Flowers For Your Wedding Day: Fresh or Silk?

For some brides, there is no question. It’s fresh flowers or no flowers at all.

But for those who might still be considering which way to go, there are definitely pros and cons for real flowers vs. silk.

SCENT
For some brides, nothing comes close to enjoying all of her senses being heightened on her wedding day, and that can include the dreamy scents wafting from her bouquet. Real flowers, of course, carry their own unique scents which isn’t the case with silk flowers. However, there are special scents available to add to silk flowers, so if you really want to go the silk route, that might be something to think about.

PRICE & QUALITY
Just because they’re imitation it doesn’t mean silk flowers will be less expensive than their real counterparts. In fact, some companies now manufacture faux flowers so realistic that it’s difficult to notice that they aren’t fresh.

Silk flowers can run the gamut from cheap and poorly made, to inexpensive with good quality, to high-price with high quality. You’re in luck if you’re able to find top-notch, lifelike silk flowers at a sale price, and some hobby stores frequently run coupons in their weekly advertisements.

If you have your heart set on out-of-season or more expensive fresh flowers, a little investigating will tell you whether you could actually save money by choosing silk. Out-of-season fresh flowers typically have the power to dramatically increase your floral bill, since it costs more for your florist have them shipped.

DIY
Taking care of some of your wedding chores on your own could possibly save you some money and if you are a do-it-yourself type of bride and plan on creating your own bouquets, you might consider using silk flowers. That way, you’ve got the luxury of time on your side. Buy your silk flowers and put the bouquets together in the weeks leading up to your wedding. Set up an area in your home so you can enjoy the challenge of creating the bouquets, boutonnieres and centerpieces.

Or, if you prefer to use real flowers in your do-it-yourself bouquets, take a hint from the French. Brides in France often visit a flower market the day of the wedding, grabbing stems that they like, and then tie a bow around the stems to create bouquets with a fresh, just-picked look.

This isn’t difficult to do if there is a wholesale flower company in your area or you know of a great source to find stems. Depending on the size of your wedding party and the number of bouquets, boutonnieres and centerpieces you need, it might be wise to enlist the help of your bridesmaids and borrow coolers from friends and relatives to keep the flowers as fresh as possible before the ceremony and reception.

Another option is to order flowers online from one of the reputable companies who will ship the flowers to you.

If you’re a fan of the hand-tied, casual bouquets that are so popular right now, you should be able to play with the stems until you’re satisfied with the look.

MAINTENANCE
Silk flowers won’t wilt, which is something to consider if you would like to use flowers known for being fragile, if you live in a hot climate, or if you will get married outside.

Silk flowers are a bit more convenient because they’re lighter to transport to the ceremony and to the reception site. A lighter bouquet can be a blessing if you prefer larger bouquets as the weight of a real bouquet might become uncomfortable during the ceremony, especially to your maid of honor who is holding her own bouquet and the bride’s.

Also, you won’t need to worry about keeping silk flowers in water prior to show time, which is a common concern when using real florals.

Whether you choose live or lifelike, your wedding and reception will be beautiful with the right floral touches.

How to Add Memorable Touches to Make Your Wedding Beautiful

The last thing any bride wants is for her wedding to be a cookie-cutter replica of someone else’s wedding, or – even worse – to go through the traditional motions, totally lacking any touches that would reflect the heart and soul of her personality and that of her groom.

What are some easy ways to infuse your ceremony and reception with touches that will make it “so you”?

Sit down and brainstorm, jotting down the qualities you admire in your relationship with your fiancé. What are your values? What is it about the two of you that makes you who you are?

If a certain theme seems to stand out in your life as a couple, think it over and see where that takes you. It could be something as simple as a favorite color, something that has to do with where you met, a sport or an activity the two of you share, a sports team, an alma mater that you share, the best vacation you ever took together, or how your paths crossed at Disney World when you were 10 and you didn’t know about it until years later.

Maybe your signature drink for the reception will be the drink you were enjoying when his friends dared him to introduce himself to you for the very first time. Or the floral theme throughout the wedding and reception will pay homage to the bouquet he sent you after you both realized you were perfect for each other.

Another direction to go would be your heritage. Are there traditions within your culture or your family that would make a statement during your wedding?

Intertwine your personalities as you plan your day. Take advantage of the things that make you – individually and as a couple – unique, including your talents and hobbies.

Don’t be afraid of sharing something that may seem silly. Those silly little touches are exactly the type of thing that will help your guests feel like they really know you, even if they happen to be just an acquaintance. Your ceremony will stand out as a special one in their minds rather than the same old, boring wedding that we’ve all had to suffer through so may times.

Looking for inspiration? Here are a few ideas to get you started.

TABLES
Get rid of those boring table cards and numbers and use your imagination. Instead, how about using shapes to distinguish the tables from each other. Whether you go with shapes or names, there are plenty of options. Ocean lovers or fans of fishing might choose things that live in the water, or names of beaches. If you met in college, choose your school’s mascot in different colors, names of your alma mater’s dorms, or names of streets or your favorite hangouts from those days. Do you share passion for the same sport? Name your tables in honor of your favorite teams or players.

EXIT
Make your departure unique by choosing a special song to be played as you make your exit. Or perhaps you’d like to drive away in a classic car that you’ve borrowed or rented, a horse-drawn carriage, or even a helicopter.

MONOGRAM
Custom monograms or logos are gaining popularity with brides and grooms. Hire a graphic designer to create your look, whether informal or elaborate, and then repeat the theme wherever possible. Have a vinyl wall stencil created to attach to the wall near the dance floor, behind the head table at the reception, or to behind the cake table. Plan ahead so that your monogram will be visible when photos are taken, rather than having it hidden by your heads. Some DJ services offer packages where they shine your initials or your logo onto a wall or the dance floor, which makes a fabulous impression.

What To Say When Greeting Your Wedding Guests

Four Tips and 27 Song Suggestions For a Memorable First Dance as Husband and Wife

Your first dance as husband and wife will likely stand out in your memory for the rest of your life. How can you make sure these treasured moments go smoothly?

Dance Lessons
Most couples haven’t had formal dance training, but with the popularity of shows such as “Dancing With the Stars,” couples feel nervous about putting their arms around each other and simply swaying to the music.

Take a few dance lessons in the weeks leading up to your wedding. Don’t worry about putting on a show or learning difficult moves. Some basic dance steps will give you both the confidence to glide gracefully across the dance floor, impressing your guests.

Dim the Lights
Well in advance of your reception, find out where the light switches are at your site and learn how to dim the lights. Assign this task to someone trustworthy so that he or she can dim the lights when it’s time for your first dance. Not only is it romantic, it will give your DJ the chance to shine your custom monogram or wedding logo onto the wall or onto the dance floor. Check with your DJ to see what services they might be able to provide.

Dimming the lights can also let your guests know what is next on the agenda. If the lights are dimmed for your first dance, as soon as that dance is over your DJ is ready to get the party started with disco lights zigzagging and creating high energy to let the guests know it’s time to dance.

Choosing By Type of Dance
The song you choose for your first dance may be “your” song, so the choice has already been made. But if you’re not sure about a song, how do you narrow it down?

One way to choose is to decide what type of dance would you like to kick off the reception – slow dance, fox trot, swing, waltz? If you’re taking dance lessons, ask your instructor for suggestions. Once you have chosen the type of dance, it’s time to choose the song.

Some great suggestions include:
SLOW DANCE
•    “Amazed” by Lonestar
•    “At Last” by Etta James, Celine Dion, Nat “King” Cole or Beyoncé
•    “Can’t Fight This Feeling” by REO Speedwagon
•    “Don’t Know Much” by Linda Ronstadt and Aaron Neville
•    “It’s Your Love” by Faith Hill and Tim McGraw
•    “Unforgettable” by Nat “King” Cole

FOX TROT
•    “A Wink and a Smile” by Harry Connick, Jr.
•    “Cheek to Cheek” by Fred Astaire
•    “Could I Have This Dance” by Anne Murray
•    “Fly Me to the Moon” by Frank Sinatra
•    “I Hear a Symphony” by The Supremes

RUMBA
•    “Fields of Gold” by Sting
•    “How Deep is Your Love” by the Bee Gees
•    “I Don’t Wan to Live Without You” by Foreigner
•    “Isn’t She Lovely” by Stevie Wonder
•    “Just the Way You Are” by Billy Joel
•    “Let’s Stay Together” by Al Green

SWING
•    “Beyond the Sea” by Bobby Darin
•    “I’ve Got You Under my Skin” by Frank Sinatra
•    “More” by Bobby Darin
•    “Stepping Out” by Tony Bennett and Christina Aguilera
•    “The Way you Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra

WALTZ
•    “Come Away With Me” by Norah Jones
•    “Could I Have This Dance” by Anne Murray
•    “Open Arms” by Journey
•    “When I Need You” by Leo Sayer
•    “When I Said I Do” by Clint Black and Lisa Hartman Black

Choosing By Specific Song
Another way to make the decision is to make the song itself the top priority rather than the dance. How about the song that was playing when you met? A favorite song that the two of you share? A song with lyrics that have special meaning for you? Now that you have a song in mind, ask your dance instructor or your DJ for suggestions about the type of dance that would be most appropriate.

Whichever song and type of dance you choose, take a deep breath, look into each others’ eyes, and enjoy those minutes alone on the dance floor before your guests join in.

Six Tips For Planning Your Wedding Without Angering Your Co-workers

These days, most brides are working full-time while planning their weddings.

Adding all of the necessary wedding-planning tasks to an already busy life can be a challenge when you’re still responsible for your daily responsibilities on the job. Difficulties might arise when you consider the fact that many wedding vendors might limit their business hours to the very hours you’re supposed to be on the job.

The biggest challenge could easily be to keep from making your co-workers angry. If you’re slacking off on your duties while they’re still working hard, you’ll risk making them feel like you’ve turned into a Bridezilla. An even worse situation would be for your co-workers to take over your accounts, files or clients while you make no effort to do your work, but focus solely on your wedding instead.

On the other hand, some phone calls and appointments must be taken care of during regular business hours. What’s a bride-to-be to do?

1.    Be Discreet

If you need to make a phone call to set up an appointment with your baker, florist, caterer or anyone providing services for your wedding, make an effort to do so during your break or at lunchtime. If that’s not possible, shut the door to an office, find a conference room that isn’t being used, or slip outside with your cell phone.

2.    Delegate
Parcel out your to-do list so that there is less wedding-related work for you to take care of during the work day. Take advantage of the fact that you have a maid of honor and bridesmaids who are very likely anxious and excited to help, and want to see your day turn out splendidly almost as much as you do.

3.    Lunch Hour
No doubt, there will be some appointments that won’t bend and must be taken care of while you should be sitting at your desk or taking care of business. For those situations, arrange to take an odd lunch hour. It’s often easier to meet with other professionals mid-morning or mid-afternoon rather than at the very time they, too, expect to take an hour off.

4.    Email & Telephone
Handle as much of your wedding-planning as possible via email and telephone prior to making a trip out to meet with the vendors. It’s much easier to conceal the fact that you’re checking your personal email account than it is to hide the fact that you’re away from your desk or out of the office for half of the day. However, it’s a good idea to limit yourself as much as possible to avoid getting caught.

5.  Cover Your Tracks
Keep another session open on your computer at the same time and be ready to toggle back-and-forth if there’s a chance you might be caught. Some employers are more lenient than others regarding employees using personal email while at work, so do what you think is best for your situation.

Completely sign out of your personal email account and exit any web sites before stepping away from your computer, even if you’re just stepping away for a moment. Don’t just minimize those wedding web sites – get all the way out of them. Make it a point to frequently delete your computer’s web browsing history file, just in case a ticked-off co-worker decides to investigate to see just how many web sites you’re visiting while on company time.

Better yet, wake up early enough to spend some time checking wedding-related email before you leave for work.

5.    Personal Day
If at all possible, take a day off for personal business and get as much done for your wedding as possible. This might take several days of planning before you’re able to take that day off. Line up as many appointments as possible, get up early, and be ready to hit the ground running.

6.    Keep it Quiet
Avoid discussing your wedding while on the job. Sure, your co-workers are likely happy for you, but your wedding isn’t as important to them as it is to you. Don’t risk making everyone else think that you’re goofing off while on the clock, while they continue to keep the place running. Another negative possibility from talking about your wedding at work non-stop is the risk of making your co-workers think you’re running wedding headquarters on-the-job when you’re not.

After all, your employer isn’t paying you to plan your wedding, so don’t do anything that might put your career in jeopardy or leave you jobless when you return from your honeymoon.

Backyard Weddings: Money-Saver or Money Pit?

The movie “Father of the Bride” featured an at-home wedding reception in the Banks family’s beautiful Colonial-style home, and it included the chaos of the wedding day with George confused about why all of their furniture had disappeared.

If you’re thinking of having your wedding or reception (or both) at home, you might be as frustrated as George when it comes time to foot the bill to strip your house down to a shell in order to make room for guests.

The idea of an at-home wedding may be charming. Whether your family has a mansion or a modest home, it’s possible to hold a tasteful event with proper planning. But it’s not as simple as planning your annual summer barbecue and throwing some tulle here and there.

If having your reception at home seems like a good way to slash your budget, think again. You might save the cost of renting the venue itself, but most families don’t have an inventory of things sitting around that you’ll soon discover you’ll need for the reception. For example, do you have enough tables to set out for your guests? How about linens, chairs, plates and silverware?  How about a tent large enough to cover your dance floor if it rains? How about the dance floor itself? At least most wedding venues are prepared to include these items, or at least make them available.

If you weigh the options and determine that an at-home wedding or reception is still your first choice, be sure to allow yourself plenty of planning time.

A few months before the wedding, take a good look at your yard. Does it need to have any holes or uneven spots taken care of so that your guests won’t twist an ankle and table legs will be level? How about planting grass seed to fill up those bald spots?

Sketch out a map of the yard, penciling in where you would like to set up the food stations, band or DJ, tables for your guests, the dance floor and cake table.

Investigate your options as far as keeping insects at bay. Remember some insect-repellant candles are heavily scented, which can be an unpleasant odor especially when placed near food, candles or fresh flowers. Don’t force the scents fight each other.

About a week before the wedding, get rid of clutter, trim limbs and shrubs, and mow the yard.

The day before the wedding, give everything another good look and straighten up anything last-minute such as stringing white Christmas lights along the fence, placing rented topiaries around the yard and set up tables.

Are you worried about a neighbor’s lawn mower drowning out your vows? The easiest way to take care of this potential problem is to invite those neighbors to your wedding.

When it’s time to visit a rental store, take the sketch of your yard, a firm headcount, and consider the items you will likely need to rent:
•    Dining tables and chairs
•    Tableware (place settings, flatware, glasses)
•    Table linens
•    Portable restrooms
•    Dance floor
•    Generator
•    Speakers
•    Lighting
•    Microphone
•    Tent
•    Chafing dishes with candles beneath (or some other way to keep serving dishes warm)

Wedding Programs: Keep Guests Informed and Keep the Day on Schedule

Used to be, guests would sit in the pews at a wedding with empty hands and no idea about the order of the ceremony, who some of the attendants were, their relationship to the couple, and possibly no clue how to get to the reception site.

Of course, the wedding won’t screech to a halt if some of your guests don’t know how you met your spouse, the sentimental reason you choose Gerbera daisies for your bouquet, what song or scripture is up next, or the fact that your best friend since preschool is your maid of honor.

But wouldn’t it be nice if everyone felt a little closer to you on your wedding day? As a frequent wedding guest, it’s more fun to observe the wedding and finally be able to put faces with the names we’ve heard for so long – the attendants and friends who are standing up with you, the siblings we’ve met briefly but don’t really know very well, members of the family you’re marrying into.

So why not make a wedding program? It’s a great way to keep your guests informed about the day’s events, which means your guests will feel more comfortable and prepared for what’s next. Another benefit of a wedding program is to assist guests who are of a different faith or culture and may not be familiar with the traditions they’re about to be a part of.

Whether your wedding is casual or ultra-formal, a wedding program is a welcome bonus that can be passed out to each guest as they sign the guest book and make their way to their seats before the ceremony.

What might you include in a wedding program?

•     Briefly introduce each person in the wedding party. With or without a photo, it’s a nice idea to state the person’s name, their duties for the ceremony, and how you know this person (sister, cousin, lifelong friend, sorority sister, etc.).

•    How did you meet your spouse? Not everyone attending your wedding will know, so share the short version of how your love story began.

•     How did he propose? Unless it’s too intimate to share, it might be fun to tell everyone how your husband-to-be proposed.

•    The order of the ceremony, from the prelude to the recessional with each piece of the ceremony mentioned. This doesn’t mean you should spell out the entire ceremony, word-for-word, like a script. It can be as simple as stating a word or two for each part of the ceremony, such as Prelude, Prayer, Scripture (along with where the verse may be found in the Bible), Reading (and the name of the poem), Solo (along with the name of the song and who will be performing), Exchange of Rings, etc.

•    An explanation of any traditions or rituals that will take place during the ceremony or reception. Many Christian denominations, for example, are used to a short, sweet ceremony, and may be surprised with all of the standing up, sitting down, kneeling, communion, and the length of a traditional Catholic wedding mass. Let your guests know what they should expect next.

•     Your new address. Let everyone know where they can reach you after the ceremony. Plus they’ll want to update their Christmas card lists!

•    A map to the reception. Everyone will appreciate a map or directions from the ceremony to the reception site.

•    Special notes of thanks to anyone who has helped you with the wedding, your families, or anyone else who deserves a shout out.

The program itself can be simple or extravagant. If you are a computer whiz, you should be able to whip up an attractive program in no time, or find a graphic designer to handle the project. The front cover is often a photo of the couple, along with their names and the date. If you have had a wedding monogram or logo created, this would be a great spot to use it. Visit your local scrapbook store or stationery store to find interesting paper, and add a tasteful ribbon to hold the pages together.

Is it safe to place fresh flowers on a wedding cake?

Fresh flowers can add the perfect touch to a beautiful wedding cake. Whether you choose to have the flowers for your cake taken care of by your bakery, your florist, or you take care of them yourself, there are some important things you’ll need to know.

Some flowers are edible. These can often be found at gourmet grocery stores. If you choose edible flowers to place on your cake, they should be ready to use as soon as you take them out of the container. Be sure to eat flowers only if you are absolutely positive that they are an edible variety and have been grown free of pesticides. Common types of edible flowers include daylilies, dianthus, lilacs, pansies and roses.

Other types of flowers are toxic. Common toxic flowers used for weddings are calla lilies, hyacinths, lilies of the valley, tulips, hydrangeas, birds of paradise and carnations. Ivy can also be toxic. Do your research and ask plenty of questions before placing any type of flower against your cake.

Any type of flower, whether known to be toxic or not, may be safe in theory yet may have been tainted by pesticides used while they were growing. For this reason, it’s important to ask your floral supplier about the origins of any flower that might come in contact with your cake. A small, clear barrier might need to be used to keep the flowers from directly touching the cake.

If you would rather not risk it or it seems like a lot of trouble to determine which flowers might be safe for your cake, you can always choose silk flowers for your cake. These days, many higher quality silk flowers have a remarkably life-like appearance, so if you choose well, no one will notice that the flowers weren’t real. Do keep in mind, however, that it would be difficult to determine whether the silk flowers may have been exposed to anything toxic during the manufacturing process. For this reason, it’s wise to use an inconspicuous barrier between the silk flowers and the cake. An inexpensive, easy-to-find option would be to use a clean soft drink cup lid from a fast food restaurant. When positioned well, the lid will disappear under the flowers.

When it’s time to add flowers to the cake, there are several options to consider. If each layer of the cake is suspended, you’ve probably got room to place blossoms between the layers. A small cluster might be placed on top of the cake, with or without a garland cascading toward the bottom layer. Or small clusters might be placed strategically in various points on the cake.

Discuss the options with your florist and baker plenty of time in advance, and your wedding professionals are likely to have great ideas to help make your cake the center of attention at your reception.

Wedding Newsletters Help Keep Your Wedding Party Involved

If you’re like most brides these days, it’s important to keep everyone involved in your wedding up-to-date at all times, and it’s not easy. Two sets of parents (or possibly more, taking into consideration divorce, remarriage and step-families), siblings, bridesmaids, groomsmen, flower girls, out-of-town relatives who will travel to your event – the list goes on and on.

One of the easiest ways to keep everyone in the loop is to prepare a wedding newsletter.

Some brides choose to send their wedding newsletter out to everyone who has received an invitation to the wedding, while others hold off and create a wedding program to share with everyone the day of the ceremony.

A wedding newsletter helps to avoid confusion since everything is in writing. No one will wonder if the information that they heard from so-and-so regarding which earrings the bridesmaids should wear is true because they can refer to the newsletter to be sure.

It’s also a great way for the members of the families and wedding party to get to know each other, if they don’t already. Some of your attendants may be from various stages of your life or different cities that you lived in. While you often think of everyone grouped together as your posse, unless your entire circle of friends is very close there is always a possibility that some of your attendants have never met.

Be sure to include snapshots of each person, along with a short bio or mention how you know this person. Little touches like this can make a big difference once everyone has gathered in person for the event. They’ll feel like they’ve already been introduced to each other, which can relieve stress at what can easily become a stressful time.

Include information such as when and where the bridesmaids should appear for fittings, when and where groomsmen should go to be measured for their tuxedos, when they will be ready to be picked up, bridal showers and parties, lodging and car rental for those who are coming from out of town. Be sure to include when and where the wedding rehearsal will take place, along with details about the rehearsal dinner, its location, and what type of apparel is appropriate. Your bridesmaids will also appreciate knowing if you plan for everyone to get ready at one location together before the ceremony, what time, and whether they will be picked up. Since your maid of honor is your right-hand-woman, include her contact information in the newsletter to encourage everyone to get in touch with her if any questions arise. This will save your sanity in the long run.

Your wedding newsletter can be as simple as typing up a quick page full of information and mailing it to everyone or setting up a YahooGroup so that you can easily email the same information to everyone, all with one click.

Or, if you prefer to be fancy, using Microsoft Publisher or Quark Xpress to give it the look and feel of a “real” newsletter.

Send it to anyone who needs to know the information you have discussed within the newsletter – family members, members of the wedding party, parents of any children who are part of the wedding party, and even your vendors if they need to stay informed.

If you’re going to have a wedding newsletter, it’s a good idea to send it out as soon as everyone has accepted their roles in the wedding, just to make sure they feel included from the start. If plans change or there is more information to share, it’s perfectly acceptable to send out a newsletter one or two more times. Just keep is short and sweet so no one gets the impression you have turned into Bridezilla.

Cut Here, Spend There… How to cut costs and still have a nice wedding

Looking for little ways to save money on your wedding without risking your guests thinking you’re a cheapskate? There are plenty of ways to have a nice event without breaking the bank.

Instead of ordering engraved invitations from a ritzy stationery store, print your own using your computer and printer. Most office supply, stationery or craft stores in your town (and online) have a great selection of paper that can shoot right through your printer. For a wider selection of colors, textures and sizes, browse through a scrapbooking store. Stationery and card stock can even be found on the shelves at Wal-Mart. Beautiful fonts are available for download online, and many are free or very reasonably priced. Look around online for inspiration and then play with your computer and printer until you achieve the results you’re looking for. Or, if you’re lucky, you know someone who is a talented graphic artist and can enlist their help.

Substitute lacy, delicate bridal shoes that you’ll never wear again with white sandals or pumps from the your favorite store’s shoe department. Shoes that are designated as “wedding shoes” tend to be more expensive, plus no one ever finds a reason to wear them in the future.

Ditch the live band at your reception and go with a DJ service. Pick your favorite tunes from their inventory. Or, to save even more money, hook your iPod up to a set of speakers.

Don’t sink your money into a monstrous wedding cake. Order a smaller, fabulous version of a traditional wedding cake and supplement it with sheet cake made to match the color and flavor of the cake and icing. Keep the sheet cake hidden in the kitchen and have it cut, put on plates, and brought out to the dining room so no one will ever notice. You’ll still have a pretty wedding cake for the cake ceremony and photos. Another way to save big on your cake is to place an order from Sam’s or a similar store without mentioning the fact that it’s for a wedding. (They tend to jack the price up for a wedding, while a simple cake in the same flavors will be reasonably priced.) Order three separate, double-layer, round cakes in three different sizes to fit on a rented cake display with three graduated plates. Dress it up with flowers once you place the cakes on the floating cake stand.

In place of an open bar, serve only wine and beer. Or place one bottle of red wine and one bottle of white wine at each table. Your guests will get the idea that the bottles on the table are theirs to consume. If you’d like to have a champagne toast, wait until it’s time for the toast and circulate trays of already-poured champagne. Not everyone will want to participate in the toast, and only a sip is really needed in each glass.

To save even more on beverages, skip the alcohol. Serve iced tea and water with the meal, coffee after the meal, and punch with the wedding cake.

Instead of large floral arrangements as centerpieces, think outside of the box to create centerpieces for each table at your reception. Roses, Gerbera daisies or floating candles are attractive floating in glass bowls. Two or three pillar candles in various heights are always attractive and can be picked up at discount prices following many holidays. Take advantage of the beauty of the area where you live by utilizing sea shells, twigs arranged in an attractive manner, or other natural wonders.

Placing disposable cameras on each table has become quite popular over the last several years, but getting all of the film processed can be quite an expense. Instead, ask several guests to bring their digital cameras and encourage them to circulate to get plenty of candid shots. That way, you’ll have images that you would have otherwise missed seeing.

Instead of napkins for the reception stamped with the couple’s names, the date, a cute image or quote, choose solid color napkins from a warehouse club or party supply store. No one notices what is on the napkin as they wipe their mouth and throw it away. Save the money that you would have spent on cutesy matchbook covers, too.