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Tip 1: Schedule your wedding "off-season."

Nearly 70% of all weddings take place between May and October of each year. You will probably find yourself able to get better deals on virtually every wedding service if you schedule your wedding in one of the "off season" months. Also avoid late November through New Year’s, when hotels, caterers and bands are likely to be busy with holiday parties.

What is the best time to set your wedding?

I would suggest setting the date for sometime between October and mid November and between January and May (avoiding Valentine’s Day, when the flower prices peak). On setting up your wedding date off-peak, you will find yourself in a fantastic bargaining position and you will be able to get deals with virtually every vendor!

Tip 2: Cut down on your food and drinks bill

The easiest way to cut down on your food and drinks bill is to cut down on your guest list. It may be painful, but the simple truth is that there is no quicker, easier way to control your budget than by limiting the size of the event. Again, your single biggest cost will be reception food and alcohol, so you can reduce that expenditure by paring down the number of mouths. Remember: Single guests who are not in a serious relationship can be invited solo. Also you may invite parents only; and you need not invite anyone who you have not been in contact with in the last five years, even if they invited you to their wedding.

Tip 3: Buy a non-bridal gown

Bridal gowns aren’t the only white dresses in the world. It may be that the perfect wedding dress for you is not found in a bridal salon, but among the women’s evening wear section of a department store (try the sale rack!). Especially during the last several seasons, while elegant, understated gowns have been in style, the line between bridal wear and formalwear has blurred. You might even find that the perfect gown for you is a more-affordable bridesmaid’s style, done in white or ivory.

Tip 4: Negotiate!

When buying anything marked "wedding" it always has a premium attached to it! So please negotiate! I suggest you start at half price and then work upwards.

Tip 5: Have your ceremony and reception in the same location

There will be no need for limos to take you to the second location. Many houses of worship have halls that are equipped to handle wedding receptions at reasonable fees, especially if you are a member. Likewise, if you are having a civil ceremony, many venues have got a hall, where you could hold the reception. By doing that, you will not need to buy arrival drinks, as this is often bought for people while they are waiting for everyone to arrive.

Tip 6: Selecting your photographer

Instead of selecting a wedding photographer, you will be able to make a saving if you choose an amateur photographer who is about to go professional and requires experience. Obviously, make sure you look at his/her prior work before making your selection. Ask friends and family and you may be surprised who they know. Going to photography colleges may be a good starting point. Obviously, you understand that by doing this, you will be taking a slight risk so if you are not prepared to do that, I will suggest you take a wedding photographer, and agree for him to stay for half of the day instead of the full day. This way, you don’t have to spend as much as if he stayed for the whole day!

Tip 7: Share the costs of the Church flowers

If you’re getting married in church, sometimes you can arrange with other couples getting married on the same day to share the cost of decorating the church. Ask the church who normally supplies their flowers - it’s usually someone local who does it for a hobby and may charge only a small fee to do your flowers. Also getting married a day or two after a big religious event usually ensures the church is well decorated.

Tip 8: Honeymoon

Ask for "honeymoon vouchers" on your wedding list - some travel firms now offer these. This way, people will be contributing to your honeymoon costs.

Tip 9: Hire the groom’s attire

No need to buy the attire, you can rent the groom’s attire between £60 and £90. If you decide to buy it, it would cost you about £200 or more, which the groom will probably not wear again.

Tip 10: Use a venue that doesn’t charge a hiring fee

For example, you could choose your local pub or favourite restaurant. This will save you on the hiring fee, and the cost per head would be cheaper than in a hotel. To find out more, visit http://www.yourweddingforless.co.uk

About the Author

Lillian organised her own wedding on a budget of 5000 pounds. She spent 6 months prior to her wedding researching vendors, comparing products and prices; meeting with photographers; hotel managers; and many more wedding vendors to understand how she could save on each wedding item. She realised that it is possible to have a fantastic wedding without breaking the bank and decided to share her tips with others.

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Deciding on your wedding photography is crucial and it is very important to exercise some wisdom in doing so.

The first pointer is not to allow any of your friends or relatives to take up the responsibility for taking the photos. Although they mean to help, it is advisable to appoint a professional photographer to do the job. If a friend does something wrong, you will not only lose out on the most important remembrances of your life but may break a friendship.

Photographic styles

Photographic styles have developed greatly over the previous few decades.

Traditional photography that included family photographs, group photographs, photographs depicting signing the register, cutting the cake etc. have given way to modern styles that see more individual or couple shots, memorable shots etc. Many photographers also offer photographs that are at par with your family albums, exactly the way your father or your grand father’s marriages were shot with all the works Black and White and sepia.

Reportage style involves a sort of photo journalism style that runs like a story. You could look at these photographs and rebuild the whole wedding. Although reportage is a little hard to master, it has evolved in recent years. Very few photographers can do justice to this style of photography. Good reportage style of photography involves composition, emotion and a skill for good storytelling. They are the corner stone of becoming a good reportage style photographer.

Always arrange to see photographers at their studios so that you can assess their work. Ask them for complete sets of weddings shot. This will help you decide whether the quality of photography is consistent through out the event or not. See the expressions on the faces of the photographs. Do they look natural, if so, the photographer has a knack of putting their clients at ease.

Make sure the samples you are seeing are the photographs shot by the photographer who would be covering your wedding.

Assess at least three photographers by visiting them before you make your decision. Always make sure you know the itinerary of the photographer on your wedding day. Select a photographer who does only one wedding a day, that way, he will be fresh and at his creative best.

Ask if the photographer is a member of any clubs or organisations. Memberships with organizations like BIPP (British Institute of Professional Photography) or MPA (Master Photographers Association) indicates that the photographer is a qualified professional who has reached a certificated standard.

The photographer should also keep abreast touch with the latest trends in photography. Make sure that the photographer carries backup equipment in case of failure on the site.

Cost of Photography

The quality of Photography you will get is directly proportional to your budget. However, a budget between Ł500 and Ł1000 should get you a good quality album full of photographs. If you are not keen on a budget, you should look for a photographer above the Ł1500 threshold for a photographer who can get you artistic quality wedding photographs.

Booking

Book your photographer as soon as you fix your dates for wedding and reception. Good photographers are generally booked for 12 to 24 months.

Looking for recommendation across your friends or relative network has greater chances of landing you on a good photographer.

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There are many kinds of speeches and one of them is the wedding speech. It is that part of the weeding that everybody is so excited to hear.

In a wedding, there are three primary wedding speeches that will be heard. The first one will be coming from the bride’s father. This is usually the most emotional speech and the most unforgettable one. It becomes so touchy when the father includes in his speech how he is endorsing his daughter to his husband.

The second part of the wedding speech is the groom’s speech. Here, he will thank his parents for all the love and care. He will also thank all those who made the celebration possible and memorable.

And last is the best man’s speech. Usually, this type of wedding speech is the most enlightening one because it entails the lighter side of the event. The best man will tell stories about the groom and his crazy antics.

Of all these wedding speeches, the audience should be the primary factor that should be considered when making the wedding speech. Through the analysis of the audience, the speaker will be able to identify which things that should be said and which things that should be left out.

In most cases, the most common misconception of most wedding speakers about wedding speeches is that they thought that they are speaking before the bride and the groom only, which should not be the case. The wedding speech should be delivered to the whole guests. In fact, the impression most wedding speakers make would reflect back to the bride and groom.

For example, if you are to make a wedding speech and you have thought of including some jokes that you think would make the couple happy, try to think of the audience first if it will make them happy too. There may be instances wherein your joke will not amuse the elderly ones who will be present at the wedding.

Problems and conflicts may happen just because of the wedding speech you have made. So, it is extremely important to make a speech that will focus on the general interest of the audience and not centered on the bride and groom or to your own judgment of what you think would be funny and okay.

Another misconception that wedding speakers usually make is that they tend to think that wedding speeches are not all worth the trouble. That is why most of them would not make a speech that is well-thought of, with words that are carefully chosen, and the idea creatively generated to come up with a good speech.

Usually, they would make a speech that they think will do for the time being. Just to get over it, they would just think of mentioning some stories and that is it.

What matters most in a wedding speech is the reaction and impression that the audience will have on your wedding speech. Just like the way you want to talk to your boss or your colleague and consider their feelings and principles is also the same way you should be delivering your speech. You should also consider the audience’s feelings and beliefs.

Moreover, you should know how to identify with the audience. Through identification you will be able to come up with a wedding speech wherein the audience can relate to whatever stories or information that you will be telling them.

So, now you know how important wedding speeches can be, it is important to take note of the most important factor before making a wedding speech — the audience. And because wedding speeches are important part of the wedding, it should never be taken for granted.

Find more wedding savings tips at WeddingSavingsRevealed.co.uk

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Capturing the perfect wedding day video takes more than just luck. There are a number of factors involved that should be considered when you’re planning your wedding video whether you’re the one behind or in front of the camera.

1. Experience

Make sure the videographer has considerable experience, has just about seen it all and can anticipate what is about to happen in order to capture events as they unfold. Take note of any recommendations from people you know or testimonials to this regard.

2. Communication

The videographer must be prepared to liaise with other people who have key roles in your day, from the photographer to the hotel manager, in order to be alerted to upcoming highlights such as cutting the cake and the speeches as well as ensuring s/he is updated of any changes to the schedule.

3. Post Editing

The video service should be able to provide additional interesting extras, such as background music and slow motion shots, which will give your finished video a professional and polished touch, distinguishing it from a regular home movie.

4. Expertise

The wedding video should be a professional piece of work, make sure that as well as having top quality equipment, the videographer also advocates technical knowledge such as an understanding of white balance, manual focus and shutter speeds. Ask to see examples of their work to judge the picture quality for yourself.

5. Lighting

When discussing locations for the wedding day, ensure that the videographer has lighting equipment suitable for indoor filming and will be able to transport it to each venue, to ensure each picture is evenly lit and exposed.

6. Sound

Ask if it is possible for the groom to wear a tie-clip microphone in order to pick up both sets of vows being made. Even the most confident of couples can be softly spoken when exchanging vows and this is the most important moment in your marriage ceremony that will want to be relived. This inconspicuous device will record voices onto the video, which may otherwise be lost.

7. Discretion

The ideal videographer will be unobtrusive and record the day without becoming a feature of it. Choose someone who understands the sensitivity needed to get all the shots whilst remaining invisible. Look for comments highlighting this ability when checking recommendations.

About the author: Rob Whibley’s runs Action Wedding Videos Wirral, Chester and Liverpool.

You don’t want your wedding day to be remembered for all of the wrong reasons, and you most definitely don’t want to have guests reeling about complaining of food poisoning!!

When it comes to choosing the actual caterer for the big day your choice maybe limited by your wedding venue. Many venues will either do all their catering in-house or use a designated company for all their functions. In these instances you won’t actually have much of a say in who’s physically doing your catering.

If this sounds as if you’re are not in control of your catering arrangements in most reception venues, then you are very wrong. It’s only who actually cooks the meals that is out of your hands, not what they cook! The menu choice is much more important. It is what you want that is the most important here. Almost all wedding reception venues will bend over backwards to accommodate your every catering wish. You are ultimately in charge.

Depending on the number of people attending the celebrations, most tastes and needs can be easily catered for. The bigger the party the less personalised the meal becomes. The smaller the party the easier it becomes to cater for everyone’s exact dietary requirements.

Before confirming your booking with the venue you should make sure that every angle is covered.

Most venues will offer a range of set menus to be served on the day. When it comes to choosing the menu you want served on your big day, you should consider the cost and the choice of meal available on the day, if any, being offered. If there is no choice of meals on offer then you must decide if that the food choice is adequate to satisfy the tastes and dietary requirements of all those attending.

You of course should also choose a meal plan that suits your budget and also gives the best value. And remember the best value doesn’t always mean the cheapest. You want something edible as well as affordable.

Though most wedding reception venues will stick to serving from a set menu, almost all will cater for special dietary requirements of the guests.

It is up to you to gather all the dietary needs for your guests and let the caterers know. The main requirements will be for vegetarians and those with various food allergies, but there may be guests who have to follow a strict diet for health or religious reasons.

You don’t want people being served which they simply can’t or won’t eat. So it is vital that you sort out the details of your catering down to the tiniest little detail as soon as you can to help ensure your big day goes as smoothly as possible.

When you have heard what is on offer why not take a small group of close family and try out the restaurant. Preferably eating several of your menu choices, just to make sure!

One handy tip is to write any menu choice or special requirement on the inside of any place setting card.

Expect that glitches will arise. No matter how much wedding organising you have done, problems may still arise. But by organising your wedding, you will greatly eliminate problems that could easily occur.

With any wedding, there are million different things that need to be planned. Therefore, it is essential that you begin planning your wedding six to twelve months in advance. This will ensure that you have plenty of time to pull the wedding together. By planning early, this will also ensure that you can book the right reception hall, photographers, videographers etc.

When beginning your wedding organising, start by creating a budget. Once you have put a budget into place, be sure that you stick with it. Having a budget in place will make sure that you have plenty of money for everything you will need for the wedding.

One of the next steps in wedding organising is to set a wedding date. This is probably one of the most crucial steps, since everything will hinge on the date you have selected. You will need to coordinate everything with your wedding date.
You will also need to make a guest list. By coming up with a guest list in advance, you will know what size reception hall you will need. A guest list will also ensure that you buy enough wedding favors. Although you are creating your guest list several months in advance, be sure to only send the invitations out six weeks before the wedding. If you send them out too early, guests are likely to set the invitation aside and forget about it.

After you have your budget, wedding date and guest list decided on, you can then search for a place to have the wedding reception. Chances are, you will want the reception location to coordinate with the theme and overall tone of the wedding. If the wedding is on the more formal side, then you will want a more formal reception hall. However, if you are planning an informal wedding, then the backyard might be ideal. So be sure to keep the tone of the wedding in mind when searching for the perfect reception location.

If you are looking to have a church wedding, make sure the church is available. You will want to schedule a meeting with the pastor to make sure that everything will work out for your chosen wedding date. Be sure to find out if the pastor requires pre-marital counseling, as many do now days.

After you have the major components of the wedding in place, you can then continue with the wedding organising. No matter what type of wedding you choose to have, it is important that you remain organised throughout the entire planning and preparation process. With some simple wedding organising, you can have the wedding of your dreams.

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