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When it comes to your wedding, you don’t want to be cheap. Missing out on things you have always hoped for or what will really add those special touches for your big day is an area couples don’t often want to think about.

When done in the right way though, beautiful weddings can be planned without spending tons of money. As long as you are prepared to fork out some cash, you will be just fine. Remember that venues, parties and dresses don’t come for free.

If you are still searching for a ring that is stunning but also won’t cost you the earth, the Certified Diamond Network showcases diamond wedding rings Sydney couples would love to get their hands on. You will find what you are looking for whilst potentially being able to keep within your budget.

Meanwhile, let’s discuss important elements where you can cut back to start decreasing the overall expenditure of your wedding.

How To Save Money When Planning A Wedding

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• Involve Friends And Family

When it comes to food, drinks, decorations and more, think closely and consider whether any of your nearest and dearest can help out. Be prepared to pay of course but the price shouldn’t be as high as when you don’t have a personal connection and approach a normal company. This can even come down to the alternations you make on your dresses and who you will choose to do your hair. It’s time to be resourceful and this can make a big difference.

• Ask People To Bring Goodies

You can supply the main course but don’t feel ashamed to ask people to contribute to the event. People know how expensive it can get to put on a wedding and many have struggled to fund their own in the past so they will understand completely.

• Make Use Of Sample Sales

Follow boutiques and designers on Instagram and Facebook to keep up-to-date with the latest sample sales and discounts. You never know when you can catch a bargain, even if it means you have to travel a while to get it.

• Consider Buying Second Hand

You can find some stunning second-hand wedding gowns online and in-stores. You also don’t have to go to a typical bridal store to get it! There are shops that sell wedding dresses or gowns that can pass as wedding gowns. It’s important to think outside the box and search where you may not have searched before.

• Keep Decorations Simple

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Try to utilize wild flowers you can pick yourself and decorate them in pretty vases or on the tables. When done thoughtfully this can look stunning and really professional. You also might want to ask friends and family you’ve invited to send back the RSVP’s as a selfie so you can incorporate this into the decor.

There are many more ways you can cut costs when planning your wedding but these are some of the main ones. Put them in place and you’ll be surprised at how much you can save.

Sisters are the bride’s built-in best friends. They have always been by the bride’s side. And the wedding day is the time when brides need them the most. Sisters act as peacekeepers in the time of havoc and mental stress. They usually keep everything in control because they know the bride so well. They help you with shopping for wedding dresses, bridesmaid dresses and much more.

They sustain the peace in the bridal suite while keeping an eye on the preparations. Along with that, sisters are excellent for moral support. They can pacify the bride’s worries while keeping the wedding guests happy. To fully understand and embrace the duties of a sister, read the following to know how the sister can help:

1. Start the Day In her Vicinity:

The calmness of the morning of the wedding day denotes the calmness before the storm. If the bride’s sister wakes up in the vicinity of the bride, then she can control a lot of things just by checking in with the feelings of the bride, and calming the nerves of the bride. And reassuring the bride, the sister can do a lot. So this time is important for the bride. After this, she will get no peace of mind until the ceremony ends.

2. Always Be Ready:

Brides heavily rely on their sisters and bridesmaids for an emergency. At this point, if the sister shows any resistance then the bride can easily succumb to the stress. So the sister must be mentally prepared to step in on any and every moment. Be it an emotional crisis or a physical mishap, the sister must be ready to tackle it.

3. Point Person:

Between the time of the wedding and the start of the bridal dress-up, there can be a lot of confusions. People may want their queries answered. At this time guests reach out to the bride. The bridesmaid may approach with some problem in their bridesmaid dresses. So the sister must prevent any of the confusion approaching the bride. The sister should become the point person for the bride.

4. Make Sure she’s Fed and Hydration:

Nervousness and cold feet can catch the bride’s hunger and thirst. It is the responsibility of the sister of the bride to makes sure she’s well fed unless the sister wants the bride to faint while she’s walking down the aisle. Also, the sister must make sure that she’s properly hydrated and at ease. Order her lunch and keep a track of her fluid intake. 

5. Keep a Track of her Things and Time:

Brides are too overwhelmed with the function. Because of this they may keep their things everywhere. They may lose their essential items in the chaos. It is the sister’s responsibility to hold on to her things. Like her phone, her charger, her purse etc. 

Along with this, brides may even lose track of time. So the sister must keep the time in check. If needed, she should use alarms. Alarms will remind the sister of the lined up schedules. 

Wrapping-Up:

Bride’s sister is a literal life-saver. She does everything to bring mental, physical and emotional peace upon the bride. The sister should not forget to have fun. To all the sisters and bridesmaids-go get clicked in your amazing bridesmaid dresses.

Think of your bridesmaids as your wedding support group. They are supposed to be there for you when you’re going through the wedding preparations, choosing your bridal gown, dealing with irrational in-laws, and those inevitable moments when you’re having an emotional meltdown. On top of everything else, what you have to remember is that there are many personalities in a group of bridesmaids, so you need to have some tactics on hand to prevent dissent amongst your entourage. Here are some tips to help you handle disgruntled bridesmaids.

Issues with the bridesmaid dress: Each and every one of your bridesmaids is a close friend. Although they have their quirks, you love them for their honesty. But when one of them tells you the dress you picked for them is dreadful, well, what’s a bride to do? While it is your special day, it’s best to work out a compromise, after all, they have to wear the dress, and they’re probably paying for it too. You also don’t want to wreck a long-standing friendship over an outfit. Remember, there is no rule saying all bridesmaids must wear the same, in fact, these days quite the reverse is in vogue. So why not give them some general style guidelines and let them each pick their bridesmaid dress?

Complaints about expenses: A wedding is an expensive event for your bridesmaids, so try to be sensitive to this. They are only going to be wearing the outfit for a few hours, so you can either be considerate about the price – perhaps think about pre-owned dresses – or allow them to wear outfits that they would be able to wear again. Be reasonable and work within their budget. This is probably something you should discuss at the beginning to avoid conflict later on. Try mitigating other expenses too by paying for half of some things, such as shoes and jewelry.

Problems with bridesmaid’s duties: The friends you choose to be in your bridal entourage may or may not have been bridesmaids before. If one or more of them hasn’t, they may not be aware of the duties and responsibilities that are expected of them. The best way to get around this is to have your maid of honor talk to them at the outset. That way responsibilities such as help with invitations, organizing a bridal shower, booking the hen party, and helping with the flowers are all allocated fairly from the get go. If for some reason, one of your bridesmaids really doesn’t have time to manage all this, it gives her an opportunity to say so. Down the road, if you feel that one of your bridesmaids is not stepping up to the plate, it’s important that you talk to her about it honestly, without being accusatory or laying blame. She may after all have genuine reasons for her behavior, it’s best to clear the air and move on.

Keep these tips in mind for handing your bridesmaids, but most importantly, have fun with your girlfriends and let them help you make your wedding day perfect.

Phoebe Harrison has worked as a wedding planner for a few years now and loves her job so much! Her articles have tips and tricks for brides-to-be and appear around the web.