A bridal shower is a much-anticipated pre-wedding event for brides. She gathers with her bridal party and closest female friends and family members to celebrate her upcoming wedding. Tamer than a bachelorette party, many bridal showers take place during the day (some over a long weekend) and involve light drinking, eating, and sometimes a spa day or other fun event, like shopping.
The bridal shower that we know today originated in Holland in the 16th Century, an offset of the dowry system, where the bride’s family had to pay her husband to marry her. Friends and sometimes distant family members would chip in and pay for her dowry for poor brides, who couldn’t afford to marry.
Today, at least in Western society, bridal showers serve a broader purpose. Marriage usually changes the dynamics of friendships and familial relationships, so bridal showers are an excellent way for her friends and family to spend more time with the bride before her priorities shift towards her husband and their family. Proving that old traditions die hard, brides today are often showered with expensive gifts or cash that can enhance or contribute to their wedding day.
Unfortunately, the social landscape is looking a little different right now due to social distancing guidelines. Many brides aren’t comfortable throwing large, lavish gatherings while Covid-19 ravishes our world without a vaccine in sight. Thankfully, this doesn’t have to mean that they don’t get to have their bridal shower; theyhave to get creative and throw a virtual bridal shower or even a small backyard shower. Please keep reading for our comprehensive guide on how to have an online bridal shower.
Only a handful of brides have the unbelievable ability for successful short-term wedding planning. However, if you are like most women, you may take a year or more to sort out all aspects of wedding planning.
So, there is no exact timeline to plan a perfect wedding.
Nonetheless, you need a plan! Even if you are an easy-going bride who somehow gets things done in the nick of time.
If you have already planned a wedding, you will need some direction and guidance on what needs to be done.
Anyone who’s ever planned a full-sized wedding will always tell you one thing: it’s absolutely stressful. There are so many big and small things that require all your focus. From the venue selection to the catering, lighting, dress, florals and more, there’s a ton of stuff that requires your attention.
So, what’s the solution? How can you make your Big Day feel as awesome as possible without succumbing to all the stress and nerves that go with the whole thing? We’ve got some pretty amazing hacks to help you out right here:
Out of all wedding expenses, it’s the dress that costs the most. Logically, every bride knows that you’re only going to wear it once – but! You’ll only wear it once, so why not make it the best dress of your life, right?
However, you can always do splendidly in this regard without actually spending a ton of money. In fact, you can easily get a classic vintage wedding dress and get it altered to your liking by a reputable wedding gown tailor. The classics never fail and if you find one at an affordable price, it can save you a lot of hassle, expenses, and a ton of headache to simply get it professionally outfitted at a wedding gown alterations shop instead of going to an upscale boutique.
Wedding planning is all about finding the best vendors at reasonable prices, but many couples don’t know where to start. The answer is simple: ask your venue. This is the easy part, because the venue owners usually have preferred vendors and you might not get the best prices.
But talking to them will give you a baseline on the expenditure, so when you find and meet new ones, you’ll have an idea on the benchmark prices of most services and how they are provided. You’ll also get some great recommendations. Some might even overlap, so you can always prioritize those at the end of the day.
Keeping on top of your expenditure
Wedding preparations can turn into a black hole where you can throw an inordinate amount of money until you end up with nothing. Money management can become really, really hard once you start prepping for the big day. There are vendors asking for money here and there, and no matter how many recipets you try to save, you always end up losing track of where those bucks actually went away.
The best way to manage this problem is to rely on technology. In fact, there’s an app called Honeyfi that lets you manage your savings in the best possible way. It allows you to manage your money in a responsible way while helping you keep track of your spending.
The biggest hassle you’ll encounter before your Big Day will come in the form of communications. Once you’ve decided on all your vendors, venue, and more, you’ll have to keep in contact with all of them. Most days, your email is going to get spammed with a massive amount of queries and coordination messages. This is why it’s always smart to create a separate email ID for your wedding plans. This way, you’ll always have all your wedding-related correspondence, quotes, and important messages in one place.
Secondly, you can also invest on a wedding website, which is an excellent way to coordinate and communicate with all of your guests. These websites are a great way to feature all the important details that your guests need to know about – i.e. gift registries, venue directions, dress code, etc. – all at the same time. No one can fall prey to bad communication this way.
Outdoor weddings and unreliable vendors are a dime a dozen in this market, so you always need to have a backup plan. If you’re getting married during the rainy season, then you need to make sure that your venue is covered. Even if you’re hosting outdoors, make sure that your marquee is water-proof and able to withstand the elements.
You also need to have a second DJ option, and if you’re able to hold some backup in catering, then you need to get that as well. This way, you’ll be truly stress free on your big day, in case any of your original plans fall through.
The one thing that always hits like a curveball from the left field when it comes to wedding is this: unpredictability. You just never know when you might hit an unexpected speedbump, which is why it’s always best to be prepared in advance.
Now, you might be wondering how you can do that, and it basically entails taking care of all the major stuff beforehand. Summers are busy wedding seasons, so you need to order all your things in advance. As far as dresses are concerned, find a good custom tailoring service and get them altered a few months ahead so there aren’t any mishaps and you’re able to shop for shoes and jewelry accordingly.
The only thing that needs to be last minute is catering and floral arrangement. Anything that can be done in advance should be done that way.
So these are some wedding planning hacks that you can use to save a ton of time, money, and stress. They’ll definitely help you out in the long run and keep your groove going as the Big Day comes closer and closer!
Tony Kantzavelos is the owner of LoveYourDress and Love Your Tailor Toronto. Specializing in dress cleaning, clothing alterations and tailoring since 1986. Tony loves sharing tips and trade secrets for customizing and taking care of almost any kind of dress, and especially helping women look their best no matter the occasion.
Your wedding venue is probably the first big decision you’ll make when planning a wedding. There’s a lot to think about, so this can be a tough decision. Here’s how to find and choose the perfect one.
Types of Wedding Venue
The most traditional wedding venue is a house of worship, such as a church or mosque. These are usually available for the wedding only, but some also offer reception space. Hotel weddings are also popular, as you can usually have the whole day in one place. For large weddings, banquet halls work well. Looking for a rustic venue? Choose a barn. You could also get married at a vineyard, winery, garden, country house, restaurant, city hall, or even at home. No one type of wedding venue is better than another. It all depends on your tastes and needs for your wedding venue.
What To Look For When Choosing A Wedding Venue
When you start looking, dozens of venues are bound to come up. Narrowing down which ones are worth visiting can be tough. Start by considering some important factors.
Budget. What is your budget? If you’re on a tighter budget, look for packages, as these are often cheaper. Many venues don’t list their prices on the website, so you may have to call to enquire. Don’t look at a venue that you can’t afford, or you’re sure to feel disappointed when you can’t book it.
Location. Where do you want to get married? Is the venue easy to travel to? Is there enough parking for those who will drive? What public transport is available to those who won’t? Are there enough hotels nearby for all your guests/
Space. How many people will the venue hold? It’s no good falling for a huge country manor for 500 guests if you only want 50, and it’s equally troublesome to view an intimate public garden with room for 50 if you want 500.
Personality. Does the venue suit your style? If you’re a modern couple, is that church really for you? If you’ve always dreamed of a classic white wedding, is a funky downtown restaurant the best pick?
When Is The Right Time Book A Venue?
Popular wedding venues often book up well in advance, so most people book their venue at least a year in advance of their wedding. From first-hand experience with managing Davenport House, a large country house wedding venue in Shropshire, this is when most of our couples tend to book the venue.
If you want to get married on a weekday or a less popular time of year, then you might be able to leave it a little longer, but booking too close to your preferred date is generally not a good idea. Sometimes, if you book really far in advance, you may be able to get a bit of a discount too.
Where Do You Find Wedding Venues?
Google is the place where most couples start when they start looking for their wedding venue. Search for ‘wedding venues near me’ or search for wedding venues in the area you want to get married. You should find plenty of options this way and will find both venues’ own websites and listing sites.
Wedding fairs can also be a good place to find a venue. Many venues hold their own wedding fairs, so you can see how the venue might look when dressed for a wedding, look around the venue and find some local wedding vendors at the same time.
Also, you should always look into local registries as it’s a sure way you’ll find something in close proximity that works for you. Big Peach couples often choose an Atlanta wedding venue found here and book it as soon as possible. This ensures that they have a great spot and the date they want for one of the most important days of their lives.
Wedding Venues On A Budget
If you’re on a budget, don’t worry. There are some great options for wedding venues.
Family property. Does a family member have a large, beautiful garden? Maybe you could get married there? Garden weddings at home are very popular and can make for beautiful, relaxed ceremonies, with no money spent.
Small venues. Small restaurants, local bars, and town halls often have space for weddings that will be much cheaper than larger venues. If you’re planning a smaller wedding, one of these could be ideal.
Book early. Many venues offer deals for those willing to book well in advance.
Choose an unpopular time. Most people want to get married in the Spring or Summer, on a Saturday. These make those days much more expensive, thanks to the increased demand. If you don’t mind when you get married, you can save a lot by choosing a weekday, or getting married in the Winter or Fall.
Book a package. Lots of venues offer package deals, where you get venue, food, and items like flowers all included. These can often be cheaper and mean you know exactly what everything will cost from very early on, so you know how much you need to save.
Questions To Ask A Wedding Venue Rep
When you go to look at a wedding venue, you should ask the person who shows you round lots of questions, so you can find out as much as you can to help you make the right choice. When you’re looking, it can be hard to remember all those questions, so it might be useful to write them down before you go. You could also email over all your questions before the appointment, so your rep can find out the answers to anything they’re not sure about before you arrive.
Start with the basics to make sure the venue has everything you need. Ask questions about the space, and the practicalities, like setting up for the ceremony, and how the reception will work. If you need something specific, like wheelchair access, a quiet space for people to get away, or unisex toilets, your viewing is the time to ask.
Is the venue available on the date that you need it?
How many guests can the venue accommodate?
What are their wedding packages and what is included in those packages?
Will there be other events at the same time as your wedding, or will the venue be yours exclusively?
Is there somewhere that you can get ready at the venue?
Can you bring in outside food if you don’t want to use their catering?
How long can you have the room for? Can you drop things off the day before, set up the night before, and leave things to collect the next day if you need to?
Who will decorate the venue? When will you be able to get in to decorate if the venues don’t set up themselves?
Is there a smoking area?
Is the venue accessible to wheelchair users?
Is there a cloakroom?
Is there a bar? What sort of bar?
Is there a secure area to store gifts?
Ask some questions about how the venue is set up for weddings. Usually, you have to view venues empty (although you may be lucky and be able to see it set up for someone else’s wedding if the venue is ready in advance). If you can’t see your venue dressed for a wedding, these questions can help you to picture what it will look like.
How is the room usually laid out for a wedding? What layout options are there?
Do they have photos of past weddings at the venue?
Can you see it dressed for a wedding?
Who will be the contact on the day of the wedding?
What will you need to bring yourself? Ask about things like stands for signage, cake stands, a cake knife, and any other practical and decorative items that you aren’t sure who will provide.
Ask about decorations. Some venues have some basic decorations that they will put up for you, while others expect you to bring in everything. Some will have rules about things like lit candles or confetti, so ask first.
When can you start decorating?
Are there any restrictions on decorations that you can bring in?
Can you have candles?
Can guests throw confetti?
What decorations does the venue provide?
How many people can sit at each table?
Will they provide items like menus or place cards?
Are there high chairs available for children?
Ask plenty of questions about the food, especially if you have dietary requirements.
What are the different ways that the venue can serve food, such as buffet, family, or silver service?
Do they have in-house catering or preferred caterers?
Can you arrange a menu tasting? Is there a cost for this?
Are any drinks provided with the meal or for the toast?
Can they accommodate dietary needs?
How many menu choices can you offer your guests?
If you plan to serve alcohol, either via the venue’s bar or by bringing in your own, you should ask a few questions about this.
Does the venue have a liquor license/
Does the venue provide the alcohol and the bar service?
Are any drinks included in the price of your bookings, such as a welcome drink, wine with the meal, and a drink for toasting during the speeches?
Is there a cash or an open bar?
Is there a charge per bartender, or will the venue hire them?
What happens to any unopened bottles after the reception has finished? Will you be charged for these?
Can you bring in your own alcohol? Is there a corkage fee for this?
Are there any restrictions on their alcohol service?
For your reception, ask plenty of questions about music, dancing, or any other entertainment that you think you might like to have.
What kind of sound system do they have? If you need microphones for speeches, do they have those?
When can the band, DJ, or other entertainers set up?
What time do they allow you to play music until?
Can you bring in things like a photo booth? What are the rules for this?
Are there any photography or video restrictions?
Don’t forget to ask about the money too. Even if you know the overall cost or cost per head, you may have more questions.
Can you set up a payment plan?
What deposit is required, and when by?
When must the balance be paid?
What payment options are available?
What is the cancellation policy?
If you’re getting married outdoors, you should plan for the weather turning out badly for you. Nobody likes to think about it, but you should make sure that your venue has a back-up option available, just in case.
Are there any covered areas outdoors in case of rain?
Is there an indoor space you could move to?
Is there a generator for power outages?
Don’t forget to talk about some of the practical points that your guests will need to know too.
Is there overnight accommodation at the venue? Do they have deals with local hotels? Is there anywhere that they recommend?
What are the room rates for overnight stays for guests?
Is there a discount available for a block of rooms or rooms for guests?
Is there parking at the venue? How many spots? Where else can guests park if there aren’t enough?
Is there a valet service?
Is there a cost to park?
Is there anything else going on nearby on the same date that may make it hard for guests to find somewhere to park?
Is there a local taxi firm that they partner with to offer discounted rides to guests staying elsewhere?
It can feel like you’re asking endless questions, but it’s important to get all the information you need. As well as being beautiful, you want to make sure that your venue can cater for all your needs, whether that’s plenty of parking for all your guests, a safe, nut-free menu for your cousin with allergies, rooms for out-of-town guests, or a payment plan to spread out the costs. Much of this information can often be found on the venue’s websites or in their wedding brochures, so spend some time looking through these. Make notes, and don’t be afraid to make notes during your viewing to help you remember everything.
Start your research early, so you have plenty of time to find your dream venue, at the right price and with everything that you might need.
And if you need wedding dresses, bridesmaid dresses, bridal accessories and more, check out Best for Bride website.
Author Bio – Lizzie Adams
Lizzie Adams is the owner of the wedding business Davenport House which is a luxurious wedding venue located in the heart of Shropshire. Lizzie’s background as an international wedding planner and the stunning weddings created at Davenport means that couples get access to the very best wedding planning at the gorgeous Stately home and estate. From progressive, modern weddings to the more traditional country house affairs, Lizzie has seen it and planned it all. Lizzie is active on Facebook and Instagram and she’s happy to answer all of your wedding-related questions.
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