You’ve said “I Do”, so congratulations are in order. You’re about to set a date, but have no idea where to have your reception. What newly engaged couples need to realize is that deciding on where to have your wedding is probably the most difficult decision you will have to make with regards to your special day. Hopefully, the following checklist will help and will help you find great cheap wedding favors.

The following questions are a good guideline which will help include and eliminate venues. Before answering any of these, make your own “must have” checklist which will narrow down your possibilities and will help you find awesome bridal shower favors.

1.Will the ceremony be at a Church/Temple/Other or on the venue's property?
2. How large must the venue be - for 50 people or for 500?
3. Will it sit at least 30-40% of that number comfortably for the ceremony?
4. Do you want everything in one place to greatly diminish the need to drive?
5. Does the venue have guest accommodations for your out of town guests?
6. Do you want an early wedding to be able to have more time in the evening to yourselves?
7. Do you want an evening wedding to be able to have more time to prepare during the day?
8. Does the venue have a place for guests to be able to retreat away from
the festivities to be able to sit and talk? Do you even want that?
9. Does the venue have its own caterers, or are you able to bring in your own?
10. Does it supply the wedding cake? What else does it include? Also, do you want personalized wedding favors or just regular ones?

Of course, if you are possibly having a destination wedding, then you have to apply the same checklist to that specific location. But please remember, the customs of different countries, varies, so be aware when you are speaking to your destination wedding planner. Always check and double check the above list if your wedding is out of the country. The miles between you and your wedding venue can cause for some last minute upsets.

And obviously, don't forget to stay within your budget. It doesn't matter how beautiful the place is, if you cannot afford it and will spend years paying it off, it just isn't worth it. And also, remember to enjoy the process. It goes by so quickly, that sometimes we forget, these are the most memorable moments of our lives.

So many couples complain, right after their wedding day, that they totally missed their wedding. They feel like they’ve been robbed. They spent most of the day (especially with large wedding receptions) greeting, speaking to and hugging and thanking their guests. Suddenly the day is over. What happened? Hopefully this will help clear your mind and rid you of the ‘guest guilt’ that plagues so many wedding receptions. What could possibly help is to have edible wedding favors greet them at the door!

First of all, have a receiving line after the wedding ceremony. This may seem like a nuisance right now, but you will be glad that is over and done with on the day of your wedding. Also, when you get to the reception, do not greet people immediately. Enjoy your time with your new spouse. Take in the sights, the smells; listen to the sounds of people, enjoy the music. The day will be over before you know it and if you have candles wedding favors lighting up the room, it will help even more to relax you.

Your day will be spent with others telling you what to do and where to go. If you’re not ready to cut the cake or have that first dance, say so. Please remember, it is your wedding. Now of course you can’t put it off forever, or you’ll never get to it and have that part missing in your photos and video. But show people around you, right from the first dance, that this is your day and you and your loved one are going to make sure that you enjoy it.

Guests are wonderful people for the most part. But they, more than anyone, forget that it really is your wedding and that they are not the only people there. They will walk up to your table while you are having an intimate conversation as a couple and intrude. If this happens, I would very nicely look up, smile and ask them if they could come back in a few minutes. And give them their beautiful inexpensive wedding favors and they will be happy.

When you feel it is the right time, greet the guests that you didn’t see at your ceremony, but don’t get caught up in useless conversation. Before you know it, hours will have past and you didn’t even enjoy your own wedding.

One idea we used on a wedding I was the consultant, was to put wedding riddles, puzzles and games on each table as well as a wedding camera. We added a note for the guests to please take many pictures of themselves for a keepsake for the newly married couple. Also, another way to keep guests occupied so you can enjoy yourself is with a great band or DJ that encourages your guests to get involved on the dance floor.

More than anything, you have to remember that this is your special day. It’s not your guests. They will have forgotten it in a few days, but you will remember the highlights and lowlights of this day forever. Be polite but do not forget that you have but a few short hours to enjoy this day and it will be one forever.

You’re getting married. Congratulations are in order. Problem is, you have a very small budget but you want your dream wedding. What do you do? Do you end up using a public place on the beach and get some nice beach wedding favors?

Honestly, even though the average wedding budget today, exceeds $20,000, what do you really have to have to get married? Well, first and foremost, you need the person who is going to marry you. Secondly, you need an Officiate. And last but not least, you need witnesses. Just that will get you married. But I’m sure, when you are dealing with a budget, that’s the last thing you want to hear. And probably another thing you don't want to hear is that your guests really would love to have cheap personalized wedding favors.

First problem people have is that they have a pre-conceived idea of what they want and not what they can achieve with their budget. Don’t begin by making a list of all the items and pretty extras that you have to have. Start with the basics and then build from there.

Make a list of the people you absolutely “have” to invite. Bring it down to just your immediate family and close friends and relatives if you have to. And a very novel idea is to have two celebrations. Have one on the exact day of your wedding and another one as a house-warming, wedding party which someone can give you “after” your married. This is becoming very popular and everyone understands. More than likely, they’ve been in this same situation. And some people even do this for their Bridal Showers and they then give their guests bridal shower favors.

Another important idea is to read forums. The ideas that exist on them are endless. You’ll “talk” with people who are in the same financial situation and have amazing ideas to help you. Thousands of dollars can be saved with just a few money-saving ideas you get from making these new friends.

Lastly, decide what you can do yourself, or have friends do for you. For example, a friend, as a wedding gift, can be the photographer for the day. Another can be the videographer. Instead of a sit-down dinner, have a buffet or even hors d’oeuvres and desserts only. Borrow your wedding gown or even rent one. Use balloons instead of flowers and buy a “how to” book on how to make balloon arches, etc.

The saying, “where there’s a will, there’s a way” is very true. If you sit down with your future spouse, family and friends and explain the situation, everyone will help. Just remember, because you have a strict budget does not mean that you will not have a beautiful wedding. Some of the most touching, precious moments I can remember were at weddings which cost very little money. And anyway, what is more important is your new life ahead, not that one day. Learn to work with what you have and it will be beautiful.

If you are like most people the wedding music that will be used during your marriage ceremony is very important to you - but you may not have a clue how to go about selecting your wedding songs!

Beautiful wedding music performed during your wedding ceremony and reception will sweep your guests into your event and make them feel part of it all. Choosing proper wedding music can be a difficult task. There are many types of music to choose for your wedding. Trying to please all will be hard because not everyone shares the same taste in music thus leaving you in an awkward situation. Pick music that you like.

Before you begin searching for the best wedding musicians it is recommended that you first develop a storyboard of any wedding music that you feel will capture the right mood of each step of your wedding as it happens, and make a list of those songs you want to play during each phase of the wedding.

Many couples select music that will enhance a special theme that they have chosen for their wedding such as Baroque, New Age, Classical, Jazz, 1920s etc. Often chateau wedding brides chose baroque music and sometimes to carry the theme through they have the musicians dress in baroque costume. It is a very nice touch and incredibly romantic.

Brides who are marrying for the second time or more often select a less formal musical selection. The music you choose can, depending on the formality of your wedding, be an additional means of expressing your feelings for each other.

An important factor in choosing your wedding music is the setting for your ceremony. The music you choose will be determined by the nature of your event (religious or civil; formal or casual), your own musical tastes, the attitude of your officiator and the abilities of your musicians.

If your ceremony will not be in a religious setting, you can choose just about any kind of music you like — although you will want to stay within the bounds of good taste! Popular songs can date very quickly. So ask yourself: Will the music I choose from my wedding today be the memory I want in the years to come?

On the other hand, if your ceremony will be in a church or synagogue, or conducted by a clergy person at another location, you will probably need to stay within guidelines set by the clergy person or the church. Some churches limit music choices, so before you start choosing music, check with your clergy about any restrictions that may be in place. Most religious denominations consider a wedding ceremony to be a form of worship service.

For this reason, churches generally do not allow "secular" music (non-religious popular music) during a wedding. Some will allow secular music while the guests are being seated, but not during the ceremony itself. Check with the church where your wedding will be held for its specific guidelines.

What about the instrumental-only music for your wedding ceremony? Your choices here may include a string quartet, a harpist, the church organist or pianist, or other instrumentalists.

A string quartet is a perennially popular choice for larger weddings, and with good reason. The great attaction of a quartet is that they have a very wide repertoire ranging from classical to jazz and, requiring no electricity, can easily be moved from place to place - useful if the weather turns! For something different you could ask for them to be dressed in baroque costume which would be stunning if you are hiring a heritage property like a wedding chateau.

You may be allowed to select some pieces for the prelude, one piece for the processional where the bridal party enters, another for the bride's processional, and another for the recessional.

Prelude:
This is the music played while the guests are being seated and sets the mood as people arrive, and is usually soft background music.

Processional:
The processional music is played while the wedding party and bride walk down the aisle. If the wedding party is large, some brides opt to have 2 pieces–one for the wedding party, and one for the entrance of the bride (such as the traditional 'Here Comes the Bride'). The first notes of the processional music announce the arrival of the Bride and inform the guests to stand! Music for the entrance of the Bridesmaids is usually more formal, and presented at a higher volume than the pre-ceremony music.

The best processionals are pieces that can be performed at a even walking tempo and that can be easily ended at various points during the performance. This allows for different sized wedding parties, the length of the distance they have to travel, and the speed at which they walk.

Here is a tip.Try the processional music out at home. Measure the distance from the back of the aisle to the altar and practice walking the length with the music playing. This way you will know if your selected song is a bit too short or way too long. You don't want to find yourself standing at the altar waiting and waiting for the number to finish any more than you want to have the music run out while the bridesmaids are still making their entrance.

Some of the most famous of wedding repertoire include such pieces as Mendelssohn's Wedding March, Handel's joyful Arrival of the Queen of Sheba and Canon in D by Johann Pachelbel. These all sounds great on the harp, or a string quartet or violin and cello duet and can be easily tailored any length necessary. Their mood is gentle and flowing.

Here Comes the Bride by Wagner is a traditional wedding march best used for the entrance of the bride only. Its mood is majestic.

Wedding March by Mendelssohn is the another traditional wedding march. It also works on the harp and can be used solely as the bride's music. Its mood is grand and majestic.

Processional by McDonald As its name implies, this piece was specifically written to be played as a processional and is an upbeat and joyous processional.

Others couples prefer to choose popular music that is meaningful to them. You don't have to include a march as your wedding processional, you can walk down the aisle to your favorite song if permitted by your church.

Recessional:
The recessional music is played as the bride and groom, wedding party, and wedding officiate walk back out down the aisle. The music is usually upbeat and celebratory, and does not have to be very long. It is often accompanied with the ringing of church bells or chimes.

Mendelssohn's Wedding March and Processional by McDonald also work fantastically as recessionals and not just as processionals. Recessionals give the ceremony that traditional feel.

You may also have solos during your wedding ceremony. The musical version of the Lord's Prayer by Albert Hay Malotte can take the place of the congregation reciting the prayer aloud, and can be played solo or as a duet with a singer. Ava Maria is a nice touch when signing the register.

Postlude music is a nice touch if the wedding couple are meeting the guests in a reception line as they leave the church.

Now you have selected what you would like played at your ceremony you need to find the musician/musicians.

Consider:

- ask about their price and how many hours that entails

- ask if you will be charged travelling and their valet parking

- ask about cancellation policy

- their familiarity with the church, chapel and their music protocol and also that at your selected wedding venue, or wedding chateau . If they have never played their before do not be too concerned as all of this can be established with a site visit and a phone call or two.

- what will they wear? Elegant suits for the gentlemen and long gowns are the traditional attire and make them pleasing to the eye as the music is to the ear.

- can you have a recording of their music to sample their style. Some quartets may even provide you with a CD of your chosen wedding music, giving you a wonderful keepsake that can act as a personalized wedding favor or help you relive those romantic special moments.

- how loud will the music be. It should be loud enough to be heard, whilst not being so loud as to intrude upon the conversation of your guests. The "right" choice will depend on your own taste and the number of guests.

- ask for references. First hand knowledge of how an ensemble, looked, played and behaved is the best way to guarantee that your choice is the right one

After the ceremony it is nice to have music continuing throughout the wedding breakfast at your wedding chateau.