4 Tips to Save Big Money on Your Wedding

Congratulations on your engagement! You’ve picked your bridal party and your date and it is time to get planning. The most important thing in planning your wedding is organizing your wedding budget. However, fitting everything you want into a tight budget can be a daunting task. Here are a few ways that you can stretch your hard earned money and get the most for your wedding dollar.

Honoring Lost Loved Ones on Your Wedding Day

Your wedding day is soon approaching and you simply cannot stop thinking about someone, a loved one you wish could have at least lived long enough to see you get married to your soul mate. The more you think about it, the more it hurts. You knew it would be like this, but had hoped the heartache would not be quite so agonizing. While a wounded heart cannot easily be mended, and lost loved ones cannot be brought back, there are still many ways to honor their memory during your special day.

How to Have a Frugal Wedding

We all want to have the most memorable wedding possible. However, in the current recession, it is imperative that you try and save as much as possible. Many couples are looking for frugal wedding ideas, so you’re not alone. As people become less and less traditional, our parents do not want pay for their children’s wedding, so it’s very necessary now to be cognizant of finances. Read on for cheap wedding tips if you’re in the same boat!

Simple Tips for Feeling Frugal

Being frugal doesn’t mean you have to go without necessities or luxuries. However, being frugal does take time, effort, ingenuity and a desire to save money. The following are some tips on how to be frugal in all areas of your life. Read on to get started!

The Ultimate Wedding Movie Night

There is nothing like wedding movies to prepare yourself for the big day and to break the ice with your wedding attendants or to just be able to kick back and relax with your girlfriends. So why not organize a wedding movie night with your friends or attendants?

How to Live a Frugal Lifestyle

If you enjoy eating out and want to save money too, here are a few tips that will allow you to not spend as much next time you sit down at a restaurant. Eating out can be tough on your budget and although eating at home is the cheapest way to go, you can still learn how to spend less when you order out. If you are headed out with one other person, don’t order two meals. Instead order just one and then order an appetizer and split them both. Most restaurant meals are too large anyway and trying to finish it all yourself is both unhealthy and costly.

You might also want to go out for a lunch special instead of dinner. These specials are always cheaper then a dinner meal so ask what the daily special is next time you are in your favorite restaurant. Living frugally means that you get the most out of your money so why not use coupons when you can. There are many restaurant coupons online and those that come in your mailbox. Another way to save while eating out is to consider ordering just side items. With a large salad and an appetizer, you can create your own meal and spend less to fill up.

You might even want to choose a different restaurant. We all know that fast food is not a good choice but the medium priced restaurants will offer a decent meal and not empty your wallet. A restaurant that is newly opened will offer discounts to get customers to come in and discover what they have to offer. You might have received something in the mail letting you know of their grand opening. Another prat of a frugal lifestyle when eating out is to not order a soda or alcohol. Water is better for you, goes well with any meal and won’t cost you a thing. If you need a flavor, ask for a slice of lemon in your water.

Places like Subway have healthy options and at Wendy’s you can find great salads and nutritious sandwiches as well as vegetarian options found in more restaurants these days. For those who are vegetarians, you can always eat at a Mexican restaurant and order a veggie burrito which is not only cheap but delicious and healthy too.

When it comes to dessert, you probably already know that this part of your meal is always over-priced. So why not skip it and stop on your way home for ice cream and save yourself some bucks.

Living frugally is does not mean you are starving yourself or never having any fun. It only means that you want to get the most for your money and stretch your dollar as far as possible. At first it can be a tough change but when you notice you have more money in your wallet, you will have a smile on your face because you found it was not that hard after all.

Top 5 Things to Consider When Honeymooning in Paris

Oo-la-la! A honeymoon in Paris; what could be more romantic? Is it a bit cliché? Sure it is, but the Paris is truly the city of love. Nowhere else in the world is more romantic. Ask anyone who’s been to Paris and you will get some definite opinions on where you should stay, where you should eat and what you should see. There are many things to take into consideration when planning your journey to the city of lights; here are the top five.

1. When To Go

You don’t necessarily have to plan your wedding date around the best season in Paris but, that said, if you have your heart set on Paris and your wedding date is flexible, plan accordingly. The weather in Paris is absolutely gorgeous between the months of June and August. If you want to save a bit of cash (Euros) and avoid the crowds, visit in the off-season. Be forewarned, though, that Paris can be quite blustery in the late fall, winter and early spring.

2. Where To Stay

It may be hard to believe but Paris is home to thousands of hotels. Whether you choose to stay in a five-star hotel in the city center or a bed and breakfast on the outskirts of town is completely up to you. The further you stay from Paris proper, the cheaper the rate you’ll get on your room. This may be the better choice if you plan on spending most of your time touring the city.

3. How To Get Around

Transportation may be the least costly part of your entire honeymoon. Buy a great pair of shoes (or two) and hoof it around town. The design of Paris makes it incredibly pedestrian friendly. Keep in mind that the city is quite large and while walking is definitely possible, traversing the city from end to end may be easier by taxi or metro.

4. What To Eat

Paris is a city known for its fine dining. French cuisine is emulated around the world and with good reason: it’s delicious! You have your choice of fine dining in the most exclusive of restaurants or stopping for a quick bite in one of the many cafes in the city. Take it from someone that’s eaten in Paris: either learn a bit of French or take along a French/English dictionary! You don’t want to end up eating a snail because escargot is the only French word you know. For a bit of romance, buy a loaf of French bread and a bottle of wine and head to one of the many parks for a picnic lunch.

5. What To See

The list of things to see in Paris is virtually endless. The Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral and Champs-Elysees are all popular tourist attractions. It may seem a bit gruesome but be sure to visit the Pere-Lachaise Cemetery; you’ll be absolutely amazed. Be sure to purchase a map outside the entrance to the 120-acre cemetery, particularly if you are interested in seeing the graves of famous people like Jim Morrison and Gertrude Stein.

Heather Johnson contributes to HoneymoonDestinations.org, a top honeymoon research and planning website. Come see some great honeymoon ideas today!

Safari Adventures for the Ultimate Honeymoon

With the average wedding costing around £20,000 nowadays, it’s no wonder that brides and grooms-to-be are feeling the strain. From grand expensive venues and endless bridesmaid outfits, to extravagant wedding cakes and white diamond dresses, some would argue paying such extremes for one day, that is really just about two people in love, is a little OTT. Particularly when Auntie Pat who you felt an obligation to invite, starts complaining the £100 a-head wedding dinner isn’t good enough.

Elegant Ideas for Formal Weddings

Formal entertaining takes style to a whole new level, especially when it comes to weddings. The right details will ensure that your wedding is as grand and impressive as you envision. These are some elegant ideas for formal weddings.

As every bride knows, her wedding attire really sets the tone for the event. To exude elegance, look for a bridal gown with very special details. Pleated silk, handbeading, custom embroidery, and couture construction are the type of things which will give your gown the sophisticated style you seek. If budget permits, consider having your wedding dress custom made. It will allow you to have a one-of-a-kind gown that is sure to take everyone’s breath away. Pearl or crystal bridal jewelry sets in a complementary style will complete the effect beautifully. While many formal bridal gowns have full skirts, keep in mind that an chic sheath gown can be given an appropriately grand style by adding accessories such as a cathedral length veil and opulent bridal jewelry sets.

The wedding invitations that you select will give your guests a hint about what to expect at your celebration. For a very formal wedding, the invitations should be very impressive. Choose a fancy script engraving on heavy cotton paper. To make your invitations extra special, have the names of the bride and groom handwritten on the invitations in an elaborate calligraphy. The calligrapher can also add other decorative touches, such as flourishes and scrolls or a custom monogram. Select a luxurious envelope lining for the invitations such as a gold paper or a fleur-de-lis pattern.

When you walk down the aisle at your ceremony, it is a very special moment. Make it even more grand by using a custom aisle runner. Brides can custom order runners which are embellished with fancy monograms or a signature motif done in the wedding colors. After the wedding, you can cut out the motif or monogram to have it framed as a memento. When using a special aisle runner, place a ribbon across the center aisle and instruct the ushers to seat guests via the side aisles to ensure that the runner remains pristine until the processional begins.

Formal weddings often feature show-stopping wedding cakes. There are several ways to take your wedding cake to the next level of style and elegance. A very tall cake with five or six tiers is always impressive. Cover it in exquisite handmade sugar flowers, a grand swag and bow design, or a formal baroque pattern. If you wish to do something a little different, have your baker create a large number of smaller cakes rather than one large one. The small cakes will look fantastic when displayed together on one long table. Use silver or white porcelain cake stands in several different heights to make the display extra fabulous.

There are many other wonderful ideas for formal weddings. Classic elements such as ice sculptures are always fabulous, as are sparkling crystal wine glasses, custom table linens, and tall centerpieces. When all of the details come together, your wedding is sure to be unforgettable.

Get more great wedding ideas in Bridget Mora’s other articles about wedding planning and design. Subscribe to the free email newsletter at Silverland Jewelry to receive Bridget’s latest articles about wedding style, celebrity weddings, and new bridal jewelry sets. You will also be the first to know about new designs and exclusive special offers!

New Take on a Favorite: Guestbook Signature Frame

Signature photo frames are a nice touch for guestbook ideas. It happens to be one of my favorite guestbook ideas because it can be displayed in your home and not tucked away in a draw like my wedding album is.

Most signature frames are made of cardboard, and guest sign the cardboard around the photo in a permanent marker. In my youtube rounds, I came across this video of a company that makes the same photo frames we love, but instead of cardboard, they use polished metal. Guests then sign the polished metal with a diamond tip pen that engraves directly into the metal, making it truly permanent. Since messages are engraved, you don’t have to worry about smudging, or the cardboard losing color over time.