As our wedding gift to you, we asked 21 local married women to share their best insider tips for blushing brides-to-be. First, they say, sit back and take a deep breath. It will keep your inner Bridezilla at bay. Second, while details are important, learn to not sweat the small stuff. Your big day is about you, your partner and the family and friends who came to watch your love unfold. Believe us; no one will ever notice that the pen for your guest book doesn’t match your wedding colors. Read on for more...
1
Think about your wedding time and location. I called my wedding a cocktail party and saved some money. We got married on Friday, which cut the price in half. Plus, my guests loved that my wedding and reception were in the same location, just in different areas of the property, and it had lodging on site. We danced and drank all night and didn't have to drive anywhere when we were partied out. — Shayla Bradley, West Reading
2
Make your programs (if you decide to have them), place cards and menu cards by yourself. It cuts down on the cost of having it done professionally, plus it shows your guests how creative you can be. Friends and family will love the personal touch. — Tiffany Palmertree, Fleetwood
3
We had a large guest list of 200 people, and we wanted all of our guests to enjoy themselves at our reception. Instead of having a long sit-down dinner, we opted for heavy hors d’oeuvres. Many of our friends thanked us because it gave everyone time to mingle and not sit at the table for an hour waiting on food. Also, a seating chart was the least of my worries. We made sure our family members had reserved seats. The rest of the guests had place cards and could sit wherever they wanted to. — Adriane Hoke, Wyomissing
4
Instead of using real flowers, you can shop at a local craft store for faux flowers and adornments. Invite your bridesmaids over for a crafting party and allow them to pick out their favorite components and put together a one-of-a-kind floral display. — Ivy Hammond, Shillington
5
The day goes so fast; it’s over in no time. Take a few minutes for yourself on your wedding day. Go into a corner of the room and just look around. Take it all in. All the love and happiness in the room is for your hubby and you on your day. Enjoy the moment. — Stephanie McMullen, Reading
6
Skip the mints and make a wedding favor that guests can use for years. For my wedding we gave out recipe cards with a butterfly cookie cutter attached. We didn't really have a theme, but we did tie in butterflies since every new couple gets butterflies in their stomach! — Rachelle Lutz, Mohrsville
7
Don't set yourself up for stressful wedding planning by having a huge bridal party. I saved a lot of stress by getting married on the beach in Florida with just two friends, and then having a reception back home so our family could celebrate with us, too. — Tara Koch, Sinking Spring
8
Make a list of what you truly want to shell out cash for. For me, it was the venue. Then, you’ll know where you can cut costs and save. You can look like a million bucks in an $800 dress. — Angela Duen, Wyomissing
9
There is always so much wedding cake left over, so you spend money for a beautiful cake and most people don’t eat it. We did a 6-inch round top cake and then cupcakes for the rest. We had only two slices of cake left, so there was no waste. Money well spent. — Kelly Knarr, Oley
10
My advice for brides having "at home" receptions would be give yourself plenty of time to get everything done, and make sure your vendors allow you to have your rentals a few days in advance of your big day. Draw a floor plan on graph paper. This way everyone knows where tables, chairs, food and the bar are to be placed. This was a life saver for us! — Timi Bauscher, Kempton
11
Start writing thank you cards before the wedding. Appreciate what people have helped you with in preparation for your big day, not just the gift they brought. This will lighten the burden following a relaxing honeymoon. — Jessica Branch, Muhlenberg Township
12
We had a theme for our wedding to support small local businesses. We found that we saved money and also formed lasting relationships with the vendors. We purchased our flowers from Petals on Penn, and we went with Ady Abreu of Ady Cakes. I purchased my dress at Sweethearts Bridal, which gave me a shout out on Facebook after I purchased my dress. As small as it was, it was nice to feel like an individual rather than just another woman buying a dress. — Desiree Geist, Sinking Spring
13
Ask yourself how many people you are inviting to the wedding. Now take that number and cut it in half. Yes, you may be inviting 250 people, but that does not mean you need to buy 250 invitations. My experience? Let’s just say I still have boxes of invitations. — Jen Quick, West Lawn
14
Provide beer, wine, water and soda all night instead of offering shots or mixed drinks. You don't want anyone to overindulge and ruin your day. — Aurora Giddens, Reading
15
If you’re having a destination wedding, pick a couples-only resort and have your family stay at a different resort. Most resorts will allow for people to enter for the day for a fee. Not only is this your wedding, but it's also your honeymoon. We had a wonderful day with our family that included several meals and swimming, but we were glad to have the rest of our trip to ourselves. And just an FYI: Veils don't belong in beach weddings. Mine was very distracting during the ceremony because it was too windy. — Amanda Wilson, Reading
16
Do not fall for the old advice of doing a hair trial. It costs too much money, and until it was all said and done, my hair looked completely different for the big day! Save money and skip it. — Andrea Leibensperger, Leesport
17
If you can do it yourself, do it. I made my own invitations, place cards, favors and aisle runner. You can find a lot of tutorials on the Internet. But don't take on more than you can handle or you'll end up folding place cards while you're getting your hair done on your wedding day. — Stephanie Fains, Sinking Spring
18
At the reception, ask the caterer to wrap up two extra plates for you and your hubby. You may be too busy, nervous or overwhelmed to eat during meal time, and you will be starving when the night is over. And discuss the wedding kiss! A beautiful moment can become an awkward one if you are not sure what your partner is going to do when it is time to kiss the bride. — Lauren Holloway, Cumru Township
19
Don't overspend. It's one day, and when it's over, it's over. To save money, look for an up-and-coming photographer, caterer or baker who is eager to work with you. Oftentimes, you will get a great deal and a fantastic product, just for taking a little time to do some research. — Christine Anderton, Exeter Township
20
Etsy and Pinterest are your friends. I found save-the-dates and invitations on Etsy that I customized to fit my rustic country theme, and the owner of the shop was willing to do additional customizations since I bought both my save-the-dates and invitations from her. I also bought some really cool bar signs, and I got some good gift ideas that I eventually made for my girls. It was truly a money-saver. — Jessica Bodor, Mount Penn
21
Don’t assume plus-one is the obvious choice for your guests. When sending out invites, specify the amount of people who are actually invited to your wedding and who you are expecting to RSVP. If you leave the amount blank, your guests might enter more people than you were expecting. — Naomi Negron, Muhlenberg Township
compiled by Kristin Boyd
