Wedding Budget Basics - Don’t Let Your Bar Break Your Catering Budget
Posted on March 28, 2008 - Filed Under wedding
So you’ve read the etiquette rules proclaiming cash bars a no no, and now you’re fretting the potential cost of a pricey open bar at your wedding reception. Relax, an open bar does not have to kill a carefully planned wedding budget. Consider these ways to save:
Find a Reception Site that Allows Outside Alcohol -
Believe it or not, many wedding reception sites will let you bring your own alcohol - which can lead to extensive savings! Liquor store prices are always less, and you can usually return any unopened bottles for a full refund after the wedding. When prospecting potential reception sites, ask whether stocking your own bar is a possibility.
Select a Reception Site with Reasonable Bar Prices -
Along those lines - even if you can’t find a desirable reception site that will allow you to stock your own bar, compare bar prices when interviewing facilities. Just like catering menus, all bar menus are not created equal. Many reception sites offer reasonable bar rates (anywhere from $15-$25 per person), while other charge exorbitantly. Choose wisely
Serve a Limited Bar -
Even though cash bars are frowned upon, you don’t necessarily have to provide a completely open bar at your wedding reception. Consider serving beer and wine only; this will substantially cut down on bar costs, and most wedding guests will hardly notice. If you’ve got a number of liquor drinkers on your guest list, serve a full bar stocked with only well brands.
Cut the Guest List -
We know you’ve heard it before, but the only way to substantially cut your wedding budget is to decrease your guest list. Almost all wedding costs are tallied on a per person basis - bar packages included. Decreasing the number of people in attendance will significantly decrease your bar costs.
Cori Locklin is editor-in-chief for http://www.elegala.com and Elegala Magazine. Elegala is a new wedding planning resource offering the most comprehensive portfolio of superior wedding reception sites and wedding vendors, with the planning tips to keep brides in the know on today’s planning trends and styles.
Tags: bar, budget, catering, reception site, wedding, wedding budget, wedding reception siteFree Wedding Speech Tips to Get You Started
Posted on March 27, 2008 - Filed Under wedding
Performing a Wedding Speech in front of hundreds of people can be almost unbearable. To some, it may seem almost second nature but to others this act is almost the most extreme torture. It makes no difference if you know everyone in the room or you are unfamiliar with everyone, this stressful situation is enough to make the strongest of men and women loose many a nights sleep dreading having to do this.
Here are some effective free wedding speech tips to help you settle those rampaging nerves:
Keep it Short:
If you are not comfortable in this type of situation then why make it painful for everyone. Do not try to compare yourself to those professional sounding speakers that share for 20 minutes and has the crowd roaring with laughter at one minute and the next every eye in the room flowing with tears. These people either have lots of practice at this or are just naturally comfortable in front of others. The majority of time however, long speeches are painful, so keep it 5 minutes max and if it is less then that fine.
Watch the Humor:
Are you good at telling jokes? If the answer is no then chances are you want to keep them out of your wedding speech. Everyone wants to be the life of the party and it is great to make others laugh but so often someone will stumble through a joke, often saying the punch line by mistake right away and if lucky will get one or two pity laughs from a family member. If however you are good at telling jokes, then go for it but please, keep it clean and do not in any way think that offending people is just good clean fun.. it is not!
Welcome People:
This is especially important for the groom. When making a speech it is extremely wise to express sincere gratitude for your new inlaws. Tell them in a sincere and clean way how wonderful they have done with their daughter, how much you respect them for who and what they are and use this opportunity to get in their good books.
Complement Others:
Personalize your speech by mentioning the names of every person in the wedding party and saying one nice thing about each of them. People love to be complimented and this works well, especially focus on the bride and groom. If this is the groom making the wedding speech then mention specifically how amazing your new bride looks.
Stand Up Straight:
Unless you have a disability that deems this necessary, while delivering your wedding speech, do not sit, lean or crouch while delivering it. Stand tall, straight and proud and deliver your speech with enthusiasm and show that you take this event very serious and are very proud that you have the opportunity to share.
The most important free wedding speech tip I can offer is this: Be Prepared
Do not in anyway take this free wedding speech tip lightly and think that you can just wing this and it will be a hit. Do not be lazy and do not be inconsiderate of others. By simply winging it you are insulting everyone in the wedding because you are showing that you really do not care about this and your time is way too important to bother wasting it in preparation for a speech. Write your speech out and rehearse it. The better you know your wedding speech by heart, the better you will do and the added advantage of that is you will virtually eliminate your stress. You will know in advance you have a great wedding speech.
Click Here to Get a Step-By-Step Guide that will Walk You Through All You Need To Know To Create Your Own Inspirational Wedding Speech at http://wedding-speech.helponline.info/
Tags: free wedding speech, wedding speechWedding Speech Writing Tips
Posted on March 26, 2008 - Filed Under wedding
The wedding speech, when well thought out, rehearsed and properly delivered, could bring a wedding reception or dinner to life. A good wedding speech will entertain and make the guests feel great about being present for the celebration. Here are a few tips for writing your own wedding speech if you don’t have any idea what to say.
Thank Anyone Important
A wedding is an ideal occasion to thank many people. Name the people you want to give thanks to and why. For example, if you are the best man, you can thank the groom for being his best friend. If you are the bride, you can thank your parents for raising you to be independent and smart.
Tell a Story
People like to hear stories about other people. Say something you know about the person you will be talking about because you were also there when it happened, or even if you had only heard about it. For example, you and the groom went to the same college but attended lectures late, if at all in the mornings because you both played poker all night long. The groom won often and made enough to pay for one semester’s tuition.
Give a History Lesson
This is very similar to telling a story. Go over the significant milestones, if you are familiar with them, about this person, the bride or groom. That would include the schools they attended, the jobs they had or the hobbies they are in to.
Disclose a Secret
Everyone likes to hear and tell secrets. Say something no one knows about the person you will be talking about but may be surprised to find out. For example, tell the guests that the bride once auditioned for a popular television show. Or, that the groom had a crush on his third grade school teacher, who by the way is a guest tonight.
Say Something Funny
Any occasion would be fun if humor were part of it. If you can make people laugh with a funny story, everyone will feel like they are having a good time and enjoy themselves.
You can’t force a laugh. However, the stories you tell or the situations you describe can end up getting a few guests chuckling without you trying to make it funny.
Give Unsolicited Advice
It’s customary for someone to give the newlyweds some advice. The most common is anything on marriage. If you are making a speech and you are married, you can share your wisdom on how to be a good spouse. A common advice is to resolve your argument before you both go to sleep. Another would be that the wife is always right. Although these examples are important, admittedly they have been over-used. What you can do, if you can’t think of advice that no one else has ever told, is to make these original or unique by describing how the advice has helped you in your own marriage.
Reveal Your Feelings
You can express your feelings about the people you will be talking about in your speech. If you are the father of the bride, tell your daughter how proud you are of her and that you will always be there for her. In addition, you can tell your new son-in-law how happy you are to have him as a new member of the family.
Get the Audience Involved
This idea is a bit unconventional and almost crosses into the job of the MC, however you might consider getting the audience involved by asking questions about the couple. You can ask about the craziest thing the couple has ever done. Or, you can ask about why they would make a good couple. You can come up with any opened ended question that requires some explaining. Some would be glad to participate just to be the life of the party. By doing this, you’ll loosen up the crowd and make the celebration all the more fun.
You should consider it an honor and a privilege if asked to make a speech at a wedding reception. The newlywed’s family asked you because they trust you and have respect in you. They know that they can count on you to do a good job. Your moment to shimmer in the spotlight is near. Good luck and have fun.
Copyright © 2006 By Leroy Chan
Terrified of giving a wedding speech? Learn not to be. Download our free report:
“How to Conquer Your Fear of Making a Wedding Speech in Public” at
http://www.WeddingMoneySavingGuide.com/weddingspeechreport.html.