Usually the couple will know precisely when they want to marry. My daughter's wedding was two days before Christmas. Not an ideal time in most people's books because the season is already busy enough and your anniversary will forever be combined with Christmas.Scheduling a holiday date, however, can be a problem if you cannot work early enough to secure reservations for the rehearsal dinner, church and reception site. We were surprised to find many restaurants did not reserve rooms months in advance, even the week before Christmas. Florists, on the other hand, do need months of advance notice at holiday times. We choose to use our church's fellowship hall for the reception, saving several hundred dollars and taking advantage of the proximity. Our out-of-town guests appreciated not having to find another place and, we didn't have to worry about inclement weather making transporting the bridal party more difficult. My daughter was concerned that a church hall could not be transformed into the elegant backdrop she wanted, however, cleaning, moving some furniture and a few creative touches gave her exactly what she wanted. There are all sorts of alternatives for weddings and receptions, with widely varying prices. A friend's daughter was married on a pier overlooking a beautiful river at sunset, her reception in the family's backyard. Another chose sunrise at the beach, followed by breakfast at a local restaurant. Check parks, gazebos, women's clubs, river cruiseboats, historical mansions, a library meeting room, even the castle at Disney World.

Planning a Wedding on a Budget:-

There are many easy ways to cut down on a wedding budget and still create your dream wedding. One of the easiest ways to cut about two thousand dollars from your budget is to eliminate alcohol from the reception.Do you really need those expensive roses, or will some nice lilies or daffodils do just as nicely? You can save money by cutting down on the amount and kind of flowers used during the ceremony. There are also alternatives to using flowers at all during the ceremony. You can have the bridesmaids carrypotted plants in baskets down the aisle, or decorative lanterns with candles lit inside. Some even opt to carry just a single flower tied with a bow, or nothing at all. Of course, the old standby of silk flowers is also an option.There are many other ways to save at a wedding. Use a relative photographer instead of hiring a professional, and even use them for your engagement pictures. Bypassing a videographer and having a friend set up a video camera in the back is also a sure money saver. By using just some of these tips and by shopping wisely for things such as dresses, accessories and decorations, you can plan your dream wedding for well under $5,000. One last word of advice is to be sure to create a budget before you start planing, and do you very best to stick to it!

How to choose a caterer

Choosing a caterer for your wedding is like choosing a new best friend. They must be knowledgeable, open to quirky ideas and totally committed to the success of your day.If you've got a strict budget, ask first off for the minimum budget per guest and be clear that you need to know of 'hidden' extra costs. All caterers price differently, so explain how you would like the costs broken down, whether it be a ball park figure, a cost per head or an itemised quote. For instance, some caterers charge separately for use of heavy duty pots and pans and service. If you're planning a marquee wedding, find caterers who know the venue and talk to them in detail about what they will need. You may find yourself paying for hire of generators, fridges, cookers, even water supply on top of everything else! What's more, if you're planning to bring a car load of cheap wine in from France, check first whether there the caterers charge a corkage fee if you supply your own wine and champagne. Peter Curtis-Smith, Operations Manager at leading south-west caterers, Fosters Events Catering, suggests couples meet a prospective caterer for the first time at the venue itself. "It gives people a chance to visualise their reception much better," he says. "When the caterer suggests where the head table should go and where the band should set up, they can see why." Experienced caterers who know the venue can advise on anything from parking to ideas for inexpensive table decorations. Although your venue might have a capacity of 200 guests, your caterer may advise you that anything over 150 is a squeeze. Music, flowers, the cake - caterers will have tried and trusted contacts for all of these so if you're floundering, ask for some advice.