How to Plan a Wedding on a Budget Without Sacrificing Style

Do you want to know how to have the wedding of your dreams without breaking the bank? Plan a beach wedding along Central Florida’s picturesque coastline, which offers a majestic setting without rival and the perfect honeymoon built right in. It’s genius!

From a simple, yet elegant barefoot beach wedding ceremony with just the two of you and an officiant, to a breathtaking celebration pulling out all the stops, with music, flowers and decorations…and everything in between – and all remarkably affordable.

Imagine hearts drawn in the sand with a unity sand celebration and keepsake or welcome flags blowing in the gentle breeze, lanterns lining the aisles of a sunset beach ceremony, guest chairs tastefully adorned with flowing fabric to match your wedding theme, a four-post, winged canopy ceremonial arch under which you will recite your vows, music of your choosing both before and after, as well as photos to reserve your most cherished memories

As for your honeymoon…you only need to book a stay at one of the many resort or hotel choices which offer a wonderful selection of amenities to meet a wide array of budgets. Then simply spend your days on a world famous beach, followed by romantic dinners in your choice of the hundreds which surround you and revel in an exciting nightlife beyond compare!

There’s also more good news. Affordable Beach Wedding, Central Florida’s premier wedding planner, can help you with it all.

Wedding Planning Timeline: A Step-by-Step Guide

We plan our trips, house parties and for those of us who are meticulous, we even plan out our days, weeks and months, but planning is especially important when it comes to one of life’s most special days – your wedding…

If you can, begin your wedding planning 12 months out, starting with determining your budget, guest list and choosing your wedding style/theme. This is the time that you also want to choose your venue, bridal party, start looking for your wedding dress (Don’t forget shoes and accessories.) and hire your band or DJ, videographer and/or photographer.

At the nine-month mark, decide on your bridesmaid dresses and groomsmen attire, select your caterer, hire your florist, create your wedding website and registry, order save the dates, gather guest addresses and secure your officiant.

At six months, begin to research your honeymoon, order your wedding cake and mail your save the dates.

By four months out, you will want to order your invites, choose your wedding rings and book that honeymoon.

Three months prior, create your seating chart, order your favors and bridal party gifts, meet with your officiant, book your transport, choose your music, create your wedding day itinerary and schedule a hair and make-up trial run.

Two months before, mail your invites.

One month before, schedule your dress fitting, acquire your marriage license, write your vows and take a venue walk-through.

The actual week of your wedding is for those last-minute details, such as practicing your vows, the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. After all is said and done, don’t forget to send your thank you cards.

If you want your planning perfect, the most important step you can take before anything else is to call Central Florida’s premier wedding planner – Affordable Beach Wedding!

 

Wedding Themes

Pondering what may be the best theme for your wedding? So many choices, so little time. Here are a few popular and equally wonderful ideas you may want to consider…

A secret garden-inspired wedding theme serving high tea or brunch and held in a garden venue or vineyard can be reminiscent of a fairytale with soft linens, delicate flowers, fairy lights.

Nautical weddings are full of romantic adventure. Start with aquatic-inspired invites and wedding attendant gifts such as seashell charm bracelets or anklets. Then serve succulent seafood amidst and sailor knotted favors.

Show how sweet you are on your soon to be spouse with desserts as your focal point. You can serve a splendid cake reflective of your lifestyle. Are you a baseball fan? Make it a baseball-inspired cake. Opt for a boardwalk-style dessert theme with pizza, funnel cake and cotton candy carts. How about chocolate decadence with a fountain dripping of it for dipping fruit, marshmallows and cookies and a table brimming with all sorts of chocolate confections?

Or stick to tradition with a black tie glam wedding held in the evening on a private estate with sparkling décor and lavish floral arrangements.

Go country chic in a picturesque barn complete with farm-to-table catering and rustic décor such as mason jars bursting with wildflowers atop wooden tables.

Central Florida’s majestic coastline is also the perfect place for a tropical wedding theme. Hold yours at a beachside venue with tiki torches, tropical drinks, island music and vibrant colors for attire as well as flowers such as bright pink hibiscus or brilliant orange bird of paradise.

For more ideas, call 386-279-1179 or 386-428-0777 to schedule a consultation with Central Florida’s premier wedding planner – Affordable Beach Wedding.

Wedding Gift Guide

It’s always a safe bet that you will please the happy couple if you choose your gift from their wedding registry. In most cases (if you don’t wait until the last minute) there will be a variety of type of gifts from which to choose at various price points – making the process a win-win.

However, what’s a wedding guest to do if the bride and groom haven’t registered? Here are a few fun wedding gift ideas that might hit the mark…

Williams Sonoma has the cutest mini bottles of different champagnes with their names and wedding date on the labels.

Speaking of champagne, a pair of crystal champagne flutes are a very elegant way to say congrats. You can even add them to the mini bottles above if you want to take things up a notch!

If the bride and groom are more of the local pub type, a set of six really nice beer glasses might hold more appeal.

Another wedding gift idea that is always a winner is a beautiful frame for their wedding photo or to hold any number of future photo-worthy moments caught on camera.

If you’re looking for a unique wedding gift, Uncommon Goods always has something interesting to offer. For instance, a customized box filled with a year’s worth of date ideas to keep the fires of love well kindled or an anniversary journal to record memories for years to come.

Etsy has fun wedding gift ideas too, like Mr. and Mrs. beach towels or a first Christmas together ornament.

Or you could focus on comfort with a luxurious bamboo sheet set or velvety soft his and hers spa robes. In fact, a day at the spa works too!

Local Honeymoon Ideas

Beach weddings are amazing for a variety of reasons. They are beautiful, affordable and, when you plan them in Central Florida, they can have a honeymoon built right in!

Many people (myself included) wholeheartedly agree that there is nothing better for honeymooning than basking on a balmy beach or taking advantage of the wide selection of resorts which can be found along Central Florida’s majestic coastline, but there is so much more!

If its romance you’re after (and who could blame you!), spend the day on one of the many wineries peppering the area, including the lovely Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards; step back in time with a visit to Sugar Mill Botanical Gardens; or stroll quaint Canal Street in New Smyrna Beach in search of the perfect antique or piece of art.

If you choose to hold your nuptials in Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach or Ponce Inlet, you only have to head a little south to reach Cocoa Beach, Cape Canaveral and a host of cruise lines, head a smidge north to walk the historic streets of St. Augustine or, for the playful type, just a bit west to enjoy your choice of America’s most popular theme parks including Disney World, Universal and Epcot.

For the more adventurous, swim with the manatees in Crystal River or take an airboat ride in search of gators. There’s the vibrant nightlife of Daytona Beach and live local bands along lively Flagler Avenue in New Smyrna Beach, exhibits like the Daytona Aquarium, boardwalks, water parks and nature parks galore, kayaking, shelling, paddleboarding…in fact, the world is your oyster in here in Central Florida.

Traditional vs Modern Weddings

We all understand the value of a traditional wedding. Nothing is more symbolic than celebrating and blessing the sanctity of marriage with a timeless event appealing to guests of all ages; and the inclusion of time honored traditions – such as the father daughter dance and something old to remind us of the past, something new to look toward the future, something borrowed to represent how much we cherish our loved ones, and something blue to represent the purity of love – are comforting and symbolic of a beautiful union.

However, modern weddings – offering contemporary elements or an entirely fresh approach – are becoming more and more appealing to new generations, as well as old. Imagine live streaming your wedding and posting it on social media for those who can’t make it or to simply savor the wonderful memories you created? Or how about a QR code that leads to a wedding website? You could also use a hashtag dedicated to your wedding so that friends and family can track your event process and check out all your photos.

Speaking of photos, many are seeking the services of wedding photographers who can accommodate these types of needs. You might even consider a drone for aerial wedding shots!

And, with our changing times, wedding menus are changing too, many of which include vegan options. There are also more sustainable weddings for the environmentally conscious with biodegradable options such as birdseed or real flower petals as opposed to confetti for tossing. Wedding invitations can also be sustainable if you opt for evites instead of printed wedding invites. Evites can also be a quicker, easier, more affordable wedding invitation option offering more variations too!

Wedding Self-care

We’re all so harried these days and when you are planning a wedding things can spiral a bit more than usual and seem overwhelming. Subsequently, it is absolutely imperative that you practice self-care before, during and after your wedding so that you are healthy throughout your nuptials and you can thoroughly enjoy what may just be the most special day of your life!

Here are some tips to help you through it all. First (and this cannot be emphasized enough), plan, plan, plan! What I’m saying is that the further in advance you start planning and the more planning that takes place prior to your wedding, the smoother the entire process will go. Now, of course we are biased, but it truly is a great idea to employ the services of a quality wedding planner to ensure that all the days leading up to your wedding as well as the ceremony itself and your reception are all effortless and joyful for you.

Next, don’t forget that the days leading up to your wedding can become a whirlwind of events and responsibilities. However, this is one of the most important times of your life, one which should be savored. So, take the time with you, your spouse to be and your besties to relax and enjoy it. Make your cake tasting a fun date, dance until you can’t dance any more when you are checking out bands for your bash, and schedule a spa day with your bridesmaids to buff and bubble it up and rejuvenate your soul.

Then, when your wedding day arrives, take a breath and revel in the moment. This day is yours and should be relished with your whole heart and soul. Afterwards, kick off those shoes, dig your toes in the sand and take pleasure in knowing your wedded future is only just beginning.

Health & Safety Tips for a Beach Wedding

The first thing that comes to mind when we think of a beautiful beach wedding may not be health and safety, but in a venue which can be affected by Florida sun and heat, we have to take it into consideration. So, here are some tips to keep you and your wedding guests safe and healthy throughout your nuptials!

Sunscreen

First-off, for skin that may be exposed to the UV rays a little longer than usual, sunscreen is vital. Some couples even provide gift bags containing tiny tubes of it at the sign-in table for their guests.

Hydration

For any day at the beach, wedding or not, proper hydration is certainly key. Having bottles of cold water on hand for you and your guests is definitely a good idea.

Dress for Success

Wearing breathable fabrics, such as cotton, to a beach event is also a great step to take if you want to keep cool. Don’t forget that appropriate shoes, such as flats, can also help you navigate the sand and keep you more comfortable for the duration.

Shade

A shady respite, especially for elderly guests is also a welcome addition to any beach wedding. Consider a strategically placed canopy to keep your guests cool and comfortable.

Weathering the Day

Of course you will want to watch the weather and respond accordingly to keep you and everyone you love safe on your special day.

Cute RSVP Ideas

You can set the tone for your wedding celebration with so many things, like whether it is formal or casual, with your décor and the colors you choose. Oh but wait, you can also set the stage for your special day with your RSVP!

While you can certainly use photos, seasonal graphics or beautiful scripty fonts to convey your wedding theme, you can also make your potential guests laugh or give them an enormous case of FOMO!

For instance, you could give funny reasons for accepting or declining your wedding invitation such as:

Of course I will attend because there is cake; because someone always does something ridiculous at a wedding and I want to see; or because (fill in the blank) is making me go. Your decline to come options could be something like, I cannot attend because I am a lame or I cannot attend because I am not lame.

Or how about, I can’t wait to attend, I can wait, but will attend or I regretfully decline or I am marginally bothered that I will not be able to attend.”

I personally like this one, I will be there with my party pants on; I will attend, but will not be wearing party (or quite possibly any) pants, I am not coming because of this whole party pants thing and what are party pants?

You can even have fun with your meal choices by having your potential wedding guests check off a picture of a cow or a chicken. Of course, it is always a good thing to be nice, so you could opt to say something like, “We can’t do it without you,” or “Nothing would make us happier…” You can also choose an elegant tact and ask them to simply please accept or regretfully decline your wedding invitation.

For more RSVP ideas or any wedding ideas, feel free to set up a consultation with the Daytona area’s premier wedding planners – Affordable Beach Wedding.

Budget-Friendly Wedding Ideas That Don’t Sacrifice Style

There are so many ways to save money when you are planning a wedding, from opting for a brunch instead of dinner, to using your own playlist instead of booking a band.

Reception venues can get pricey. So, getting creative with your wedding venue can be much easier on your pocketbook too. For instance, what about a fancy, outdoors afternoon tea? Or…

There’s gorgeous foliage in Florida. So, why not take advantage with a garden party? From a casual affair to a formal evening event, a garden party can be whatever you make it. Imagine an expansive, wooden, farm-style table topped with colorful, fruit filled pitchers of sangria and strewn with wildflowers. Showstopping! 

Or your wedding, wedding reception or both could be held in a local park that is not only brimming with nature’s majesty, but may hold special meaning for you.

Instead of spending a fortune on a designer gown, there are also some stunning secondhand vintage dress options available. Plus, you might want to scale back your guest list to just close friends and family. 

Don’t forget that the Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach and Ponce Inlet areas offer some of the world’s most beautiful beaches…and fortunately, Affordable Beach Wedding, Central Florida’s premier wedding planning company, provides a wide array of cost-effective beach wedding packages from intimate occasion to an elaborate celebration.

In fact, the experienced professionals at Affordable Beach Wedding can manage your event from start to finish – no matter what the venue or details! Call 386-428-0777 to learn more.