The Dilemma: To Serve Or Not To Serve Alcohol
I know a bride and groom with a dilemma: the bride comes from a family where wedding receptions a large joyous celebrations which include alcoholic beverages and champagne toasts. As tradition dictates, her family is paying for the wedding and reception.

The groom, on the other hand, is from a religious background that doesn’t include alcohol in their wedding receptions. Their wedding guests are mostly from the bride’s family and friends, but the couple feels they need to consider how to make their reception accommodating to both groups.

The Solution: BOTH

They have decided to host an early reception, with no alcohol, immediately following their wedding. All guests are invited to enjoy a great buffet, punch and wedding cake, dancing and the like. After two hours, they will have a champagne toast that will open the bar.

Making It Work:
They have appropriately informed their guests through their wedding program that no alcohol will be served during the first two hours of the reception, but will be served the final two hours.

As some of their relatives have strong beliefs about not drinking alcohol, I believe this is a really generous and considerate way of handling what could become a sticky situation. Those guests who have been told about the reception plans have expressed their gratitude to the bride and groom for thinking of them and the children who will be there.

I say, if this is how the bride and groom begin their marriage—by considerately adjusting their plans to accommodate others—theirs is a marriage that will be marked by unselfish love to one another and those important to them.

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Did you know that the average wedding costs over $23,000? While there is no shame in spending more or less than this, the averaged wedding costs can still add up quickly. Most brides overshoot their wedding budget goals by as much as 15%! To avoid breaking the bank with your wedding planning, here are some budget-friendly tips for brides-to-be!

Wedding Budget Tip 1:  Avoid The Busy Season

The majority of weddings occur between May and October. In fact, October is the new June. Late fall weddings and winter weddings are beautiful and allow brides to reduce costs by catching vendors and wedding supplies when they're not in great demand!

Also, consider marrying on a Friday or throughout the week. Marrying on a weekday may be less traditional, but it's a fun and unique way to make your ceremony special (and save money!). Weekend weddings are great but reception halls charge the most for Saturday evening weddings. By marrying on a Friday, you'll be able to save on the reception costs, enjoy great options for the ceremony location, and spend a three day weekend with your groom!

Wedding Budget Tip 2:  Pass Up The Dessert Tray

Wedding cakes are a huge reception expense. Since this is the most important piece at the reception, no bride wants to cut it out completely. Instead, opt for a smaller wedding cake. Also consider a cupcake wedding cake. This tasty trend allows guests to enjoy a small portion of the same great flavor. The biggest treat for you? Cupcake cakes usually run about $60 compared to hundreds for a traditional wedding cake.

If a smaller version of your dream cake won't feed everyone, consider having a sheet cake of the same flavor along with your wedding cake. An evening of dancing, drinks and good food doesn't leave much room for dessert. Consider passing up extra dessert options which quickly add up (on the hips as well)!

Wedding Budget Tip 3:  Go Green With The Wedding Flowers

Opt for more greenery in the reception arrangements. Most guests won't know which flowers are in or out of season so trim the cost of your wedding flowers by using more greenery. The wedding ceremony flowers are a beautiful addition to the ceremony but remember that this is where guests spend the least amount of time. Most spend more time at the reception so consider putting the budget emphasis on your wedding reception flowers instead.

Wedding Budget Tip 4: Go Green With The Wedding Invitations

In the age of technology and conservation, eco-friendly wedding invitations are a big perk. If you want to send standard wedding invitations, consider replacing the RSVP cards with a note on the invitation that asks guests to RSVP at your wedding website. Wedding websites will save a ton on less important wedding stationery. (Oh, and invitation liners are unnecessary. You're breaking no etiquette by opting out on these.)

Wedding Budget Tip 5:  Double Up With Wedding Favors

Wedding favors are a must-have for most brides according to traditional wedding etiquette. Wedding favors can be practical and functional though! Consider favors that double as place cards or serve a purpose after the wedding. Personalized bottles of bubbles serves as wedding favors and can be used instead of tossing rice or bird seed after the ceremony.

Wedding Budget Tip 6:  Opt For A Cocktail Reception

This is a good way to glam up your reception without spending lots of money on food and decorations. Waiters carrying trays of hor d'oeuvres is a glamorous look and a frugal choice for brides. Many wedding caterers have their own wait staff, so consider hiring a local caterer with wait staff for a glamorous but easy-on-the-wallet reception.

Wedding Budget Tip 7:  Buy The Music, Not The Band

A band at the wedding is always fun, but consider a single musician or a dj instead. Going this route with wedding reception entertainment will save costs simply because you're paying for one person instead of multiple people.

Wedding Budget Tip 8:  Share The Menus

Instead of giving each guest a menu at the reception, opt for one or two per table. These can look elegant when placed between beautiful table settings or when stood on either side of the table's centerpice. This saves paper and printing costs plus adds to the decor of the table.

Making sure wedding guests are taken care of is an important part of the wedding planning process. Providing transportation for your wedding guests will ensure that all participants will have a good and safe time.  This limousine question from a bride demonstrates how important both transportation price and safety are when planning a wedding

Ask The Celebration Advisor: I am actually asking about transportation from my wedding on August 29th 2009….maybe starting around 1000p – lasting through 1200a , or so.
I only want the reception guests to make it home, or wherever they plan to stay that night.

What is your charge for this type of service.  The main places to carry them will be Tarboro and Greenville.

Thanks for your help Sheila -  Event takes place in Farmville.

Reply:

For weddings, limousines can offer guests a safe and luxurious ride.  Since your event takes place in Farmville, NC but the guests will need to go to Tarboro, NC or Greenville, NC, you have three limo options:

1. A Farmville Limousine service willing to travel to Tarboro or Greenville.
2. A Tarboro Limousine service willing to travel to Farmville or Greenville.
3. A Greenville limousine service willing to travel Tarboro or Farmington.

In areas where cities are close to each other, a limo company from one town will serve the surrounding cities.  So, you should be able to find a wedding limo service that is willing to travel to all three places.

Before you contact one of these limousine companies, you need to know what kind of limousine styles are available.  The best style for extra large groups going to the same place is a limo bus.  Not all limousine companies will have one in their fleet.  However, if this option is available the pricing is usually very cost-effective.  For small groups, the Hummer limo is a novel idea.  For most weddings, the stretch limo is the standard style of choice and can accommodate large groups.

As for pricing, limo rental companies usually have special packages for proms and weddings.  Luckily, the party limousine packages can be tailored to your special needs.  I would first guesstimate how many guests will use the limos.  Then divide the number into two groups – those going to Tarboro and those going to Greenville.  That way when you contact the limousine rental company you will have all the necessary information to select the right wedding limo package.

Wedding Registry Tips
Preparing the home for a lifetime as husband and wife can be as exciting and challenging as planning the wedding. To keep things simple and fun, below are 28 words to remember that provide excellent tips for creating the right wedding registries. Read the rest of Tips For Creating The Perfect Wedding Registry »

Wedding Favor Trends of 2008
The word is in about wedding favor trends in 2008 and this handy guide is full of tips for finding wedding favors as unique and beautiful as the bride. Whether staying ahead of the game with candy apples and strawberries decorated as tuxedos and gowns, rocking the reception by using personalized concert tickets as place cards, or going traditional with a sachet of rice, wedding favors are a clever and fun way to thank guests for attending by leaving behind a small piece of memorabilia to commemorate the exciting day.

Look for these excellent trendy qualities when selecting wedding favors Read the rest of Wedding Favor Trends Tips For 2008 »

Reception Decorations Trends
The focus of wedding reception decorations in 2008 is intimate elegance with a carefree and natural flow. Brides are increasingly incorporating nature into the receptions, often moving the celebration outdoors. There are several ways that this year’s brides are enjoying the festivities. The following are tips for following the bridal reception trends popular in 2008. Read the rest of 2008 Wedding Reception Decorations Trends Tips »

Jazzy Flowers For Wedding Trends of 2008
Stylish brides want to stay on top of the latest trends in every detail especially the floral arrangements. Because flowers are a large part of every wedding, brides often pay special attention to floral arrangements and bridal bouquets. The following wedding trends of 2008 should shed some light on staying ahead of the rest with the wedding flowers.

Popular blooms in 2008 reflect the growing trends toward bright and colorful festivities. These include: Read the rest of 2008 Wedding Trend Tips »

Wedding Reception Music Tips
Everyone knows that the music at the wedding reception can make or break the festivities. The wedding reception is the couple’s first party as husband and wife and holds special significance to the couple, friends, and family. Whether interested in a band or a deejay, reception music creates the vibe for the entire celebration. Setting the stage for a great time is easy with these reception music tips! Read the rest of Music Tips And Ideas For Wedding Receptions »

Wedding Videographer
A wedding video is a treasured keepsake for every bride and groom. Though pictures are worth a thousand words, video gives those words a voice. Bringing to life many cherished memories from the special day is now as easy as pushing the "play" button. Finding the right videographer is requires a little planning. Many things are involved in selecting a wedding videographer such as price, quality, location, and style. Though this task may seem like quite a challenge, following these simple tips will ensure Read the rest of Tips When Hiring a Videographer »

A butterfly release can be a unique and special way to celebrate your wedding day. Just imagine watching several dozen of the gossamer creatures flit around through your guests and then land on your bouquet. What a unique photo opportunity. Not to mention, how amazed you and your guests will be. Butterflies will lend an almost magical feel to the moment. If you are thinking about a butterfly release for your wedding there are a few tips to help your event go smoothly. Read the rest of Butterfly Release Tips »