Bride & Groom
by Tina Reading
his is just for you to hopefully help you on the winding road of planning your big day. I see daily posts on Facebook, etc, saying "I am looking for a good but cheap photographer/make-up artist/cake maker." Let me enlighten you: there is no such thing! You get exactly what you pay for.
T
When you decide you are going to spend your lives together in marital bliss, you start the mammoth task of planning your special day. Even if you want to keep it simple, you find yourselves swamped under magazines, look books, paper, etc. Here is my easy guide to getting the day that you want:
1. Make a list of everything you want from your big day -- not only the theme, but how you want it to emotionally fulfill you.
2. Make a list of everything you do not want from your day. Trust me, this list will be much bigger than the first!
3. Pin these two lists on your fridge, and in the middle put a post-it note. On it put your budget! Do not under any circumstances go over this. In fact, decide upon your budget (your maximum budget) and then take 10% off. Write this amount down, and that is your ceiling. You will be glad of the hidden 10% -- this will be your emergency money, the extras, the add-ons. Look at who is running competitions (all us bridal magazines do) and see what you can win to help bring the cost down! Look at what you can do yourselves, and we can inspire you to DIY part of your wedding if cost is a concern.
4. Very politely tell your family and friends that it is your day. Assure them that you do welcome their opinion but all final decisions will be made by you two alone.
5. Make a list of all the essential suppliers you need, plus a budget by the side of what you are prepared to pay for each.
Dear
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