We all know how crucial an Invitation can be, Informing your guests of your wedding is one of the biggest tasks on your plate. While you might feel excited to get this started from the moment you announce your engagement, it is best to make sure you put in proper research before you begin. Invites typically come in what is known as a “suite.” Unlike invites to a birthday party, which require little more than card and envelope, there are a few key elements involved with the suite. Review this breakdown and feel ready to tackle this important wedding task.
The Preliminary Stepof The Invitation
Before you even get to the suite itself, there is a very important preliminary step you must address. The save-the-date cards are the first point of contact you will have with most of your guests. This card provides your friends and family members with the general notice of your wedding and the date you have selected. While you can include other details if you so desire, this early stage is only meant to provide a notice to your guests so they can plan accordingly. This isn’t part of the suite, but it is definitely crucial.
The Main Event
The suite itself is composed of several parts. The centerpiece is the main invitation. This is the item that includes all of the most important details of your event. The verbiage and exact phrasings you select will come down to what you feel comfortable with, but there are some templates online you can use to get started. Be sure to include your full names, the date and time of the event, and the exact address of the venue. You don’t want to crowd the paper, so limit yourself to these key points.
It is important to note that some customs suggest putting in the names of the people who are paying for the event. If your parents are helping to cover the costs of your big day, you would introduce the invitation with language suggesting they are the ones welcoming the guests. This is not as commonplace as it once was, however, and can be left to your own discretion.
The InvitationWith AResponse Card
While informing guests of your big day is important, it is equally as crucial to include the response card. This is a small item included along with the other stationery in the suite. The card is included to allow guests a convenient way of replying to the invitation. Typically, the card is very small and is placed within an envelope that has been addressed and stamped. You don’t need to include postage, but it increases the odds your guests will place the cards right in the mail and you can get a headcount.
The Excess
The final piece of the suite is the “details” card. In reality, this can be a single card or multiple pieces of paper. The point is to include the information that cannot fit on the main card or doesn’t belong elsewhere. For example, if you need to give directions to guests, this is the place to provide that info. The details you can include here will range from the answers to commonplace questions, contact info that might be essential, information related to booking local hotel rooms, and so on.
The Rest
Finally, there are lots of little flourishes you can include in the invitation suite to give it a bit more personality. While you don’t want to over stuff the envelope, couples will include decorative elements that don’t take up much space and help to tie the invites into the overall aesthetic of the event.
An invitation suite is an important part of your big day. Create a list to make sure you hit every point discussed here and tackle this task with ease.
When a friend or family member asks you to be actively involved in his or her wedding, it can be a big honor. However, it isn’t all fun and games. Members of the wedding party are responsible for a number of key duties. Beyond the basic responsibilities delegated to the bridesmaids and groomsmen, the couple may also look to these individuals to help with everything from contacting vendors to purchasing decor. If you want to rise to the occasion, then there are a handful of points to keep in mind at all times.
Keep a Positive Attitude
Planning a wedding is very stressful. You are likely going to encounter times when the couple of honor act out of character. Whether the bride snaps and causes a scene while shopping for dresses or the groom keeps adding more and more demands to the list of tasks you’re responsible for, you need to do your best to keep the right mindset through it all. Staying positive and helpful is going to be the absolute best way to respond to anything that the couple throws your way.
This does not mean, of course, you should be a punching bag or a doormat. Be reasonable with how much you allow the couple to get away with. A small outburst is one thing. A continued bad attitude from the couple is something else and should be addressed.
Learn To Listen
When times get tense, most people simply need to vent their frustrations. Statistics show that couples tend to fight the most when planning for big events like weddings. What’s worse, the couple doesn’t always know how to divert this negative energy away from the relationship. As a member of the wedding party, you need to be there whenever the bride or groom is in a position where some steam needs to be let off. Helping in this way can do a lot when it comes to keeping the peace during stressful moments.
Not only do you need to listen when the bride or groom requires a shoulder to lean on, you also have to hear each request made of you. Since you are responsible for tasks like putting together the bachelor or bachelorette party, you need to listen to what your friend is asking in terms of this event. If he or she says no exotic dancers for the party, then you really want to respect the wishes and not go with what you’d prefer.
Offer Inspiration
Most members of the wedding party are selected pretty quickly after the engagement is announced. This means that you’re going to be involved in some of the preliminary decisions related to the event. If your friend is trying to come up with the right theme for the wedding, then you can do wonders by providing inspiration on decorations. Similarly, you can offer suggestions on caterers, venues, and other vendors that the couple will require as they plan.
Keep Track
The couple is going to have a ton of different things to think about at any given time. As a member of the wedding party, offer to keep track of certain details. For example, you may want to keep track all of the various gifts that are given to the couple. This will make their lives a lot easier when it comes time to send out thank-you notes down the line. Try to determine how you can be most useful and apply yourself however possible.
From providing a shoulder to lean on when times are tough to taking care of sorting out some of the finer details of the event, being a member of the wedding party can include a ton of different responsibilities. By staying open and ready for anything, you can rise to the challenge and come through for your friends.
Attending a wedding can be a reason for excitement. Whether you have a close relationship with the couple of honor or you’re going as someone else’s guest, there is something electrifying about such celebrations. Naturally, there are also some concerns you might have. Getting the perfect gift can often prove to be a bit more challenging than some realize. While picking out the right present might not be straightforward, you can easily find a good fit with a bit of research. Review this guide and learn everything you need to know.
The Art of Giving Gifts
This might come as something of a shock to modern minds, but guests bringing gifts to weddings is a fairly recent concept. While presents and tokens of affection are somewhat synonymous with special celebrations, the current idea of wedding gifts stems loosely from the Renaissance practice of creating marriage chests. These chests served a utilitarian purpose, being the container a bride would use to store and transport her belongings to her husband’s home after a wedding. Over time, the tradition changed somewhat and it became common to fill the chest with items given to a bride for her wedding.
However, the idea of gifts in the modern sense can be traced to an exact point in time: 1924. During this year, the American department store Macy’s unveiled what it called the “wedding registry.” From this point on, the idea of giving a present to a couple tying the knot went from a thoughtful gesture to a cultural mandate. While there is no hard rule saying guests must bring presents to a wedding, to not do so is definitely considered a faux pas in a number of respects.
The Registry
Since it was first introduced, the wedding registry has become a staple in the process of planning a wedding. If you’re a guest, a registry provides the benefit of having a simple list that can be used to select a gift. This eliminates the stress that goes along with having to come up with an idea from scratch. However, it also creates the problem of limited availability. If the couple is asking for specific or expensive items, you might not have the time or funds to procure them.
Whether you use the registry comes down to your own personal preference. There is absolutely nothing wrong with deciding to pursue an alternate route when grabbing a gift. If you find that providing cash is the most sensible solution, then a rule of thumb is to give about $100 if you are alone and $200 if you are bringing a guest. The “plus one” should never be expected to bring a gift of his or her own, as this individual is a guest of a guest and typically doesn’t know the couple personally.
The Personal Spin
Another option to consider with wedding gifts is the personalized present. If you’ve known the happy couple for a long time, the standard items listed on the registry might not feel adequate to capture the importance of your connection. Do-it-yourself presents can be a wonderful option if you have a creative edge and enough time to complete a project. If you lack the ability to make something on your own, there are a number of businesses that create customized gifts using photos that can be a perfect fit for special occasions.
The Fun Factor
A wedding is supposed to be an enjoyable experience. If you spend too much time worrying about the gift, you’ll likely have less fun at the actual event. The best way to pick a gift is to commit to your decision and leave it at that.
Picking a wedding gift can seem challenging, but the solution is as easy as weighing your options. Consider what the couple will appreciate most, and it will be a lot easier to feel confident in your decision.
Effective communication was always an important part of wedding planning. Yet it becomes even more critical when planning your nuptials in the COVID-19 age. Virtual video platforms have made staying in touch a lot easier. But you’ll likely reach out to vendors, your wedding party, guests, and close family via email. With this in mind, you must make your words count. You don’t need to be James Baldwin to write great prose, but a few tips can help you craft clear, concise, and authentic language.
The Importance of Concise Writing
Ever visit a website and feel like you’re reading a dissertation? You don’t want to make your guests feel this way with your emails, social media posts, and wedding website. Grammarly explains concise writing: communicating an idea clearly in the fewest words possible.
This doesn’t mean your writing can’t have personality, but Grammarly’s tips can help you sharpen your message. Cutting out redundant and filler words makes your sentences more readable. Using strong adjectives paints a clearer picture, but these adjectives also reflect your unique voice. Vague nouns can slow your reader down, so toss them out. And using active voice produces shorter, stronger, and more direct language.
Your Wedding Website
For many of your guests, your wedding website is the first point of contact. They’ll look for important details such as your dress code, driving directions, and COVID safety measures. You don’t want to make them wade through a bunch of text to find what they need. Wedding Wire Canada’s Alice Prendergast mentions some vital details that should appear on your site:
Time, date, and location
Driving directions
Lodging and local attractions
Registry information
Driving directions
COVID-19 info
A wedding day FAQ can be a great resource. In another article, Prendergast lists some questions you’ll want to answer in this part of your website. Providing these answers should save both you and your guests some time.
Keeping in Touch With Guests
Your wedding website is an awesome tool, but you’ll need to sometimes communicate through emails. Your friends and family are as time-poor as you are, so concise and friendly wording go a long way. After all, you want to balance clarity with a positive tone.
The Knot offers a few templates to help you craft your messages. You can cut, paste, and adapt these to your audience. Even if you don’t, you can use the key points they cover to guide your own emails. If you must deliver bad news, communicate it with empathy, and if applicable, point the reader to possible alternative solutions.
Communicating With Vendors
Time is a non-renewal resource. Once you spend it, you can’t get it back. And with COVID-19 changing the wedding industry, vendors are busier than ever. They’ll appreciate clear and effective communications, so try Honeydew’s tips for contacting your pros through email. Drafting a template saves you time, but it also helps you polish your message. Asking a standard list of questions lets your vendors quickly provide the information you want.
Even after you’ve hired your pros, keep writing those succinctly worded emails – but be mindful of how your words sound. Alice Prendergast suggests keeping your language light and upbeat with vendors. That way, you don’t risk sounding rude or accusatory, and you’ll still hopefully get what you need.
Messaging for the COVID-19 Era
Communication is the glue that keeps relationships together. Whether you’re dealing with vendors, guests, or family, understanding is key. We’re all adjusting to a new pandemic reality, and many are still trying to find their feet. Concise communication conveys your ideas clearly and respects your audience’s time. Coupled with a positive and empathetic tone, your words can help pave the way to achieving your wedding vision.
Most people would agree that a wedding celebration is all about the couple preparing to say “I do.” But one might argue that weddings are really all about the invited guests. After all, most Canadian citizens can make things official with a visit to a municipal court. A wedding and reception provide the opportunity for those who are near and dear to witness and celebrate with the newlyweds. You’ve probably been invited to a wedding or two. Here are some tips to remind you of your obligation as a great wedding guest.
Responding Promptly
Anyone who’s planning a wedding will need an accurate headcount as soon as possible. Whether you get a handwritten card in the mail or an electronic invitation, it’s your duty to respond as quickly as possible. You may need time to confirm whether you’re available, especially if the celebration will be held at a vacation spot. Make note of an RSVP date and respond in accordance with the request. A phone call to RSVP to a mailed invitation is not a good idea. You should call only if you must change plans after confirming.
Being Punctual
Arriving fashionably late to a party may be socially acceptable, but not so for a wedding. Often a venue or certain vendors have a limited time frame for the ceremony, so it’s important for things to proceed according to schedule. Plan to get to the venue early so that you have time to figure out transportation, parking and getting to your seat. If you arrive after the ceremony has started, be mindful of how you enter a venue. You’re there to be a loving guest, not a distraction or a nuisance.
Minding the Kids
Pay careful attention to details surrounding bringing children. Some wedding plans for various reasons cannot accommodate kids, so if you’re advised not to bring them, then don’t. If you can’t make plans or don’t want to be away from children, decline the invitation. If you can bring the kids, make sure that they’re well behaved. It may be worth checking to see if other guests are bringing young children. Consider hiring a babysitter or two to supervise the tykes.
Respecting the Pros
From the clergy to the caterer, there will be several people there working to make the occasion special. Please show respect to vendors and other people who are on the job. This includes the servers, the photographer, the DJ, live musicians and even a wedding planner. If they’re not able to do their jobs, this can add stress to the couple and ruin the mood. These pros are working on behalf of the happy couple, so be agreeable and cooperative to rules and requests.
Giving Appropriately
Many couples create registries at their favorite stores, taking the guesswork out of gift-giving. If a registry has been provided, follow instructions if you can. Your loved ones have taken time to identify things that they need for this new chapter. If you cannot afford gift registry items, consider pooling funds with friends or buy a gift card to that particular store or retailer. If the spouses-to-be have requested donations to a charity or funds for a honeymoon, give accordingly.
Getting invited to witness two become one is an honor. This is a special moment in two people’s lives, and it’s important to them that you are there to help celebrate. You don’t need a degree or certificate in partying to be a great wedding guest. If you’re not actually in the wedding party or in the program, there’s not much more for you to do beyond showing up; however, being a great wedding guest helps contribute to a great day for the newlyweds.
Declining wedding invitations should be done with politeness and tact, so read on to discover how to send regrets without sacrificing your friendship.
After checking your mail, you find a beautifully decorated wedding invitation addressed to you. Or maybe you received the invite in your email. Yet you find yourself in a predicament. You can’t attend due to schedule conflicts, distance, or matters that take priority in your life. You need to let your friends know, but you don’t want to sound rude. How do you communicate your regrets with finesse? Read on to find out.
Reasons for Declining an Invite
You may naturally be concerned about hurting or offending your friends by not attending. As you’re mulling your decision, an August 2014 Brides article may offer some guidance. It’s important to weigh the impacts carefully when it comes to declining an invite from a close family member or friend. Of course, he or she will probably understand if you can’t attend a destination wedding due to travel or financial concerns. The same holds true if the wedding conflicts with events that you can’t cancel, such as a prepaid vacation or critical school and work obligations.
These are somewhat cut-and-dried situations, but it can get a little sticky if you’re considering opting out for other reasons. For instance, you may wish to steer clear of a volatile ex or an abusive family member. It’s easy to feel obligated to attend in these cases, but you should offer regrets if encountering those individuals would compromise your mental health.
How To Deliver the Regrets
Etiquette guidelines are good resources to follow. The Knoturges readers to fill out their RSVP cards and drop them in the mail as soon as possible. If you received an e-invitation, you should observe the couple’s guidelines. With the available wedding-related services and technologies, that means you can likely use their wedding website’s online RSVP feature.
At the same time, you need to use your best judgment when determining how to convey your regrets. The level of your relationship to the engaged couple should dictate your response. With a wedding of your closest loved ones, Brides suggests that you deliver your explanation in person if at all possible. This is especially true if you’re citing emotional issues as your reasons. The Knot recommends including a politely worded note with your RSVP or calling the couple. Wedding Wire’s Alice Prendergast echoes this advice, then adds that emails and texts are too impersonal to use in these cases.
No matter how you communicate the bad news, all experts agree that a simple and concise explanation is enough. In this way, you’ll avoid making the couple uncomfortable and casting a shadow on their special day. Venus Wong also emphasizes the importance of a timely response in her Refinery29 piece. It’s important to meet the couple’s RSVP deadline so you don’t add to their last-minute stress.
However, make sure you call or meet with them in person around the same time you send your regrets. Both Wong and The Knot recommend getting together with the couple either immediately before or after their wedding to spend some time with them. You’ll not only keep the friendship going, but you’ll also help them celebrate in your own way.
Don’t Forget To Follow Up
You’ve done your due diligence by getting in touch with the happy couple. Your next step now is to send them a gift. Prendergast stresses that what you select needn’t be expensive or fancy, but you can’t go wrong with items on their registry.
Turning down a wedding invite may not be an easy decision, but you can handle the situation with savoir faire. It’s wise to RSVP immediately and explain your regrets in a polite, concise way. Meanwhile, let them know you’re thinking of them. Their wedding may be a one-day event, but your relationship with them can last a lifetime.
Taking on a task like DIY invitations requires a bit of forethought. Look over these suggestions and find the best possible way to do your invites yourself!
Weddings can cost an arm and a leg. For this reason, plenty of couples search for helpful ways to cut corners and save money throughout the process. Over the last decade or so, the idea of the “DIY wedding” has become somewhat popular. While you might not be able to do everything yourself, there are certain key elements that you can easily take on. Your wedding invitations, for example, might be an ideal DIY project, as creating them yourself can both help save some money and give you total control over what your invitations will look like.
Taking on a task like DIY invitations requires a bit of forethought. Look over these suggestions and find the best possible way to do your invites yourself!
Know All the Details
Invitations are important for a number of reasons. For the happy couple, they help to keep tabs on how many people have been invited to the event and how many people plan on attending. For the guests, however, they are responsible for providing a great deal of vital information related to the event. This includes the date, location, directions, and anything else the couple would like to share. Before you can make your invitations, you need to be sure you have all of these details set in stone and ready to share.
Figuring out the specifics takes a little time, but you should have them solidified somewhat early in the planning process. Beyond the information presented, you also want to have a few aesthetic ideas locked and loaded. Most couples opt to have their invitations reflect the “design theme” of their wedding. For example, if you plan on having the color blue featured in the decor at your venue, try to work this particular shade of blue into the invites to help create a more cohesive visual theme.
Space and Design of the Invitations
While being able to design your own invitations can be a huge help when it comes to your finances, there is also a good amount of work involved. After you’ve decided on a theme and have all your information ready to go, you need to think about how you would like to word the invitation. This can be tricky, especially because you only have so much space to work with. In order to avoid overcrowding the card with text, print out a sample on your home computer and see how the text reads.
You are also going to need to take RSVPs into consideration. Many couples include self-addressed envelopes for guests to mail back with their RSVP information. If this isn’t in your budget, don’t feel like you absolutely must include this envelope. To save money and time, you may want to offer guests the chance to RSVP by phone, through email, or online. The RSVP information exists so you have an easier time knowing how many guests to anticipate at your event, so find a method that makes the most sense for you and your partner.
Get an Early Start
Finally, you want to get as early a start as possible on creating your invitations. The moment you have information like the date and venue ready to go, you can begin making a template of what you’d like the invites to look like. The sooner you begin, the sooner you can get the completed product in the mail and hear back from guests about how many heads to expect. Starting early also gives you plenty of room for trial and error, which can be a huge help when you have little or no experience with design.
Creating your own invitations for your wedding can be a great way to limit your spending and save a small chunk of change. Explore your options, and see what you can accomplish with your own creative mind.
Keeping these wedding concerns in mind and planning ahead can help make your wedding run more smoothly and make both your guests and the vendors happy.
No one ever said planning a wedding would be easy. In fact, even the simplest and most intimate of gatherings can require a lot of work on your end. Though you’ve spent countless hours looking over all the details of your big day, there could very well be potential issues that you’ve not yet considered. Luckily, now is a great time to think about last-minute concerns and potential solutions.
From broke bridesmaids to disappearing guests, there are lots of issues you could be facing with your wedding. Explore these suggestions and find solutions that can help you keep your sanity, knowing all your effort will pay off in the form of a beautiful and seamless event.
Bridesmaids Who Don’t Budget
The members of your wedding party take on a lot of responsibilities for your big day. You’re likely asking them to help plan your wedding, run errands, throw small events like showers, and take on a million little duties that you can’t handle yourself. Unfortunately, your friends and relatives also have their own lives and can’t always rise to the occasion. This is especially true when it comes to bridesmaids or groomsmen who are dealing with money problems. Broke wedding party members can easily cause concerns or even derail all of your carefully laid plans.
You might not be able to pay for everything, but you can definitely prepare in advance for a bridesmaid who can’t foot the bill. Your best option in this scenario is to show compassion and be as considerate as possible. Don’t forget, you’re the one putting these demands on your friends. If your solution to a bridesmaid or groomsman who can’t pay is to cut them from the wedding, then you might need to do damage control on your friendships when all is said and done.
RSVP Delays
Among other concerns is the issue of RSVPs. Though you likely have given guests ample time to reply to your invitations, you’re still going to deal with people who forgot to respond or lost their RSVP cards and all sorts of other issues. In almost all cases, someone who replied “yes” to your invitation is definitely going to show on your big day. Unfortunately, you also are probably going to deal with guests who show up but never even bothered to respond to your RSVP.
The worst thing you can do is assume that anyone who didn’t respond by the RSVP deadline is not coming to the event. Give yourself extra time after the RSVPs are due, and you’ll notice how many late responses start flooding in. Since you might still have to deal with people who show up without responding to the invitations, the best way to handle this is by planning for more guests than responded. Account for a few extra chairs and meals, and you should have no problem fitting everyone into the venue without having to turn people away.
Feed Your Vendors
Finally, many couples forget to show proper thanks when it concerns the hard-working men and women who cater their weddings. While you might already be planning on tipping your vendors, you also should give these individuals a set time where they can sit and eat. You can even mention this to the caterers early so that they can prepare additional meals for the DJ, photographers, and anyone else working your event who will need to stop and recharge at some point. Typically, allowing the vendors to eat at the same time as the guests can keep the night flowing without any frustrating delays.
Try as you might to cover all your bases, there are always going to be unforeseen concerns that you didn’t anticipate. The best you can do to keep your wedding free from mistakes is to take the right precautionary steps and try to plan for whatever you think could be an issue.
Do a little research and planning to decide if digital wedding invitations are right for your wedding.
The vast array of available digital technologies includes many useful tools for planning and executing a beautiful, well-organized wedding celebration. You’ve got loads of options for contacting vendors, mapping out your ceremony’s program, shopping for essentials and more. With all these handy conveniences, it’s easy to wonder if the paper wedding invite is going the way of the dinosaur. Surprisingly, the paper versus digital wedding invitations debate rages on, with fans on both sides of the aisle emphasizing the benefits of each method.
A Quick History of Written Wedding Invites
During the Middle Ages, only upper-class families issued paper wedding invitations. With a mostly illiterate population in Europe, these major social events would usually be heralded by a town crier. Another common method of notifying a community was the banns, or public announcements within individual churches about upcoming nuptials. Their original purpose was to ensure that canonically or legally invalid marriages did not take place. Remember the “speak now or forever hold your peace” part of the ceremony? According toThe Spruce writer Nina Callaway, that phrase is derived from the Christian “Book of Common Prayer,” but this may have been intended as a last-minute catchall for anyone who wanted to raise serious objections to an impending marriage.
While the development of lithography techniques during the late 1700s laid the groundwork for our modern versions, announcements were still delivered by messengers on horseback. It wasn’t until the mid-20th century that printed invitations became standard practice, thanks partially to middle-class families borrowing traditions from the rich as well as the advent of etiquette mavens such as Emily Post. As these took root in American popular practices, they also quickly spread to Canada.
The Pros and Cons of E-Invitations
As engaged couples look for ways to streamline their wedding planning and cut back on their expenses, some eye traditional paper invitations as candidates for the chopping block. Huffington Post contributor Erica Laudon reviewed some of the typical benefits that digital versions offer:
However, Laudon cautions that several factors may necessitate the use of printed stationery instead. Most etiquette experts strongly suggest utilizing paper invites, especially for more formal affairs. Additionally, digital invitations may not be accessible for elderly guests, and the traditional folks in your crowd could consider the practice offensive. Furthermore, you lose the capability to address your invite to specific individuals, which makes situations such as child-free weddings much harder to navigate. Finally, the news of your blessed event might get lost in the almighty spam filter.
The Best Option for Your Wedding
Should you take the plunge and go paperless? That largely depends on the formality level of your event and the type of people on your guest list. If most of your crowd is computer-savvy, you have email addresses for the specific folks you want to invite, and you’re going for a semi-formal or casual feel, it can probably work well. Wediviteadvises that you follow the same guidelines for paper invites, sending them at least six to eight weeks prior to your event. For destination nuptials, hit the “send” button at least three months in advance. If you don’t hear from your invitees after about two weeks, follow up with a phone call.
Modern technology has revolutionized many aspects of planning your nuptials. Wedding invitations are a trickier issue, with most etiquette experts promoting the use of traditional paper versions. Nevertheless, digital invites may still be an option if you’re trying to lower costs and make your wedding eco-friendly. For a straightforward, less formal event with a tech-friendly guest list, paperless invites might be a smart move.
Getting married is not cheap. According to Weddingbells.ca, a top Canadian wedding planning website, couples can expect to spend an average of $31,685 on their nuptials, including the engagement ring and honeymoon. Many people assume the cost will be less; two recent Canadian surveys concluded couples think they will spend approximately $15,000 to tie the knot. The huge discrepancy can lead to increased stress and large credit card bills after all is said and done.
Be Realistic
Setting a realistic budget before you begin the planning can help you keep better control of the costs and avoid impulse purchases. If you have your heart set on a certain wedding dress that is more than you planned to spend, recognize that you may have to eliminate something else to make up the difference in your budget.
Location Matters
The location of your wedding can have a big impact on the price tag. According to Toronto Life magazine, Ontario is the most expensive province in which to tie the knot. Here is a complete list from most to least expensive:
Ontario
Manitoba/Saskatchewan
Quebec
Alberta
British Columbia
Atlantic
Toronto is the priciest city for nuptials, followed by Vancouver and Quebec.
Keep It Casual
Having a wedding that is more informal can be key to keeping costs down. A few suggestions are a more causal menu instead of a sit-down dinner, and skipping tuxedos and formal dresses for the wedding party.
Try an Alternative Venue
There is no rule stating receptions need to be in a hotel ballroom. Other venues to consider that are frequently less money are the homes of friends, parks, beaches or church reception halls. The same applies for the ceremony. Often, there are fees that must be paid for the use of a church and clergy to perform a service. It is very easy these days to get ordained online; a friend could do it and perform your ceremony someplace other than a church.
Narrow Down the Guest List
Taking the time to really scrutinize your guest list and only inviting people who are an essential part of your life is another way to cut costs. A good way to approach the task is to ask yourself if you think you will be close to this individual five years after the wedding. Also, don’t hesitate to make it clear to your guests if you don’t want them to bring their children along. There are many gracious ways to communicate this message.
Do It Yourself
Many couples are getting creative and finding ways do certain elements of their wedding themselves or are enlisting the help of friends, rather than paying for these services. Some examples are taking your own pictures, baking the cake, and making your own flower arrangements and decorations.
Postpone the Honeymoon
Waiting to take your honeymoon may also save money. Delaying it can give you more time to pay off wedding bills and save for a trip, rather than having to put it on a credit card and pay interest charges.
Prioritize
Deciding the most important components of your wedding in advance can help you stick to your budget. If there is a band you must have, or a reception venue you can’t do without, make a note of it. Eliminating items like over-the-top invitations or expensive goody bags for guests to take home after the party may make it more feasible to have what is really important. Most guests will not miss little extras (or even the big ones), even though they may seem necessary to you at first.
A wedding is a joyous occasion and does not need to result in a mountain of bills. Following these eight tips can help you avoid spending more money than you planned.
We all know how crucial an Invitation can be, Informing your guests of your wedding is one of the biggest tasks on your plate. While you might feel excited to get this started from the moment you announce your engagement, it is best to make sure you put in proper research before you begin. Invites typically come in what is known as a “suite.” Unlike invites to a birthday party, which require little more than card and envelope, there are a few key elements involved with the suite. Review this breakdown and feel ready to tackle this important wedding task.
The Preliminary Stepof The Invitation
Before you even get to the suite itself, there is a very important preliminary step you must address. The save-the-date cards are the first point of contact you will have with most of your guests. This card provides your friends and family members with the general notice of your wedding and the date you have selected. While you can include other details if you so desire, this early stage is only meant to provide a notice to your guests so they can plan accordingly. This isn’t part of the suite, but it is definitely crucial.
The Main Event
The suite itself is composed of several parts. The centerpiece is the main invitation. This is the item that includes all of the most important details of your event. The verbiage and exact phrasings you select will come down to what you feel comfortable with, but there are some templates online you can use to get started. Be sure to include your full names, the date and time of the event, and the exact address of the venue. You don’t want to crowd the paper, so limit yourself to these key points.
It is important to note that some customs suggest putting in the names of the people who are paying for the event. If your parents are helping to cover the costs of your big day, you would introduce the invitation with language suggesting they are the ones welcoming the guests. This is not as commonplace as it once was, however, and can be left to your own discretion.
The InvitationWith AResponse Card
While informing guests of your big day is important, it is equally as crucial to include the response card. This is a small item included along with the other stationery in the suite. The card is included to allow guests a convenient way of replying to the invitation. Typically, the card is very small and is placed within an envelope that has been addressed and stamped. You don’t need to include postage, but it increases the odds your guests will place the cards right in the mail and you can get a headcount.
The Excess
The final piece of the suite is the “details” card. In reality, this can be a single card or multiple pieces of paper. The point is to include the information that cannot fit on the main card or doesn’t belong elsewhere. For example, if you need to give directions to guests, this is the place to provide that info. The details you can include here will range from the answers to commonplace questions, contact info that might be essential, information related to booking local hotel rooms, and so on.
The Rest
Finally, there are lots of little flourishes you can include in the invitation suite to give it a bit more personality. While you don’t want to over stuff the envelope, couples will include decorative elements that don’t take up much space and help to tie the invites into the overall aesthetic of the event.
An invitation suite is an important part of your big day. Create a list to make sure you hit every point discussed here and tackle this task with ease.
When a friend or family member asks you to be actively involved in his or her wedding, it can be a big honor. However, it isn’t all fun and games. Members of the wedding party are responsible for a number of key duties. Beyond the basic responsibilities delegated to the bridesmaids and groomsmen, the couple may also look to these individuals to help with everything from contacting vendors to purchasing decor. If you want to rise to the occasion, then there are a handful of points to keep in mind at all times.
Keep a Positive Attitude
Planning a wedding is very stressful. You are likely going to encounter times when the couple of honor act out of character. Whether the bride snaps and causes a scene while shopping for dresses or the groom keeps adding more and more demands to the list of tasks you’re responsible for, you need to do your best to keep the right mindset through it all. Staying positive and helpful is going to be the absolute best way to respond to anything that the couple throws your way.
This does not mean, of course, you should be a punching bag or a doormat. Be reasonable with how much you allow the couple to get away with. A small outburst is one thing. A continued bad attitude from the couple is something else and should be addressed.
Learn To Listen
When times get tense, most people simply need to vent their frustrations. Statistics show that couples tend to fight the most when planning for big events like weddings. What’s worse, the couple doesn’t always know how to divert this negative energy away from the relationship. As a member of the wedding party, you need to be there whenever the bride or groom is in a position where some steam needs to be let off. Helping in this way can do a lot when it comes to keeping the peace during stressful moments.
Not only do you need to listen when the bride or groom requires a shoulder to lean on, you also have to hear each request made of you. Since you are responsible for tasks like putting together the bachelor or bachelorette party, you need to listen to what your friend is asking in terms of this event. If he or she says no exotic dancers for the party, then you really want to respect the wishes and not go with what you’d prefer.
Offer Inspiration
Most members of the wedding party are selected pretty quickly after the engagement is announced. This means that you’re going to be involved in some of the preliminary decisions related to the event. If your friend is trying to come up with the right theme for the wedding, then you can do wonders by providing inspiration on decorations. Similarly, you can offer suggestions on caterers, venues, and other vendors that the couple will require as they plan.
Keep Track
The couple is going to have a ton of different things to think about at any given time. As a member of the wedding party, offer to keep track of certain details. For example, you may want to keep track all of the various gifts that are given to the couple. This will make their lives a lot easier when it comes time to send out thank-you notes down the line. Try to determine how you can be most useful and apply yourself however possible.
From providing a shoulder to lean on when times are tough to taking care of sorting out some of the finer details of the event, being a member of the wedding party can include a ton of different responsibilities. By staying open and ready for anything, you can rise to the challenge and come through for your friends.
Attending a wedding can be a reason for excitement. Whether you have a close relationship with the couple of honor or you’re going as someone else’s guest, there is something electrifying about such celebrations. Naturally, there are also some concerns you might have. Getting the perfect gift can often prove to be a bit more challenging than some realize. While picking out the right present might not be straightforward, you can easily find a good fit with a bit of research. Review this guide and learn everything you need to know.
The Art of Giving Gifts
This might come as something of a shock to modern minds, but guests bringing gifts to weddings is a fairly recent concept. While presents and tokens of affection are somewhat synonymous with special celebrations, the current idea of wedding gifts stems loosely from the Renaissance practice of creating marriage chests. These chests served a utilitarian purpose, being the container a bride would use to store and transport her belongings to her husband’s home after a wedding. Over time, the tradition changed somewhat and it became common to fill the chest with items given to a bride for her wedding.
However, the idea of gifts in the modern sense can be traced to an exact point in time: 1924. During this year, the American department store Macy’s unveiled what it called the “wedding registry.” From this point on, the idea of giving a present to a couple tying the knot went from a thoughtful gesture to a cultural mandate. While there is no hard rule saying guests must bring presents to a wedding, to not do so is definitely considered a faux pas in a number of respects.
The Registry
Since it was first introduced, the wedding registry has become a staple in the process of planning a wedding. If you’re a guest, a registry provides the benefit of having a simple list that can be used to select a gift. This eliminates the stress that goes along with having to come up with an idea from scratch. However, it also creates the problem of limited availability. If the couple is asking for specific or expensive items, you might not have the time or funds to procure them.
Whether you use the registry comes down to your own personal preference. There is absolutely nothing wrong with deciding to pursue an alternate route when grabbing a gift. If you find that providing cash is the most sensible solution, then a rule of thumb is to give about $100 if you are alone and $200 if you are bringing a guest. The “plus one” should never be expected to bring a gift of his or her own, as this individual is a guest of a guest and typically doesn’t know the couple personally.
The Personal Spin
Another option to consider with wedding gifts is the personalized present. If you’ve known the happy couple for a long time, the standard items listed on the registry might not feel adequate to capture the importance of your connection. Do-it-yourself presents can be a wonderful option if you have a creative edge and enough time to complete a project. If you lack the ability to make something on your own, there are a number of businesses that create customized gifts using photos that can be a perfect fit for special occasions.
The Fun Factor
A wedding is supposed to be an enjoyable experience. If you spend too much time worrying about the gift, you’ll likely have less fun at the actual event. The best way to pick a gift is to commit to your decision and leave it at that.
Picking a wedding gift can seem challenging, but the solution is as easy as weighing your options. Consider what the couple will appreciate most, and it will be a lot easier to feel confident in your decision.
Effective communication was always an important part of wedding planning. Yet it becomes even more critical when planning your nuptials in the COVID-19 age. Virtual video platforms have made staying in touch a lot easier. But you’ll likely reach out to vendors, your wedding party, guests, and close family via email. With this in mind, you must make your words count. You don’t need to be James Baldwin to write great prose, but a few tips can help you craft clear, concise, and authentic language.
The Importance of Concise Writing
Ever visit a website and feel like you’re reading a dissertation? You don’t want to make your guests feel this way with your emails, social media posts, and wedding website. Grammarly explains concise writing: communicating an idea clearly in the fewest words possible.
This doesn’t mean your writing can’t have personality, but Grammarly’s tips can help you sharpen your message. Cutting out redundant and filler words makes your sentences more readable. Using strong adjectives paints a clearer picture, but these adjectives also reflect your unique voice. Vague nouns can slow your reader down, so toss them out. And using active voice produces shorter, stronger, and more direct language.
Your Wedding Website
For many of your guests, your wedding website is the first point of contact. They’ll look for important details such as your dress code, driving directions, and COVID safety measures. You don’t want to make them wade through a bunch of text to find what they need. Wedding Wire Canada’s Alice Prendergast mentions some vital details that should appear on your site:
Time, date, and location
Driving directions
Lodging and local attractions
Registry information
Driving directions
COVID-19 info
A wedding day FAQ can be a great resource. In another article, Prendergast lists some questions you’ll want to answer in this part of your website. Providing these answers should save both you and your guests some time.
Keeping in Touch With Guests
Your wedding website is an awesome tool, but you’ll need to sometimes communicate through emails. Your friends and family are as time-poor as you are, so concise and friendly wording go a long way. After all, you want to balance clarity with a positive tone.
The Knot offers a few templates to help you craft your messages. You can cut, paste, and adapt these to your audience. Even if you don’t, you can use the key points they cover to guide your own emails. If you must deliver bad news, communicate it with empathy, and if applicable, point the reader to possible alternative solutions.
Communicating With Vendors
Time is a non-renewal resource. Once you spend it, you can’t get it back. And with COVID-19 changing the wedding industry, vendors are busier than ever. They’ll appreciate clear and effective communications, so try Honeydew’s tips for contacting your pros through email. Drafting a template saves you time, but it also helps you polish your message. Asking a standard list of questions lets your vendors quickly provide the information you want.
Even after you’ve hired your pros, keep writing those succinctly worded emails – but be mindful of how your words sound. Alice Prendergast suggests keeping your language light and upbeat with vendors. That way, you don’t risk sounding rude or accusatory, and you’ll still hopefully get what you need.
Messaging for the COVID-19 Era
Communication is the glue that keeps relationships together. Whether you’re dealing with vendors, guests, or family, understanding is key. We’re all adjusting to a new pandemic reality, and many are still trying to find their feet. Concise communication conveys your ideas clearly and respects your audience’s time. Coupled with a positive and empathetic tone, your words can help pave the way to achieving your wedding vision.
Most people would agree that a wedding celebration is all about the couple preparing to say “I do.” But one might argue that weddings are really all about the invited guests. After all, most Canadian citizens can make things official with a visit to a municipal court. A wedding and reception provide the opportunity for those who are near and dear to witness and celebrate with the newlyweds. You’ve probably been invited to a wedding or two. Here are some tips to remind you of your obligation as a great wedding guest.
Responding Promptly
Anyone who’s planning a wedding will need an accurate headcount as soon as possible. Whether you get a handwritten card in the mail or an electronic invitation, it’s your duty to respond as quickly as possible. You may need time to confirm whether you’re available, especially if the celebration will be held at a vacation spot. Make note of an RSVP date and respond in accordance with the request. A phone call to RSVP to a mailed invitation is not a good idea. You should call only if you must change plans after confirming.
Being Punctual
Arriving fashionably late to a party may be socially acceptable, but not so for a wedding. Often a venue or certain vendors have a limited time frame for the ceremony, so it’s important for things to proceed according to schedule. Plan to get to the venue early so that you have time to figure out transportation, parking and getting to your seat. If you arrive after the ceremony has started, be mindful of how you enter a venue. You’re there to be a loving guest, not a distraction or a nuisance.
Minding the Kids
Pay careful attention to details surrounding bringing children. Some wedding plans for various reasons cannot accommodate kids, so if you’re advised not to bring them, then don’t. If you can’t make plans or don’t want to be away from children, decline the invitation. If you can bring the kids, make sure that they’re well behaved. It may be worth checking to see if other guests are bringing young children. Consider hiring a babysitter or two to supervise the tykes.
Respecting the Pros
From the clergy to the caterer, there will be several people there working to make the occasion special. Please show respect to vendors and other people who are on the job. This includes the servers, the photographer, the DJ, live musicians and even a wedding planner. If they’re not able to do their jobs, this can add stress to the couple and ruin the mood. These pros are working on behalf of the happy couple, so be agreeable and cooperative to rules and requests.
Giving Appropriately
Many couples create registries at their favorite stores, taking the guesswork out of gift-giving. If a registry has been provided, follow instructions if you can. Your loved ones have taken time to identify things that they need for this new chapter. If you cannot afford gift registry items, consider pooling funds with friends or buy a gift card to that particular store or retailer. If the spouses-to-be have requested donations to a charity or funds for a honeymoon, give accordingly.
Getting invited to witness two become one is an honor. This is a special moment in two people’s lives, and it’s important to them that you are there to help celebrate. You don’t need a degree or certificate in partying to be a great wedding guest. If you’re not actually in the wedding party or in the program, there’s not much more for you to do beyond showing up; however, being a great wedding guest helps contribute to a great day for the newlyweds.
Declining wedding invitations should be done with politeness and tact, so read on to discover how to send regrets without sacrificing your friendship.
After checking your mail, you find a beautifully decorated wedding invitation addressed to you. Or maybe you received the invite in your email. Yet you find yourself in a predicament. You can’t attend due to schedule conflicts, distance, or matters that take priority in your life. You need to let your friends know, but you don’t want to sound rude. How do you communicate your regrets with finesse? Read on to find out.
Reasons for Declining an Invite
You may naturally be concerned about hurting or offending your friends by not attending. As you’re mulling your decision, an August 2014 Brides article may offer some guidance. It’s important to weigh the impacts carefully when it comes to declining an invite from a close family member or friend. Of course, he or she will probably understand if you can’t attend a destination wedding due to travel or financial concerns. The same holds true if the wedding conflicts with events that you can’t cancel, such as a prepaid vacation or critical school and work obligations.
These are somewhat cut-and-dried situations, but it can get a little sticky if you’re considering opting out for other reasons. For instance, you may wish to steer clear of a volatile ex or an abusive family member. It’s easy to feel obligated to attend in these cases, but you should offer regrets if encountering those individuals would compromise your mental health.
How To Deliver the Regrets
Etiquette guidelines are good resources to follow. The Knoturges readers to fill out their RSVP cards and drop them in the mail as soon as possible. If you received an e-invitation, you should observe the couple’s guidelines. With the available wedding-related services and technologies, that means you can likely use their wedding website’s online RSVP feature.
At the same time, you need to use your best judgment when determining how to convey your regrets. The level of your relationship to the engaged couple should dictate your response. With a wedding of your closest loved ones, Brides suggests that you deliver your explanation in person if at all possible. This is especially true if you’re citing emotional issues as your reasons. The Knot recommends including a politely worded note with your RSVP or calling the couple. Wedding Wire’s Alice Prendergast echoes this advice, then adds that emails and texts are too impersonal to use in these cases.
No matter how you communicate the bad news, all experts agree that a simple and concise explanation is enough. In this way, you’ll avoid making the couple uncomfortable and casting a shadow on their special day. Venus Wong also emphasizes the importance of a timely response in her Refinery29 piece. It’s important to meet the couple’s RSVP deadline so you don’t add to their last-minute stress.
However, make sure you call or meet with them in person around the same time you send your regrets. Both Wong and The Knot recommend getting together with the couple either immediately before or after their wedding to spend some time with them. You’ll not only keep the friendship going, but you’ll also help them celebrate in your own way.
Don’t Forget To Follow Up
You’ve done your due diligence by getting in touch with the happy couple. Your next step now is to send them a gift. Prendergast stresses that what you select needn’t be expensive or fancy, but you can’t go wrong with items on their registry.
Turning down a wedding invite may not be an easy decision, but you can handle the situation with savoir faire. It’s wise to RSVP immediately and explain your regrets in a polite, concise way. Meanwhile, let them know you’re thinking of them. Their wedding may be a one-day event, but your relationship with them can last a lifetime.
Taking on a task like DIY invitations requires a bit of forethought. Look over these suggestions and find the best possible way to do your invites yourself!
Weddings can cost an arm and a leg. For this reason, plenty of couples search for helpful ways to cut corners and save money throughout the process. Over the last decade or so, the idea of the “DIY wedding” has become somewhat popular. While you might not be able to do everything yourself, there are certain key elements that you can easily take on. Your wedding invitations, for example, might be an ideal DIY project, as creating them yourself can both help save some money and give you total control over what your invitations will look like.
Taking on a task like DIY invitations requires a bit of forethought. Look over these suggestions and find the best possible way to do your invites yourself!
Know All the Details
Invitations are important for a number of reasons. For the happy couple, they help to keep tabs on how many people have been invited to the event and how many people plan on attending. For the guests, however, they are responsible for providing a great deal of vital information related to the event. This includes the date, location, directions, and anything else the couple would like to share. Before you can make your invitations, you need to be sure you have all of these details set in stone and ready to share.
Figuring out the specifics takes a little time, but you should have them solidified somewhat early in the planning process. Beyond the information presented, you also want to have a few aesthetic ideas locked and loaded. Most couples opt to have their invitations reflect the “design theme” of their wedding. For example, if you plan on having the color blue featured in the decor at your venue, try to work this particular shade of blue into the invites to help create a more cohesive visual theme.
Space and Design of the Invitations
While being able to design your own invitations can be a huge help when it comes to your finances, there is also a good amount of work involved. After you’ve decided on a theme and have all your information ready to go, you need to think about how you would like to word the invitation. This can be tricky, especially because you only have so much space to work with. In order to avoid overcrowding the card with text, print out a sample on your home computer and see how the text reads.
You are also going to need to take RSVPs into consideration. Many couples include self-addressed envelopes for guests to mail back with their RSVP information. If this isn’t in your budget, don’t feel like you absolutely must include this envelope. To save money and time, you may want to offer guests the chance to RSVP by phone, through email, or online. The RSVP information exists so you have an easier time knowing how many guests to anticipate at your event, so find a method that makes the most sense for you and your partner.
Get an Early Start
Finally, you want to get as early a start as possible on creating your invitations. The moment you have information like the date and venue ready to go, you can begin making a template of what you’d like the invites to look like. The sooner you begin, the sooner you can get the completed product in the mail and hear back from guests about how many heads to expect. Starting early also gives you plenty of room for trial and error, which can be a huge help when you have little or no experience with design.
Creating your own invitations for your wedding can be a great way to limit your spending and save a small chunk of change. Explore your options, and see what you can accomplish with your own creative mind.
Keeping these wedding concerns in mind and planning ahead can help make your wedding run more smoothly and make both your guests and the vendors happy.
No one ever said planning a wedding would be easy. In fact, even the simplest and most intimate of gatherings can require a lot of work on your end. Though you’ve spent countless hours looking over all the details of your big day, there could very well be potential issues that you’ve not yet considered. Luckily, now is a great time to think about last-minute concerns and potential solutions.
From broke bridesmaids to disappearing guests, there are lots of issues you could be facing with your wedding. Explore these suggestions and find solutions that can help you keep your sanity, knowing all your effort will pay off in the form of a beautiful and seamless event.
Bridesmaids Who Don’t Budget
The members of your wedding party take on a lot of responsibilities for your big day. You’re likely asking them to help plan your wedding, run errands, throw small events like showers, and take on a million little duties that you can’t handle yourself. Unfortunately, your friends and relatives also have their own lives and can’t always rise to the occasion. This is especially true when it comes to bridesmaids or groomsmen who are dealing with money problems. Broke wedding party members can easily cause concerns or even derail all of your carefully laid plans.
You might not be able to pay for everything, but you can definitely prepare in advance for a bridesmaid who can’t foot the bill. Your best option in this scenario is to show compassion and be as considerate as possible. Don’t forget, you’re the one putting these demands on your friends. If your solution to a bridesmaid or groomsman who can’t pay is to cut them from the wedding, then you might need to do damage control on your friendships when all is said and done.
RSVP Delays
Among other concerns is the issue of RSVPs. Though you likely have given guests ample time to reply to your invitations, you’re still going to deal with people who forgot to respond or lost their RSVP cards and all sorts of other issues. In almost all cases, someone who replied “yes” to your invitation is definitely going to show on your big day. Unfortunately, you also are probably going to deal with guests who show up but never even bothered to respond to your RSVP.
The worst thing you can do is assume that anyone who didn’t respond by the RSVP deadline is not coming to the event. Give yourself extra time after the RSVPs are due, and you’ll notice how many late responses start flooding in. Since you might still have to deal with people who show up without responding to the invitations, the best way to handle this is by planning for more guests than responded. Account for a few extra chairs and meals, and you should have no problem fitting everyone into the venue without having to turn people away.
Feed Your Vendors
Finally, many couples forget to show proper thanks when it concerns the hard-working men and women who cater their weddings. While you might already be planning on tipping your vendors, you also should give these individuals a set time where they can sit and eat. You can even mention this to the caterers early so that they can prepare additional meals for the DJ, photographers, and anyone else working your event who will need to stop and recharge at some point. Typically, allowing the vendors to eat at the same time as the guests can keep the night flowing without any frustrating delays.
Try as you might to cover all your bases, there are always going to be unforeseen concerns that you didn’t anticipate. The best you can do to keep your wedding free from mistakes is to take the right precautionary steps and try to plan for whatever you think could be an issue.
Do a little research and planning to decide if digital wedding invitations are right for your wedding.
The vast array of available digital technologies includes many useful tools for planning and executing a beautiful, well-organized wedding celebration. You’ve got loads of options for contacting vendors, mapping out your ceremony’s program, shopping for essentials and more. With all these handy conveniences, it’s easy to wonder if the paper wedding invite is going the way of the dinosaur. Surprisingly, the paper versus digital wedding invitations debate rages on, with fans on both sides of the aisle emphasizing the benefits of each method.
A Quick History of Written Wedding Invites
During the Middle Ages, only upper-class families issued paper wedding invitations. With a mostly illiterate population in Europe, these major social events would usually be heralded by a town crier. Another common method of notifying a community was the banns, or public announcements within individual churches about upcoming nuptials. Their original purpose was to ensure that canonically or legally invalid marriages did not take place. Remember the “speak now or forever hold your peace” part of the ceremony? According toThe Spruce writer Nina Callaway, that phrase is derived from the Christian “Book of Common Prayer,” but this may have been intended as a last-minute catchall for anyone who wanted to raise serious objections to an impending marriage.
While the development of lithography techniques during the late 1700s laid the groundwork for our modern versions, announcements were still delivered by messengers on horseback. It wasn’t until the mid-20th century that printed invitations became standard practice, thanks partially to middle-class families borrowing traditions from the rich as well as the advent of etiquette mavens such as Emily Post. As these took root in American popular practices, they also quickly spread to Canada.
The Pros and Cons of E-Invitations
As engaged couples look for ways to streamline their wedding planning and cut back on their expenses, some eye traditional paper invitations as candidates for the chopping block. Huffington Post contributor Erica Laudon reviewed some of the typical benefits that digital versions offer:
However, Laudon cautions that several factors may necessitate the use of printed stationery instead. Most etiquette experts strongly suggest utilizing paper invites, especially for more formal affairs. Additionally, digital invitations may not be accessible for elderly guests, and the traditional folks in your crowd could consider the practice offensive. Furthermore, you lose the capability to address your invite to specific individuals, which makes situations such as child-free weddings much harder to navigate. Finally, the news of your blessed event might get lost in the almighty spam filter.
The Best Option for Your Wedding
Should you take the plunge and go paperless? That largely depends on the formality level of your event and the type of people on your guest list. If most of your crowd is computer-savvy, you have email addresses for the specific folks you want to invite, and you’re going for a semi-formal or casual feel, it can probably work well. Wediviteadvises that you follow the same guidelines for paper invites, sending them at least six to eight weeks prior to your event. For destination nuptials, hit the “send” button at least three months in advance. If you don’t hear from your invitees after about two weeks, follow up with a phone call.
Modern technology has revolutionized many aspects of planning your nuptials. Wedding invitations are a trickier issue, with most etiquette experts promoting the use of traditional paper versions. Nevertheless, digital invites may still be an option if you’re trying to lower costs and make your wedding eco-friendly. For a straightforward, less formal event with a tech-friendly guest list, paperless invites might be a smart move.
Getting married is not cheap. According to Weddingbells.ca, a top Canadian wedding planning website, couples can expect to spend an average of $31,685 on their nuptials, including the engagement ring and honeymoon. Many people assume the cost will be less; two recent Canadian surveys concluded couples think they will spend approximately $15,000 to tie the knot. The huge discrepancy can lead to increased stress and large credit card bills after all is said and done.
Be Realistic
Setting a realistic budget before you begin the planning can help you keep better control of the costs and avoid impulse purchases. If you have your heart set on a certain wedding dress that is more than you planned to spend, recognize that you may have to eliminate something else to make up the difference in your budget.
Location Matters
The location of your wedding can have a big impact on the price tag. According to Toronto Life magazine, Ontario is the most expensive province in which to tie the knot. Here is a complete list from most to least expensive:
Ontario
Manitoba/Saskatchewan
Quebec
Alberta
British Columbia
Atlantic
Toronto is the priciest city for nuptials, followed by Vancouver and Quebec.
Keep It Casual
Having a wedding that is more informal can be key to keeping costs down. A few suggestions are a more causal menu instead of a sit-down dinner, and skipping tuxedos and formal dresses for the wedding party.
Try an Alternative Venue
There is no rule stating receptions need to be in a hotel ballroom. Other venues to consider that are frequently less money are the homes of friends, parks, beaches or church reception halls. The same applies for the ceremony. Often, there are fees that must be paid for the use of a church and clergy to perform a service. It is very easy these days to get ordained online; a friend could do it and perform your ceremony someplace other than a church.
Narrow Down the Guest List
Taking the time to really scrutinize your guest list and only inviting people who are an essential part of your life is another way to cut costs. A good way to approach the task is to ask yourself if you think you will be close to this individual five years after the wedding. Also, don’t hesitate to make it clear to your guests if you don’t want them to bring their children along. There are many gracious ways to communicate this message.
Do It Yourself
Many couples are getting creative and finding ways do certain elements of their wedding themselves or are enlisting the help of friends, rather than paying for these services. Some examples are taking your own pictures, baking the cake, and making your own flower arrangements and decorations.
Postpone the Honeymoon
Waiting to take your honeymoon may also save money. Delaying it can give you more time to pay off wedding bills and save for a trip, rather than having to put it on a credit card and pay interest charges.
Prioritize
Deciding the most important components of your wedding in advance can help you stick to your budget. If there is a band you must have, or a reception venue you can’t do without, make a note of it. Eliminating items like over-the-top invitations or expensive goody bags for guests to take home after the party may make it more feasible to have what is really important. Most guests will not miss little extras (or even the big ones), even though they may seem necessary to you at first.
A wedding is a joyous occasion and does not need to result in a mountain of bills. Following these eight tips can help you avoid spending more money than you planned.
