planning your wedding

Wedding Planning Articles

Budgeting for your Wedding (Part 1)

Published by TheWeddingSite.com - All about getting married in Malta

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Getting married?  Better to be a Certified Public Accountant, unless you’ve got some seriously super smooth ninja budgeting skills, yourself!  We know that keeping track of the Euros for your special day is not exactly a piece of (wedding) cake, however, it needn’t be the kind of dreary, daunting task, that puts a damper of your excitement about the festivities.

 

Never fear, TheWeddingSite.com has listed some great tips which can go a long way towards (financially) preparing you (and your cheque book) for the big day.

 

  • Save and plan ahead.
    As the old adage goes, failing to plan is planning to fail. This is especially true for financial planning. Weddings involve a major expense, which is conveniently rationalised under the guise of celebrating a major life event. Moreso when you’re getting married in Malta, where local weddings are traditionally extended well beyond colleagues, friends and family. So think smart and think ahead. Putting a little money away is especially smart, if your idea of a wedding is a thinly-veiled excuse for a splurging extravaganza of glittering opulence.

 

  • Reality check.
    Notice the gap between what you want and what you can actually afford. Be brutally honest with yourself and forget about the white horse-drawn pumpkin carriage. Leave that to Cinderella – or her modern-day less classy, bustier equivalent – Katie Price. This is the time to consider the musts first and then – if you have enough funds left over, go for the wants!

 

  • Socrates (who is pretty much credited for being one of the fathers of philosophy) once said that what screws us up most in life is the picture in our head of how it’s supposed to be. Same applies to weddings. Be brave and throw all your shoulds out of the window. Focus on those ideas which you can materialise in this particular version of reality, and not some mystical parallel universe, yet to be discovered.

 

  • Discuss
    Psychology Today ranked financial problems and related stresses as one of the main culprits of relationship problems, and also divorce. This makes discussing the wedding budget openly and directly with your partner a critical task. This is a time for those uncomfortable conversations about who will be contributing what to the wedding and what say they will have in the event. And yes, here goes the analogy of the band aid… It’s more painful to peel it off gently, so rip it off and be done with it. Just remember to be considerate towards your partner’s feelings.

Continue to Part 2 >>

Wedding Planning Articles

Budgeting for your Wedding (Part 2)

Published by TheWeddingSite.com - All about getting married in Malta

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Read Part 1 >>

 

  • By far, the majority of the expenses of getting married in Malta will be eaten up by the catering, bar and venue – so make sure you allocate at least 50% to those. The dresses, suits, transport, flowers, cake and the photographer will be the remaining main elements which you need to list and track.  For a list of wedding service providers in Malta visit our Wedding Suppliers list.

 

  • Here’s a real nifty trick to keep up your sleeve; factor in a reserve fund of around 7% into your budget. That way if you go slightly too wild on the spending, you can gently reel yourself in, with composure and without jeopardising the entire event.

 

  • Thinking about a 700 person wedding on a Euros 15,000 budget? Nope – you’re not thinking. Day dreaming is what we call that! The guest count is the single item which will have the biggest impact on your wedding budget. So you have ample reason to strike off out that nasty second cousin, twice removed from your guest list. You never got on with her anyways, right?

 

  • Your wedding is all about you two as a couple– it’s a salient moment in your lives, the memories of which will be treasured for years to come. This is all the more reason to be sensible and ditch all notions of the silly pre-wedding stage photo shoots which will no doubt be cheesier than a triple cheese sandwich, in ten years’ time!

 

  • Amid all the latter day options for wedding styles, surely you can get creative and find something to suit your personality, taste and budget, nonetheless. And this could be just what gives your wedding that special touch of authenticity and memorability.

 

  • Flight of fancy: If all else fails and the numbers simply don’t add up, you can always elope and spend the money on an epic fairy-tale like honeymoon!

 

Wedding Planning Articles

Getting Started

Published by TheWeddingSite.com - All about getting married in Malta

getting started

You’re getting married…  Congratulations!  Naturally, at the back of your mind is the image of an unforgettable wedding, in the most positive sense of the word, of course. Maybe you would even go as far as to dream that your wedding will be unique.

 

And why not? After all, for most of us, preparing for our wedding day is still a first time experience, an incredibly measured one, that we find ourselves comparing with our parents’ and siblings’ weddings. But it’s not theirs, it’s yours and it has to be done right.

As soon as we decide to get married we know that there’s probably a mammoth task ahead of us and it is this planning, that can, in some cases, take years to complete. So quite understandably it is a major part of one of the most important experiences of our lives.

The lead-up to the wedding day is packed with preparations that must be seen to in immense detail and it all comes in the midst of the day-to-day commitments of the couple, together with those of their friends and relations. Typically, the couple relies heavily on others for ideas and practical ‘know-how’.

Nowadays, you can hire a wedding planner to help you make the right choices.  This is a person who offers expert advice about current trends and protocol plus long-standing traditions.  This person can procure the best deals, sparing you the time-consuming hassle of shopping around and evaluating what’s on offer at the time.

However, for those preferring to do the planning themselves, TheWeddingSite.com has compiled several planning tips to help you avoid drowning in the hidden depths of it all.  In a nutshell, try to plan well in advance and make provision for every detail, no matter how small.

Let the countdown begin … Follow our Step by Step Wedding Planning Guide

See all Wedding Planning Articles >>


Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the correctness of this information, TheWeddingSite.com cannot be held responsible for an ommisions or incorrectness in the information provided. When in doubt please consult a professional in the field.


Wedding Planning Articles

What to DO for a Perfect Wedding

Published by TheWeddingSite.com - All about getting married in Malta

what to do for a perfect wedding

Want to make sure your wedding planning runs smoothly?  Follow these top must know tips for your perfect wedding in Malta.

  1. When it comes to agreements with wedding service providers, get everything in writing. This will eliminate any misunderstanding with regards to what was paid for and what you will get in return.
  2. Shop for your wedding shoes late in the afternoon because your feet swell during the day.  It might also be a good idea to buy your shoes half a size bigger. Also make sure you break them in well before the wedding to avoid having sore feet as much as possible.
  3. Whilst you should accept your parents’ ideas, remember this is your wedding!
  4. Remember to give a small gift to each other before the wedding.
  5. Take some time to relax with your partner before the ‘big day’. This would be the last date as an unmarried couple.  You could enjoy a quite day at a spa, a picnic, a candle lit dinner, or anything that relaxes you.
  6. Arrange a hair and makeup trial for your final wedding dress fitting. This will give you a good preview of your entire look.
  7. Prepare a Wedding Day Emergency Kit to carry with you at your wedding. This should include items like lipstick, needle and thread, pain killers, eye drops etc. For a full list of items to include in this kit see this article. (new window)
  8. Make sure you eat on your wedding day.  Just don’t indulge into any heavy meals, but rather try eating lightly throughout the day.
  9. Trust the wedding rings with an adult such as the bestman or maid of honour. The young ring bearer can be given fake rings. Check out a full list of bestman and maid of honour duties. (new window)
  10. At the end of the wedding ceremony give each other a gentle kiss and do not even think about using your tongue!
  11. Appoint someone to ring the church bells as you are exiting the church.
  12. Put disposable cameras on the guest tables and around the reception venue for guest to use. Ask the bestman / maid of honour to collect them at the end of the reception. Rest assured you will get precious pictures to put in your album.
  13. If you prefer the digital option, open an account with a file-sharing website and ask your guests to upload any photos they take to your account. There are also several free mobile apps that specialise in wedding photo sharing. Just make sure you inform your guests with details well in advance.
  14. Make a list of the important group photos you want to be taken and hand it over to your photographer before the wedding. Your wedding day will be full and exciting and this will ensure that you do not forget anyone.
  15. Do offer your photographer and videographer a complimentary meal.  They’ve been out of their home for long hours and will be as hungry as anyone else.  Read this article for tips on how to choose your wedding photographer. (new window)
  16. If you are having a lot of children at your wedding reception, make a kids’ table with colouring books and washable markers. This gives the kids something to do and also gives the parents a breather!
  17. Use your bridesmaids’ bouquets as centrepieces to decorate tables at the reception venue.  Read this for more tips on using flowers to decorating your wedding venue. (new window)
  18. Thank your guests for coming to your wedding and remember to thank your parents for all the support they have given you especially during the last months of preparation.
  19. Instead of having guests sign a guest book, have them sign a table cloth of your choosing with a permanent marker.  On your anniversaries pull it out and use it on your table.
  20. At the entrance of your reception hall have three photos displayed.  One of the groom as a baby/child/teen, on the other side a similar photo of the bride and in the middle, one of you as a couple, for example an engagement photo.
  21. At your reception dedicate a song to the bridal party to thank them for their help and support.  This will surely make your wedding memorable.  Songs may also be dedicated to your parents, special friends, etc.
  22. If you are planning to have candles at the reception, be sure to appoint a person to light them!  Make sure they are in a safe place where children cannot reach and away from curtains and other flammable material.
  23. Have some fun at your wedding. Organise the Wedding Shoe Game.  More details here (new window).
  24. If you are having a seated wedding reception, have some wedding speeches organised.
  25. Freeze the top tier of your wedding cake and eat it on your first anniversary.

Read What not to do for a Perfect Wedding

Wedding Planning Articles

What NOT to DO for a Perfect Wedding

Published by TheWeddingSite.com - All about getting married in Malta

What NOT to DO for a Perfect Wedding

Avoid wedding disasters!  Follow this list of important things NOT to do for a perfect wedding in Malta!

  1. Don’t try to do everything on your own, delegate planning tasks. When it comes to weddings, people will feel honoured to help…so let them!
  2. Don’t plan everything at the last minute, the earlier it’s done the less stressful it will be.
  3. Don’t overspend. Plan your expenditure according to a budget and stick to it … or at least try to keep very close!
  4. Don’t make any major decisions without discussing with your partner first.
  5. Don’t expect your wedding day to be perfect. Expect it to be terrific.  Enjoy it to the full and don’t pressure yourselves to entertain your guests. Remember that your main goal is to get married.
  6. Don’t get obsessed with the minor details, it can really take away the pleasure of planning. If they are such small details, most probably only you will be the one noticing them!
  7. Don’t have your bachelor or hen party the night before your wedding. You don’t want to have a hangover on your wedding day. Have it around two to three weeks in advance.
  8. Don’t rely on friends or guests to photograph or video your wedding. Hire professionals.
  9. Don’t leave for your honeymoon the next morning. Take an extra day to relax before you leave for your honeymoon.

Wedding Planning Articles

Wedding Budget Calculator

Published by TheWeddingSite.com - All about getting married in Malta

The Wedding Budget Calculator

Your wedding day will be one of the happiest days of your life, but also the most expensive one!  Expenses can easily get out of hand if you do not budget appropriately.  To help you in this task, TheWeddingSite.com has prepared for you a Budget Calculator. 



Download the spreadsheet to your device, input all your estimated and actual expenses and gifts in the yellow cells to keep track of all your wedding expenses.

Download the Budget Calculator here