In a dream world, wedding photography wouldn’t be subject to budget cuts. After all, it’s generally the only tangible memories of your wedding that you’ll still have after all is said and done. But good wedding photographers can be expensive, and really great wedding photographers can charge thousands of dollars. For a couple on a tight budget, that’s just not realistic.

Luckily, there are ways to find wedding photographers who will get the job done without charging an arm and a leg.

Do plenty of research. If you can, call dozens of photographers and get quotes from them all. This will give you leverage to negotiate with your favorites.

• Hire a photography student. If you have a local university with a photography department, you just might be in luck. College students are always looking for ways to earn extra money, and you might be surprised at the talent available. But spend extra time on the vetting process with these potential photographers. It’s likely they aren’t aware of the protocol that comes with shooting weddings. Make sure you have a standard contract drawn up and a list of expectations so everyone is on the same page.
• Post an ad on Craigslist. Let the photographers come to you. Post your wedding date, general location and what you’re willing to pay, and the photographers can decide if they want to do the work for that rate. As with photography students, make sure you see a lot of samples, call references and talk to them extensively before booking.
• Skip the pricey albums. These days, most photographers offer albums, scrapbooks or coffee table books in standard wedding packages. Do it a la carte and just get the photos and the rights to the images, then create your own albums for a lot less. This is only a good idea if you’re crafty and motivated enough to get it done yourself.
• Cut the photographer’s hours. Ask your bridesmaids to snap pictures while you’re getting ready in the early morning and just hire the photographer for the hour before the ceremony and beyond. You might be able to shave off some money for only booking for part of the day.
• Realize that wasting money is worse than spending too much money. If you cut back your budget too far, you risk hiring a horrible wedding photographer. Weeks after your wedding, when you finally receive the proofs, the last thing you want is to discover you threw away the money you paid the photographer because none of the photos are usable.

A wedding at home can be one of the best kinds – it’s personal and ripe for creative abilities. But it’s also a tricky process because most homes aren’t set up for the requirements of a wedding reception. If you’re interested in planning a wedding at home, take note of the 5 special needs before booking vendors.

• Is there space? This is the biggest concern. For even the most casual of weddings, you need ample room for your guests to move around. Naturally, a wedding at home doesn’t require a dozen eight-person tables, a dance floor or room for a DJ (Unless you want a traditional dinner and dancing reception). You might not even need an extra-large kitchen if you have a caterer willing to work with your circumstances. But you do need places for people to sit, as well as elbow room so they’re not too close for comfort.If you want a traditional wedding reception, but really desire to include your childhood home in the wedding somehow, then consider just holding the ceremony there and then moving to another location for the reception. You can also hold a separate, smaller wedding event there such as the rehearsal dinner or a post-wedding brunch.

• Is there parking? The problem with most residential areas is that there isn’t enough parking for 100 people or more. If there’s a large parking lot down the street, say at a major grocery store or a shopping mall, direct traffic there, and then rent a shuttle to bring guests to and from their cars. (Check with proper authorities first to ensure no one gets their car towed or ticketed.)

• Can the caterer cook? Making and serving a meal for the traditional number of wedding guests requires professional-grade kitchen equipment. If you don’t have it – and let’s face it, how many people do? – your cater will be in a bind. Depending on the meal, the caterer might be able to make it in another location and then transfer it to your home. In certain situations, though, he or she might bring equipment with that – and that requires space and money.

• Is there room in the budget for rentals? Before really committing to the idea of a wedding at home, sit down and make a list of everything that needs to be rented. Your list might include some of the following:
  • Glassware of all varieties (drinking, wine, martini, coffee cups and so on)
  • Dinner plates
  • Utensils
  • Linens
  • Chairs
  • Tables
  • Dance floor
  • Sound system
  • Tent
  • Lighting

• What about staff? Servers and bartenders usually come with the venue, but for a wedding at home, you’ll have to hire them yourself. (Check with the caterer though, as they sometimes have a staff for hire.) Rather than putting out a call on the Internet though, go through a reputable company that has thoroughly vetted their employees. After all, these servers will be in your home, and you don’t want your grandmother’s silver to go missing during the toasts.

Do you know any other important things to remember for a wedding at home? Let us know and leave a comment.

Planning a bridal shower for your favorite bride? Get the lowdown on the pre-wedding fiesta.

Who organizes this shin-dig?

Since you’re reading this article, it’s probably you. So what role do you fill? Maid of honor, bridesmaid, sister, mother, aunt, loving friend? You name it, she can host it. It’s traditionally given by the maid of honor, but the notion that the bride’s immediate family can’t host the reception has fallen by the wayside. (It was thought that it looked too much the bride was asking for gifts through her family).

When should it happen?

There’s no set time schedule, but three weeks to two months before the wedding is probably the best time. It’s close enough to the wedding that everyone is gearing up for the big day, but far enough away that it’s not going to clash with other important happenings.

Where should it happen?

How much do you want to spend? You can rent out a room at a local restaurant, host it at your church or even at your home (or the home of someone else close to the bride). Naturally, renting out a room outside the home will cost the most money, but it also means that you don’t have to worry about dreaming up (or cooking) a meal for the guests.

How much should we spend on this?

It’s going to depend on the number of guests, the type of food and drink served and where the shower is held. Keep the costs down by serving less expensive finger foods and hosting the party at home. If you have a bigger budget to work with, you have more options to splurge.

The maid of honor doesn’t necessarily have to pay for the entire shower herself. It’s perfectly acceptable for her to ask other members of the bridal party or the parents of the bride to help out with the cost, even if it’s asking someone else to pick up the cake from the bakery.

The timing of the day will have an effect on the budget, too. If you host the shower around a regular mealtime, guests will rightfully expect to fed a meal. If you host it anytime after 4 p.m., it’s more likely you’ll serve cocktails. For the lowest budget, host the shower in the mid-afternoon, around 3 p.m., when you can get away with snacks and nonalcoholic beverages.

Who do we invite?

Think about who the bride would want at her shower: Her bridesmaids, her mother/sisters/aunts, and her girlfriends. You might want to include female coworkers. Anyone who is invited to the bridal shower must be invited to the actual wedding, so it’s best if you pick off the wedding’s guest list.

Do we need a theme?

For any, the bridal/wedding theme is good enough. It’s a lot of fun and add much more personality to the shower if a theme is added, though. Consider these themes:

• Luau
• Naughty-and-nice
• Stock the kitchen
• Casino night
• Cocktail party
• Tea party

Some bridal shower themes, such as the “stock the kitchen” theme, really only applies to the gifts brought by the guests. Others offer opportunities to customize the invitations, food, drink and games.

What about the invitations?

You can pick up invitations at the store and fill in the information, design your own on the computer or order them from an online retailer. Send them out at least three weeks before the event so guests have appropriate time to plan.

On the invitation, it should clearly state the hostess’ name and phone number, the name of the bride, the date and time, the location, the RSVP date and phone number, the shower theme and registry information. If the shower is a surprise, state it in BOLD lettering. Don’t expect guests to just know that the shower will be a surprise, and it just takes one errant remark to ruin the whole secret.

As with everything else for wedding, there’s a “proper” way to seat people at a wedding ceremony. Get the low-down on how to make seating go smoothly.

• Choose ushers prior to the wedding ceremony. An usher is a smaller player when it comes to the bridal party, but it’s still a title of honor. Ushers are usually men, but there’s no rule that says they have to be. Their basic duty is to make sure everyone is seated in comfort and perhaps hand out programs or bubbles. In general, plan for one usher for every 50 guests.

If you don’t have anyone special in mind for ushers, it’s relatively common for groomsmen to perform usher duties prior to the start of the wedding ceremony. At some point, though, they have to head up to the front of the venue, so it’s a good idea to have at least one usher dedicated to seating duties to ensure late-comers know where they’re going.

• Choose sides – or not. Traditionally, the bride’s family and friends sit on the left side and the groom’s on the right. (If you forget, just think about who stands on the left and right up at the altar.) But there’s not really any basis for seating people on different sides. In fact, if one side has invited more people than the other, you might want to spread everyone out evenly so it doesn’t look lopsided. Ushers can ask guests if they have a preference on which side to sit. If not, just give them the best view possible.

• Who goes up front? The answer to this is easy – at the wedding reception, the first few rows are typically reserved for family members (immediate family right up front, extended family just behind them). If you’re concerned about other guests taking those seats, rope them off or place “reserved” signs on the chairs.

• Elderly guests should also be up close for maximum viewing potential.

• Seat the immediate family last. Once the ushers start moving the immediate family down, it signals to the guests that the ceremony is about to begin. You can even choose a special song to play while the family is being seated. Immediate family includes the grandparents, parents and siblings of the bride and groom.

The mother of the groom is seated second-to-last, followed by the mother-of-the bride. While the ushers can seat the mothers, it is often done by their sons (a brother of the bride or groom) or even by the groom himself before he heads up to the front of the wedding ceremony.

So you have any other ideas for or experiences with wedding ceremony seating? Let us know and leave a comment.

As the wedding approaches, it’s appropriate to give each of your bridesmaids a gift of thanks for standing by you on your special day. While it’s not required, your maids will appreciate your thoughtfulness and generosity in picking out a gift, especially if you really take her personality into mind.

Some people claim each bridesmaid should get an identical gift. While there’s no harm in choosing a one-size-fits-all present, the thought before the gift means a lot more if you personalize it for each girl. The maid of honor’s gift often is a little bit bigger because she probably put more effort and money into planning and pulling off the bridal shower and bachelorette party. Before you buy the presents, think about each bridesmaid’s personality and what sort of things she does in her spare time. Take inspiration from that.

The bridesmaid gifts are usually handed out at the rehearsal dinner, right after the bride and groom give their speeches thanking everyone for being a part of their special day. Here are some of our ideas for personalized bridesmaid gifts:

Gift choices for the restaurant critic

• Gift certificate to a unique restaurant in the area
• Membership to a wine or coffee of the month club

Gift choices for the single gal

• All the accoutrements for a girl’s cocktail: liquor, martini glasses, pink cocktail napkins
• A beaded clutch just big enough to holder her ID, phone and lipstick
• A new pair of dancing shoes

Gift choices for the cook

• An adorable apron
• A set of high-end ingredients, such as spices or sauces
• Vintage (or vintage-looking) martini shaker

Gift choices for the accessorizer

• Fun, colorful earrings and/or a matching necklace
• Sexy new pair of shoes
• A hand-knitted scarf, made with love

Gift choices for a spa-lover

• Plush, fluffy robe
• Gift certificate for a manicure or pedicure
• A facial, massage or other luxurious spa treatment
• Delicious-smelling set of candles

Gift choices for the traveler

• Personalized luggage tags
• A quality carry-on tote

Gift choices for the memory-maker

• A set of scrapbooking supplies
• Beautiful picture frame

Gift choices for the beach/pool bunny

• Jewel-crusted flip-flops
• High-end sunglasses
• Colorful printed beach towel

Gift choices for the fitness buff

• New workout clothing
• A Nike+ or running accessory
• Headphones designed for exercising
• Gift certificate for aerobics classes at a local studio

Your honeymoon is likely to be one of the best vacations of your life. You get to revel in your newly married status, sip as much champagne as you desire and relax with the love of your life. Don’t risk a honeymoon gone awry by overlooking a small detail in your plans.

Here’s what you need to know before you go on your honeymoon:

• Do you need a passport? It used to be easy to cross the Canadian and Mexican borders with just a valid driver’s license and maybe your birth certificate. In the past few years, things have gotten more complicated and you will need a passport. If you’re stepping foot on any foreign soil (or sailing in any foreign waters, in the case of a cruise), you must get a passport. Apply a few months in advance to make sure it will arrive on time.

• How’s the weather? If you’re planning to head south during the months of June through November, watch out! Hurricanes could form any time during this time, which is known as hurricane season. Here’s what you should know before you go: August is prime hurricane month for the Florida, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean regions, but not every island is prone to storms. Choose from Aruba, Barbados, Bonaire, Curaçao and Turks and Caicos, the islands that are farthest south and are least likely to be hit by a hurricane. Alternately, choose a cruise – ship captains are experts in steering away from storms, although it might mean a change in ports of call. Just be flexible and open-minded about where you might end up docking.

• Thinking about travel insurance? Picking up a policy isn’t a bad idea to safeguard this important vacation. But it’s not enough to just get travel insurance – you also have to understand what’s covered and what’s not. These policies typically cost about 5-7 percent of the total cost of the trip. That’s not chump change, so look into policies that will benefit you the most. You’ll want an insurance policy that will cover sudden illness, hotel/airline bankruptcy, lost luggage and emergency medical assistance. When you’re overseas, domestic health insurance probably will be of no use, but travel insurance can really pull through in a tough spot.

• Should you hire a travel agent? In the age of the Internet, some vacationers wonder if a travel agent is really necessary. After all, you have access to discount travel Web sites yourself. A travel agent can be a really asset, though, not only by finding you deals that you might not have access to yourself, but also by working on your behalf if something goes wrong. If you book your honeymoon and then the price lowers, your travel agent can refund you the difference. If you show up and, God forbid, the resort doesn’t have your reservation, your travel agent can help. The best part of all? Travel agents shouldn’t cost you a penny. They’re paid by the resorts, cruiselines, airlines and other travel companies. It’s a win-win deal for you. You might even score an upgrade or two by having a really great travel agent.

Nearly every woman in the world has been to the standard bridal shower — it takes up her Saturday afternoon with silly games and some bland finger sandwiches. Banish that sherbet punch, bridesmaids, and concoct a bridal shower that neither the bride nor her guests will ever forget.

Here’s how to throw an amazing bridal shower:

Step one: Dream up a theme for the bridal shower. The first way to distinguish this shower from every other one is by have an twist. These should be full-blown themes that can be applied from everything from the invitations to the food, not something like “stock the kitchen,” which can only be related to gift-giving.

Options range from a casino night to a coed couples cocktail party to a true-blue slumber party. Whatever you do, go all the way — it’s only fun if you really commit.

Step two: Design killer invitations. Take your theme and run with it. Having a naughty-and-nice bridal shower? An red and white invitation prominently featuring both devil horns and a halo is the way to go. Let your guests know right off the bat that this isn’t your typical shower — this is going to be one of the best bridal showers they’ve ever been to.

Not a designer yourself? Find someone much more creative than you selling amazing bridal shower invitations (or custom-designed!) on www.etsy.com.

Step three: Serve delicious food and drinks. Nearly every type of theme can have a counterpart in the food, if you really think about it. That naughty-and-nice theme we mentioned before has a really fun foodie version, with spicy foods on one side of the table and creamy sweets on the other side. A luau bridal shower would see — what else? — lots of pineapple, coconut, and sweet and sour flavors.

Step four: Skip the cliche games. We’re talking about the clothespin game, toilet paper wedding dress game and pin the tail on the groom. We always don’t want to hear someone ask the bride questions about the groom — that’s only fun for the bride and the person asking her the questions.

Liven things up with fresh, non-game activities like creating a scrapbook page of the guest and the bride (ask the guest to bring a picture or two) or having each guest share the funniest memory she has of the couple (keep it clean if Grandma’s around).

Step five: Make gift-opening fun for the guests, too. Sure, we all like watching with jealous while our gal-pal opens up a batch of lovely gifts. But unless the bride is opening the gift WE gave her, sometimes we tend to tune out. A good way to keep guests occupied is with an activity like shower gift BINGO. Give guests each a blank BINGO card with the bride’s name space along the top. Before the gifts are opened, have each guest fill in what they think the bride will receive as a gift. As the gifts are open, each guests marks off what they got right. When an entire row is full, the guest screams “Bingo!” and they are the winner.