Olga Pomeransky, Author at The Best Bridal Store - Your source for everything you want to know about weddings

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5 Tips for Creating a Wedding Budget and Sticking To It

By Erin Killingsworth, Founder of Wedding Under Control

Creating a budget for your wedding is the most important thing you can do as an engaged couple. Why? Being a financially responsible married couple is one of the most important things you can do together. You need to start being financially responsible together for your wedding. Even if your budget is $100K, you need to manage it so that you won’t accidentally spend $150K! Starting your marriage off in debt is not a good way to start. Let me give you 5 tips for creating a budget and sticking to it, so that you can have a happy jump-start to your marriage.

1. Figure out what your budget will be
Who is contributing to your wedding fund? Bride’s parents? A set of grandparents? The bride and groom? A combination of people? This can be an uncomfortable conversation for some people, but it’s necessary. Find out who is going to contribute, and try to get the best estimate of the amounts that will go towards the wedding. Then, you’ll know what your budget is!
2. Break down the budget by percentages
I’m not going to say that you should spend 50% of your budget on this and 10% on that because everyone’s wedding is different and unique. I will, however, give you a rough estimate. Remember, this may not work for your wedding, so keep this in mind when referring to this list.
45% – 50% – Reception
This includes your catering, venue, décor, alcohol, cakes, rentals, parking and almost all expenses that will be part of your reception. Start with your venue and caterer. Then fill in the holes of this budget with the other aspects of your reception.
10% – Photography
This includes any prints, engagement shoots, and wedding videography.
5% – 10% – Attire
This includes the bride’s dress, shoes, jewelry, veil and alterations. This also includes the groom’s attire.
10% – 12% – Flowers
Bouquets, centerpieces, and other floral décor makes up this category.
5% – 10% – Entertainment
The reception DJ or band makes up this category, as well as your ceremony musicians.
10% – 20% – Miscellaneous
This includes wedding planning, wedding rings, stationery, gifts and any other additional items you’ll want to personalize your wedding.
5% – Cushion
This is a MUST, no matter what your wedding budget is. You need a little wiggle room in your budget, so make sure you budget for 5% of a cushion.
This list does not include any expenses related to the Rehearsal Dinner, Honeymoon, or any other wedding related events like showers or luncheons.
3. Re-evaluate after you’ve booked your venue
For some of your wedding professionals, you will need to include a tip. Budget to spend an additional 5% to 10% for those vendors. These vendors could be your florist, caterer, waitstaff, entertainers, and others.
Since the venue is probably your largest expenditure, you’ll want to review your other budget categories before you go dress shopping, cake tasting, and sample catering.
You may have to change some of your plans. That’s OK! If your dream wedding consisted of elaborate and ornate floral arrangements, but your wedding budget won’t allow these ideas, work with your florist to find a happy medium that fits in your budget. Spend less on your bouquets or have your wedding party carry single stem flowers to allow for more ornate floral centerpieces. Find alternative ways to make your dreams come true. Pinterest can become your best friend for finding cost effective alternatives.
4. As you spend, keep track of your wedding expenses
Creating a budget is great. But what good is it if you don’t know how well you stay on track? As you spend for your wedding, keep a log of your expenses. If you want to have a pen and paper, go for it! If your style is more electronic, do what works for you!
Log your expenses as you go. Waiting until the month of your wedding to see how well you’re staying on budget could be a scary moment! It may seem tedious at times, but you will thank yourself when it’s all said and done.
5. Use Wedding Under Control which has the template you need!
Did you know that there is a company out there that provides a budgeting tool and it helps keep track of your expenses? And it will show you how well you’re staying on budget at any given time. You don’t have to recreate the wheel and try to figure out a template! Head on over to Wedding Under Control and see which affordable package will be right for you and your wedding.
At the end of the day, your wedding is the jumpstart of your happy marriage. Finances can seem unromantic, but how romantic will you feel when you know that you aren’t starting your marriage off in debit or feeling stressed financially? Stick to these 5 tips, and you’ll be able t have a wonderful wedding without feeling the weight of stress from overspending!

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8 sentimental ways to include lost loved ones in your wedding

Celebrating with your nearest and dearest is at the heart of most couples’ wedding days and if you’re lucky enough to have everyone you love there, then you are truly blessed. Sadly, for many of us, we may have lost a parent, relative or friend who we wished could have seen us walk down the aisle and live happily ever after.

While nothing can replace a loved one being at your wedding, there are a few lovely ways that you can include them in your big day. Paying your respects in a way that is fitting to you and the relationship you shared with the person you lost will be more genuine and heartfelt than doing something completely out of style or character, so to help you out, I’ve put together a list of 8 different ways you could include them in your wedding, from subtle and sweet to quirky and unique.

Save them a seat

Some couples choose to leave an empty chair at the ceremony or reception as a tribute to a lost loved one, perhaps even placing their photo or a single flower on the seat. This makes quite a big statement and would be a fitting tribute to a deceased parent or sibling but may be very emotional for you if your loss is still very raw, so consider carefully how you’ll feel about seeing the empty chair and how that will affect your day.

Incorporate their favourite flowers

Flowers have the ability to evoke emotions in us and the combination of the sight and smell of your loved one’s favourite flowers are sure to conjure up happy memories while you walk down the aisle, eat the wedding breakfast and dance the night away. I always remember my nan loved Lilies and I still think of her when I catch the scent of them in the supermarket now. More subtle than an empty chair, this is a way for you to honour your loved one a little more privately.

Hayley decided to incorporate flowers in a different way; her granddad always carried Lavender in his pocket, so Hayley ordered one of my Lavender hair pins and a matching buttonhole for her mum as a tribute to her granddad. She also had a pin made in blue, for her “something blue”, which I absolutely loved!

Incorporate a piece of their clothing

There are lots of lovely ways that you could incorporate items of clothing. You could stitch a small scrap from a shirt into your wedding dress, use one of their handkerchiefs to wipe away happy tears (I surprised myself by how weepy I was on my wedding day!), wrap one of their ties or silk scarves around your bouquet or even have their wedding dress refitted and restyled for you to wear yourself. A couple of nice buttons from a shirt or jacket sewn on to the handle of your bouquet, dress or suit would make a lovely subtle tribute too.

Wear a piece of their jewellery

Wearing a piece of their jewellery, particularly something sentimental like their engagement or wedding ring is sure to make you feel their presence, plus it doubles up as your something old and something borrowed, so a win-win all round!

Carry a brooch bouquet

And if you don’t want to wear a piece of their jewellery, why not incorporate it into your bouquet? Brooch bouquets are growing increasingly popular these days and can take a variety of forms, with some including a mix of fresh or artificial flowers and a few brooches, to complete vintage works of art, crafted from pieces of costume and antique jewellery. The beauty of brooch bouquets is that they last forever and you could even have a go at creating one for yourself if you feel like getting creative!

My favourite thing about designing brooch bouquets for brides is hearing all the lovely stories behind the pieces of jewellery they ask me to include. Katie’s grandparents had sadly passed away before her wedding so she sent me pearl necklaces and her grandfather’s cracked watch to put into her bouquet; They added a sentimental and vintage element to her bouquet and Katie said that she felt like her grandparents were with her on her wedding day – how lovely is that?

Dedicate a song or reading

Did your loved one have a favourite poem or song that you could include in your wedding? Save them a dance and twirl around the dancefloor when their favourite song comes on or use their favourite poem as part of the ceremony (depending on the nature of it of course!) or speeches, or even before the wedding breakfast to start the celebrations. Again this can be as subtle or obvious as you like and gives you a chance to honour your loved ones privately or publically.

Display photographs

Displaying photographs of your loved ones at your wedding is another way to include them. Go big and bold and create a display showcasing your happiest memories together or keep it subtle with a memory locket or bouquet charm.

Kelly’s dad sadly passed away when she was little and she wanted to carry a locket with his photograph attached to her bouquet. Her fiancé, Dan, wanted to honour his granddad too, so they sent me some photos of the two men and I resized them using Photoshop to fit inside a locket and a pair of cufflinks. I love this idea as it’s something you could easily do yourself with a bit of photo editing software to resize your images and you can pick up blank lockets and cufflinks from craft stores or online fairly inexpensively too!

Include them in your cake toppers

This is slightly offbeat, but an idea I love nonetheless! If you’ve decided to have a personalised cake topper, you could include elements that remind you of your lost loved one. Meg and Jerry did this beautifully; Jerry’s dad had sadly passed away and so he and Megan decided to pay tribute to him in their cake topper. Jerry wore a cap in honour of his dad, so we added that to the cake topper, along with the football gear that Jerry himself wore in his college football days.

However you choose to honour your lost loved ones, I hope it brings you a sense of comfort and a feeling of their presence on your special day. What ways do you plan to include those you’ve lost in your wedding? I’d love to hear your ideas so feel free to leave a comment below!

About the author: Sarah is the owner of Elsa Rose Boutique and spends her days designing wedding accessories for brides that are looking for something a little different. From bespoke hair accessories and brooch bouquets to cute cake toppers, she captures the personalities of her brides and grooms and makes the sentimental details sparkle to create lasting keepsakes that will be treasured forever. Find out more at elsaroseboutique.com

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4 Fun and Meaningful Unity Ceremony Ideas to Consider Anywhere

Written by Rev. Julie Nourish from Custom Las Vegas Weddings

You may use these fun and interesting ritual additions to your ceremony anywhere you decide to get married. I am a wedding officiant in Las Vegas and I have performed each one of these ceremonies. Whether you get married in Vegas or decided to have your wedding somewhere else, these ceremonies.

To make your wedding in Las Vegas more memorable, consider these unique yet interesting unity wedding ceremonies to solemnize your wedding in the best way possible. These ceremony choices are great ritual additions that can truly define a lasting union between you and your partner.

Glass-Breaking

The glass breaking ceremony has been a Jewish tradition but theoretically anyone can incorporate it into their wedding ceremony. A ceremonial glass-breaking stands as a rite of passage signifying the lasting endurance of your marriage. Think of it to remind you and your spouse that feelings and the fragility of love is sensitive.

At the same time, the difficulty in bringing back shattered glass pieces is parallel to the unbreakable love characterizing your marriage. Glass-breaking, of course, helps signify that thought, in that the fragile nature of glass introduces feelings of resolve to make relationships work – quite like a symbol that reminds you and your spouse that your marriage will last forever.

Wine-Pouring

wine-ceremony — Courtesy of https://customlasvegasweddings.com

Wine has historically been used in wedding ceremonies. Using alcohol, specifically wine, as a symbolic means of solemnizing your union remains a novel idea. To facilitate this ritual into your ceremony, it’s important to have an eclectic mix of two kinds of wine: red and white.

The wine-pouring ceremony would involve you and your spouse taking turns drinking from a “common cup,” in which both red and white wine is combined. Said combination promises both an abundance of love, embodied by the red wine, and everlasting strength of marriage, represented by the white wine.

Rose-Giving

Roses have long been considered as a symbol of love. Roses have always fit the theme of weddings. If using this sentiment is something you and your spouse would appreciate, then certainly this ritual exchange of roses would work well.

Giving a rose to the love of your life may take on a world of lovely meanings: “please forgive me,” “I love you with all my heart,” and “you’re very special to me” being among the words you may intend to say. When done as a wedding ritual, rose-giving enables you to express your feelings of everlasting love even when you’re already at a loss for words.

Hands-Fasting

Hand-Fasting-Ceremony — Courtesy of https://customlasvegasweddings.com

Lastly, but certainly not the least interesting, the hands-fasting ceremony symbolizes the unbreakable bond between you and your spouse. It actualizes the idea of “tying the knot,” an idiom often used to refer to weddings. The wedding ritual is a simple yet distinctive way of making your wedding official – an interesting way to make your wedding permanent.

In case you and your partner are wondering, hands-fasting isn’t a symbol of bondage to one another. Rather, the ties that bind is intended to remind the both of you that marriage makes being there for one another as more than just an obligation – that it’s an agreement borne out of your souls’ perpetual connection with one another.

View more wedding ceremony article ideas here.

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How to choose accessories to complete your wedding look By Medge Ross from letmetrendchicevent

Weddings are among the most important ceremonies. Adorning yourself in a cohesive and complete manner is one of the indicators of how special you consider the occasion. Several tips for brides can be helpful when choosing accessories to complete their bridal look.

Consider the Gown Color

To achieve a complete bridal look using accessories, one must first consider the color of their gown. Brides have different color choices but most go for white. Therefore, the accessories must be selected depending on the gown color preferred. Even when the choice is a white gown, there are different shades of the color, which may result in a change of the accessories selected. For instance, a pure white bridal gown should result in the selection of jewelry with silver plating and cooler tones. However, for those going for cream or warmer ivory color, accessories with gold or rose gold will be effective in creating a complete bridal look.

Neckline

The accessories will also depend on the neckline of the dress. Some brides go for strapless dresses. If this is the case, one should select matching necklaces and earring set. The choice also provides an opportunity to be creative as one can select either gentle drop earrings or studs. However, one should select either the earring or necklace to the statement as combining both may result in one looking cluttered and overbearing. Even for gowns with a neckline, there are variations that may result in changes in the way they are accessorized. For instance, those with narrow V-neck, high neck, and thick straps, calls for one to avoid large statement necklaces .

Selecting additional accessories

Most brides focus on the necklaces, earrings, and hair when selecting accessories. However, there are additional accessories that one can select to instill a level of personality in the gown. For example, one can add a belt or sash to depending on the desired look such as emphasizing the curves. This case, one can choose a traditional sash or metallic belt with a careful section of the sizes since thin belts are perfect for those with a short torso while wide belts suit those with a long torso. However, when choosing the additional accessories, one should stick to the rules by avoiding extras that will overpower the gown.

Hair

The hair is another important indicator, particularly of the jewelry that one should wear. Small studs are perfect when leaving your hair down with a statement necklace complimenting to create a perfect look. However, shiny long earrings can also be selected to sparkle in the tresses when one does not want to wear a statement necklace. Even as this is the case, statement earrings are perfect for up-dos. Consequently, for hair that is held up, dramatic accessories such as chandelier danglers will still be perfect. An important consideration is that one should avoid choosing accessories that mimic the embellishment on the dress in an effort to match them.

Veil choice

The veil also contributes to the attainment of the complete look when selected to complement the bridal gown. The fabric of gown should be the indicator of the kind of veil to wear. For instance, a satin gown combines with a satin edge veil will create the desired look while a veil having scattered crystal will be suitable for a sparkly gown. The combination of laces on the gown and veil should also be considered to ensure one strikes the right balance (MacCarthy). Matching the laces on the veil and gown can create a complete enough look. However, heavy laces on the veil and gown may overpower the bride.

Minimize the accessories

Accessories are essential components for the bride to achieve the complete look. However, be careful not to overdo them. Therefore, after selecting the gown, one should determine the standout features then work to have accessories that complete them, particularly for the embellished dresses. The selected veil, tiara, belt or sash, necklace or earring should not overpower the features of the gown. Therefore, pieces that create a clutter should be minimized or let out altogether.

While these tips are essential to creating a complete bridal look, the bride should remember she is at the center of all these. Consequently, the quest for the bling should not overpower the need to emphasize her personality.

Article written by Medge Ross @letmetrendchicevent. Medge is the founder of LetMeTrendChicEvent.com personal stylist specialist for special occasion and wedding. Get more fashion or wedding solutions at letmetrendchicevent.com.