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Wedding Reception Tips for Brides on a Budget
(ARA) - The reception is traditionally one of the most expensive aspects of a
wedding. However, by combining personal creativity and ingenuity -- the
foundation of lifestylist Sandra Lee's Semi-Homemade(R) philosophy -- with
inexpensive, ready-made items available at discount retailers, brides-to-be and
cash-strapped parents can host a beautiful wedding reception without blowing
through the entire bridal budget.
"Creating a beautiful wedding environment on a budget is simple," says Sandra
Lee, entertaining expert and author. "By putting a personal touch on everything
from table centerpieces to wedding favors, brides and grooms can save while
creating memories for years to come." While June is still the most popular
month for weddings, according to a recent study by Hallmark.com, September and
October are quickly gaining in popularity.
Sandra Lee offers some great last-minute planning tips this fall for brides and
grooms-to-be:
* If renting a reception tent, create a romantic environment by purchasing
sheering fabric and 2-inch ribbon from a local discount retailer to drape
around the canopy. Create billows of fabric and hang from the ceiling, wrap
around poles, and swag in the entryway.
* Whether throwing an indoor or outdoor reception, flowers help set the tone but
can quickly add up. A typical flower budget is 15 percent of the overall cost
of a wedding. Consider using some of the beautiful and realistic-looking silk
flowers available today intermingled with arrangements of fresh flowers to keep
the romance high and the costs low. The bride and groom can use the silk
flowers in the home for years to come.
* Every bride wants to do something unique at her wedding. Create a dramatic,
sweet-smelling entrance for guests by lining a walkway to the reception venue
or reception tent with fresh rose petals. Also consider renting a bubble
machine, available at retailers such as Wal-Mart, for some added ambiance and
fun.
* Renting both table settings and white linen tablecloths can get expensive.
Instead, consider purchasing clear glass plates from a discount retailer. Stack
the salad plate on top of the dinner plate and place a large leaf between the
two for a very pretty place setting. Buying plates is often less expensive than
renting and the bride and groom can keep them for the years (and dinner
parties) ahead.
* Remember to keep centerpieces either low enough or high enough so guests can
see each other from across the table. A simple cake pedestal adorned with
sugared fruits and a candle makes a beautiful and an inexpensive centerpiece.
Add to the sugary sparkle by placing candles in votive candle holders to
illuminate the centerpieces from underneath. Remember to place approximately
half an inch of water in each candle holder or glass for easy removal of melted
wax.
* For more formal wedding receptions, assigning guests to tables is considered
proper etiquette but that doesn't mean it has to be stuffy. Purchase large
sugar cookies and pipe romantic words like "joy," "hope," "love," and "forever"
on each cookie. Place one cookie in each centerpiece to replace traditional
numbered tables and have your place cards direct your guests to these
romantically identified tables.
* Wedding favors that double as place cards can be made by purchasing sugar
cookies from a local bakery that are iced in white. Pipe each guest's names on
the cookies in colored icing a day or two before the wedding. Place in
cellophane bags, tied with a ribbon, and set at each guest's place setting so
guests know where to sit.
* Handmade keepsakes given out during the wedding reception are an easy and
thoughtful way to thank the wedding party. Create beautiful, unique cards for
the bridesmaids by purchasing simple white note cards, decorated with the
wedding's theme colors embellished with different fabrics or small trinkets
purchased from a craft department. Write a cherished memory or personal note
inside the card, which bridesmaids can keep for the years to come.
* And don't forget the wedding cake, which can be very expensive, depending on
the number of guests attending. Consider purchasing a decorated sheet cake from
a local bakery in addition to a smaller tiered cake. Then marry them together
as one elaborate cake with piping and rose petals. Brides and grooms may find
that bakeries like those at a Wal-Mart Supercenter can make unique and
cost-conscious tiered wedding cakes that are beautiful as well as delicious.
Remember, all cakes are created equal -- flour, sugar, and butter -- so there's
no need to spend a fortune on one.
For more information visit Lee's Web site, www.semihomemade.com, or the online
wedding center available at www.walmart.com which has a bridal registry, cake
ordering forms, budget forms, reception planning guides, and more for the bride
and groom.
Courtesy of ARA Content
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