| Ahhh, the joy and carefree times of having just gotten | | | | there. Often times, brides will just go shopping for a |
| engaged. If you were recently engaged, you've | | | | gown hoping they will find "the perfect wedding dress". |
| probably been basking in the glow of your new social | | | | Trust me, if you go that route, the salesperson at the |
| status; daydreaming of your lives together, the | | | | bridal store will sell you the most expensive dress they |
| possibility of children, the travels you'll take together. All | | | | can. Instead, go into your shopping excursion with a |
| of that is a precious time in your life, but before you | | | | pre-planned budget and share that with the consultant. |
| get too far down the road, there are 3 things you | | | | There are plenty of beautiful gowns within ALL price |
| need to make sure you get a jump on before you | | | | ranges AND, sometimes bridal stores will even |
| start getting into the wedding details. As a long time | | | | negotiate the price of a particular gown down just to |
| wedding aficionado, let me share the top 3 things you | | | | get your business. Getting the budget number out on |
| need to focus on now! | | | | the table early will save you from having a |
| First, wedding planning today can be an overwhelming | | | | salesperson try to get the most money out of you. |
| task. It seems that the simple weddings of days past | | | | Once you've picked the wedding location and set your |
| are...well, a thing of the past. Brides and grooms today | | | | budget, now you need to get the word out to your list |
| are getting mired in so many specific details from what | | | | of attendees so they know when the event will take |
| sort of favors will be on the tables to what sort of | | | | place. The best way to announce your wedding is |
| limousine they want to leave the wedding in. There will | | | | through save the date magnets. Since your date is |
| be time to worry and discuss all those details, but the | | | | probably a year away or more, save the date |
| first thing you need to do is decide on a church or a | | | | magnets are a great way to make sure your friends |
| marriage hall. Today, churches and marriage halls are | | | | and family SAVE THE DATE and don't book a |
| booking 12 months, 18 months or even 2 years in | | | | vacation or trip in your wedding weekend. A save the |
| advance! Before you get into any of the details on | | | | date magnet can be placed directly on the fridge so |
| your wedding dress, bridesmaids & groomsmen, and | | | | that every time they open their refrigerator door, they |
| food, start looking around for the church and the | | | | will see your announcement and there will be no |
| wedding hall where you want your celebration to be | | | | chance of them forgetting. |
| held. This is probably the single most important decision | | | | Choosing save the date magnets today can be tricky, |
| the two of you will make with regards to the wedding | | | | but here's a little advice. There are quite a few |
| plans so it is important that you both agree on the | | | | companies that offer the more novelty style floppy |
| location and the price. Some couples are opting to hold | | | | magnets that we've all seen before. Frankly, I'm not a |
| the ceremony and the reception at the same location | | | | big fan of those as many of them are made in China |
| while others prefer the traditional church ceremony | | | | and have a cheap print quality to them. Look for |
| with a reception to follow at a local wedding hall. Still | | | | companies that offer the newer magnetic card style |
| other couples are opting for a destination wedding and | | | | save the date magnets, which combine the traditional |
| skipping the traditional wedding locations all together. | | | | look and feel of a nice card stock announcement, but |
| Whatever you decide, make this your number one | | | | are powered by a magnetic striping on the back so |
| priority. | | | | they can be displayed on the fridge. The magnetic |
| Number two, you need to put together and agree | | | | save the date cards have many benefits including a |
| upon a budget, which will include the list of attendees. | | | | higher print quality if you decide to use your photo on |
| Too many couples just jump into the wedding plans | | | | the design, they usually are much larger than the |
| without a budget and they end up sorely disappointed | | | | smaller floppy magnets and they are usually archive |
| when they realize just weeks before the wedding that | | | | quality so they can be scrap booked and will last over |
| they cannot afford everything on their planning list. | | | | time. You can do a Google search for magnetic |
| Often times couples will end up maxing out every | | | | announcements and usually find good companies that |
| credit card they have and they find themselves | | | | offer this newer style of save the date magnets. |
| starting their life together deeply in debt. | | | | If you follow these three simple steps to get your |
| Putting together a wedding budget is one of the most | | | | wedding planning off on the right foot, everything else |
| important steps to starting your life together. The two | | | | will be so much easier down the road. Make the big |
| of you need to figure out just exactly how much | | | | location decision, set up your budget, send out your |
| money you can afford to spend on the entire wedding | | | | save the dates and then relax for a few weeks. The |
| first, and then start putting the details together from | | | | rest of the planning will start soon enough. |