Wedding tip of the day : save on drinks

Make sure the staff knows not the clear the table of glasses that are not empty! Majority of the time a guest leaves half a drink at the table to get up and dance and they come back to, well no glass! Immediately they go to the bar and order a new one. Bar tabs will go down a bit if half empty glasses weren't removed. Let the wait staff know ahead of time not to clear ANY glasses unless they are empty! 

Wedding tip of the day: Ideas for a smaller wedding

For a smaller guest count, check out a local bed and breakfast.

most will accommodate for the ceremony to be held on site as well as the reception. You can cut on transportation cost being that everything including lodging can be in the same place.

A lot I'd bed and breakfasts in rural VA (Leesburg. Etc) also have nice honey moon suites. 

Wedding Tip of the Day: Cut on bar tab

Many brides and grooms look for ways to cut down on the bar tab without offending their guests, or looking to frugal.
One creative way to cut back on the bar tab is closing the bar an hour prior the end of the reception. You can have the DJ make a "last call announcement" letting the guests. One couple had the DJ announce the thank you for coming, please tip the bartender, last call - as we would like everyone to sober up for their drive home. Very simple and "safe" way to shut the bar down. And you would be surprised how much an hour can cut down the tab.
Another couple shut their bar down completely for the dessert hour where they only served coffee, tea,  and espresso.

How many of you have tried one of these tactics, or another? Share your ideas!

Happy Planning!

Party tip of the day: supplement an oversized cake with sheet cake.

Another savings tip for wedding cakes... or any cake for that matter. Have a small cake for the cake cutting ceremony and supplement it with a sheet cake, served from the kitchen.

Guests will not care about the size of the cake or even which cake they are actually eating. For your event, get a smaller cake made and decorated for you to cut during the cake cutting ceremony. Have a plain sheet cake made as well and let the kitchen staff serve that to the guests. 

Wedding tip of the day: buttercream is just as good as fondant

Wedding cakes thee days are decorated with fondant. However they are more expensive. To save a little stick to butter cream - unless having an outside wedding! 

This was my buttercream cake! 

Not the best photo but you get the idea. 

Buttercream can be just as beautiful as a cake decorated with fondant! If having an indoor wedding as it can be set out for the whole reception! Buttercream however would not last for an out door wedding as it would quickly melt. Only if you are having you reception in a location where the cake can be kept cool until right before it is cut, I would  recommend sticking to fondant. 

Personally, I think butter cream tastes a lot better then fondant as well! 

Wedding Tip of the Day: customized bar

Instead of a full bar cut back to beer and wine (red & white) and have the bartender create at least two signature drinks. These can be your favorite drinks or maybe something that ties into the theme of your wedding. Using garnishes in your signature drinks give a sense that you spent more but they are usually done for free! 

A theme idea: Something Old, Something New"

Something Old - a classic drink

Something New - a new trendy drink

Something Borrowed - maybe a favorite drink from your past 

Something Blue - Blue Cadillac Margarita or Electric lemonade etc. 

You can really be creative on your customized bar menu! 

Wedding Tip of the Day: Fun & Efficient Rehearsal Dinner Idea

Wedding Tip of The Day: Save on rehearsal dinner costs by having a backyard BBQ!

 

Now that the summer is here a backyard BBQ would be a fun and efficient way to have a rehearsal dinner. If you, a groomsmen/bridesmaid, or family member has a backyard to fit the whole crew go for it!

Theres no need to go over the top for a rehearsal dinner. Remember, you only really need to invite the wedding party and parents. Often couples may invite any guests who are arriving the night before the wedding as well.

With the summer weather approaching a backyard BBQ would be a great idea. Do a bulk shopping at your local wholesaler (Costco, BJ’s etc) and be sure to have a relative in charge of the grill. Bride and groom should be relaxing!