Having a backyard means you have a certain amount of space available, but it can still be turned into a really nice wedding venue. You can have anything from a luxury wedding to a simple ceremony with friends, right there in your backyard. It all just depends on how much money and time you’re willing to spend. But the simple fact that you’re using your own land for the wedding can save you a lot of money, which you can either spend on an enhanced ceremony, other wedding-related items, or on improving your home – or in just about any way you choose. So if you like the idea of a backyard wedding, here are some ways to go about it.

1. Space can be crucial.
When you plan a wedding in your backyard, you need to consider how space you have to work with. This doesn’t mean that you can’t have a dream wedding right in your backyard, it just means you have to keep the space-to-people ratio just right. Don’t be afraid to get creative and use your porch, deck, or any other areas in your back yard. You might have more space than you think when you use more than just an open grassy area.

2. Consider how the weather could affect your plans.
Weathermen are traditionally considered untrustworthy, but that’s only because the weather can change in a moment. So even if forecasts are ‘sunny’ for your special day, ensure that your guests and your beautiful arrangements don’t get ‘all wet’ on your wedding day by having a back up plan (or two)!

3. Consider introducing a theme.
Thinking of a theme is the easy part – then you need to find all the decorations that will make it a reality. But accomplishing that need not be a dreaded task – instead, it can be lots of fun, especially if you involve your loved ones. With a little touch of romance and togetherness, you’ll find that creating a theme for your wedding together makes it even more unique and special. Adding all the details that are uniquely “you” will truly make your wedding your own.

4. Careful planning is key to a successful event.
A lot of people set up the main details for a wedding and lose sight of those little things that can make or break an event. Others become so caught up in settling every little detail in person that they stress themselves out and ruin the beauty of the event. A wedding is a once in a lifetime event – you want to enjoy it, not spend it worrying about relatively minor things. The solution, of course, is to delegate. People love helping with weddings, so give them a chance. One friend can help with guest parking; another friend or family member can help set up the decorations. Someone else can handle the power backups, while another can call up a service in the region to make sure you have enough restrooms for your guests.

5. Allocate a part of your budget to long-term improvements.
When you choose to have your wedding in your backyard, you might end up saving some big bucks (perhaps as much as around a third of your total budget for the wedding). These savings can be used in a number of ways. One great idea is to pour some money back into your house and yard. Some of the things you could invest in include professional landscaping, outdoor furniture, or even some best selling wooden porch swings if your house and yard allow for them. In addition to these, consider giving your lawn some TLC since it will likely be used during the big day!

If your yard is in a state of disrepair, some lawn and yard work is crucial. Lay new sod or plant some grass seed. Mow regularly, and a few days before the event (NOT the morning of) so you don’t have bits of grass sticking to peoples’ clothes, which can be irritating and unsightly.

6. The right plants can make a big difference.
When you groom your yard for your wedding, don’t forget to plant some blooming plants. The lovely colors and fragrance of the right flowers can provide the perfect backdrop to your special day. Try to arrange a mix of flowers that are bright in color and that have a lovely scent. Watch out for any flowers that are known to attract bees or other annoying bugs!

7. Ensure that you have the right music and that your event is well lit.
Music for your wedding calls for a mix of music and music systems. First, you need a well selected play list that can play over speakers all over the yard. This sets up a romantic ambiance for your event. If you’re having a tented reception, a live band or DJ can be a nice touch, especially since they usually bring their own equipment!

Keep lighting subtle to create a romantic, yet natural vibe. Use floating candles in a pond (or pool), yard lamps around paths and walkways, and strings of lights over any seating areas to create a warm glow.

8. Save even more money.
How do you save further? You might be surprised at how much you can save with a few financial tips and tricks. For example, pay close attention to items that you can buy before the wedding and give to charities afterwards, and get back the entire price as a tax deduction. Use vases from your own home, or borrow them from another recent bride, to create centerpieces and other arrangements. Consider having h’orderves instead of a sit down dinner – this will save you money on rentals and food, and save you a lot of space.

9. Take precautions against hot weather.
Taking a few simple precautions against hot weather will make your guests love you. You don’t want them getting all hot and flustered! Cooling fans are an excellent way to beat the heat, and if you want to go in for something more sophisticated, try for a flash-evaporation system.

10. Remember the day!
There are a lot of things that you can do to help you remember your wedding, and all the little moments that helped to make it special. One of the very best ways, of course, is to have someone take lots of photographs. One thing that you could do, that is both inexpensive and rather well, is to put a good camera (either yours or a friend’s) in the hands of a family member who is a good photographer. This can work really well, especially if you have an amateur photographer in your group of friends! If you have the budget, hire a professional instead. Either way, make sure you have someone there to document the whole day!

About The Author

Jay Chua is an Internet Entrepreneur and publisher of PorchSwingSets.com. He lives with his wife Deisy, in Vancouver, Canada, where they have a lovely yard with a Hatteras hammocks patio swing and an island rope hammock. Together they follow the latest in gardening and wedding ideas.

{Image Source: Krista Photography}

These days, who pays for what in the wedding get-up can be however you want it to be! Often, the bride and groom pay for the whole thing themselves. But! If you are the traditional type and like to stick to the books, here is a breakdown of who traditionally pays for what in the grand scheme of things.

The Bride and Her Family

Bridal Consultant Fees

Invitations and the rest of the paper ensemble

Floral decorations for the ceremony and reception, bridesmaids and bride’s bouquet

Wedding day photography

Music for ceremony and reception

Transportation for wedding party to and from ceremony

All reception expenses

Bride’s gifts to her attendants

Bride’s gift to the groom

Groom’s wedding ring

Sexton’s service fees

Cost of soloists

Parking attendants if needed

Transportation and lodging for officiant if invited by the bride’s family

Accommodations for the bride’s attendants

Bridesmaid’s luncheon

The Groom and His Family

Bride’s engagement and wedding rings

Groom’s gift to the bride

Gifts for the groom’s attendants

Ties and gloves for the groom’s attendants, if not part of their clothing rental package

The bride’s bouquet (if tradition in that area)

The bride’s going-away corsage

Boutonnieres for groom’s attendants

Corsages for immediate members of both families

The officiant’s fees or donation

Transportation and lodging for officiant if invited by groom’s family

The marriage license

Transportation for the groom and best man to the ceremony

Expenses of the honeymoon

All costs of the rehearsal dinner

Accommodations for the groom’s attendants

Bachelor dinner/party, if he has one

Transportation and lodging expenses for the groom’s family

Bridesmaids/Honor Attendant’s

Purchase of apparel and all accessories

Transportation to and from city of wedding

A contribution to a gift from the bridesmaids to the bride

An individual gift to the couple

A shower or luncheon for the bride (optional)

Ushers/Best Man

Rental of wedding attire

Transportation to and from the city of the wedding

A contribution to a gift from the groom’s attendants to the groom

An individual gift to the couple

A bachelor dinner/party, if given by the groom’s attendants

Out of Town Guests

Transportation to and from city of wedding

Lodging

Wedding gift

Here is a helpful article for Wedding Favor Diva, Shirley Tan. Check out what she has learned from her years in the business and what she has to say as a favor expert!

We have heard it all: the bride’s family pays for the wedding and the groom’s family pays for the ring. Don’t ask for gifts on the invitations. Send hand-written thank you notes within two weeks of receiving gifts. Proper etiquette throughout the engagement is extremely important, and luckily there is plenty of useful advice to assist brides-to-be during the wedding planning process. Unfortunately, the etiquette surrounding wedding favors is often glossed over or forgotten in lieu of more common questions concerning gift giving, the wording on the invitations, the reception, etc. I often receive calls from curious (and sometimes frantic!) brides who desperately want to know the proper etiquette regarding wedding favors. Hopefully this information will assist some of you nervous brides in finding beautiful wedding favors.

DO give favors. Yes, weddings are expensive and can be very stressful to plan. However, part of your job as a bride and groom hosting a wedding is to be gracious to your guests. Many of them will travel far distances to be there, and often guests spend good money on gifts for the happy couple. Wedding favors, and party favors in general, are proper etiquette that cannot be skipped. Giving favors at the engagement party is optional, but suggested. Handing out favors after the bridal shower is very strongly recommended, and sending wedding guests home with reception favors is a must. If you need to keep costs down, there are plenty of beautiful favors for affordable prices. Do-it-yourself favors are a rising trend because you save on the built-in packaging costs of other favors. In addition, with the control exercised over every favor component, you can often produce more personalized and gorgeous favors than you could otherwise afford.

DON’T be tacky in your favor selection. Do not rummage through drawers, attics, and hall closets to find favors. Tacky favors can completely ruin that gorgeous wedding décor into which you have put so much thought and money. Your wedding is an upscale, elegant occasion that requires the same attention paid to every detail. If you find a fun favor you want to use, but clashes with wedding décor or is too casual for a wedding, buy those favors and hand them out at your bridal shower. By choosing the right favors, you may even be able to incorporate them into your décor and save money. For instance, save on floral centerpieces by putting favors on a tiered cake stand in the middle of the table. Another option is to use wedding favors as place cards (that way guests receive a lovely, personalized favor and you save money by buying one item for guests instead of two).

DO give one favor per guest. I do not care what you may hear to the contrary. It is absolutely bad form to give one favor to every couple or to an entire family; save that for smaller parties. For a wedding reception, each and every guest should receive one favor. If you think that a family owning more than one favor seems unnecessary, rethink your favor selection. Either opt for unisex favors or choose two different favors to give to the women and the men to ensure that every guest loves their favor.

DON’T give wedding favors to your wedding party as gifts. Proper etiquette dictates that the wedding party receives special gifts for their extra services. In many cases, these are lifelong friends who have gone above and beyond any normal expectations of friends to perform wedding duties. It is almost an insult to forego the wedding party gifts. As wedding guests, they will receive favors. However, the gifts designated for the wedding party should be in conjunction with wedding favors. Generally, the bride and groom manage their respective wedding parties, but you can choose to either give the same gift to every person or buy each person a unique gift tailored to their tastes.

DO order more favors than you will need. Shipped boxes are highly mistreated, and in large orders the chances of damaged favors is almost a guarantee. As soon as you have an accurate prediction of who the wedding guests will be, order your favors with plenty of extras to compensate for this damage, last minute guests, and miscalculations.

I hope this has cleared up some confusion regarding wedding favor etiquette. Etiquette is a delicate issue and must not be regarded lightly. Adhering to proper etiquette labels you a gracious bride, which will resonate better with guests, build happier memories in yours and your guests’ minds, and provide an overall happier and smoother experience.

Shirley Tan is the President of AmericanBridal.com, a leader in the wedding favors industry. As an expert in this industry with success building her business from scratch, Shirley has been featured on BridalGuide.com, in In Style Magazine, and on HGTV’s Designing Spaces. An acclaimed advisor on wedding tips, she recently authored The Bridal Handbook, to be released February 2009.

Writing about Brides freaking-out might seem taboo, but to a wedding planner who cares about you I feel that it might be important to talk about. Why I am inspired to write this post? Well, first, here at La Ruche we are in the midst of prepping to be filmed for the television show, Bridezilla, with clients Kathryn and Keith.

Secondly, right now in Arizona we are in the midst of "wedding season". The big bridal show just happened, many of the newly engaged women are hunting for the best deals, and at La Ruche we are walking many couples through the final stages of wedding day preparation.

With this said, I DO think that it is natural and many times very gratifying to freak-out. Okay…maybe not freak-out per se, but to at the very least put your foot down and stand-up for yourself. Below is a quick mini-guide on to how to freak out when you need to freak out, and when to know if you’re freaking-out about the right thing.

DO freak-out on someone or some vendor if or when:

• Your vendor increases your pricing from the contracted rate . A deal is a deal, so gently remind them of their obligation. HINT: Do NOT use the word "legal" or "legally" when talking to a vendor as this type of serious banter can create huge problems later-0n.
• Your Maid or Matron of Honor (M.O.H.) or Bridesmaid complains about her dress. Remind her that you do like the dress and that you hope that she can support you. Let her know that her complaining does not help, it just creates friction. If you are related to your M.O.H. or Bridesmaid ask them to be positive on your behalf. If your M.O.H. or Bridesmaid is complaining about the cost of the dress, do some fact-finding to see what they believe a reasonable amount to pay for the dress is. If finances is a real concern for them, consider offering to pay the difference of what they cannot.
• Your fiance is absent during the planning process. Although many brides will agree that the complexity and details of the wedding may be more for the bride and less for the groom, that does not mean that it is appropriate for your fiancee to bow-out when planning discussions begin. I often tell engaged couples at wedding consultations that if one of you seems disinterested in the process it is likely because there are terms and timelines that aren’t being properly explained, explored, or understood. If you have an ongoing issue with your fiancee being involved, perhaps it is time to take a step back – without precondition – and find out what the real issue may be. There is no sense in getting married if you are dragging your fiancee to the alter.
• Your financial backers create specific conditions with their financial support. It may not be worth the sadness and heartache caused to you (and your wedding planner!) to plan a wedding that will soon be resented because of conditions that some families place on their financial support of a couple. If you know that you will be planning a wedding for others and not based upon your and your fiancee’s desires, consider eloping. Not kidding. (You would NOT be surprised at the devastation and chaos that this type of conditional financial support creates.)

DO NOT freak out on someone or some vendor if or when:

• You are on your period. This probably goes without saying (because you likely know yourself well by now), but trust me…waiting until the menstrual cycle crazies are over will 100% for sure calm you down. If you feel yourself about to call "so-and-so" to give them a good tongue lashing, instead simply write down the issues that you have with "so-and-so" and follow-up on the issue in a few days. If the issue cannot wait, ask your fiancee or your best friend to hear you out and determine the best course of action.
• You feel stress. Many times the endless knit-picking – especially to your fiancee – can send the wrong message. Instead of conveying that you are very happy to be getting married but that you are just stressed about "such-and-such", when you knit-pick and are generally morose or negative it sends EVERYONE the message that you wish you were not having to go through this experience. Instead of complaining out loud, consider practicing discipline and write a letter instead. The letter can be written to yourself – simply to complain – but after it is written you may actually feel better having expelled some of your negative energy. Even better, consider burning the letter after you write it and starting a list of the things that need to happen in order for your issues or worries to be resolved.
• You don’t have enough money. This is tricky because nearly everyone I know wants finances to be private, but when the money is tight or simply isn’t available, complaining about your financial situation to whomever happens to be listening sometimes accidentally happens. Instead of allowing outsiders into your very personal financial situation, consider taking an honest "from-the-top-down" approach to the most expensive items on your wedding list. You may find that you really don’t need the personalized water bottles, bubbles, or specialty linens after all.

I am soooooooooooooo not a relationship expert; I am an event planner. I am certainly not condoning calling-off weddings, Bridezilla moments or creating lasting family problems. I simply wanted to put into plain terms some of the real issues that may arrise and what to do about them when they happen.

Best,

Alisha Forrester Scott, Owner

La Ruche. event design studio.

Alisha can be reached by e-mail at studio@enterlaruche.com

I want to focus on a topic that is not discussed often, if at all – preparing your Bridal Suite. If you can imagine a wedding day filled with non-stop action and passion, tears, and excitement, you can then imagine the "crash" that many couples feel once they leave the reception to head back to their Bridal Suite for their first night together as a new couple. This post is dedicated to making your overnight stay "post-wedding" a comforting success. If you are unable to prep by completing the tasks described below, perhaps you can ask a trusted friend or family member not in the wedding party to accommodate.

During your planning phase, consider the following questions and suggestions and how they will relate to your post-wedding overnight accommodations experience:

What will you eat? You may have just spent eight to ten hours looking and acting perfect, and perhaps you did not feel like or did not get a chance to eat at your own reception. You’ll likely feel like consuming something light, something healthy, something without sugar or caffeine. Consider packing a meal to have waiting in the room, or better yet pre-order room service with your ideal meal. Remember, indulge yourselves…you don’t have to eat the same thing if you don’t want to! If all else fails (or you forget to plan this part) you can always just order in pizza or Chinese and be less formal. Just make sure that you are able to find napkins and plates.

What will you drink? First, something hydrating, then perhaps something soothing. Whether a cup of tea or a night cap, have your favorite beverages and the proper equipment (ice, cups/glasses, tea, etc.) waiting for you in your room. Keep in mind that if you order alcohol from the hotel bar you can expect a price mark-up of literally at least 100% – A $35 magnum of Grey Goose will be marked-up as high as $100 – so plan accordingly.)

What will you listen to or watch? (Hint: not TV)…but maybe a movie you both like playing in the background? (Will you need a DVD player?) What if you want to listen to a favorite CD, or what if you have packed along your mp3 player and some little speakers (will you need your charger or batteries?)?

What will you want to smell? Soothing scents can enhance nearly everyone’s experience, no matter the situation. Consider bringing along some scented candles, incense, or room fragrance. Soothing scents such as lavender or vanilla will help your post-wedding transition.

What will help you to relax? Perhaps your idea of relaxation is popping open a beer, or perhaps you are anticipating sore feet and muscles. To relieve a day’s worth of stress consider scheduling an in-room double massage for you and your sweetie. Believe me, there are companies that offer this in-room service – be sure to ask your concierge for a referral. (Don’t feel bad if you both find yourselves totally unwound and napping during the massage!) If a professional massage is out of the question, give each other a little rub-down (at least your feet!).

What type of lighting is present? Candlelight is most flattering, white (holiday) lights are magical. Whatever your lighting preference consider using dramatic lighting. There is a chance that the room you are staying in has adjustable lighting (which means no extra work for you), so be sure to ask. Important: if you are going to bring candles make sure that you bring candle plates or holders to catch the melted dripping wax…you don’t want to have to pay for room damage. Also, make sure that they have a fire extinguisher in the room (or at least nearby) for unforeseeable emergencies.

What will you want to wear? If you have packed something sexy to ‘play’ in, don’t forget to pack something new and comfortable to sleep in. Sleeping in your ‘everynight’ pajamas is not exciting, so consider purchasing a new pajama set…it will make your first married nights sleep a huge and special success.

Take a nap. Seriously. Whoever "invented" sex immediately following post-wedding may have been unwilling to discuss the sheer exhaustion which tries to infiltrate most newly married couples bedrooms. Before you both completely unwind for the evening, consider setting an alarm or scheduling a wake-up call with the front desk, and then settle down for a nice mid-sized nap. Once you wake-up you can shower or bathe and then begin the next phase of your night together.

The formal wake-up call . Perhaps you have brunch with your family scheduled for the next morning, or perhaps you are both going to get a massage. Be sure to call the front desk for a wake-up call, or be sure to pack and bring your own alarm to set, or have one of your friends call your hotel room. You won’t want to oversleep if you have plans for the next morning.

Do Not Disturb (DND ). If you end up getting into bed late (and waking-up late) you won’t want to be disturbed by the hotel staff trying to clean so be sure to place the DND sign on the door and enjoy. Another form of DND will be to hold your phone calls (call the front desk to request this), or simply unplug your hotel room phone. Don’t forget to turn-off your cell phones. You’ve earned a night together without any outside interruptions.

Enjoy your first night together!

Best,

Alisha Forrester Scott

La Ruche. event design studio.

You can reach AFS by e-mailing: studio@enterlaruche.com

Last Saturday, December 20, my little sister entered into matrimony . In Arizona where we reside, cold weather may be defined as "below 70 degrees Fahrenheit". So, you can imagine the goose pimples on the guests when weather for the outdoor ceremony and reception dipped below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

Although most of the guests toughed-out the cold weather and stayed for the entire event, with recent memories of freezing fingers and toes, I propose the following ways to help avoid freezing guests and dwindling guest numbers:

1. Mention the weather considerations in your invitation – You may wish to place a mention the cold weather alongside the registry, wedding website, or venue map. For my sisters wedding we used a single (small) card (about the same size as the Response Card [RSVP Card] for this purpose, broken down as such:

Front side – Registry, event timeline, and weather consideration mention

Back side – Venue address, map, and driving directions

2. Having an indoor ceremony and/or reception? Set-up a coat check area . Guests will appreciate not having to lug around their winter coats, or worse yet having to hang them over the back of their chairs.

3. Having the event(s) indoors away from the cold weather? Err on the side of placing the thermostat temperature "a little cool". Consider that your guests may not be able to peel off too many layers past their winter coats should the indoor temperature climb. (Nearly everyone gets warm when they dance.)

4. Having the event(s) outdoors in the cold weather? Err on the side of heat which means considering the use of heaters, fireplaces, hand-warming packets , or decorative fire pits (covered or screened) where guests can warm their parts and then leave to enjoy more wedding action.

5. Incremental weather means having brooms on-hand to sweep away water, shovels or a snowplow on stand-by to make a path in snow, and umbrellas for the ushers use to assist guests as they arrive and depart.

6. Transportation considerations – if your ceremony and reception are in different locations and it is sure to be snowing, consider renting buses, limo buses, or cars to transport guests (to avoid parking accidents, sliding, or hydro-planing).

If you have any questions about this post, or need advice, feel free to contact studio@enterlaruche.com.

Stay warm and Happy Holidays!

Best,

Alisha Forrester Scott

La Ruche. event design studio.

Okay, so, this comment wasn’t really spoken in reference to wedding planning, but it’s definitely something we can all apply! Let’s break it down.

“For attractive lips, speak words of kindness. For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry. For beautiful hair, let a child run their fingers through it once a day. For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone. People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and remembered’ never throw out anyone. Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms. As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands; one for helping yourself, and the other for helping others.” Audrey Hepburn

Take Great Pictures

For attractive lips, speak words of kindness. Sometimes it’s hard to speak words of kindness, especially if someone has done something to upset you. And trust us, during the wedding planning process, someone or something will upset you. But don’t let it get to you (we know, harder than it sounds)!! Deal with issues as they come up. And on your wedding day, when someone complements your centerpieces, instead of venting for a brief five minutes about how the florist (after months of meetings) used the wrong shade of pink for the roses, simply say thank you for the compliment! If you must, you can even throw in “They are just a bit different than what we were expecting, but I sure do think they are beautiful!”.

For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. This can be particularly difficult when you’re planning your wedding, especially if you’ve heard a lot about bad vendors. It’s one thing to play it safe when interviewing and hiring your vendors, but it’s not quite fair to assume that they are all out for just getting your money! I’d say, for the majority of vendors, that’s definitely not true. In addition, try to give people the benefit of the doubt is something little does go wrong. Looking for the good in your vendors (not to mention your family, wedding party, and guests) will help making anything that doesn’t do exactly according to plan seem less “catastrophic”.

For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry. While some couples literally do share their delicious wedding left-overs with “the hungry”, you can do something a little more figurative. For example, if you’re wanting to give philanthropic favors, donate to your local food shelter. Or, take a wedding planning brake with your fiance (or even your wedding party) and help out with a food drive. Helping others simply feels fabulous!

For beautiful hair, let a child run their fingers through it once a day. Well, if you don’t have a child handy, grab a flower girl or ring bearer. And while no, you don’t actually have to have them run their fingers through your hair, many couples do love having these youngsters around. They can add a ton of cuteness to the day, not to mention, a bit of comic relief. Unless they are little hellions, we tend to notice that they generally lighten the mood!

For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone. So true. And very good to keep in mind during your planning. You have your family, friends, vendors, wedding party, and of course, your wedding planner. And if you’re just having one of those days where it feels like no one understands or care, you always have Fido who will always, always listen to you.

People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and remembered, never throw out anyone. I’d just call this one a good life lesson. We know that your wedding is just that – yours. But keep in mind people have lives that don’t really revolve around your wedding. So if someone you adore can’t make it on the big day, just realize that they may have something else going on in their lives that is more important.

Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms. Yes indeed. Don’t be afraid to try and do things yourself, for your wedding or any other area of your life! Doing something “all by yourself” can be really rewarding, whether it’s negotiating a contract with a vendor, designing your gown, or assembling all 300 wedding favors!

As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands; one for helping yourself, and the other for helping others. Never underestimate the power of people. Never be afraid to help yourself and always be looking for ways to help others. With weddings, sometimes you just have to get the job done yourself! But other times, you’ll need to help someone else out a little. Perhaps your mom needs help with the tasks you gifted her with, or maybe your MOH is going through a rough patch in her life. If you have your own life under control, never be afraid to offer someone else a little assistance!

When you think of fall wedding flowers, surely the first few things that pop into your brain are red, orange, yellow. Maybe a little brown, rust, or burnt orange. These colors are definitely beautiful, individually or together, for a fell wedding or any other wedding for that matter.

But in this post, we want to touch on flowers that are readily available during the fall, not necessarily flowers that look like they bloom when the winds pick up and the weather gets a little crisper. How can this assist you during your wedding planning venture? Flowers that are “in season” are often less costly to purchase (and who is not up for saving a little cash here and there?).

Here are some great “fall” flowers. Many of the little pretties pictured come in a number of colors! Clock wise from the top left :: Roses (Diane James) :: Scabious (Rampant Scotland) :: Sunflower (Meta Edge) :: Dahlia (Thirteen Months) :: Hydrangea (Breath of Life Photography) :: Orchids (My Dream Wedding) :: Gladioli (AllSortza) :: Gerber Daisy (Still Light) :: Cyclamen (Flowers) :: Chrysanthemum (CTAHR) :: Zinnias (37 Days) :: Lilies (Gene Burch Photography). Center :: Anemones (Martha Stewart)

Getting married is one thing. Planning a wedding is another. We will just assume you are getting married for the “right reasons” and that you’ve put all that serious thought into the life-changing decision. On to the “fun” part!

I believe that to some extent, everyone wants to be original when it comes to her wedding. It can be difficult to come up with original ideas when you get inspiration from magazines and tv and the Internet (and let me tell ya’, there is a LOT of wedding stuff out there). Then throw in designers that lead and follow trends and a few vendors that lack a bit of creativity, and you’ve got bland, done-before wedding that’s more ew than you! How do you avoid such a catastrophe? A few things to keep in mind:

If it doesn’t reflect you and your personal style, it’ll be less memorable. Ever been to a wedding that was just so/so? You don’t really remember it much because there wasn’t much that tied the day to the Bride and Groom. Letting your personal touches show throughout the day will leave your stamp, and will be something that your guests will remember.

Think outside of the ring box in everything from fashion to food to decoration. Working with a tiny budget? You don’t have to spend lots to get something “unique”. Buy simple dresses and spice them up with hand-made accessories or “extras”. Get a simple cake and add your own personal decorations. Reception centerpieces don’t need to be made up of flowers and candles! And you definitely don’t need to serve chicken and green beans for dinner!

Do what feels comfortable to you…and most of your guests. Love your pooch to pieces? Insist that Fifi walk down the aisle as the flower girl, or Fido as the ring bearer? Do it! Always dreamed of getting married beneath the stars, late at night? Don’t let anyone stop you. As long as it’s what you want and something that won’t make your guests uncomfortable (ie asking all your guests to throw on an air tank so you can tie the knot under water….probably asking a lot unless they are all diving enthusiasts), go for it. If nothing else, it will be memorable.

Don’t be afraid to go for something a little unexpected. Just because your brilliant idea isn’t “traditional” doesn’t mean it won’t be fabulous!

Keep a secret or two from your family, friends and guests. Thinking about making your grand exit in a helicopter? Planning on singing a song for your new spouse at the reception? Go for it! If it doesn’t happen, no one will know!

Ever heard that when shopping around for wedding vendors, as soon as they know it’s really a wedding service your shopping for, the prices magically rise? In some cases it’s true. Obviously, even if you can dance your way around the subject for a while, your vendors will eventually “find out” that they are selling their services or products to a bride. But how can the tips below help? If they quote you a price for a “non-wedding” service or product, they can’t change their prices once you tell them it’s actually for a wedding. And if they do – well, maybe you should find different vendors!

To be fair – there are a TON of great, honest, and talented vendors out there that will quote you the same price for wedding and non-wedding events alike. They are definitely the ones you want to work with! But, we must also remember that sometimes a wedding-related service DOES cost more. For example, you can’t tell a photographer that you want to hire her for a photo shoot, book her for a few hours, THEN tell her “Oh, by the way, we’d like you to be around all day because it’s actually our wedding you’ll be photographing.” It just doesn’t work that way!

Check out what we have below for some helpful hints on working with specific vendors.

Instead of saying you need reception centerpieces, altar arrangements, and personal flowers for your entire wedding party, ask something like “I’m having a party and need some arrangements for the tables. I like lilies, roses, and daisies and I’m looking to spend no more than $2000. What are my options for that price range?”

They may ask what kind of party or how many pieces you need and catch on pretty quickly (they are professionals, after all, and have been doing this for a long time). And remember that if you want them delivered or they require a special setup process, their price may rise in the end anyway.

Not all cakes are labeled “wedding cakes”, thank goodness. When shopping around for cake, try asking something like “I need a cake for a dinner party. I’m looking for something a little different, though, maybe something with square tiers in a pale pink color.” If you need a cake for oh say, 400 people, the baker will wonder. Consider your options: you could get a smaller cake from ABC Bakery that will act as your main cake, and sheet cakes from XYZ Bakery in order to feed the rest of your guests.

While it can be particularly tricky to find a “wedding dress” without asking for a “wedding dress”, it has been done! If you’d happily wear a dress with a simpler pattern or one that doesn’t really look like a “wedding dress” at all, try looking in places that aren’t strictly bridal salons. Look for white dresses anywhere dresses are sold. Or, if you find a dress you love, ask if it can be ordered in white. Depending on who makes it and where your buying it from, special ordering in different colors than you see on the rack is sometimes an option.

For bridesmaids dresses, the same thing goes. Just because you’re not shopping in a bridal salon doesn’t mean you won’t find dresses that flatter your bridesmaids and coordinate perfectly with your color scheme. Keep in mind that dresses made specifically for “special occasions” (and to go on six girls for the same event) are sometimes more cheaply made then those that are usually bought one at a time. Check out this great article from Bridezilla about cheap bridesmaids dresses and other wedding scams!

For a small reception (150 or less), telling your caterer that you’re having a large dinner party would suffice. Because in essence, that is what you’re having. Depending on whether you’re wanting plated meals or a buffet, the price will be different.

When calling around to get information on venues, merely state that you’re looking for a place to hold X number of people for an event you’re having. Ask for weekend AND weekday rates (many times they are different). It is possible to book a place without them knowing that it’s a wedding, but they will find out eventually (if not before, I think walking into the place in a wedding dress and a groom on your arm might just be a dead giveaway ).

For these vendors, a wedding truly means more work, so don’t be surprised when their wedding packages are more pricey. But in all fairness, while you may be paying more, but you’re definitely getting more, too. You can just schedule a shoot with normal sitting fees, etc. with a photographer for your engagement pictures. But, it is good to let them know what these pictures will be for so they can advise you on what to wear and give you more helpful tips.

From Real Simple

*Side note: I like the looks of the bouquet…but I can’t stand the smell of Baby’s Breath. Yick!

In the end, don’t lie. It’s just not nice! But at the same time, neither is charging more for something just because it’s for a wedding. Use those smarts and go get yourself some honest deals!