Weekly Wedding Tip
brought to you by bridalguide.com
Above Image Credits: Event Expressions
(Tara and her team specialize in the creation of celebrations that are unique, personalized, and elegant.)

"Though hiring a wedding consultant may seem like an expensive indulgence, a professional who's clued in to the bridal business is better equipped to get you the best prices and deals."

With the wedding planning business rapidly growing, I'm almost certain you would be able to find a planner easily in your area that fits within your budget. Plus, hiring a wedding planner helps take a lot of the pressure and stress off of you, so you can have fun planning your wedding. (and, sometimes you might be able to find an officiant/Justice of the Peace who is also a wedding planner)

Did you hire a wedding planner or do you plan on having one?

Weekly Wedding Tip
brought to you by bridalguide.com
"In developing your new relationship with your mother-in-law-to-be, find interests the two of you share and start building a friendship based on them. Love may come in time, but "like" is more important right now."

I'm going to need your input and advice on this tip as I was never able to meet my mother-in-law. She passed away when my husband was in his early teens, so the only "memories" I have of her are from photos my husband has shown me. In our church programs, we gave tribute to my husband's mom and all our friends and family that could not be with us on our special day.

Do you have any advice for brides that are developing a relationship with their future mother-in-law?

Weekly Wedding Tip
brought to you by bridalguide.com
"If you're holding your reception in a hotel or restaurant, ask if they have decorations you could borrow to spruce things up, rather than spending extra for more flowers. They may already be beautifully decorated, especially between Thanksgiving and New Year's."

If you plan to be married in a church, you will probably be able to also take advantage of their decorations if marrying during the winter holiday season. It never hurts to ask because saving a bit of money on decorations will let you have a bit more towards something else you would really like for your wedding.

Is anybody planning to use decorations that are either already on display or ones that the venue has available?

Image Credits:
Left: Renaissance Zurich Hotel's flickr gallery
Right: Eastern Marriott's flickr gallery

Weekly Wedding Tip
brought to you by bridalguide.com
"Buying all one type of a flower is generally less expensive than getting smaller amounts of a range of blooms, and it can have considerable dramatic impact both in bouquets and in table arrangements."

Is anybody considering this for either their bouquets or table centerpieces? Has anybody already done this for their wedding?

And, if you're looking for something other than flowers for your tables, why not a fruit bouquet? I love the strawberry bouquet - it would be the most unique table centerpiece for an outdoor summer wedding or bridal shower.

Image Credits:
Tulip Bouquet and Centerpiece: [griff] [griff]'s flickr gallery
Calla Lily Bouquet: Fi20100's flickr gallery
Strawberry Bouquet: sunflower [nami]'s flickr gallery
Sunflower Bouquet: Marta Potoczek's flickr gallery
Rose Bouquet: ProFlowers

Weekly Wedding Tip
brought to you by bridalguide.com
"Have your cake. and save money too, by ordering a smaller cake for display and for you to cut the first slice. Then supplement that with less ornately decorated sheet cakes of the same flavor and icing, to be cut and served from the kitchen."

I've noticed that having smaller wedding cakes at receptions has become a growing trend for brides who want to cut down on some of their expenses. An added benefit of having the sheet cake is that the slices can be pre-cut and ready to serve as soon as the cutting cake is removed from display. No need for your guests to wait while the display cake is cut.

Another cost saving option is to serve a dessert bar to your guests and offer coffee and tea along with several small wedding cakes and maybe some cupcakes instead of a larger cake or purchasing a sheet cake.

Do you plan to have a smaller wedding cake and then serve your guests slices from a sheet cake?

Image Credits: (all from flickr galleries)
Top Left: Amy Sandoval Photography
Top Right: Kylie Lambert of Le Cupcake
Bottom: Amanda Leamons