Money Talk
2007-06-06 19:29:00
Who pays for what on your total wedding billThere's more than one way to divvy up the wedding bills. Even if you snagged your groom by following The Rules, you should know that for most couples, the old rules of who pays for what simply no longer apply. Today-when more than 60 percent of you are paying for at least part of the wedding yourselves-we recommend that couples begin the wedding-planning process by sitting down with both sets of parents (or more, if stepparents are involved) to talk openly about what contributions each party wants to make. By dealing with the money issues straight on, you might be able to avoid a few of the power games that people play (your older sister probably has a few stories to share).So what follows here is a slightly updated version of the traditional who-pays-for-what breakdown. It'll give you some guidelines for those up-front conversations you'll be having about money.the bride1. Groom's wedding ring2. Groom's wedding gift3. Gifts for bride
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Balancing Your Budget
2007-06-06 00:34:00
How to make dollars and sense of wedding financesNo matter what you're planning to spend, the key to making the most of your wedding-planning moolah is to stay organized. That means anticipating what you'll need (as well as identifying those things you must have), and estimating how much money to put aside for it all.To help you figure out the figures, we've created a list of every major wedding-day cost, including the percentage of your budget you should plan to spend on each item. Of course, the worksheet can be tailored to your needs and desires (e.g. add a few percentage points to the food budget because you must have a raw bar, then subtract from music because you got a great deal from some friends).If you intend to hire a wedding consultant, her fees are usually a percentage of your total budget (10-20 percent, depending on her involvement). Take her fee right off the top of your total and figure the rest from there. One last piece of advice: most weddings run 10 percent ove
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49 Ways to Save Money
2007-06-03 19:47:00
You can have the wedding you want for less money than you might have imagined.Simple Savers1. Book early. To get the most for your money, line up vendors as far in advance as you can. More than a year ahead of time is never too soon.2. Change the date. You will get a lot more bang for your buck on a Wednesday in January than you will on a Saturday in June. The simple reason: the vendors will be begging for your business. But even small shifts, like having a Friday-night wedding, or having the wedding in late fall, can save you hefty sums. The best way to get the best deal: be direct. Ask your favorite sites when their prices are cheapest.3. Be casual. (Or at least, slightly less formal.) Don’t try to have a formal-looking wedding if you can’t afford it. You can still make your day beautiful without being extravagant.4. Lose an hour. People will hardly notice that your reception is only four hours long, rather than five—and you’ll save yourself a bundle on both the bar and ent
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Ceremony Music
2007-06-09 20:56:00
The ceremony score-choosing beautiful music to get married byWhen planning your wedding-day music, remember to consider appropriate pieces for your ceremony as well as for your reception. The music that you and your musical director select should be carefully chosen to create a truly romantic mood, preparing your guests for the special event about to occur. The first thing to consider is where the wedding will take place. If the ceremony will be performed in a church or synagogue, you will need to be sure you understand the rules that most religious institutions have regarding music. For example, some churches insist that you use the church organist, or at least pay the organist whether you use him or not. If the ceremony will be at a hotel or other location, there may be a piano available.Lovely alternatives to an organist or a pianist include brass quintet, strings, guitar, or harp with flute or violin. But regardless of which type of music you choose, it is essential that the music
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, Music
25 Ways to Personalize Your Wedding
2007-06-07 22:12:00
The keys to a memorable wedding are personality (yours) and involvement (your guests'). Think about who you and your fiancé are, as individuals and a couple, and what you like to do. Work your hobbies and heritage, tastes and thoughts into the wedding details. As the wedding day progresses and your guests observe the personal touches of you and your new husband, they will think, "This is so them." Guest involvement is equally important. Think of ways that you can honor very special guests, such as parents and the wedding party, and make sure that everyone in attendance feels as though he or she is an integral part of your personalized wedding celebration. Here are a few ways that couples are creating memorable events:1. Consider variations on the bouquet toss ritual. For instance, you might present your bouquet to a special guest, perhaps the maid of honor, or to the couple who have been married the longest. Or, have the florist tie several individual stems with a ribbon. Untie the r
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2008-11-23 03:36:00
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