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While interviewing
your wedding site (obviously you need to make sure your date
is available), ask the site manager what their rules and
regulations are regarding decoration.
Also, inquire as to whether or not they have a "preferred
vendors list" or a "required vendors list". This means you may
possibly not be able to bring in your own florist or designer.
The site sometimes has such a regulation to protect their
facilities or because they may even receive commissions from
the vendors. If you have a favorite florist/designer, who is
reputable in the area and a professional, ask the site manager
if they might make an exception and allow you to bring in your
own florist/designer. Most sites are very willing about this
as long as the business is reputable.
Ask the site manager (this
includes the ceremony and reception sites) if they have any
decorations, trees, trees with lights, lattice work or other
props that you might be allowed to use. Be sure to ask if
there is a fee for such use. This could be a way to save
money.
For the Bride on a Restricted
budget, here are some other ways to save money:
1) use pot plants for
centerpieces (this can be fun; you can place a sticker under
one of the chairs at the table and at some point during the
late evening, announce that the person with the sticker under
the chair can take the flowers home);
2) have a friend take the flowers used for the ceremony to the
reception site and arrange them appropriately;
3) find a florist that works in silk or dried arrangements;
4) use seasonal flowers;
5) instead of ordering special flowers for the cake table or
head table....or even guests' tables....use the bouquets for
the attendants. Remember, YOUR bouquet should go on the cake
table, and while we are talking about your bouquet, it's a
must that one of the types of flowers used in your bouquet
should also be used in the groom's boutonnière;
6) use a simple flat glass bowl and float a gardenia or other
type of lily in the bowl;
7) use tulle and fabric puffs as centerpieces (this can be
a lot of fun and very economical;
8) simply scatter flower petals onto the top of the table; use
framed photos of you and your groom at different ages or even
pictures of the immediate family members, pictures while you
were dating, place them in the center of the table with a bud
vase with a single flower in it in the middle of the photos.
For the Bride on a
lavish budget, here are some really fun ideas:
1) If the ceremony is held in
a synagogue or church: take strands of tulle and garland with
strings of lights to drape on the ends of the pews down the
center (this will mean that the guests have to enter at the
outer end, but that's not a problem);
2) use candelabra at every other pew for a beautiful
candlelit ceremony;
3) centerpieces for the tables should be up high so that they
don't interfere with the guests' vision across the table,
these can be pin lighted with special spots (ask your florist
if they have a lighting design company they work with);
4) light up the walls with a flood of colors and light to give
the room a majestic look;
5) bring in tall palms or other trees and light them up as well
as having twinkling lights in them;
6) a fun thing we did one time; as the guests entered down a
stairway, we had vibrating disco lights on the floor to each
side and on the ceiling on each side down the stairway, and a
fog machine greeted them at the bottom of the stairs as they
entered the reception room;
7) in addition to the table linen, use overlays of a different
color that matches with your theme;
8) use complimenting chair covers and cover ties that enhance
the elegance of the reception;
9) especially have a spotlight shining on your wedding cake;
it is a focal point for the guests.
Remember, before doing
anything, ask the site manager about any restrictions they
might have. Have fun with your wedding decorations, but also
remember, this is an area where you can easily go over your
budget. So, the best thing to do is to describe to the floral
designer what you want, what your heart desires, then ask for
a proposal. Ask also for the designer to prepare a proposal on
a more restricted budget line. An important point to take note
of, not all flower shops are good wedding florists. Make
certain your florist has experience at doing weddings. They
will have props and all sorts of equipments, even table linen,
that you can rent, and if they don't have it, they know where
to get it. One more hint, be careful of overwhelming
fragrances at the dinner reception. The flowers' fragrance
should be a hint, subtle accent....not overpowering. You don't
want the guests to think that their steak tastes like roses!
Have fun, and have a
beautiful wedding.
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