Monday, December 11, 2006

Selecting wedding facilities

Many people say a lot of fuss is made over an event that lasts one day and is over with the blink of an eye, but with a few simple touches this day becomes so much more than momentary bliss.

Location - This may be something of importance or may not matter to you. These days, however, more and more brides send these cards regardless of the time and location of their wedding. The only information you must include is your names and wedding date, although I suggest including location information as well so wedding guests can begin their travel plans.

You might want to reflect the location of the ceremony itself, in order to give your guests a hint where they are going to.

Church - After you have done that, you have to book a location for the celebration Brothers Caterers will assist you in finding the most suitable facility and a church for the religious ceremony. Although you may have a date in mind, those plans will be quickly altered if either your church is unavailable that day or a favored reception hall is already booked.


Outdoor weddings feel different from indoor ones, and small intimate churches are very different from backyards or cathedrals. Avoid any outdoor shots from 11am to 2pm; everyone will just be squinting. • Would an indoor or outdoor ceremony be more suitable / enjoyable.

Catering - So many elements of wedding planning, from the booking of the reception hall to the catering to the choice of church, hinge on how many guests will be attending, and unless you send out your wedding invitations in plenty of time you may be less guessing at this critical number.
Brothers Caterers can ensure that the wedding facility provide guest accommodations or there are convenient locations nearby.

For your convenience we have added the following article:

We recommend that if possible, both bride and groom will attend all interviews.

Always carry a note pad and pen to write down important information and questions that may arise during your interview.

Actually, choosing the wedding site that is just right for you, is a lot of fun.
Before you start looking, you should brainstorm. As you do, take to consideration your budget, your wedding theme, the atmosphere you want at your wedding, your interests, and your guests.

The location is one of the most important aspects of your wedding so consider carefully what will make yours a special, one-of-a-kind wedding event. You have many option including a do it yourself wedding (friends and family contributing of course.) Following is a list to get you started.
Ideas for wedding sites include:

  • A Home - do it yourself wedding,
  • Auditoriums - usually on a rental basis,
  • Beach - public domain may need permit and or license,
  • Bed and Breakfast - full service,
  • Camp Grounds - do it yourself wedding,
  • Club Houses - do it yourself wedding,
  • Country Clubs - most offer full service,
  • Conference Centers- some offer full service, some are on a rental basis,
  • Convention Centers - some offer full service, some are on a rental basis,
  • Hotel - Ball Rooms - Grounds or - Gardens. A Gazebo makes a wonderful setting for a wedding ceremony- full service
  • Houses of Worship - Churches - Synagogues - Temples - Mosques - etc...some offer full service, some are on a rental basis, some can only facilitate the ceremony,
  • Mansions - full service
  • Museums -some museums offer celebration rooms and may even help with special wedding themes, especially historical - usually on a rental basis,
  • Parks - Great - do it yourself wedding,
  • Patio - Gardens - do it yourself wedding,
  • ranches - usually on a rental basis,
  • Resorts, full service
  • Rented Halls - usually on a rental basis,
  • Stadiums - usually on a rental basis,
  • Yachts or Cruise Ships - full service,
  • You can probably come up with some more ideas.

    Unless the location is your top priority, choose the dream location and a few alternative sites that will be just right for you, so that if necessary you can be flexible. Some location are natural for weddings and offer all the amenities you need. Others rent the space and leave the rest to you, still others are free but you have to make all the arrangements. So, consider your budget, consider the work involved, consider your guests and choose the site that will afford you your dream wedding. The information you gathered, is actually a wonderful preparation for your interviews.

    FULL SERVICE WEDDING SITE and FACILITIES

    These are venues that can take care of every little detail regarding your ceremony and reception. You'll still need to attend to your personal needs. You'll need to attend to the attire, wedding accessories and wedding gifts for each other, family, and wedding attendants.

    SITES AVAILABLE on a RENTAL BASIS

    Many wedding sites that are available on a rental basis. Some provide the space, others provide tables and chairs too while still other provide linens, tableware, flatware and glassware as well. There are also rental based sites that have a working relationship with selected caterers and are familiar with other wedding service providers and vendors.

    PUBLIC SITES

    Public parks, beaches, gardens etc... make great wedding sites and are perfect for do it yourself weddings. They offer you the opportunity to express yourselves in an unconfined atmosphere. Most are free to use but you'll need to do the majority of the planning and contracting. Your first step is to find if you need any permits and or licenses. If you do, obtain them.

    HOME

    Many apartment complexes, condominums, mobil home parke and gated communities have club houses for their residents´ use. So whether you choose to have your wedding in a home or a club house, you'll need to be in charge. Do recruit your family and friends and assign them appropriate tasks. Most will be honored to be asked and excited to be a contributing part of your wedding.

    How to Find Wedding Sites

    Once you have chosen the type of wedding site you want for your wedding, do the following:
    Ask your family, friends and acqaintances for recommendations.
    Attend bridal shows.
    search the yellow pages under the appropriate category.
    Either call or visit the facility and request a brochure specific to weddings.
    You want only the best! Be selective!
    When visiting or calling, were you greeted cordially?
    Were you able to obtain the information you requested in a timely manner?
    Were the people you spoke with helpful? Too helpful and eager?
    Now, check the internet for local wedding sites and go to their websites.
    Do you like the look and feel?
    Does it provide you with the information you are looking for?
    Does it show or tell about unique one-of-a-kind weddings ? Can you find Free gifts, Free articles or Free information? Are they helpful? Did you find a clearly posted name, address, phone and email contact?
    If not, skip it and go to another site.
    Bookmark (favorite) the websites that are agreeable. Place the brochures in a folder until you are ready to choose a few favorites.

    What to Expect of the Representative of the Facility:

    A business card of each person you may work with within the facility.
    A brochure that explains what is offered and any exclusions, rules, regulations and options.
    References
    A tour of the facility so you may check their amenities.

    Questions for the representative of the facility:

    Please note that not all questions apply to all. Each question will indicate what venue(s) it is directed to.
    fs = full service - rb = rental basis - ps = public site

    Are there bathrooms on the premises? ps
    Are there garbage recepticles on the premises? ps
    Are rhere electric outlets on the premises? ps
    What are the hours available for a wedding? ps
    (Most public sites are available only on certain days and certain hours.)
    Is there a parking area close by? ps
    How long have you been accommodating wedding parties ? fs - rb
    How many wedding clients have you served? fs - rb
    Do you offer any guarantees? fs - rb
    Do you have an in-house wedding coordinator? fs - rb
    Do you offer a bridal package? fs
    What are your rates for the different packages and what are the options available? fs
    Can you recommend wedding vendors and service providers your customers had a good experience with? fs - rb
    Do you offer any discounts? fs - rb
    What additional expenses may be charged? fs - rb
    Do you provide an insured and bonded babysitting service?* fs
    How much and by when will we need to put down the deposit? fs - rb
    What is the latest time frame for making changes? fs - rb
    Will you provide us with a written contract? fs - rb - ps
    Does the contract include a 3 day cancellation clause? fs - rb - ps

    * If you plan not to include children in your reception, do not alienate guests who'd rather bring children than miss your wedding. You should provide a babysitting service for such guests.

    Once you made your choice, you need to receive a written contract signed by the person in charge, and dated. The contract must include all of your responsibilities and all of the responsibilities, warranties and guarantees offered by the facility. Caveat Emptor - Buyer beware! Read each contract very carefully, on, under and above the line. Be sure that you understand it fully and agree with all the terms. If you have questions, concerns, or are uncertain, contact them for clarification.
    In most parts of the USA you have 3 days to examin the contract and if you need to, cancel with no penalties.

    Copyrights © 2004 All Rights Reserved Nily Glaser

    Permission to re-print

    If you would like to add contents to your site, newsletter, or publication, we grant you permission to post this Article and forward it to your friends. You must include all copyrights information, keep each articles AS IS with no additions or deletions, (grammatical corrections accepted), actively hyperlink to A-wedding Day and to any links within the article, and post the entire by-line. Set By Nily Glaser right under the title of the article, as a hyperlink.

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    Copyrights © 2004 All Rights Reserved Nily Glaser
    Nily Glaser is the founder of A-wedding Day a very popular Wedding Resource and Information Center, and a discount shopping mall for wedding gifts, supplies and bridal accessories.

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  • Sunday, December 10, 2006

    Wedding on a Shoestring Budget

    Planning

    We at Brothers Caterers.com recommend:

    Start planning WAY in advance. As early as the engagement is officially announced, planning the perfect gown should be your priority. com, your ultimate wedding planning resource. If you have to deal with a budget get some help from Wedding on a Shoestring Budget.com.

    A wedding is suppose to be a wonderland of dreams and perfect memories that will endure through the hardships of life, no one wants to mis-plan their wedding and no one wants to get so involved in planning the wedding that they have no time to enjoy the ceremony. This will matter when planning on decorating and cost effectiveness of what you can afford. By simply planning ahead and carefully selecting your wedding theme you can easily save big money and stick to your wedding decorations budget. The wedding planning staff at www.brotherscaterers.com will be more then glad to help you to have the nicest wedding possible.

    Reception

    Must you have the reception at a fancy hotel. Of course, the most obvious way to save money on the reception is to keep it small. Find a reception location that's free or low cost. We at www.brotherscaterers.com have facilities for any kind of budget.

    We suggest to decide what specific areas or elements of the wedding ceremony and reception do you value the most. Close the bar an hour before the wedding reception ends. Also, booking a wedding venue for your wedding reception well in advance gives you the leverage to try and bargain for a good discount.

    If you absolutely have to invite the 200 odd people you know, then you may need to choose a cheaper venue and think of having a cocktail reception instead of a dinner or luncheon reception but we will help you to make it the most memorable affair possible.

    Guests

    What better way to put your personal stamp on the big day than to leave guests with a memento you made yourself. Wanting your guests to drink and be merry may take a huge chunk out of your budget. Opting for a limited bar allows your guests to choose from a selection that you have chosen with Planning

    We at Brothers Caterers.com recommend:

    Start planning WAY in advance. As early as the engagement is officially announced, planning the perfect gown should be your priority. com, your ultimate wedding planning resource. If you have to deal with a budget get some help from www.weddingonashoestringbudget.com.

    A wedding is suppose to be a wonderland of dreams and perfect memories that will endure through the hardships of life, no one wants to mis-plan their wedding and no one wants to get so involved in planning the wedding that they have no time to enjoy the ceremony. This will matter when planning on decorating and cost effectiveness of what you can afford. By simply planning ahead and carefully selecting your wedding theme you can easily save big money and stick to your wedding decorations budget. The wedding planning staff at www.brotherscaterers.com will be more then glad to help you to have the nicest wedding possible.

    Reception

    Must you have the reception at a fancy hotel. Of course, the most obvious way to save money on the reception is to keep it small. Find a reception location that's free or low cost. We at www.brotherscaterers.com have facilities for any kind of budget.

    We suggest to decide what specific areas or elements of the wedding ceremony and reception do you value the most. Close the bar an hour before the wedding reception ends. Also, booking a wedding venue for your wedding reception well in advance gives you the leverage to try and bargain for a good discount.

    If you absolutely have to invite the 200 odd people you know, then you may need to choose a cheaper venue and think of having a cocktail reception instead of a dinner or luncheon reception but we will help you to make it the most memorable affair possible.

    Guests

    What better way to put your personal stamp on the big day than to leave guests with a memento you made yourself. Wanting your guests to drink and be merry may take a huge chunk out of your budget. Opting for a limited bar allows your guests to choose from a selection that you have chosen with Brothers Caterers.com.

    If you have a smaller budget, you don't need to be afraid that all of your guests will realize it. Wedding favors are small, inexpensive gifts or souvenirs that you present to your guests as a way of saying "thank-you for attending our wedding celebration". The fewer guests that you have, the more expensive your favors can be, if you so choose.

    Dress

    Is it "my guests had the time of their life" or "I had the dress of my dreams". It is reported that the average cost of a wedding nowadays can be upwards of $20,000, so if you have a budget make sure that you stick to it, no matter how tempting the over-priced wedding dress is in the shop window. One good idea is to look around among your girlfriends or are you the same dress size as another female family member.

    A plain dress is often a lot cheaper and with a little thought, a classic, simple style can actually look more sophisticated. Above all, your dress is guaranteed to be unique. Current bridal dress trends suggest brides are turning towards halter necks, spaghetti straps and heart-shaped necklines as a graceful alternative to strapless dresses.

    Using artificial flowers is cheaper than fresh flowers unless you pick them yourself from a field. Tissue paper roses and flowers give off a beautiful look to any decorating style and they are quick and easy to make.

    Bridal

    Many brides wear used bridal gowns for their special day. Shop at bridal stores during an off season and look for one that fits you. com, A place for quality wedding favors, bridal shower favors, wedding party gifts and bridal accessories for a budget conscious brides.


    Cake

    Have your cake (and eat it too) with these budget saving tips:. Size and design are the two main determinants in wedding cake cost. This includes the food, site rental, drinks, cake and favors.

    Instead of a big wedding cake you can order a small one and have a sheet cake to be cut and served. You can use magazines and the Internet to find great recipes for cake rather than spending tons of money on a wedding cake. Or www.brotherscaterers.com can possibly find you a less expensive source for your cake..

    If you have a smaller budget, you don't need to be afraid that all of your guests will realize it. Wedding favors are small, inexpensive gifts or souvenirs that you present to your guests as a way of saying "thank-you for attending our wedding celebration". The fewer guests that you have, the more expensive your favors can be, if you so choose.

    Dress

    Is it "my guests had the time of their life" or "I had the dress of my dreams". It is reported that the average cost of a wedding nowadays can be upwards of $20,000, so if you have a budget make sure that you stick to it, no matter how tempting the over-priced wedding dress is in the shop window. One good idea is to look around among your girlfriends or are you the same dress size as another female family member.

    A plain dress is often a lot cheaper and with a little thought, a classic, simple style can actually look more sophisticated. Above all, your dress is guaranteed to be unique. Current bridal dress trends suggest brides are turning towards halter necks, spaghetti straps and heart-shaped necklines as a graceful alternative to strapless dresses.


    Using artificial flowers is cheaper than fresh flowers unless you pick them yourself from a field. Tissue paper roses and flowers give off a beautiful look to any decorating style and they are quick and easy to make.

    Bridal Gown

    Many brides wear used bridal gowns for their special day. Shop at bridal stores during an off season and look for one that fits you. Contact us to find a place for quality wedding favors, bridal shower favors, wedding party gifts and bridal accessories for a budget conscious brides.


    Brothers Caterers.com
    can possibly find you a less expensive source for aspects of your wedding ceremony.