| "> | | | | areas where you can do things a bit differently |
| For newly engaged couples the first test of | | | | and certainly save money with a little creativity: |
| endurance and commitment can arise in the form | | | | - Catering - ask all your guests to bring a dish. |
| of attendance at a Wedding fair. Whatever size | | | | You can choose a theme or divvy up starter, |
| of fair you attend, be it in a local registry hall, a | | | | main course and desserts to different groups of |
| country house or a conference centre, these | | | | guests or just go for good old pot luck! |
| events can leave you feeling they are designed to | | | | - Favours - an age old tradition to enable you to |
| send you into an insecure panic over the smallest | | | | leave your guests with a lasting momento of |
| of details and make you think you need certain | | | | your wedding day and thank them for sharing it |
| things to ensure your 'special day' is indeed special. | | | | with you. These can range from a few chocolates |
| Before you've even decided on a date or a venue | | | | tied up with a bow to custom to really expensive |
| for your wedding day you'll be worrying about | | | | treasures - there is a whole industry around this in |
| whether three canopes on arrival is enough for | | | | itself. You can get really creative with ideas for |
| each guest, about the quality of the table linen | | | | favours and they don't have to be expensive. |
| and style of your crockery or whether you need | | | | There are plenty of websites advertising favours |
| to hire a vintage red London bus to ferry your | | | | - get some ideas and make your own. |
| guests from the ceremony to the reception and | | | | - Flowers - make your own decorations (such as |
| buy a fountain of cup cakes. | | | | paper decorations and candles) and get fewer |
| These fairs are packed full of suppliers of every | | | | flowers. You can order your flowers online and |
| type, caterers and venues hoping to gain your | | | | get a crafty family member to arrange them for |
| custom. These companies, usually fronted by | | | | you rather than paying the florist. Always get |
| very smiley (sometimes pushy) people asking | | | | flowers that are in season and don't be tempted |
| politely if you are the bride to be, prey on your | | | | to get flowers flown in from other countries - it |
| vanity, insecurities and mostly your wallet. Now, | | | | may be cheaper but the airmiles cost the earth |
| I'm not saying that these wedding fairs aren't | | | | and aren't worth it. |
| incredibly useful for getting ideas, comparing prices | | | | - DJ/ Band - an ipod/ mp3 playlist will always play |
| and finding suppliers, caterers or venues - but | | | | the songs you like rather than YMCA, and you |
| approach with caution. | | | | can arrange a playlist to cover all your favourites |
| Here are our top tips for newly engaged thrifty | | | | (you can even get requests from guests before |
| 30somethings to getting the most out of wedding | | | | the day). You can step up the tempo of your |
| fairs and avoiding the fear factor: | | | | playlist as it progresses in anticipation of the |
| | | | evening as people let their hair down and dance. |
| 1. Stand your ground. If you haven't decided on | | | | - Speeches by the father of the bride, the groom |
| the details of your wedding day yet ask | | | | and the best man - OK, it's really important to |
| questions, get prices and gather all the information | | | | thank people and acknowledge the day but |
| you can. Expect a good standard of service and | | | | speeches don't have to be long boring diatribes. |
| information - these will be the company's best | | | | As an alternative consider impromptu rapid |
| sales people so if you don't think much of them | | | | speech making from willing participants. Do find |
| move on and look at their competitors. Even if | | | | out who's willing before the big day rather than |
| you do know exactly what you want, check out | | | | putting people on the spot and put the names into |
| the competition. If you have seen a cheaper | | | | a hat. Pull a name and 'gong' them if they go on |
| alternative don't be afraid to ask if your preferred | | | | too long - a great ice-breaker for when the party |
| option can match it or if they have any special | | | | gets going and guests who don't know each other |
| deals or discounts available. Many suppliers will | | | | have something to start a conversation about. |
| offer discounts on bookings/ purchases made on | | | | - The bride being given away - go girls, give |
| the day so if you fancy plunging in make sure | | | | yourself away! If you're having a civil ceremony |
| you've done plenty of research first - ask around | | | | the bride can make an entrance with anyone you |
| and look online. | | | | choose or not at all, it's up to you. |
| 2. Have fun and enjoy the freebies. No doubt | | | | - A seating plan - if you want things more |
| there'll be free canopes, cake and champagne to | | | | informal then abandon the seating plan, but do be |
| try. Enjoy it, it is yours to enjoy after all. Don't | | | | aware that it can be nice to get different groups |
| drink too much champagne though, you don't | | | | of people to mix. |
| want to get carried away and make any rash | | | | - Cake - go without or do it yourself. Someone |
| decisions. | | | | you know amongst your nearest and dearest |
| 3. Be open-minded. These fairs offer an | | | | must be a competent cake maker. Make fairy |
| abundance of wedding options but these only | | | | cakes or get all the guests to bring one each with |
| represent a certain type of option. If you are | | | | a personal decoration or message - they can add |
| looking for something alternative then don't be | | | | them to the cake stand to make your very own |
| disheartened, use this as a starting point or a way | | | | fountain of cupcakes. |
| to decide what you definitely don't want to do. | | | | - A wedding reception at all - I'm sure I don't |
| 4. Choose who you take carefully. The obvious | | | | have to tell you that you can just go and get |
| choice if to take your betrothed but if they are | | | | hitched. Once you have given notice of your |
| unwilling, don't spoil the experience for the both of | | | | marriage in your district you can get married 16 |
| you. Mums, sisters and girlfriends can make it a | | | | days later in the UK (regulations will vary country |
| fun day out. | | | | to country so look these up). If you want a |
| 5. Do not be misled into thinking you need a bunch | | | | wham bam wedding, go ahead no party needed |
| of stuff that can be filed under either 'traditional' | | | | and start your married life stress free. |
| or 'icing on the cake'. Some of the following are | | | | |