Wedding February 2009

[Mel A]

Ok Ceremony,

I broke each bit down into stages.

Arrival
In a Car, how long will it take you to get there form where you'll be getting ready. In stead of being late I planned to be exactly on time and invited guest 1/2 hour earlyer. Invite said 4pm, I arrived at 4:30.

walk down the Isle, or throught the people on the beach. Music what will it be, will it last bridal part and yourself. or do you need two songs. How will the music get to the beach, who will start it.

Make sure the crowed know where they need to be, you don't want to be weaving in amongst them to get to your man. Have chairs for oldies and pgt women. Makes sure these people are directed to the chairs.

Vows. Talk with the celebrant. Remember you'll be on a beach, and every one including yourself will be standing. be respectful of this and don't make it last 2 hrs.

Signing of the register can take approx 5 min, play some music.

Don't forget to take your engagement ring off before you get to the alter.
Dave had mine in his pocket. I put it on after the ceremony.

Have a shedule for photos, also think about what your guests are going to do during this break, Give them some options as an attachment to the invite.
(I just sent the to the reception centre and gave them food and grog till i got there)

I have some great tips about saving money, If your interested.
I made a list of what I wouldn't compremise on. Dress (no budget) Photographer (no budget) Everything else budget budget budget.

[Mel A]

Have to work but thought I add some tips that really saved me money.

Think about the weddings you have been to. if you don't remember what the [enter thing here] (eg. centre pieces, favours, name cards) looks like, or if you got one at all, save money on them or to really save money. eliminate them completly.

some ideas for less expensive ways.

So for centre pieces in a beach theme, you could have a strip of sprinkled sand (Free and you can put it in any shape you want) with lillies, shells and tea light candles (reject shop, $1 for 10) Low enough to talk over, and can be combined with your theme and colors. plus it would only be about $2-$10 a table depending on the lilly price.

For flowers go to the market and talk directly to the growers and do the flowers yourself. or contact the local TAFE and talk to the floristry class teacher, your wedding could be a project for one or all of the students, you pay for the flowers and they do the rest.

Name cards, It could be a feather with a piece of paper tied around the end or collect shells and get a permenant texta. This also becomes part of the table decoration. I had 1 piece of paper with everyones name who was to sit on that table, rest was up to them.

The cake can be dessert. I had a lemon tart. We got a a chocolate heart made with our names on it and just produced one of the uncut tarts with that on top and some flowers on the plate. We cut it. then out the back there were 9 more and presto, dessert.

The bridal table doesn't need decoration, just have spots for yours and the bridesmaids flowers, instant decoration.

Pull in favours where ever you can. People (women) love to help with weddings. I borrowed cars, had all my friends out with lists collecting candles of certain colours, shells leaves.

Look on e-bay especially under scrap booking. I got 100xA4 sheets of recycled paper for $18 delivered.

Hand deliver invitations to everyone you will see. It is more personal and saves on stamps..

Think outside the box, there are no rules that say you must have flowers. A friend of mine had a fan instead. Looked great and very usefull on a hot day.


so many ideas so little time...

[lisa.]

Thank you Mel A for your great tips on saving money, it help big time. i come back bit later and let you all know how my planing going