Choosing the Rings
When setting your overall wedding budget , be sure to include wedding rings . Seeing as you ’ ll be wearing your wedding rings forever , it would be nice to spend a little bit more than you would compared to your regular jewellery .
Shop as a Couple During your wedding planning some decisions may not be done as a couple , but choosing your wedding rings should be . Dedicate a weekend or two to shopping for your wedding rings and try and visit more than one jeweller so that you see different styles and variety before making a final decision .
You may not choose to wear a matching pair of wedding rings , which is absolutely fine . It is traditional for the bride to buy her groom ’ s wedding ring and vice versa , so make your wedding ring shopping trip as fun as possible .
Choose from Home Some companies prefer to bring their selection of wedding rings to your own home . If you prefer this option of shopping then choose a date and a time that suits you both as a couple . This is a great option if you don ’ t like shopping on the high street , and you ’ ll be given the un- divided and un-interrupted attention of the person showing you the different designs .
Consider Shape and Size Wedding rings come in a variety of different shapes and sizes . For the groom , different metals and styles may be a factor , and for the bride , careful consideration needs to be take , especially if you have an uncommonly shaped engagement ring . If the groom is not used to wearing a ring or has never worn a ring in the past then it might be an idea to have a wax mould created to wear for a few weeks . This will give the groom an idea of what shaped ring he likes and how comfortable the ring feels .
Bespoke jewellers will be able to help , guide and advise on what metals and styles are the best when it comes to your wedding rings . You could also consider visiting a bespoke wedding ring jeweller if you plan on melting a vintage wedding ring or turning a family heirloom into something special for your own wedding .
Saving on your Cake
Nothing can replace having cake at your wedding , but we know every budget has its limits . If the price per slice is giving you sticker shock , don ’ t ditch the frosting and flour . Instead , get creative and use these tips and tricks to save on your cake without sacrificing this sweet detail .
1 . Order a small display cake . Ask your baker to make a one- or two-tier cake for display and cutting , and supplement with sheet cake in the back for serving your guests . " The cost difference is usually around 20 percent per slice ," And have fun with your table . Having a one-tier wedding cake and loads of cupcakes . 2 . Keep it simple . Sugar flowers , tall tiers and lots of piping can really increase the price of a wedding cake . So when it comes to choosing your cake style , try to look for designs you love that don ' t have a lot of add- ons . " We ' re pricing cakes based on ' touch time ,' the amount of labor and hours spent designing the cake ," says Amy Noelle of Sugar Flower Cake Shop . If you still want flowers , there are designs that cost less . Bakers charge less for decorations that are flat , like painted flower motifs , and more for sugar flowers . 3 . Pare down your flowers ( or choose real ones !). Speaking of flowers , sugar flowers are a lot of work ( and we mean A LOT ). It can take anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours to mold and dust just one pretty sugar replica . Choose a simple cake with one large stem or a spray of flowers on a single tier of the cake . Another trick is to choose sugar flower types that don ' t require as much detail ( read : labor ). " Instead of a cascade of roses or peonies , choose hydrangeas or calla lilies ," Fresh flowers are a pretty and cost- friendly alternative too — just let your florist in on your plans , so they can source buds that are free of pesticides and food safe .