One of my best friends is due to get married this summer, and both he and his fiancee are driving themselves mad trying to ensure that their wedding goes as smoothly as possible. Hopefully, we all only have the one wedding day, so it’s crucial that everything goes well. Having been married myself for a few years now, I was asked for advice on certain bits and bobs relating to wedding services. It’s fair to say that there are a handful of things that I’d wish I’d known before I got married that would have either saved us money or made things a little easier.
The wedding jewellery doesn’t have to start and end with the ring
A lot of attention is understandably given to the wedding ring on the big day, but other items of jewellery can be just as meaningful. I wore a stag brooch that symbolised my stag-heavy family heraldry, while others may opt to wear a watch that’s been passed down through generations.
One particularly nice idea is the wearing of a locket. Because a locket can hold pictures inside, a bride can ensure that dearly missed loved ones can still be present at the ceremony in a sense. They can even make for a conversation piece later, holding pictures of the happy couple from the night they first met.
Don’t feel restricted to just ‘wedding’ services
When it comes to venue hire, catering, and many other wedding services, you’ll find that by virtue of them simply being named a ‘wedding’ service, the price is hiked in orders of magnitude. Some companies can prey on the fact that nobody wants to seem too thrifty when it comes to their big day, and charge through the nose for services that usually cost much less.
By sticking to just ‘wedding’ companies, you’re also limiting your options. If you want something that differentiates your day from everybody else’s, you’ll need to look outside of the usual services. Hiring a local pizza van, for example, can go down a real treat with guests bored of the usual three course meal. Similarly, you can look to prom services to broaden your field when choosing a wedding car. You’ll find that there’s many more prom car hire ideas than there are for weddings. If the traditional vintage car doesn’t suit your wedding’s aesthetic, then why not opt to show up to the ceremony in a Lamborghini or even on the back of a Vespa?
Save on photographer costs by using your friends’ snaps instead
Hiring a wedding photographer can be a huge expense, but if you prefer the more candid nature of the photos your friends will capture, then you can save yourself a lot of money. When you consider the high quality snaps that most people’s smartphones are capable of taking now, then you’re bound to find some great photos amongst the many that have been taken.
Of course, as easy as that sounds, getting ahold of all of these snaps can be much more difficult. That’s where wedding photo sharing apps come into play. These apps upload all of your guests’ snaps into one album for you. All you need to do is invite them via email to download the app, and the rest is a breeze. In fact, even if you do decide to go down the traditional wedding photographer route, finding out what all your guests have been up to during your big day is interesting, and often hilarious!
Consult the bridesmaids
Your wife may have everything down to the finest detail already set in her mind, but if the bridesmaids don’t like their dresses, they’ll feel uncomfortable throughout the day. Sure, it’s your day, but don’t you want your friends and family to enjoy it too? That’s what they’re there for after all.
Make sure that any concerns the bridesmaids have about their dresses are addressed early on, so you have plenty of time to find something that you’re all happy with. Think back to the first point of not restricting yourself to just ‘wedding’ services to open up much more options for them. Hunting around prom dress retailers is a good idea, with many online options offering a multitude of designs, there’s bound to be something that you can all settle on. Shopping for preloved dresses is a great way to find something unique for each bridesmaid that doesn’t break the bank.
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Don’t forget how important the wedding ring is too!