Guest blogger: Sharon Naylor, bestselling author of over 35 wedding books for brides, bridesmaids and the mothers of the bride and groom. Her titles have spent time in the #1 book, e-book and wishlist spots on Amazon and BN.com for their categories. Here is an exclusive sneak peek from her new book, The Bride's Guide to Freebies: Enhancing Your Wedding Without Selling Out.
1. Keep in mind that vendors like to show off to guests.
"If I know that the bride and groom have really planned on a low budget, their flowers are small, their menu is on the smaller side, they had to choose just cake instead of cake and a dessert bar, I'll add in some impressive elements so that the couple's guests can see what we do here at our banquet hall. Who knows? Maybe someone on their guest list will be planning a bar mitzvah, bat mitzvah, wedding, or corporate gala. It's great for them to see a more impressive array of my chef's work, rather than not seeing my place in a great light becuse the slim pickings were so distracting." —Henry, wedding hall manager
Looking for ways to personalize your wedding? Make headlines with this unique concept from newsfavor.com: your very own custom hand-written newspaper keepsakes! Choose from engagement announcements:
Invitations:
Wedding programs:
And favors for your guests to enjoy:
Photo Credit: Nikki Stroud
Tip of the Day: Handprints in the sand make for a fabulous keepsake photo from your honeymoon. Make it a tradition throughout your marriage to take this snapshot on every vacation. Someday, you can add your children's handprints to the photos, too, and see how they grow with time!
Sure, food feeds us. But for travelers, it does more. Food allows visitors to literally drink in the culture of their surroundings.
Rhee Bevere/Design: The Flower House/Lighting Rentals: Hartmann Studios
Put the focus on your sweetheart table with a dramatic suspended floral arrangement!
Photo Credit: The Sketchy Pixel
Tip of the Day: Add some creativity to your invitation response cards. Instead of using basic "will attend" or "will not attend" wording, have guests check off a box that says "Can't wait to join you for your big day!" or "Will sadly not be able to attend, but will send kisses and congratulations from afar!" This is a fun twist they won't expect when they open up that envelope. Also, some couples include space on the RSVP cards for guests to request their favorite song, write down their best marriage advice, and more. This creates great keepsakes that you can treasure for years to come!
Some couples express themselves by writing their own wedding vows, choosing a meaningful first dance song, or planning a sweet anniversary surprise. But for Nick and Wendy Lowe, their wedding day was the ultimate form of self-expression when they chose to bare all and wed in the nude.
The naturists got married on January 5 at the Wellington Naturist Club in New Zealand. About 120 guests attended the ceremony; half wore clothing, while the other half went au naturel.
"The most impressive thing really was how the guests who were not naturists pretty much just mingled and got along with everybody and didn't give a damn," the groom told Hawke's Bay Today, a local newspaper. (In case you're curious: Yes, they mentioned that it was a clothing-optional event in their wedding invitation, so guests were forewarned!)
Gerhard Gross
We love the country-chic vibe in this beautiful photo!
Featured: Miami Beach, Florida
