WEDDING ETIQUETTE TIPS, VENUE RESEARCH, BUDGET ADVICE, & MORE

The purpose of this page is to inform people that you do not have to go for a huge expense for a successful event. It pleases me to give my time for free here on hubpages to help others plan special events in their lives. I will be adding updates to my hub spot daily. If you like my material, I would be thrilled to see you follow me on here.

WHAT IS THE ETIQUETTE ON WHO TO INVITE?

When a special occasion comes up, one of the first things you have to consider is the number of people you would like to invite. This is complicating for many which discourages people to even want to celebrate. You may feel you must invite people but can't invite others because of conflicts. This should not be your problem. At the end of the day, everyone is an adult and should know how to socially act in front of others not to ruin it for the host. The attendees should be those closest to you. It is best not to invite those you do not speak or see often. When I say often, I mean you should not invite people you see only twice a year and only because they invited you to an occasion of theirs. There is no obligation to do anything. The attendee list should be set for a minimum count. It is the best way to stick to a budget.

HOW TO DETERMINE BUDGET AND VENUE?

Next, consider how much per person you can spend. If you start to see 20 per person is too much, you may want to revise your guest list. Coming up with a comfortable price will help during your venue search. You can search for places in your town on websites like Zagat.com and Yelp.com. Zagat is a great site to see which restaurants have private rooms and pre-fix menus, in-case you know exactly how much per person you would like to spend. Yelp is a great siteto get reviews on venues. If you are not looking for a restaurant setting and would like a hall, check the website Gatheringguide.com. They have a large selection for every state. You may think you would like to have a event at your home. If you have less then 50 people then I would agree you can think about having it at home. Things to consider for a home party are rental places for wait staff, stemware, chairs, tables and catering companies for food and desserts. I have been apart of planning events at halls, restaurants and homes. My opinion would be to see which places fit your budget then your home. There are places that are $16 per person which is very inexpensive nowadays and you have everything you need.

WHERE SHOULD I LOOK FOR INVITATIONS AND SMALL DETAILS?

Once you have figured out guest count, location of event, and budget for the main part of the event, then you can start on the small details. Alot of events are successful due to the special little details that bring it all together. It is nice to have a concept or theme to your gala. The small details should coordinate from invitation down to thank you favor. For invitations, I use Wedding Paper Divas Wedding Invitations & Bridal Shower Invitations and for also personalized Thank You Notes because they have wonderful stationary at reasonable prices and I always find a coupon online. The paper quality is so nice!

Next, I think of centerpieces, I see if the venue offers any and if not, I like floral as well as creative decor based off the theme. Then, the food is selected and I asked the venue if I can have a specially drink. If the place is BYOB, then it is even better as I can have sangria as a signature drink or possibly champagne. I would ask the venue if they can have a server pass them out. I use my favor shop for place card holders that are also combined as favors i.e. http://bellamevents.theaspenshops.com/. The collection is one of a kind, unique and my favorite part- affordable. Depending on the event, I like to add personal touches like photos, that I can print from my home computer and I print them in black and white ink. I display them in picture frames or a unique theme setting like a manzanita tree with ribbon.

ADVICE ON ENTERTAINMENT

If you would like special lighting, DJ or live band, then you have to shop around for best prices and reviews. There are many that are overpriced, especially during wedding season. Check which companies have a complete package and which may have extra perks to throw in for you like a photo booth or free extended hours, should your event go over the time.

A TOAST TO YOUR GUESTS

When your event is going on, be sure to stop half way through to say a few words to thank your guests for sharing the special time in your life. It lets them feel more apart of it when you state how much you appreciate them there.

DESSERT

Lastly, it is nice to have dessert and coffee. A wonderful finale cake that ties in your details. To cut cost, you can have a small cake then have mini cup cakes as not everyone eats cake. Also, an assortment of cookies is always good.

I hope this information is useful when planning your event. Celebrate life on a on-going basis. Show your family and friends how much you appreciate them!