Wedding Reception Checklists – Planning Wedding On A Budget

May 10, 2008 by weddingplanningfordummy

It is highly important you create a wedding reception checklist. In this list you shall be noting the timings for certain events of your reception. The MC, wedding director or the wedding planner and the DJ all should be handed a copy of the checklist. By doing this you will under most circumstances have a smooth wedding reception.

From where can you arrange a wedding reception checklist? Well that should not be a problem at all. Theknot.com is a good reference site here. Numerous types of wedding checklist can be downloaded from this site.

The download is free but registration is required which is also free. You can also read two books on the topic that have been written by the website creator himself. Just do the step entailed there properly and your wedding will be well organized.

Your checklist can be written by yourself. The requirements for a wedding reception can be monstrous, so just start with the general list and then work your way up to more important things. You can start listing like –

§          1st Hour – guest arrival, cocktail hour, receiving line, photos

§          2nd Hour – first dance, toasts, candid photos, meal

§          3rd hour – dancing & cake cutting, groom & bride leave, more photos

Thereafter when you sit down and finalize more things the list may shorten or widen as details increase. The final list should have full names of the VIP guest, wedding party and special invitees. Further a comprehensive list of the  music that is going to be played and at what time the DJ should change the music to suit that section of the reception, particularly when the couple dances. Also playing background music will present a nice ambiance when the guest arrives.

The time frame for organizing any open bar during reception should be kept tight or else other function could get affected. And also as the clock ticks over every drink ordered will charge you in $$$.

Before the rehearsal dinner, the MC, wedding director or the wedding planner and the DJ all should be handed a copy of the checklist along with that the person who will be responsible for overseeing the proceedings of the reception should have a copy too.

A fine printed wedding reception checklist would read as following:

__:__ pm – guests start to arrive (fifteen min)

__:__ pm – Family and wedding party pictures (twenty min)

__:__ pm – Receiving Line – (ten min)

__:__ pm – Open bar cocktail, Hors d’ oeuvres served.

Thereafter …….

This ensure smooth running of the wedding reception.

The wedding recection checklist should also the the following things noted for instance seating arrangements, table and hall decorations, cake been brought over (few elaborate cakes would have to be assembled at that place) sound check, mike check, DJ system check – you ask someone to professionally decorate the facility for your special occasion.

If taken seriously then a wedding reception checklist is important for you and your wedding reception. Whether you take care of the wedding yourself or then have a MC volunteer or even a professional wedding planner, you are advised to make and keep a checklist of all things so that you know what’s happening and when it should take shape. Call the vendors, caterers and facility care taker well in advance to see if the arrangements have put in place on time. This is checklist is your personal guide.

Get great free tips on planning an elegant wedding on a budget as well as management theory in wedding planning when you visit Jennifer’s wedding site at http://www.marryplanning.com

Wedding Planning Tips – Make A Plan To Spend Fewer Than $1000 On Your Own Wedding

May 3, 2008 by weddingplanningfordummy

Your wedding has been decided but you have to do all in just $1,000.00. Only detailed planning coupled with strong analysis shall protect from going over budget. If few things are taken special care of then you can do this without losing a sweat. If planning a wedding under $1000 then it requires that you take some hard and crucial decision at an early stage.

Preliminary points of planning an under $ 1000 wedding -

First and foremost, this wedding will be planned and executed by you. Forget the thought of hiring a professional wedding planner as its not permissible in your budget. Buy a guidebook that would give you inputs as well as get things organized for you. Then search the net extensively for sites that help you in the process and give definitive details of everything from starch to end all free.

Enter keyword “free wedding planning” and you will have all the information required. Online software such as ezweddingplanning.com or then theknot.com will help. You can always visit your local book store to find kits and books. The best way to control expenses would be to spend more on items that can be sources for free and spend miserly on things that burn a hole in your pocket.

Cake ought to be there!

Would you believe that a caking could cost you as much as $500, that’s one half  of your total budget. But if carefully spent then options are aplenty. If you can locate a culinary school close by then what better, ask a student to do one exquisitely for you and it shall cost you a dime against a privately made cake You could also offer the school some thing in return if they have it made for you for free. What if an aunt or a friend knows how to make one then you relax instantly.

If that were to happen then it lets your aunt/friend take part while you celebrate a special day in life. This will be of great help as ingredients and toppings and icing can cost $100 for a made for 100 people. A cake can be made to look priceless sans multiple tiers or heavy icing. Like if you have a 3-piece cake holder it will resemble the look of 3 tiers cake. It is easy to do this, have 3 cakes made (one medium size, 2 small size) place them on top of the holder and it spells elegance. Chocolates cakes are usually ordered by the groom and guest would enjoy coco flavor.

Few important things to know

When you start out you would like to have all different pomp and gaiety for your wedding for example, DJ, caterers, live performance, photographers etc, but these could really spiral up the costs so decisions have to be taken with the mind and not with the heart when you are planning your wedding with $1000 in hand. Yes a glorious wedding can take place with $1000 but planning is must.

If you want to save on cost them organize the wedding from a friends or relative’s place also formal evening wedding events are tad expensive than afternoon or morning ceremonies. Dresses are expensive to say the least, so look for one online or buy from a resale shop.

There are numerous magnificent dresses to select from and nobody will never think of it to be not fresh. By keeping a close vigil at expenses and finding newer more innovative methods of control costs and yet create an elegant wedding atmosphere, the whole wedding will transform as you dreamt it to be. If you take a firm stance to plan your wedding in under $1000 then it will be that way.

Are you stuck in planning evening wedding with dinner to follow? Or are you confused with planning evening wedding with reception to follow? If so then check out the answers at wedding planning resources from http://www.marryplanning.com