Bridal Diary

Catering Your Wedding: Yes! Same price for plated or buffet style. How is this possible you ask? Let's use roasted chicken, green bean casserole, and potatoes as an example.

200 pieces roasted chicken served 1 per plate or Pan/Tray of 200 pieces roasted chicken
Serving of green beans per plate or Pan/Tray of green beans
Serving of potatoes per plate or Pan/Tray of potatoes

You will need servers if you want to control food portions for your wedding guest. Kids and some adults can serve themselves large portions, so better save then sorry. Each caterer will offer their own prices and packages, so don't forget to wheel and deal. Once you do the math, if it breaks down to the same thing, why not get what you want. Tip-save money by serving wine, beer, and soda

Menu Items and Ideas: (choose of budget friendly foods) crab dip, crab cakes, mini cheese burgers, baby lamb chops, soups and salads, pasta dishes, asparagus, green bean casserole, bread pudding, soup that coordinate with your wedding, like green pea soup for your pink and green wedding color scheme, roast beef, smoked beef tenderloin, shrimp fettuccine, chicken fettuccine, smoked salmon, fillet mignon, lamb chops, ribs, corn, eggplant, carrots, carrot souffle, tuna casserole, broccoli casserole, cocktail shrimp, drumettes, deviled eggs, pimento cheese sandwiches, cheese and cracker tray, corn chowder, jumbo shrimp with cocktail sauce served in martini glass,

Kids Table: Crayons, paper, small candy treats

Place Cards/Table Numbers: Save Money! (10 guest can sit comfortably at a 60 inch round table) Stencil table numbers in your favorite font, style, and wedding color, then cut out numbers and paste to inexpensive blank cards. You can frame it (rhinestone frame to add bling) or buy stand alone cards. Add a symbol or monogram to your card. (a butterfly for your butterfly themed wedding, sea shell for your beach wedding, leaves for winter wedding) Menu Cards can be used as place cards if you print their name on it.

Escort Cards: Escort cards are cards to tell your wedding guest which table number they are assigned to. You can use cheap plain free standing cards, print their name with table number on it. Be creative and use your wedding color scheme, decorative font, symbols, themed or monogrammed stickers, rhinestones, glitter, scroll patterns etc

Wedding Dress: Want two dresses for your wedding but can't afford it? How about a wedding dress with a detachable over skirt that you can remove before your wedding reception. Don't wait to late for alterations on your wedding dress. Some alterations can be more complicated than others, meaning more time and money. Remember that it's much easier to take in a wedding dress, than trying to let seams out, which can alter the design of your wedding dress.

Wedding Registry: Who doesn't love cash but give your wedding guest a variety of store options and gift prices. Guest that are unable to give you cash money will charge it on their credit card and you can then return or exchange the gift for store credit and get other things you want or need. (8 to 12 place settings for wedding registry)

Wedding Favors: Edible wedding favors such as petite fors in wedding favor boxes, or monogrammed cookies

Wedding Cake: Options for Flavors & Fillings

Wedding Cake Flavors

White
Chocolate
German Chocolate
Yellow
Red Velvet
Banana
Banana nut
Coconut
Lemon
Cinnamon
Carrot
Marble/Swirl
Devils Food Chocolate
Orange
Cheese Cake
Butter Pecan
Pumpkin

Wedding Cake Fillings: Fruit Fillings, Frosting or Icing Fillings, Mousses
 
Apricot
Apple
Blueberry
Strawberry
Coconut
Lemon
Blueberry
Amaretto
Pineapple
Vanilla
Peach
Banana
Caramel Pecan Praline
White Chocolate
Raspberry
Chocolate Fudge
Cherry
Bavarian Cream
Peach
Chocolate or Vanilla Buttercream Icing as  filling
Cream Cheese
German Chocolate
Chocolate Pudding
Pumpkin
Chocolate Mousse

More details on your wedding cake will cost more. To save money choose a smaller and more simple wedding cake. You can also have a dessert table with brownies, cupcakes, candy or caramel apples, candy that match your wedding color scheme

Butterfly Release or Dove Release:
Doves or Butterflies must be released before sunset and not in rain

Butterflies symbolize new beginnings
Releasing butterflies for your wedding ceremony are, butterflies are cheaper so you can purchase a larger amount and having a more dramatic effect when releasing them. When you receive your butterflies, can also be shipped through mail with instructions, they are cared for by someone you designate and trust to be in charge of them. Each wedding guest can participate by holding a small box containing a single butterfly and everyone will open their box at the same time releasing the butterfly

Releasing Dove's for your wedding: Dove's Symbolize unity, commitment, fidelity and hope
A legitimate company will send someone dressed in proper attire to be in charge of the doves. Doves will be released and they are trained to return to their location. You can release your doves from decorative or synchronized cages at additional cost.
If you can't afford to release a lot of doves, put a pair of doves in a decorative cage near bride and groom

Wedding Reception Music:

Music- Let the music set the mood, starting with slower mellow music and half way through, pump it up. Choose your songs carefully and synchronize to set the mood. Cd, mp3, ipod

Photographer: Tell photographer to capture candid shots during your wedding ceremony and wedding reception


Wedding Tips:

Boxing Bride= 45 minutes of kick boxing burns 500 calories and releases stress

Something Blue= blue garter, blue hairpins, blue ribbon, blue polish, blue pendant

Discounts= Ask for discounts when buying in bulk, they don't always tell you about discounts until you ask. November-February is when you can find discounts and cheaper rates for your wedding

Clear cups filled with colored candy, decorated with wedding logo sticker or ribbon on cup

Save the date= mail 6 months before wedding date

Tulle= cheap and can be draped and shaped, comes in all colors and sheens to decorate for your wedding ceremony and wedding reception

Save Face= waterproof mascara, Make Up For Ever Invisible Foundation will cover everything, neutral shades of eye shadow, brown and beige colors

Mermaid or Trumpet style Wedding Dress= to show your curves, show off your back by choosing criss cross straps with rhinestones or crystal straps, for collar bone choose neckline with ruffles or rhinestone trim, for your waist choose a sash or wrapped bodice wedding dress or basque waist. Minimize cleavage with wide straps or halter, maximize cleavage with a sweetheart neckline

Flower Girl: will carry parasol, wand (scepter) or pomander ball instead of flower girl basket with rose petals

Centerpiece= glitter branches in vase, wrap wide ribbon around vase

Glow: candles placed around wedding cake and on tables

Bright Eyed= concealer (a shade lighter) under eyes to cover dark circles and white eyeliner inside rim

Until next time, I wish congrats to you. Your wedding will be a reflection of you, so stay ahead of the game, and you will have a wedding fit for a queen. Balance what you absolutely can or can't do without, which will help you get more bang for your buck