Pelham - Windham News 16 - February 25, 2011
Wedding Woes Be Gone! How to Make Your Dream Wedding a Reality
Brides and grooms often have an ideal of what their wedding will be – a vision of their perfect day. While each couple’s vision is unique, they all share the same burden – the ever-rising cost of weddings. Be it a lavish ceremony and celebration with hundreds of guests, or a more intimate affair at-
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tended by only close family and friends, weddings are never easy on the bottom line. Thankfully, cost-conscious couples can take some creative steps to ensure they still have the wedding and honeymoon of their dreams without breaking the bank to do so.
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* Calling all sponsors! With the economy still on the mend, couples can rest assured know- ing there are deals to be had with regards to all aspects of their pending nuptials. One increas- ingly popular trend is to have the wedding “sponsored” by local vendors. In exchange for discounted services rendered, couples agree to mention contractors in their wedding program or display business cards at the reception table. For example, wedding photographers often make their money through word of mouth, so a reference in the wedding program might be enough to garner couples a discount on the photographer’s services. Such “sponsorships” will need to be agreed upon before the big day, but can save couples a significant amount of money.
* Get help with the honeymoon. Unlike couples of yesteryear, today’s couples often live together before walking down the aisle. This has made traditional wedding registries somewhat obsolete, as couples often already have every- thing they need. “We already lived together and had all the
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kitchen gadgets, towels and bed sheets we could possibly need,” says Sarah, who lived with her now-husband Patrick prior to getting married. Thankfully, Sarah and Patrick discovered
Honeyfund.com, a free online honeymoon
registry catering to couples who could use some help planning and paying for their perfect honeymoon. The ideal solution for couples without the need for a large traditional registry, Honeyfund enabled Sarah and Patrick to plan their dream honeymoon while allowing guests the satis- faction of giving a gift the newlyweds would truly enjoy. Wedding guests can conveniently choose from a host of activities listed by the newlyweds themselves. From dinners and hotels to ferry and gondola rides, even airline and train tickets, Honeyfund offers a wide selection of gifts for wedding guests while helping savvy and creative couples significantly reduce the cost of their first getaway as a married couple. * Save, save, save. Traditionally, the bride’s fam- ily foots the bill for the wedding. With that tradi- tion fading and today’s couples now baring more of the burden of paying for their wedding, saving is critical. As bridal couples enter the biggest buy- ing period of their lives, escalating costs of home down payments, furniture, appliances, and child rearing only amplify the need for savings. Couples can get some relief by directing their friends and family to gift registries like
Honeyfund.com, where guests can contribute to a down payment
Couples have options, including cash registries, to help them avoid breaking the bank to pay for their dream wedding
for the young couple’s first home, or a general sav- ings fund that can be used for projects, furnishings or anything the couple needs. Guests often love knowing how their financial contribution is being spent, be it for a home down payment, home improvement projects or other savings. “Wedding gift givers are flocking to cash regis- tries because they are hassle-free and provide an opportunity to give something unique,” says Sara Margulis, CEO of
Honeyfund.com. “A honeymoon experience or a contribution toward the couple’s first home are memories that last a lifetime.” To learn more about Honeyfund, visit www.
Honeyfund.com.
Honeymoon Planning How-To
With all the work that goes into planning a wedding, it can be easy for couples to overlook their own honeymoons. But in the middle of all those seating arrangements and reception hall negotiations, couples also need to plan and look forward to the rest and relaxation that awaits, which will no doubt be a well-deserved escape once the wedding has come and gone. Couples can take the following advice to en- sure their getaway goes off without a hitch. * Be budget-conscious. Many couples could
enjoy a honeymoon to Siberia in the dead of winter after their big day has passed. After all the
stress of planning and paying for the wedding, couples will likely just enjoy the time away. Take this into consideration when planning a hon- eymoon. If a dream trip isn’t in the budget after all the wedding bills have come due, don’t fret. A less expensive getaway is still a getaway, and couples will enjoy their well-deserved break no matter where it is they’re putting their feet up. * Plan an off-season honeymoon. That dream honeymoon might be affordable after all if couples can wait till it’s not the height of tour- ist season. Most weddings occur during the summer months, when tourist season is in full
swing.Couples who can put off their honeymoon until the off-season will no doubt find their dream honeymoon is much more affordable. * Start early. It’s never too early to start plan- ning the honeymoon. The earlier couples begin to research possible destinations, the better feel they will have for what they can and can’t afford. Research can be done well in advance to give couples an idea of what their dream trip will cost. But don’t book any flights or make any reserva- tions too far in advance. The best deals are often available a few months before the trip. * Spread the news that you’re newlyweds. Ho-
tels love hosting newlyweds, and many will up- grade rooms for recently married guests. Couples
should not be too brash about it, as fully booked hotels won’t be able to upgrade their guests. But let the hotel know you’re on your honeymoon when checking in, and they might just upgrade your room and comp you a bottle of champagne as a gift. * Think outside the box. When asked about a dream honeymoon, couples will often bring up Hawaii or even Paris. While those are beautiful places to spend a honeymoon, they’re also expen- sive. Fortunately, there are a bevy of locales, be it domestic or international, that aren’t nearly as pricey as the most popular honeymoon destina- tions but still make wonderful options for a hon- eymoon getaway couples won’t soon forget.
Creative Ways to Get Married Many weddings adhere to some exclusions apply
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tradition, with a big church wedding, a white gown and a bustling reception.
Still, there are some couples
who prefer to do something a bit unique and unconventional.
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Rte. 28, Salem, NH 603-893-9955
www.fordflower.com about. * Prison wedding: A visit to an abandoned prison or haunted loca-
Whether you are dreaming of a romantic setting for twenty, or a lavish affair for hundreds, our imaginative coordinators are here to make your special event all you have ever dreamed of, and more. Please call to arrange for your personal consultation.
Call for an appointment or e-mail
becky@fordflower.com
tion may appeal to the couple with a taste for the macabre. * Skydiving: The concept of taking the plunge takes on an entirely new meaning when jumping out of a plane at several thousand feet while reciting vows. * Wedding of the “Stars”: Trekkies may want to recite vows while dressed in costume and speaking native Klingon, while Star Wars fans may want to do so with Storm Troopers attending the festivities. * Mountain climbing: Couples can reach new heights while scal- ing a mountainside and saying their “I dos.” * Life in the fast lane: Couples who are NASCAR fans can recite
their vows and then take a spin at 200 mph around a neighborhood track. * Amused festivities: Some couples might prefer to get hitched
while enjoying the ups and downs of their favorite roller coaster or other amusement park rides. * Scuba diving: Some couples prefer to recite their vows with a few bubbles in between and marine life as their witnesses.
Te idea of getting married atop a roller coaster could be amusing to some couples
They may choose to get married underwater or while skydiving. If a “creative” wedding is for you, here are some ideas to think
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