The neckline of your wedding dress has a vital role in determining how you look. But, of course, not every neckline looks good on a bride, only the ones that flatter her figure and facial features will create the best impact.
Here is a roundup of the various neckline types seen in our wedding gowns at Best for Bride. Read on to find out which of these will best suit you before you go shopping for your dream dress.
Planning a reception can seem overwhelming at times. There are so many decisions to make. One of the decisions involves deciding if you will serve wine. If you do plan on serving wine, how much do you need? What kind of wine is best for wedding receptions? Here are some tips regarding wine for wedding receptions.
When deciding whether or not to have wine, you may consider your own preferences, the rules for the venue, and what your guests may want. If a reception is held on church property, serving wine may be prohibited. Certain venues don’t allow alcoholic beverages. Some religious families may be offended by serving wine.
If you decide to serve wine, knowing how much wine is needed can impact the couple’s decision on the wine budget and the types of wine to be served. If less wine is needed, couples may be able to serve more expensive wines without breaking the wedding budget. A cheaper wine may be needed if more bottles of wine are necessary. Once you know how many bottles of wine you need, you can figure out what types of wine fit within your budget.
How much wine is needed for wedding receptions? A convenient formula is to take the number of guests and divide that number by 2.15. The answer is the number of bottles of wine that will be needed. In addition to weddings, this general formula works for all kinds of events. A standard wine bottle is 750 ml or 25 ounces. This means that each bottle holds five servings of wine that are five ounces each.
The types of wine that people typically drink is influenced by the season and whether the wedding is indoors or outdoors. Autumn through spring, people tend to drink about 50% red wine with sparkling and white making up the other half. For summer outdoor weddings, people tend to drink much more white wine if the weather is warm. White, red, and sparkling wines are more equally divided for outdoor wedding receptions.
Other things will affect the type of wine that people will want to drink such as the menu choices. If you serve only beef, more people will gravitate towards red wine. If chicken, fish, and seafood are being served, more people may choose white or blush wine. A champagne toast may add drastically to the amount of sparkling wine needed.
The length of the reception will impact the amount of wine consumed. The standard formula is often what caterers use for a wedding reception that is approximately two hours long. If the reception will last significantly longer, you may need to add more wedding reception wine. If you know that many people on your guest list do not drink wine, you can tailor your total accordingly. However, it’s always better to have a bit too much wine rather than coming up short.
More helpful tips to plan a great wedding reception can be found on the Best for Bride blog.
Weddings take time to plan and perfect. But, what if you don’t have so much time?
You can still pull-off a superb wedding within the time you have, with a little help. Here are the planning tips that will help you with the various aspects of a beautiful wedding, and make it as close to perfect as can be.
Plan the legal part
The legal part of getting married, can take some time. So, get down to it, right after you decide to get married. Make a list of the necessary papers you will require and visit the courthouse as early as possible, to apply for your marriage license. Make sure the paperwork is done and you qualify to be legally married on the day you want to.
Fix your budget before you do anything else
A quick wedding means you have to have funds ready at short notice. Plan your budget quickly, calculate the number of guests who will be attending and make sure you account for all the factors that will be involved. Choose a theme that can be executed without difficulty. You may not have time to search for vendors who fit your budget, while meeting your deadline. So, obtain references from friends and relatives, check for online reviews and contact a number of vendors to find one who fits the bill and can accommodate your wedding plans at short notice. A wedding planner would be very helpful for a quick wedding as a professional will know what to do. They can also direct you to the right vendors who fit your budget but will deliver on time.
Choose shortcuts to spread the word
For a quick wedding, you may not have the time to select invitation stationery, print them out and send them by mail. So, choose the practical route. Quickly sort out your guest list, create an email invitation, and send it out. Also, call and personally invite your guests. Ask them to confirm whether they will be attending the wedding, and mark their RSVP response off a printed list, so you can do the rest of your planning appropriately.
Enlist extra help
This is the time to turn to your friends and well-wishers for help. If you are a naturally organized person, plan and delegate the tasks to your helpers.
If not, get your MoH or mother to help you, so you don’t miss anything.
Go shopping asap
Keep your wedding dress dreams realistic, as you do not have too much time for elaborate shopping and alteration sessions. Be open to choices when you go for your bridal appointment, and you will not be disappointed.
Try to look at dresses that are readily available in your size and will require minimum modifications. Make sure that you ask for a speedy delivery, and as far as possible shop for accessories and wedding bands, soon after purchasing your wedding dress.
Bridesmaid dresses
Consider the logistics of getting your bridesmaids dresses on time, when choosing them. Select from available stock, or consider paying extra for a quick delivery. Make use of mix and match options, as this will allow your bridesmaids to choose their dresses faster.
Forget the small stuff, and keep your expectations simple. This is the best way to enjoy your whirlwind wedding. It’ll all seem like a dream later, and the little glitches won’t matter then.
For more wedding advice and tips, visit us at Best for Bride.
It is important to budget everything at your wedding. Only then will you stick to what you can afford. A common mistake is to not account for the overhead costs when booking a service or vendor. These aren’t usually stated upfront, and unless you ask, you may have a nasty surprise when you receive the final bill.
These are the usual areas where couples wrongly budget and it leads to costs they didn’t expect.
Shipping Costs for Invitations
Vendors usually do not mention charges inclusive of shipping when you place your order for your wedding invitations. Remember that the bulkier your card is, the more postage stamps or courier charges it will cost. Where hundred or more invitations are concerned, this can quickly add up, especially if many are to be sent overseas. When you receive an estimate for invitations, make sure you account for the postage charges as well. You may rethink your preferences when you figure it in.
Wedding dress fittings and alterations
via Best for Bride
It is unlikely to find a dress that fits perfectly when choosing off-the-rack. Every bride requires minimum alterations. Alteration services depend on the extent and nature of the work involved. You may have to pay more if you want custom changes, such as changing the neckline or adding sleeves.
First, fix an amount and set aside roughly 20% of it for alterations. Inform your bridal consultant of your wedding dress budget and mention that it is inclusive of all the overheads, so she can direct you to suitable ones. Make sure that you choose a dress that doesn’t need too much work by choosing the right size and finding one that has most of the features you desire.
Taxes and extras on services
There are taxes on everything from venue booking to caterers, florists and other services. The actual rate may depend on the amount you spend. Find out the cost inclusive of taxes, so you know whether what you chose is an option you can afford.
Extra charges at the reception include costs for cutting and serving the cake and serving wine. Unless you take an all-inclusive package where the cake and drinks come with the venue, it is likely you will have to pay the staff who perform the service. Make sure you discuss the rates before committing to the deal.
Cleaning up
If you have chosen a full-service, cleaning up after the function is usually included. However, if you are only renting the place and arranging the caterers and decorations yourself, you have to arrange for clean-up following the function, or else pay for it. Even if you book a full-service venue, make sure you know about any extra charges you may have to pay for late-night cleanup, should your party extend beyond midnight.
Extra equipment and overtime charges
Unless you stick to your original wedding schedule, you have to compensate for any extra time your service providers spend at your wedding. This applies to the band, DJ, caterers, wedding photographers, wedding officiants and wedding makeup artists. Book with a realistic time schedule, and you shouldn’t have to pay too much extra. Any additional equipment such as speakers or microphones, that will be required at your venue, will come at an extra cost. So, check this outright in the beginning.
For more wedding tips and advice, visit us at Best for Bride.
Recent Posts: The Best Bridal Store - Your source for everything you want to know about weddings
This is the time to turn to your friends and well-wishers for help. If you are a naturally organized person, plan and delegate the tasks to your helpers.
