Wedding Dress | Wedding Ideas

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Your wedding cake...the ultimate wedding reception centerpiece. It should be eye-catching and fabulous. (tasty too!) And just like every other aspect of your wedding day - costs can creep skyward. But don't let a tight budget stand between you and the ultimate wedding cake. Size and design are the two main determinants in wedding cake cost. Creative brides can play with these elements to create a confection that is super-fab....and kind to your catering tab. Have your cake (and eat it too) with these budget saving tips:

Cut that Guest List -
As with all cost-per-person aspects of your wedding, narrowing down your guest list will result in significant wedding cake savings. Less mouths to feed = less slices; you get the idea. And any cake cutting fee, typically charged on a per slice bases as well, will also be reduced.

Hip to be Square -
A cake square in shape yields more slices than one that is round with the same dimensions. So go square - and make a deliciously modern statement!

Go Natural -
Hand-constructed gum paste or sugar paste flowers can quickly rack up your wedding cake cost. Substitute these costly adornments with fresh fruits and flowers - an inexpensive option that is equally stunning.

Keep It Simple -
While intricate, over-the-top cakes evoke the ultimate in wedding day opulence, today's shift towards modern minimalism can foray into the world of cake design. The result is always chic - never a budget breaker. Lose the ornate adornments and infinite skyward-stretching tiers, and opt for a clean design with an impeccably smooth surface. Add simple details such as a Swiss dot pattern or wide ribbon around the base. Stick to one flavor, as multiple flavors will increase the bottom line.

One Stop Shopping -
If your wedding reception facility offers an onsite caterer, employ their services for your confection as well, and save on delivery and service fees. You will also ward off chances for a transportation mishap - a headache you surely want to avoid on the big day! Many reception sites offer a wedding cake as part of their package deal, so be sure to inquire when scouting reception sites.

"Dummy Cakes" -
Fancy a towering and dramatic wedding cake but don't want to shell out the extra cash? Instead of paying for extra layers, ask your baker to create faux layers consisting of iced Styrofoam. Trust us - your guests will never be the wiser; it will be our little secret.

Outside the Proverbial Cake Pan -
Of-the-moment brides are breaking with tradition and forgoing the cake all together - presenting instead pies or pastries on tiered platters as the centerpieces of their wedding receptions. Depending on your selection, this can be an uber-chic way to save. Dare we say it, even doughnuts are in vogue - having been spotted at some of the poshest black tie events!

Get even more tips to help you cut wedding cake prices in the complete wedding cakes guide and photo gallery.


Win a Free Wedding Dress

One of the most important decisions a woman will make before she gets married is to select her perfect wedding dress. This is something that every little girl dreams of during her childhood. But don't let the hype and the pressure of years and years of anticipation cloud your judgement. After all, the dress is just a dress, and should never be bigger than the occasion.

One of the things brides-to-be have to consider when buying a dress is the comfort level of the wedding dress. Sure it's nice to look like a princess on your wedding day, but if the dress causes you extreme discomfort; or cuts off your circulation, then it's not really worth it. The dress might even cause you to faint. Imagine what a nightmare that would be!

The wedding dress selection process usually starts months before the wedding. It's advisable for brides-to-be to look through the pages of wedding magazines, or to visit wedding shops. Just to give them an idea of the different types of styles of wedding dresses that are available.

Brides-to-be also have to consider their body types. It's important to get a wedding dress that looks good on you! You might have to try plenty of wedding dresses before you find that one dress that is perfect for you.

If you have set aside an extensive budget for your wedding dress. Then you can always go for a designer dress. The most famous name nowadays when it comes to bridal fashion is Vera Wang. She is known for her luxurious detailing, craftsmanship, and hand beading. Her clients for her wedding line include: Jennifer Lopez, Jessica Simpson, Uma Thurman and Mariah Carey, just to name a few.

But if you don't have that much money to spare then you can always choose other options. There are a number of places where you can get your wedding dress that won't cost you a fortune. In addition to the more traditional bridal shops, wedding dresses are also available in: thrift shops, discount stores, online, and even eBay.

If you are buying on eBay, make sure the measurements of the wedding dress is included in the description. Also, the condition of the dress must be looked into. Check for feedback regarding that person's account, just to make sure that you are dealing with a credible dealer.

But if a traditional wedding is the theme you have in mind, then you might want to go for a vintage dress, in keeping with this theme. When buying a vintage dress, beware of discoloration, or stains on the dress. These might not come off so easily. Investigate the fabric of the dress, stretch it out to check for weakening, or tearing of the cloth.

Try to buy a vintage dress that is made before the 1900's. Fabrics have a tendency to deteriorate, and weaken over time. Extraordinarily old vintage dresses might look romantic, but they might not be ideal for use.

If you really have your heart set on a specific design, but you find that that dress is too old to use, or too expensive, then you can always go for a reproduction wedding dress.

Many stores specialize on reproduction dresses. They design wedding dresses based on specific themes, or eras. Some specialty wedding shops also focus on designing knock-off wedding dresses, inspired by designer wedding gowns. The huge difference being, that these wedding gowns are retailed for the fraction of the amount.


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Weddings have become extremely expensive events, the average one costs $25,000.00. When there is that much money involved, misunderstandings, disagreements and disappointments become much more common. And, these misunderstandings can happen between the families being joined leading to angry and hurt feelings that can last months, years and sometimes a lifetime. To prevent a financial and emotional meltdown before your wedding even happens, follow these suggestions.

1. Be Realistic: From the beginning, decide on the amount of money that can be spent on your wedding and related events and who is financially responsible for what. What are brides' family responsible for and can they cover it? What are the grooms' family responsible for and can they cover it? What do the bride and groom want to contribute? Once you have an overall amount, you can begin to decide what your priorities are. So, if you want a large wedding on a very limited budget, you may have to make creative decisions around venue and catering. One couple decided to have a large wedding at their home and instead of an expensive venue. They rented a tent and chairs. The money they saved then allowed them to spend more on a caterer. Another couple decided on simple candle centerpieces for the reception tables instead of flower arrangements which allowed them to spend more money on a band.

2. Plan, plan, plan: Planning an event of this magnitude requires months, sometimes more than a year. Start early and take a team approach. Break the events down into lists and decide who is responsible for what--there are many wedding planning books available that are very helpful with this. The more time you allow and the more organized you are with your lists, the less stress and confusion will occur. And even in the most planned weddings, the unexpected happens. One brides' parents went to check out an outdoor bluff overlooking the ocean that they had rented from a small, coastal city only to find the bluff had been turned into a construction site two days before the wedding. After many hysterical phone calls and frantic moving, the site was returned to its original state except for the addition of two outhouses sitting in the middle. So both families got together and decorated the outhouses with hardhats and wedding veils the night before the wedding and then went to the rehearsal dinner much more connected then they ordinarily would have been.

3. Research: Find out what is available in your area for wedding venues, caterers, reception venues etc. and then compare and contrast. Use the internet to find less expensive or unique touches for your wedding. If you are one of lucky few whose dreams and budgets match, congratulations--this will be a fun and relatively painless process. However, if you are more in the majority of couples where your dreams may be larger than your budget, take heart--diligent research can allow you to have your dream wedding on your budget in most cases. Finding creative ways to fulfill your dreams is part of the fun. For example, one couple wanted to make a statement with their invitations. It was a winter wedding and they wanted something vibrant. They found a beautiful, red pocket folder kit online that allowed them to print their own invitation. By doing this, they achieved the fun but elegant look they wanted for 50% less than they would have paid for a printed invitation.

4. Communicate the good, the bad, and the ugly: As the months pass, good communication skills are crucial. When communicating anything to anyone, start first with connection and a gentle lead in: "Hi Marge, how are you? Yeah, I'm tired too. Listen, we have a challenge--the wedding venue burnt down last night. I know, I'm in shock but deep breathing a lot. I think we need an emergency meeting over here tonight to brain storm what we can do."; "Hi, Bill how are you? I'm a little in shock right now, Cindy just presented me with the caterers' revised estimate and it's 70% higher than we budgeted for. I'm wondering if we can get together with you and your wife and revisit the wedding budget."
Try and avoid blame, shame, denial or despair. Stick to the big goal, a wedding that is a joyful, beautiful, and affordable, celebration of love.

5. Acknowledge:Everyone involved in the wedding needs to be acknowledged either privately, publicly or both by the bride and groom. Remembering and planning this will save you from dealing with hurt or angry feelings after the wedding. Weddings are very emotional affairs and everyone can be more sensitive then they would be under normal circumstances. The key to this is to not take anything for granted and to be very expressive of your gratitude. Publicly and privately thank both sets of parents; thank your wedding party with personal gifts; personally thank Aunt Mary for coming all this way for the wedding, etc. And of course, follow up with Thank You cards. You can't over thank so err on the generous side.

Follow these suggestions and celebrate your wedding in a way that brings everyone together during the event and encourages these new relationships to flourish long after the wedding is over.

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For beautiful and affordable DYI Invitation kits visit http://www.weddingbellinvitations.com and stop by my All Things Wedding Blog for reviews of products, interviews and relationship tips. Kathleen Ball is a marriage counselor and Wedding Officiant. This aricle may be freely reprinted or distributed in its entirety in any Ezine, newletter, blog, or website. The author's name, bio and website links must remain intact and be included with every reproduction.

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