice on how to make sure your day is memorable and special – without breaking the bank!

Here are some top tips for savvy brides to be!

1. The Budget

Agree a wedding budget that won't bankrupt you as a couple, and stick to it. Decide priorities like a honeymoon or rings and bargain hard for everything else. Remember you can actually get married for as little as £200-300 although the average wedding costs  £17,250. At the end of each month do a quick tally and cut back if you are heading into the red.

 

2. The Venue

Venues range from stately homes to your favourite restaurant (probably just the food and drinks bill). Remember that many venues tie you to their own caterers, florists and bar charges. If your budget is tight, try to retain maximum control of who supplies what. Village halls are also a good bet and cheap to hire and many come complete with their own bar.

 

3: Enlist help!

Get friends and family to rally round – or employ a wedding planner.

Why not recruit friends and family to form a team or people who genuinely care about your wedding. Out of all your pals, each has a skill that could help you organise your big day. Can one of them design, make and sort the invites. Is another one a dab hand in the kitchen and could help make a buffet or even a wedding cake?.

For those wanting hand over the major stresses and strains of organising the big day – how about a wedding planner?

And what about getting to the church on time? You could get a friend to drive you to save cash or hire a limo or horse and carriage if you really want to arrive in style!

 

4. Decorations

Shop smart in post-Christmas and end of summer sales. First, create a scrapbook of ideas cut out of bridal magazines and brochures. Then head for the bargain shops to save on tea lights, silk flowers, costume jewellery and floaty fabric to swag the tables. Remember that items like candles are often exactly the same, whether from an expensive wedding supplier or your local pound shop. Florists will also be able to provide you with some fantastic sprays for the table and the bouquet itself. And there are lots of different companies that will make you special wedding favours for your table.

 

5. Home Crafts

Create your own gorgeous stationery using a PC and digital camera. That way, one hundred invitations, menus and Orders of Service could cost as little as £25. Don't forget to print off clear venue directions and a timetable for the day. Other home crafts to sample include drying your own rose petals for confetti (in the microwave) and hand painting your own place cards. Gift shops usually offer a delightful range of wedding stationary. Have a look at what's on offer. Many will have a wider range available for you to order.

 

 

6. The Dress

Accept that you will wear this only once and that most dresses get stained, torn and consigned to the attic. Hiring a dress, including alterations, costs around £200 compared to the average cost of a wedding dress at £1,000. Alternatively, check out e-bay or bridal websites for masses of worn once bridal and bridesmaids dresses. Going away outfits, first-night hotels and bride and groom gifts can all sensibly be crossed off your list to save a massive £500.

 

7. Flowers

Enlist a keen friend to arrange flowers or go minimalist with a single lily or rose. Alternatively, ask guests to each bring a single bloom to your ceremony then collect them into a ready-made bouquet.

If you want to hand over the responsibility for your bouquet and buttonholes there are plenty of excellent florists in Portishead to help you.

 

8. Photography

Some couples regret the quality of their photographs, as they are one of the few tangible memories of a whirlwind day. Do check out lots of portfolios and ensure value for money by detailing every shot and size of print you want. Look for aphotographer who captures sharp, expressive portraits combined with the communication skills to organise large groups. There are some really good wedding photographers in Portishead.

 

9. Food and drink

Wedding catering can be a tricky one. Do you want a sit down meal in a formal setting or more of a help yourself buffet? Be wary of hidden costs like corkage, staffing and table decorations. If at all possible, buy your own soft drinks and alcohol. Ordering from an online supermarket means cases can be delivered straight to your venue. Why not try a home made cake? Alternatively, most supermarkets now offer boxed wedding cakes at around £60 compared to the average confectioner's cake costing £275. Many bakers also offer a service and its worth scanning the local papers and shop windows for people who offer a service from home.

 

10. Honeymoon

The average couple spend £2828 on a honeymoon, but a little creativity can buy something unforgettable for as little as £500. Organise a house swap or borrow a friend's house abroad. Rent a romantic cottage far from the crowd. Consider low cost flights plus a discounted hotel in a romantic city of Europe. See what offers are on at the travel agent – you may snap up a bargain!

 

Have you got any tips for our readers? Have you just celebrated your big day and have advice you can share. Join Portishead People today and share your good ideas with us!