Tag Archives: Wedding Planning Tips

Fun Theme Ideas for Your Wedding Reception

Photo by NadineDoerle

So your big day is coming up, and you’re running around trying to pin down all the details. Will your wedding have a live band? Who’s catering? Where will the guests sit? Have you even gotten a dress yet? And what about that wedding reception?

Your wedding reception is the first chance you have as a married couple to spend time with your loved ones. Guests are excited to see the happy couple, socialise with each other, and eat, drink, and dance the night away. One way you can make sure they’ll have a night they won’t ever forget is by having a themed wedding reception. Having a theme will give you and your guests something to be excited about, and take your wedding from “event” to “party.” 

Here are some ideas for fun wedding reception themes:

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At Home Wedding Reception Planning Secrets

Nothing is more sentimental or comforting than a wedding reception that occurs in your very own home. But while you may be eager to celebrate your vows in your cosy abode, prepping for these upcoming festivities may seem daunting. Fortunately, you can easily pull off an at-home wedding celebration with these 5 secrets in mind:

  1. Secret #1 — Don’t Do All the Work Alone

Just because you’ve decided to host your reception at your home doesn’t mean you have to do all of the planning and prepping solo. With all of the cleaning, organising and executing involved, even Wonder Woman would struggle to put a whole wedding together alone.

Don’t be afraid to hire a wedding coordinator – They’re not just for those who having a reception in a dining hall or church, after all! If you have a crew of eager family members and friends who are ready to offer you their support, take advantage of their willingness to pitch in. When you divvy up tasks, you’ll find that the process of planning a wedding reception at home doesn’t need to involve any stress at all.

  1. Secret #2 — You’ll Need a Plan

When planning for a wedding reception at home, making the actual plan may seem like a given. But far too often, brides get caught up in prepping and making arrangements that they forget to create a step-by-step plan that ensures their wedding day will go by smoothly.

Create a wedding day checklist that clearly defines your goals, events and the details that you intend to manifest during your reception. Do you have enough seating available for the amount of guests you invited? Will you cook your food, or cater? Do you have a back-up plan in case the weather interferes with your arrangements?

Make sure you touch on key aspects of your wedding, such as decorations, food and drink and entertainment. When you have an actual plan mapped out for your reception, everything will be much more correlated and in order for your special day. 

  1. Secret #3 — Make Cleaning Your Home Easy

Inviting guests over for any occasion often comes with the panic of quickly cleaning your home. But after prepping and planning for your wedding day ceremony, the last thing you want to do is spend the weekend scrubbing the toilet before you walk down the aisle.

Sometimes, the best solution is to have someone else who can take the burden off your shoulders. Professionals know just what areas to clean and will leave your home spotless so that you can focus on getting pampered before you tie the knot instead.

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Wedding Dress Alterations – What Can I Change About My Wedding Dress?

When it comes to wedding dress alterations, sometimes people forget that you can change more than just the fit. It is so important on your wedding day that you truly love your dress and feel it reflects your personality perfectly! You can’t always find that perfect dress in the store, which is why it’s important to know just how much of a difference wedding dress alterations can make. From adding details to changing the style, there is so much a professional seamstress will be able to do for you. We’ve teamed up with Alterations Boutique, experts in dress alterations, to let you know just a few of the things you can change about your dress.

Adjusting Your Wedding Dress

The Fit

The fit of the dress is one of the most common and important wedding dress alterations. Having a dress that fits you properly is essential on your big day. You want to make sure that the dress fits as intended all over. When a wedding dress doesn’t fit properly it can change the appearance of the whole dress, so you want to make sure it is sculpted perfectly for your body. Remember, you’ll be in this dress all day, so if it’s too small or too large you’ll be really uncomfortable. 

The Length

The length is an easy changeable feature of your wedding dress. Whether you just want to make the dress the right length, or want to turn it into a shorter version, this can be done for you. Shortening a dress is always an easier job than lengthening, though lengthening a dress is possible. This is only to a certain extent and we would always recommend getting a dress that is too long rather than too short. 

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How To Plan Wedding Decor On A Budget Without Sacrificing Quality

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by PSECU, a Pennsylvania-based credit union.

Planning a wedding on a budget isn’t as easy as it seems. Simple things can start to add up quickly, especially decor for tables, entrances and even around the aisle. Here seven simple ways to plan wedding decor that looks classy and elegant without blowing up a budget.

1. Pick a Beautiful Location

One of the simplest ways to spend less on wedding decor is to pick a stunning location to begin with. Outdoor venues with a beautiful overlook or a garden with plenty of flowers and greenery are great spaces to hold a wedding or reception without needing to buy extra decor. Non-traditional couples can even opt to get married in an art gallery or bed and breakfast to find a classic charm that doesn’t need any extras.

2. Don’t Feel Afraid to Rent

Buying every single piece of decor from the flowers to the centerpieces can add up and quickly cause couples to go over budget. Instead, renting china, drinkware and even decorations from friends can save money in the long-run. Before purchasing brand new china or table linens, check with different wedding venues to see what’s included in the package price. Then, ask recently married friends if they have any decor they could loan or rent for a lower price.

3. Use In-Season Flowers

Some brides dream about using their favorite flower on their wedding day, from roses to lilies. However, depending on when a wedding takes place, those flowers may not be in season. Choosing to decorate with in-season flowers can significantly reduce the cost of decor. Check with a wedding planner or a florist to find out which flowers are in season during your wedding date and make them the focal point to avoid rising costs.

Another option is to use paper flowers or silk flowers, which look exactly like the real thing. They’re more cost-effective, and you can use them again if one of your friends gets married or another event pops up.

4. DIY Everything You Can

Thankfully, the internet makes it easy to DIY almost anything for a wedding, even if the bride isn’t particularly crafty. Use YouTube and Pinterest for DIY ideas and put together everything from elegant centerpieces to rustic chalkboard signs. This is a great time to recruit friends and family members that are crafty or have some free time on their hands to help with wedding decor.

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