You’re getting married. Congratulations are in order. Problem is, you have a very small budget but you want your dream wedding. What do you do? Do you end up using a public place on the beach and get some nice beach wedding favors?

photo credit: Mike Miley

Honestly, even though the average wedding budget today, exceeds $20,000, what do you really have to have to get married? Well, first and foremost, you need the person who is going to marry you. Secondly, you need an Officiate. And last but not least, you need witnesses. Just that will get you married. But I’m sure, when you are dealing with a budget, that’s the last thing you want to hear. And probably another thing you don’t want to hear is that your guests really would love to have cheap personalized wedding favors.

First problem people have is that they have a pre-conceived idea of what they want and not what they can achieve with their budget. Don’t begin by making a list of all the items and pretty extras that you have to have. Start with the basics and then build from there.

Make a list of the people you absolutely “have” to invite. Bring it down to just your immediate family and close friends and relatives if you have to. And a very novel idea is to have two celebrations. Have one on the exact day of your wedding and another one as a house-warming, wedding party which someone can give you “after” your married. This is becoming very popular and everyone understands. More than likely, they’ve been in this same situation. And some people even do this for their Bridal Showers and they then give their guests bridal shower favors.

Another important idea is to read forums. The ideas that exist on them are endless. You’ll “talk” with people who are in the same financial situation and have amazing ideas to help you. Thousands of dollars can be saved with just a few money-saving ideas you get from making these new friends.

Lastly, decide what you can do yourself, or have friends do for you. For example, a friend, as a wedding gift, can be the photographer for the day. Another can be the videographer. Instead of a sit-down dinner, have a buffet or even hors d’oeuvres and desserts only. Borrow your wedding gown or even rent one. Use balloons instead of flowers and buy a “how to” book on how to make balloon arches, etc.

The saying, “where there’s a will, there’s a way” is very true. If you sit down with your future spouse, family and friends and explain the situation, everyone will help. Just remember, because you have a strict budget does not mean that you will not have a beautiful wedding. Some of the most touching, precious moments I can remember were at weddings which cost very little money. And anyway, what is more important is your new life ahead, not that one day. Learn to work with what you have and it will be beautiful.

Possibly it’s due to the bride being the center of attention or the fact that they primary do all the organizing and planning but whatever the real reason brides customarily greet the guests and give the welcome toast during the reception. With so many other things to think about it can be easy for such a small item such as the bride speech to slip a brides mind leaving her little time to prep and practice.

photo credit: mpeterke

Here are some tips and advice to help the speech go well and be remembered positively by everyone..

Don’t go over the top.  The shorter it is the less time you have to say something silly, make a fool of yourself or have to remember a million little things. You need to be sincere and sound gracious then just say what you need to, that’s all you need to do. If you want to give a long heartfelt message that is fine but know that the longer it is the more people you will lose as their attention spans will lessen and they will begin drifting off losing the second half of whatever you have to say.

Write it on note cards.  You don’t need to have the whole speech with you but note cards will help you remember the main points and ensure you don’t get lost. Write some key points on note cards and have these with you so you can look at them right before your speech or refer to them as you speak if you need to.

Plan Early.  Your speech will be best done early at the reception such as after your first dance or just after the grand entrance. Anytime before or at the start of the meal so everyone will be paying attention and the welcome message still makes sense.

Use a Mirror to Practice.  If you know what you’re going to say ahead of time then practice so you can be as comfortable as possible. Stand in front of a mirror and talk to the mirror with a fake microphone in your hand like you will on your wedding day. If you are confident and relaxed then it will be easy to deliver a stunning speech.

photo credit: Torsten Mangner

Don’t list people’s names.  It is only normal that their will be special people to mention, from your life and for planning the wedding, it is right that you single them out. But listing person after person will become boring and repetitive, it will even make the mention less special for those mentioned. You aren’t Halle Berry thanking everyone from her dry cleaner to her dog groomer at the Oscars.

Speak slowly.  Don’t rush your speech too much because no one will be able to understand you. Slowing down your speech will help you think about what your saying next and ensure you are understood.

Read more about wedding toasts here or read our blog to help your wedding planning!

Groomsmen have always been pictured as the groom’s bosom buddies who are ready to ship in just so they can be at the wedding. But there is someone who cringes at the thought of the guys coming over, the nervous bride. Do you want to know why? Really know why?

photo credit: supa_pedro

* The Drunk. During the wedding reception he makes a fool of himself, harassing guests, and worse gives a horrifying groomsman toast. Good you didn’t’ get married by the poolside; the drunk might have slipped and accidentally pushed you to the pool; wedding gown and all. What a calamity!

* The Fearless Groper. This obnoxious fool gets the itch when sloshed. No amount of polite explaining can sober him up so watch the guests file out if you can’t control him or throw him out. Well, he was charming during the wedding ritual until he got hold of his TLiquor Flask. So that was it.

* The Whiner. He does nothing but complain. You dread distributing the Gifts for Groomsmen lest you hear him carping about the identical Golf Gifts. Serves you well too for being too lazy to shop for personalized gifts.

* The Slob. You can’t stand his ragged pants, creased shirt, and messy hair. He picks his teeth with his fingers not caring if you’re there and he drops his cigarette butts everywhere. His sloppiness is grating on your nerves. It’s a good thing though he’s rooming with the groom or you’d really freak out.

* The Lousy Braggart. He does nothing butbroast about his new car and his dazzling broad. He makes sure too everybody hears how much he spent for his fiancee’s engagement ring and he keeps going on until your ears are sore. Makes you wonder what your groom saw in him.

It is so maddening you can’t toss these guys out of the house so you grin and bear them. It’s a good thing though that they’ll be leaving after the wedding reception. But what if there’s a freeloader lurking? That’s BIG trouble.
Is your sister tying the knot too? Better fill her in. She must quiz her groom about his groomsmen. If there’s a tip-off she will be meeting one of these wackos soon, encourage her to be candid about her fears. Her groom might have second thoughts then but that would be unlikely so prep her up to deal with these insufferable groomsmen.