2022 Iris Bridal Guide

iris

bridal preview

Wedded bliss in

unusual times

2022

Tips to enhance your wedding decor, create a better registry

JANUARY - FEBRUARY

contents

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Millennial money

Wedded bliss in unusual times Put more you into your wedding day Five tips to enhance your wedding decor Simple tips for a better wedding registry

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Millennial Money:

How to have the wedding you want for less

BY SARA RATHNER OF NERDWALLET This one goes out to all you lovebirds who got engaged over the holidays and are now left planning a wedding with zero event-planning experience.

Somehow you're expected to craft a day that's traditional, yet modern. Well-attended, yet intimate. It's about you as a couple, but also shouldn't be offensive to any of your guests.

And most crucially, don't overspend, but make sure it looks expensive.

Sure, weddings are fun, but the most important part of any wedding is everything that happens after — your real life, together.

Don't start that life with credit card debt that lasts until your fifth anniversary.

If you focus your spending on what you and your guests will actually notice, and skip expensive things no one really cares about, you'll have a beautiful wedding without the debt.

ESTABLISH YOUR BUDGET Before you plan anything, set a budget based on what you (and your families, if they're contributing) can afford.

Make every decision with that number in mind, whether it's $250, $5,000 or $50,000.

At its core, a wedding

is simply "a celebration of love," says Jen Glantz, founder of the company Bridesmaid for Hire and an email newsletter called The First Years of Marriage.

"In that celebration, there are no rules. …

Look at your wedding as a blank slate, an empty room. What do you want to fill it with? What can you afford to fill it with?"

REEVALUATE TRADITIONAL 'MUSTHAVES' "This is the biggest thing I have to tell everybody when they plan a wedding: You don't need anything at your wedding to get married," Glantz says. "If you don't want a cake, don't have a cake. If you don't want to wear a dress or a tuxedo, don't."

Here are some other ways to save.

— DECOR: Guests remember the overall vibe, not the tiny details.

"People at weddings are busy," Glantz says. "And when you're busy, you don't see things." Save on decor by renting it or scouring Buy Nothing groups on social media.

Already-married friends may have leftover items they'd be happy to lend or pass along. There are even services where you can share flowers with another couple getting married the same week.

— TRANSPORTATION:

"We're locked into this idea that the big stretch limo will get you to the church or get you to the venue," says Sheavonne Harris, owner and lead coordinator at Events by Sheavonne in New York City. But your guests will be seated inside when you arrive, so that car won't be a part of your grand entrance. Car services also require you to book for a minimum number of hours, according to Harris, so you'll end up paying for time you don't use. She recommends booking a ride-hailing service — yes, just like when you need a ride to the airport.

— INVITATIONS, PROGRAMS AND MENUS: All those paper items you painstakingly select are going to go in the trash. Programs get left on chairs after the ceremony, and menus get tucked under plates after a quick scan. Even your invitations will get only a few months on guests' refrigerators before they head to the landfill. "They just tossed a $10 bill into the garbage," Harris says.

If you want the tradition of paper for a lower cost, skip the menus and programs. You can also find gorgeous paper invitations at certain online retailers for a fraction of the price. Many of these printing companies offer seasonal sales, too.

Everything

— PARTY FAVORS: Please, let 2022 be the year we cancel party favors. Guests leave them behind, and you'll be stuck with 75 personalized beer koozies for the rest of your life.

SPEND ON WHAT GETS NOTICED — PHOTOGRAPHY: Long after your wedding, the only things you'll be left with are memories and pictures. This is not the task to assign to that cousin who took a few photography classes in college. "If you want to put money into something, put it into photography," Harris says. "With photography, you definitely get what you pay for."

— THE GUEST EXPERIENCE: Both Glantz and Harris recommend paying attention to weddings you attend as a guest before your own big day. What made you feel welcome? Guests won't remember that you got married in a picturesque historic mansion, but they will remember if that mansion had only one bathroom with a 20-minute line to use it.

Cut expenses elsewhere to focus on food, drink, entertainment and guest comfort.

— PROFESSIONAL VENDORS: Hiring a friend or doing a task

yourself might feel like a money-saving move.

Harris cautions that unlike a professional vendor, your friend likely won't have a backup plan for when the flower order is late or the sound equipment is on the fritz.

And booking a pro at the last minute because that friend backs out will end up costing you even more.

USE REWARDS CREDIT CARDS Many self-employed vendors don't accept credit cards, but whenever possible, pay for wedding costs with a rewards credit card. Not only can you earn cash back or travel rewards (hello, discounted honeymoon!), but should a vendor not honor its commitment to you, you can dispute charges.

This column was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet.

Sara Rathner is a writer at NerdWallet. Email: srathner@nerdwallet. com. Twitter: @ SaraKRathner.

RELATED LINK: NerdWallet: Sign-up bonuses: How credit cards can help you save on your wedding https:// bit.ly/nerdwallet-creditcards-save-wedding

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Wedded bliss in unusual times (Family Features) During pre-COVID times, wedding concerns like venue capacity had far more to do with budget and vision than with the health and safety of guests. It’s a different world today, but with some careful planning you can still find ways to safely celebrate your love.

As the vows say, marriage is in good times and in bad.

It may simply require some flexibility and creativity to make your dream day a reality.

Enlist help from an experienced coordinator. If you weren’t planning to use a wedding coordinator, the pandemic is a compelling reason to reconsider.

Keeping track of changing mandates and how they affect gatherings, crowd sizes and more is a job in its own right.

Allowing your coordinator to keep tabs on the latest recommendations, and adjust arrangements with your vendors accordingly, may save a great deal of time and frustration.

Be realistic about your invite list. A year ago, it would have been unthinkable to create a tiered guest list and even consider making cuts even after invites go out.

Today, that decision may be out of your hands. Rather than waiting until you get news that you’ll have to make cuts, take time now, with a level head and less emotion affecting your decisions, to segment your list. Determine who absolutely must be present as you exchange vows then expand in increments. Your coordinator or venue contact can help you determine thresholds (e.g., 25, 50 or 100 guests) based on the guidelines in your community.

Understand expectations. Vendors are required to enforce local guidelines, so ensure you’re clear on what measures they will implement on your day.

This may include everything from masks and distancing to whether you’re allowed to use a dance floor during the reception.

Keep guests informed.

If you haven’t already, create a blog or send out regular updates about wedding plans to guests. If circumstances require you to uninvite someone, be conscious of timing and give plenty of notice so travel can be canceled, if necessary. As the event approaches, be clear about expectations so guests can arrive prepared or bow out if they’re not comfortable with what you’re planning.

Make safety convenient.

Providing masks, gloves and sanitizer can all go a long way to help make guests feel more secure at your event. A personalized hand sanitizer holder might even be a practical gift that guests can use and think fondly of your wedding day.

Forego traditions, for now. The pandemic won’t last forever, but while it’s still here, consider skipping high-contact traditions like photos that bring multiple households together or a receiving line where everyone is in close contact. One alternative is to plan a miniwedding (or even elope) now, and save the bigger celebration for later, when everyone can honor your marriage more safely.

Find more wedding advice and tips for daily life at eLivingtoday.com.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

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Put more you into your

wedding day

BY FAMILY FEATURES A wedding day is filled with symbolic tradition, from varied religious customs to the never-ending circle reflected in the rings and the types of flowers accentuating the celebration. Even with all the traditional rituals to consider, nearly every bride and groom can find ways to give their special day some unique touches that reflect their personality and love.

Music sets the mood for every wedding, and it’s an easy place to put your own spin on the celebration. Whether you forgo the traditional bridal march entirely or simply look for an arrangement that gives an updated twist to the classic version, let guests know this isn’t your average wedding by setting the festivities against a soundtrack that lets your true character shine.

The wedding party is intended to be a collection of those nearest and dearest to the bride and groom, who help ensure the day goes off without a hitch and who lead fellow revelers in celebrating the start of

the new couple’s life together. That being said, there’s no reason this group must be limited to women on her side and guys on his, or even that it’s limited to humans – a beloved pooch can make for an adorable ring-bearer, after all.

Photography is an essential element of your big day, but think beyond the images you’ll capture throughout the wedding and reception. Photos lend a personal touch, no matter what your color scheme or theme. Integrate photos of the two of you at various stages of life, together as a couple and with loved ones (perhaps even some you’re honoring in memoriam). You can display these at a table with the guest book, as part of the table centerpieces, or even on the gift table. Or take things digital and load all your images into a slide show set to music.

Make favors meaningful. Forgo more common items like bubbles and chocolate, and instead send a little of yourself home with your guests. Maybe it’s a memento from a place with special meaning to

you both, or a bottle opener shaped like a bicycle to represent the way you met.

Just think about the moments and things that define you as a couple and do some searching online. You’ll probably be surprised by how quickly the options pile up.

Serve up a menu that shows guests more about your life together. Your loved ones can order basic beef or chicken anywhere.

Instead, give them a glimpse into you.

Make your main course the same food you enjoyed on your first date or during another monumental moment in your courtship. Or plan the entire menu around a region that you hold close to your heart.

Weddings are filled with traditions, but that doesn’t mean you can’t put your own touches on the day for a special event filled with memories that are uniquely your own. Find more advice for life’s special moments at elivingtoday.com.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

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5 Tips to

enhance your wedding decor

BY FAMILY FEATURES Wedding days are meant to be filled with love and celebration, and what better way to ring in the new stage of life as newlyweds than with a well-decorated venue to match the joyous occasion. Whether a couple is on a tight budget or picky when it comes to theme ideas, these decorating tips can help add more flair for the big day.

1. Use a natural venue. Many couples choose wedding venues that require immense amounts of decorations, but a venue with organic scenery or a beautiful view can help alleviate the stress. Consider having the ceremony near a garden or beach with enough natural surroundings to keep guests in awe.

2. Make the cake a centerpiece. Wedding cakes are almost guaranteed to be filled with flavor, but they can also serve as a decorative centerpiece for the reception. Choosing a cake topped with flowers, highlighting bright colors and placing it in a prominent spot at the reception can grab guests’ attention while also keeping them eager for a bite.

3. Choose table accessories that pop. Leave guests in amazement as they make their way to their seats for the reception with beautifully decorated tables. Table accessories can be anything ranging from patterned table runners to flowers in full-bloom placed in simple, elegant vases. If you are not having a formal sit-down reception, try using paper lanterns or hanging flowers from the ceiling to create an eye-catching atmosphere to remember.

4. Add classic lighting. At times, finding the right lighting to match the mood of a wedding venue can be tricky.

In this case, less may actually be more. Try opting for a classic candlelit ceremony or reception to create a more romantic setting. This can save both money and countless hours spent attempting to configure elaborate light fixtures, and also provide a timeless feel.

5. Place engagement photos around the venue. With any wedding, you want the day to feel personal and intimate for the couple and guests alike. Consider decorating the venue with engagement photos of the soon-to-be spouses as they popped the question. This can allow the newlyweds to reminisce while guests view those cherished moments and revel in the occasion.

For more tips to prepare for life’s special moments like marital bliss, visit elivingtoday.com.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

Simple tips for a BETTER WEDDING REGISTRY

BY FAMILY FEATURES For some couples, the idea of registering for wedding gifts is an exciting way to start planning for the home they’ll be sharing as newlyweds. For others, the registry is just one more chore to check off the wedding to-do list.

Regardless of where you fall on the love-it-or-hate-it spectrum, most experts agree a registry is a good idea, especially for couples who will be setting up a home together for the first time. Keep these tips and etiquette guidelines in mind to get the most out of your registry.

Take inventory of what you have and what you need. For couples who’ve lived alone or together, the registry may be a way to fill in gaps for necessities neither of you already have. It’s also a good way to begin upgrading the less expensive kitchen items and furnishings you had as college students or singles. Make a list of your needs and wants so you don’t forget any essentials. If you’re still in doubt, request a checklist from the store where you’ll be registering so you can do some planning.

Register for things at a wide range of price points. The whole purpose of a registry is to make it easy for your guests to get you things you’ll like and need.

Part of making it easy is recognizing your guests have diverse financial situations.

While it’s customary to gift the bride and groom, not everyone can afford an extravagant gift, especially if they’ve spent money on travel and attire to attend.

While it’s a good idea to offer modest options, don’t shy away from bigger ticket items that a small group might chip in on together.

Keep access in mind when you choose where to register. Avoid stores that are local or regional if you have many guests who live out of the area. Also avoid the temptation to choose online only options, as some guests will prefer to see what they’re buying. Aim for a mix of large national stores and online retailers.

Plan to block off at least a few hours for an in-person registry. It will take time to get everything set up. Traveling through the store, debating options and making your selections could take longer than expected. Also be sure to ask how you can add to or edit your registry after your initial visit.

Get your partner involved. There are bound to be some parts of the registry

your partner may not care about, but asking for input and making decisions together lets you both share in the excitement. Focus on things you’ll each find useful as you settle into your new home. For example, the person who will be responsible for taking out the trash should get to pick the new kitchen trash can.

Find more inspiration for planning your way to wedded bliss at eLivingtoday.com.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

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