Tips On Staying On Budget For Your Wedding

Every wedding has a budget and it’s a challenge for every bride to keep from over-spending while ensuring her wedding day is exactly as she imagined it.  With the average wedding costing upwards of $30,000, there are plenty of ways to avoid unnecessary costs without compromising your vision.  Here are some general guidelines for staying within budget for your wedding.

• Aim For Fun, Not Perfection: While many businesses stress that your wedding should be your perfect day, we urge brides to focus on having fun over perfection. Budgets will easily balloon during the search for perfection. After all, perfection doesn’t exist, but fun most certainly does.  We’ve found that the happiest weddings happen when people don’t worry about planning out every detail to perfection, but rather embrace their big day as a chance to have the most fun of their lives!
• Ask Plenty of Questions: When dealing with the various vendors that come with holding a wedding, be as thorough as possible in getting all the information up front.  Make sure that the prices you are being quoted are the final prices, and that there are no extra fees or taxes hiding around the corner that could end up costing you.
• Cheap Can Cost: While there is nothing wrong with being frugal in your selections, do not make the mistake of choosing items solely for the price.  For example, while choosing the cheaper wedding dress might save you money at the point of sale, you might decide at the last minute that it’s not right for you and you require either a new dress or alterations.  After all, you get what you pay for.
• Quality Over Quantity: On a similar note, try to always go with the vendor whose products you like the most.  If they are outside your budget, try to find a way to get them inside.  For instance, if there’s a wedding photographer whose work you enjoy and trust over other photographers, but you lack the budget to hire them for the whole day, hire them for the amount of time you can afford so that you get the wedding photos that you want.
• Ask Us: With plenty of experience planning hundreds of weddings, we here at Nanina’s have the know-how to help you pick the best vendors without breaking your pocket book.  We are here to ensure you stay within budget without sacrificing quality.

With these principles in mind, you can get the best of both worlds by choosing the quality vendors that will deliver the integral elements for your wedding while still staying within your budget.

What To Do Before Choosing A Wedding Reception Venue In New Jersey

Preparing for your wedding requires plenty of things to plan before the actual wedding, ranging from designing your wedding invitation cards to choosing the right venue for your big day. All of this planning is bound to give you a bit of stress and tension. This is quite common, but handling it in a savvy manner and making your special day successful requires a bit of foresight and know-how that we at Nanina’s know a few things about. Fear not; you can overcome this anxiety just by remembering few things.

To get started planning your wedding, set the date before you start looking for wedding reception venue in New Jersey. Remember, a few of the venues you’re interested in might already have been booked in advance. Hence, you might need to adjust your wedding date or choose another reception venue. It is recommended to have at least three alternate dates for your big day. Another thing to consider is whether you want your wedding to be indoor or outdoor. Depending on this decision, you can narrow down to your choice of wedding venues in New Jersey. Also, keep the season in mind. For instance, if you plan your wedding during the winter, you can actually decrease your budget and you may even earn a venue discount since many people do not arrange weddings during this season.

Setting your budget is essential when organizing your wedding. Without a set budget, you risk spending money on unnecessary things. Also, think about the type of reception you would like to have. For instance, some people prefer a buffet dinner for their guests while others might choose a sit-down meal or even a cocktail party. It is recommended to decide on the type of reception while choosing the venue. Estimating all these things can truly make your event a successful one!

https://www.naninasinthepark.com/2013/04/24/what-to-do-before-choosing-a-wedding-reception-venue-in-new-jersey/

Choosing The Right Time For Your Wedding

You might be debating about the date of your upcoming wedding ceremony, but have you given much thought as to the time of the wedding? Even though late afternoon and late evening ceremonies are quite popular, weddings can be organized at any time of the day you want.  At Nanina’s, we work around your schedule to make sure your wedding and reception are held exactly when you want it to be.

Opting for an evening wedding and reception is a romantic and stylish choice, which reflects the taste of the couple. The bride, groom and even your guests can feel more comfortable and enjoy the party with dance and drinks till the end of the evening. The moonlight also has the added benefit of making people look radiant! When dressed in cocktail dresses and evening attire, attendees will look simply gorgeous.

Planning for an afternoon wedding ceremony can be a great choice if you have a tight budget. You can start the event around 1:30 to 2pm and wrap everything up by at least 6 or 7pm. Hence, you will need a single New Jersey wedding location for the entire event since the reception will be held directly after the wedding. Because of this, you also will not have to spend as much money on meals, which can end up saving you thousands of dollars. In an afternoon wedding scenario, you can serve your guests snacks and fewer drinks than at an evening ceremony.

https://www.naninasinthepark.com/2013/05/02/choosing-the-right-time-for-your-wedding/

How To Do Tasteful July 4th Wedding Celebrations

Are you planning a July 4th wedding? The holiday, with its patriotic overtones and its emphasis on family and togetherness, can be a perfect backdrop for your wedding celebration. However, that’s exactly what it needs to be— a backdrop, not an overpowering or corny theme. Discover how to do tasteful July 4th wedding celebrations that give a nod to the occasion without going too far.  

A Subtly Patriotic Color Scheme 

You don’t have to use the precise hues from the flag in your wedding; in fact, it’s best to avoid that overtly patriotic look. Instead, try subtler shades, like rich burgundy with navy and white, ruby red and sky blue, or cream with smoky blue and dusty rose. Even a simple, crisp white with shades of blue and hints of silver will work beautifully. 

Festive Decor Elements 

July 4th comes with plenty of basic shapes and patterns that you can incorporate into your wedding. You can repeat a five-pointed star motif, possibly using a large wooden star as part of the centerpiece decor for your reception tables.  

If you use stripes, vary the sizes and shades of the stripes so they will hint at patriotism without screaming “American flag!” Tinted glassware, patterned fabric, and rustic elements or textures play well as decor elements at a July 4th wedding.  

Florals with a July 4th Twist 

For your bouquet and centerpieces, talk  to your florist about blue flowers that might be in season and within your budget. Since there aren’t many blue-hued blooms available, you may want to opt for a sprinkling of these flowers within a bouquet made up of mostly white or crimson blooms. Incorporating tiny white or silver stars is a lovely touch; but if you’d like to have a more noticeable festive note, try a bit of bunting or a small flag in each centerpiece.  

Favorite Holiday Foods 

An All-American July 4th celebration often features grilled meats, grilled veggies, watermelon, and delicious desserts. You’ve got the dessert covered with a cake from our chefs or from one of our favorite bakers, as well as other delectable dessert options like tiramisu, cannoli, French pastries, mousses, and more.  

What about the rest of the menu? Can you pay tribute to the holiday while still keeping your wedding chic and elegant? Talk to the event specialists at Nanina’s in the Park and explore the available menu options, along with any possible July 4th-style adaptations.  

For example, our menu already includes a delicious variety of grilled vegetables, including Portabella mushrooms, red roasted peppers, eggplant, asparagus, zucchini, and Finocchio. Our event specialists will help you decide on the perfect July 4th-inspired entrées, cocktails, and pass hors d’oeuvres.  

Important Memories 

As you plan your Fourth of July wedding, you may want to honor someone in your family who has served in the military. Tastefully and correctly displaying a flag at your reception, along with a photo and important medals, could be one way of honoring that man or woman’s service.  

Sparklers and Colorful Lights 

Maybe there were figurative fireworks when you met, and you’d like to get married with the distant showers of colorful sparks in the sky. While you can’t have fireworks shot off at your beautiful venue, you can use sparklers, glowing balloons, or colorful electric lanterns to light your way to the getaway car.  

Who knows— you and your guests may have a good view of some faraway fireworks as you make your big exit!  

Planning your Fourth of July wedding is a team effort, so don’t do it alone! The event staff and wedding specialists at Nanina’s in the Park are happy to help you figure out the best way to honor the holiday while keeping the focus on you and your significant other. Keep in touch as your July 4th wedding date approaches! 

How To Sustain Yourself Through A Packed Wedding Season

Do you have a lot of weddings coming up? Maybe your fridge is plastered with invitations or your home inbox is overflowing with them. As much as you love celebrating special days with your friends, you’re not sure how you’re going to last through the entire series of weddings. Unlock the secrets for how to sustain yourself through a packed wedding season! 

Mingle If You’re Single 

Are you single? Did the invitation not allow for a “plus one”? Weddings are great places to meet new people— and besides the obligatory wedding gift, they’re free to attend! Think of each wedding as a dating game, and you’ll have a lot more fun. 

Even if you’re married or attached, you can look for new friends and interesting people at the wedding. Be sociable, get people talking, and you’re sure to hear some amazing stories. 

https://www.naninasinthepark.com/2018/06/21/how-to-sustain-yourself-through-a-packed-wedding-season/

Father Traditions In Weddings: How To Get Dad Involved

Your wedding day is about more than a single span of 24 hours— it’s also about the important people in your life, the people who had a role in shaping your perspective and character. Whether you have one dad, two dads, a step-dad, or a father figure, you can find some meaningful ways to help that important person feel special and loved on your wedding day. Discover some father traditions in weddings and adapt them to suit your own marriage celebration.  

Naming Your Dad on the Invitation or Wedding Program 

Traditionally, the bride’s parents pay for the wedding, or at least for part of it. As the primary source of funds, your dad will appreciate seeing his name at the top of your invitations, as in “John W. Smith and Jane S. Smith request the honor of your presence,” etc.  

However, most modern wedding invitations place the focus on the couple getting married and may not even mention the parents’ names. If you prefer to leave him off the invitation, include a special mention of your father in the wedding program instead. 

https://www.naninasinthepark.com/2018/06/14/father-traditions-in-weddings-how-to-get-dad-involved/

How To Customize Your Wedding Ceremony

Choosing a beautiful wedding venue, selecting gorgeous flowers, and picking a band or DJ that you love are just a few ways to make your wedding special. You can customize the wedding decor, choose just the right wedding favors for your guests, and select a magnificent menu for the reception.  

But at the core of your wedding is the ceremony itself— the ritual that binds you and your partner together, legally and socially. How can you make this part of the wedding unique to the two of you? Find out how to customize your wedding ceremony with these five tips.  

https://www.naninasinthepark.com/2018/06/07/how-to-customize-your-wedding-ceremony/