How to organize a wedding yourself - step-by-step instructions

As we know, everything related to a wedding is quite expensive and labor-intensive.
This is especially true for organizing a wedding, when it is necessary to collect, first of all, more information. Of course, no couple wants to lose face in front of their guests, but deep down they want it to not be too costly.

And in order for everything to go well and without wasting money, we will give you various tips.

Wedding without an organizer: pros and cons

Entrusting your wedding to professionals is simple and convenient.
But it's not always cheap. Therefore, you will have to choose: either give a considerable amount to the organizers, or be patient and take everything into your own hands. If you choose the second option, you can:

• fully control every stage of preparation;
• bring all your ideas to life without prior agreement with the organizer;
• save on the services of the organizer and redistribute the budget to other wedding tasks;
• coordinate details with family, friends and relatives if you want to.

But be prepared for the following:

• organizing a celebration will take a lot of effort and nerves;
• you will have to spend a lot of personal time on preparation (perhaps some issues will have to be resolved instead of a lunch break or right at the workplace);
• you may be catastrophically unsuccessful and fail to meet deadlines;
• An attempt to delegate some tasks to relatives may end in failure.

Therefore, it is better to start organizing it yourself if you are planning to hold a chamber wedding for 15-20 people.

Another important nuance is time. It should be enough. In 6-7 months you can manage to distribute all the tasks.

If you have enough time, energy and cool ideas left, then let's get started right now!

Home wedding celebration

In addition to the traditional banquet, such a type of celebration as a home celebration is also common in the restaurant hall. This is one of the most economical, but also the most labor-intensive options. A few simple recommendations will tell you how to organize a wedding yourself at home.

• First of all, it all depends on the size of the room and the number of guests. If space does not allow, you can do without a toastmaster and musicians, instead choosing your favorite music in the player and family communication.
• You need to decorate the house in advance, since there will be no time for this before the wedding banquet itself.
• You can prepare hot dishes and cake yourself or order them from a restaurant for delivery. Sometimes the second option is more profitable, so before calculating your budget for a home banquet, it’s worth checking with a trusted cafe and delicatessen for the availability of such a service.
• It’s best to prepare salads, cold cuts and other treats yourself. Alcohol and drinks should always be purchased in advance.

Such a celebration is ideal for celebrating in a narrow family circle. It also allows you to save a lot on your wedding.

We plan the budget and number of guests

The budget you are willing to spend on the wedding determines all further preparation points. Decide right away whether you want to celebrate your wedding on a grand scale or whether a quiet family celebration will be enough for you.

By the way! If you prepare in advance, you can save a lot of money by booking early. This opportunity is often provided not only by venues, but also by professionals whom you will invite to your wedding - photographers, presenters, cameramen.

The number of guests also depends on the budget. When there is not much money, the wedding will have to be held without a crowded celebration, limited to a narrow circle of relatives and closest people. If you have the finances and don’t mind spending them, you can throw a stunning party for a large number of guests.

More secrets for optimizing your wedding budget

General tips on how to save money on a wedding:

1. Do it on a weekday or on Sunday - the cost of contractors’ work will be much lower.
2. Share the holiday - go to a restaurant with your parents, do a separate wedding photo shoot, and throw a party in the loft for your friends. Make a small banquet for your family in a restaurant (about 50,000 rubles), a separate wedding photoset (10,000-15,000 rubles) and a party for friends (40,000-60,000 rubles) - here, don’t bother with the decor, the host and the photographer - you and your friends will have fun anyway

Number of guests

Most of the wedding budget usually goes to the banquet, and it directly depends on the number of guests. Think about it, do you really want to see every one of the 100 guests at your wedding? You shouldn’t invite people with whom you rarely communicate or distant relatives just out of a feeling of guilt that they will be offended if they are not invited (which, by the way, is most often not the case - we make this idea up to ourselves). But even if they are offended, think about it - is this so important to you and will it really hurt you?

At the same time, by removing even 30 people from the list, you can reduce costs by more than 100 thousand rubles - after all, the “cost” of each guest includes not only the menu, but also decor, invitations, alcohol, transfer and much more.

When compiling a guest list, we recommend focusing on several questions:

• Is a wedding a celebration for us or for the guests?
• Who can't we imagine our wedding without?
• Which guest do we BOTH want at our wedding?
• Are we following the opinions of others?

Wedding date

Of course, most couples dream of a summer wedding on a weekend - all the guests are free, it’s warm and sunny outside. Therefore, it is not surprising that such dates are wildly popular, and as a result, all services on these days will be quite expensive. If you want to save 10-20% of the cost of the entire wedding, choose late spring or early autumn for your holiday; at this time of year the weather is often as good as in summer, but prices will be much lower.

Not much, you can save about 5-7% in the summer, but to do this you need to choose a weekday as your wedding date - they often don’t have such a rush and contractors are ready to give a small discount.

What should you consider when choosing a date?

• Guest capabilities. Of course, you are the main characters of your celebration and it definitely won’t take place without you, but if there are those without whom you can’t imagine your wedding, be sure to check the available dates.
• Symbolism of the date. Maybe you have certain favorite numbers or a date that reminds you of some wonderful moment? It may happen that on your date the location you like or one of the necessary contractors is busy - then separate the registration and ceremony. There will be a beautiful date on the marriage certificate, and you can celebrate on any other convenient day.
• Free dates for contractors and sites. Sometimes you can postpone your wedding for the sake of your dream venue! If you have a clear idea of ​​who should design/organize/shoot your wedding, check the schedule of the required specialist before setting the final date.

Menu

Soberly assess the number of guests and the food they will be able to eat. The most successful option is to place small snacks on the tables, and guests will choose all other food - salads, main courses, desserts - from the proposed menu. There is no need to fill the tables with a huge amount of food - firstly, this makes the wedding very cheap, and secondly, food set out in advance and for a long time will soon stale and lose its appetizing appearance.

If you don’t know how to accurately calculate the amount of food, ask your caterer for help and advice. Based on their experience, they will tell you what portions are needed so that no one goes hungry.

The same thing with alcohol - no need to pack the car. On average, the best calculation for a wedding is 1 bottle of weak and 0.5 bottles of strong alcohol for each drinker.

Another tip: try not to fuss the night before your wedding. You can endlessly refine the holiday script to perfection, find more and more flaws, and try to think through every detail in a panic. But it’s better to relax and experience this wonderful moment. There is no need to strive for a perfect wedding without flaws - small incidents arise at every event, it is important to be mentally prepared for them and treat them with humor. The holiday should be, first of all, the way you want it. After all, it's just your day!

Action plan 3 months before the celebration

So, you have already decided on the special date. There are exactly 3 months left before the wedding. On the one hand, there is not much time, but it is quite enough to resolve basic organizational issues.

How to make a budget

No matter what the format of your holiday, you need to make a budget in any case. This will protect you first and foremost.

Let's consider all the details that will require the expenditure of funds:

• rent of a banquet hall;
• food, drinks for the banquet, plus cake;
• wedding dresses and accessories for them.
• hairstyle, makeup artist services, manicure, pedicure;
• wedding rings;
• decoration of the hall (balloons, flower arrangements, arches, decorations, etc.);
• transport for the bride and groom, as well as separately for guests;
• renting hotel rooms for guests;
• expenses for bride price;
• photo and video shooting;
• payment for the toastmaster;
• payment for wedding agency services (if applied);
• live music;
• marriage registration (state fee, champagne, refreshments for the outdoor ceremony);
• wedding, if there is one;
• payment for honeymoon;
• other small and unforeseen expenses (they will definitely be).

Of course, no one will tell you exact numbers. It all depends on personal needs, situation, number of guests and other details.

As an example, you can take approximate prices for different formats of celebrations. Let's present them in the form of a table.

Choosing a wedding venue

In the traditional version, marriage is registered in the registry office. But for the sake of originality, couples began to hold the official part more often in more interesting places. To do this, you need to discuss this issue with the registry office employees in advance. Checking in on the seashore will look very romantic.

The atmosphere will be incredibly pleasant for everyone. The beauty of the sea coast will fill your senses with bright colors and give you a good mood. You can organize the whole process even on a boat; this option is no less exciting and romantic.

If you want to get away from the bustle of the city, choose a country house. It is important that the area has good green spaces. If the newlyweds are among the extreme sports enthusiasts, then, as an option, the painting can be planned on the roof of the house. But this option has many limitations, since not all invitees will agree to climb to the heights. However, everything depends on the specific case and situation. The main thing is to follow safety rules.

When choosing a place, young people are primarily guided by their own wishes and level of imagination. But now, when there are 3 months left before the important event, it’s worth taking care of.

Submitting an application to the registry office

It is important to apply early. In this case, you can be sure that the desired date will be free. This formality is perhaps the most important and integral moment of the wedding.

Before you go to write a fateful application, collect all the necessary documents. You will definitely need passports; without them nothing will work. Also, don’t forget to bring your receipt for payment of the state fee.

If one of the spouses (or maybe both) was previously married, then you will have to provide a document on the dissolution of the previous union or a death certificate, if that is the reason for the termination of the relationship. It happens that a marriage is concluded with minors, in which case the parents will need to write written permission for such a marriage. Decide in advance about changing the bride's surname.

The registry office staff will need this information to prepare the document.

Choosing a place for a banquet

Everyone understands perfectly well that a lot at a wedding depends on the location of the celebration. Check out the restaurants in your city and decide what is closer to you and more affordable. After you have chosen something, you should visit the establishment and visually assess its condition and available space.

The main thing to pay attention to is:

1. Is there enough space to accommodate all guests?
2. Please pay close attention to convenience issues. For example, look at the condition of the bathroom, whether there are designated smoking areas, whether air conditioning is installed, etc.
3. Assess the general condition of the room. Immediately think about whether this hall design is suitable for your wedding.
4. Immediately ask the administrator if you can make your own adjustments to the design.
5. Talk about the menu. Write down everything in detail per guest. You may be able to purchase some products yourself, thereby saving your budget.
6. Immediately explain how many people will be present at the celebration. Will there be the required number of service personnel on the specified date?
7. Be sure to check with the administrator what rules and restrictions exist in this establishment. Maybe you will be able to come to an agreement and the management will change some of the prohibitions, for example, extending the closing time of the restaurant.

If you take into account all these nuances when choosing a place, then there is no doubt that it will be ideal in all respects.
Those couples who want to celebrate their wedding in a more extravagant way can organize a banquet outdoors. For this purpose, a tent or canopy is set up, and thematic decorations are placed. You can combine business with pleasure when choosing a banquet place on the ship. Just imagine how wonderful and romantic this day will be.

A boat trip and fun on deck...what could be better?

Choosing a wedding host

It is very important to make the right choice of host for the wedding, since the success of the celebration largely depends on this person.

The mood and festive atmosphere, entertainment program - all this falls on the shoulders of the toastmaster. You shouldn’t wait until the last day; it’s better to start searching for the right person about 3 months in advance. Be guided by the reviews of people you know and your personal impressions of communication.

Pay attention to speech, manner of communication and volume of voice. You yourself understand that a person who has speech impediments, who cannot normally connect two words, and besides, who speaks quietly, is unlikely to conduct your wedding with dignity. If the toastmaster does not mind, then you can ask to provide video examples of your work. In this case, you can really assess the level of professionalism.

Immediately discuss the appearance of the presenter. This is important because a clown costume or similar would not be appropriate.

If the role of toastmaster will be performed by a woman, ask what she will be wearing. There should not be anything provocative in appearance, since, as you understand, attention will be directed to the main heroes of the occasion.

Immediately discuss the scenario, what competitions and entertainment there will be. Make your own adjustments if necessary. A professional will be able to give you practical advice on any matter.

It’s great if the toastmaster has his own personal equipment. And, of course, check the rates per hour of work. Please note that truly talented people will not waste their energy, strength and time for pennies. But the prices should not be too high.

If both parties agree and come to a common understanding, then “book” the presenter without a doubt.

Design of wedding invitations

The preparatory process for the wedding should begin with the design and distribution of invitations.

There is no need to delay this procedure, because the closer you get to the celebration, the more likely it is that you will simply forget about this important detail. It will be quite difficult to arrange invitations in a hurry, and not all guests will be able to adjust their plans in such a short period of time to attend your celebration.

It would be best to send out postcards three months before the due date. To do this, you should already have a clear “list” of people who, in your opinion, should be present at the wedding.

You need to design cards in the chosen wedding theme.

The text can be written either manually or printed. The content can be anything you see fit, but it must include the date, place and time.

It is best to address guests by name - this shows respect. For originality, you can record a video invitation, designing it in some style.

For example, make a short film based on your love story. Tell us at the end when you will celebrate the event, at what time and where the collection “point” will be.

You can also download ready-made templates for invitations from the Internet and simply print them and sign them. It all depends on the theme of the wedding.

Come up with a scenario

How to celebrate a wedding on a budget so that you and your guests will remember it? Just find a holiday scenario that does not require large investments. It is not necessary to gather guests in a cafe or restaurant. Consider unusual options. For example, a horseback ride with a rustic lunch on a farm. Fans of active recreation can go kayaking on a mountain river right on their wedding day. There is always the option of a wedding for two. Why not have an atmospheric photo shoot in the mountains or on a lake, and then organize a romantic dinner? Or fly in a hot air balloon? We include in our article other interesting ideas for a budget wedding:

• Organize a river or sea sailing trip.
• Rent a cinema hall and get married while listening to a romantic film.
• Get married in the museum and continue the celebration in an atmospheric cafe.
• Agree with the aquarium and arrange a wedding in a nautical style.
• Buy all the tickets for the night session at the planetarium and admire the stars.
• Go to a water park with your friends.
• Hire a limousine and have a party with a photo shoot while driving around the city.
• Have a festive dinner with all the traditions at a fast food restaurant.
• Buy tickets for all guests to the theater or philharmonic.
• Consider getting married at an ice skating rink.
• Have a wedding based on your favorite movie or book.
• Make a holiday in an abandoned manor.
• Invite your guests to all go on a quest together.

Choose entertainment that will be of interest to all guests. Also consider the age of the invitees and their physical capabilities. It is unlikely that grandparents will be ready for an active program. Remember that everyone at your celebration should be comfortable and happy.

Wedding traditions and customs of the Russian people

In the old days, according to Slavic traditions, it was mandatory to observe the following stages of the wedding ceremony:

1. Matchmaking.
2. Masonry.
3. Bachelorette party before the wedding and bachelor party.
4. Bride ransom.

In Rus', it was believed that white is the color of death, and when a girl gets married, she dies and is born as a woman. Therefore, at weddings to this day there is an abundance of this shade in clothing and jewelry.

The peculiarities of wedding ceremonies in Russia were in symbolism. Thus, the round bread served for the newlyweds to bite symbolized the sun, and salt - purity

An Orthodox wedding began with the bride's braids being unraveled. And while she was singing minor songs, farewell to her maiden name was being said at the wedding.

Wedding rings were placed on a scarf, which was raised above the top of the bride and groom's heads. Such a wedding ceremony in Russian traditions meant making a love covenant in heaven, since the person’s head was associated with the heavenly world.

The newlyweds were surrounded by special awe at the time of their marriage. According to the ideas of our ancestors, the creation of a family was the creation of a new world, where not two people are united, but the sun (groom) and the earth (bride).

Slavic wedding customs

Another Slavic wedding ritual in Rus' is the ritual around the stove. When a young man brought his wife to his house, the first thing she did was bow and pray to the hearth, since it was considered the heart of the home.

Fellow villagers danced around the newlyweds' hut throughout the wedding night. This is how people gave blessings to the new family. Ancient superstitions and signs of good luck were clearly expressed in rich clothes. Red or gold belts at a wedding were a talisman. Later, after the holiday, if the husband was away, the wife would girdle herself with his wedding belt so as not to get sick.

Like the belt, the ring was shaped like a circle and signified the absence of beginning and end. Both were considered a symbol of fidelity, a symbol of evil, instincts or chaos

Any Slavic amulets, including wedding ones, symbolized protection from evil.

Nowadays, some rather ancient customs are still used by newlyweds. For example, a towel for a wedding. This tradition was passed down from generation to generation. The towel was necessarily inherited as a dowry or was sewn by the bride herself and was used in ancient rituals of the ancient Slavs, as it supposedly had healing powers.

In some provinces, the groom rolled out a woven path from the hut to the bride's hut. When they approached her in a cart, she only walked on it. This happened because their houses had images of two universes, and everything else - the uncreated world.

Sometimes fires were built near the threshold. The groom and his groomsmen jumped over the fire before going to the bride, cleansing themselves of everything so that the wedding could take place in innocence. Some customs and traditions of Russian weddings are still used in modern themed celebrations.

Secret No. 7. Traditions

Even if the young people themselves do not respect traditions too much, there is no point in abandoning them completely! Older guests will not appreciate an overly youthful approach when the bride is in a miniskirt and there is a bartender instead of a toastmaster. Yes, you can refuse, for example, the bride price, the ceremony of removing the veil and other traditions.

But the most important thing is worth leaving behind. For example, a dance between the bride and dad, gratitude to parents, a competition on the topic: “Who will be the first to be born in a new family - a boy or a girl.” These are sweet, familiar moments, without which many guests simply cannot perceive a wedding.

An ideal wedding is a celebration after which everyone is happy - the guests, the newlyweds, and their parents. The holiday should be bright, touching and at the same time cheerful, incendiary, so that no one is bored. Organizing such an event can be difficult; you need to prepare in advance, thinking through all the little things - from the decor of the hall to the menu.

Making a preparation calendar

To avoid forgetting or missing anything, get a wedding organizer. Carefully write down in it the timing of each stage of the upcoming preparation, write down the main expense items, enter guest lists, contacts of contractors and responsible persons. This way you will always have the necessary information at hand and will be able to structure your ideas and thoughts.

Lifehack. The wedding organizer can be maintained electronically. To do this, just download the mobile application. For example, wedding planners MyWeb or Wedding Online will help you. They are available on Android and iOS platforms.

Outdated

Getting married in old, new, borrowed and blue

This custom comes from England and dates back to the Victorian era, but some still adhere to it to this day. It says that every bride should wear something:

• from new;
• old;
• borrowed;
• and also blue.

Undoubtedly, the wedding dress was always new; it personified the light and purity of family ties.

Most often, some kind of jewelry from the mother or grandmother was taken from the old one, which was inherited. If family jewelry is not found, then it is quite possible to use something else, for example, a brooch or a chain from your mother. Such a thing became a symbol of the connection between generations; it carried the warmth of the parents invested in their daughter, which the girl should bring to her new family.

Borrowed items are things that were lent to the happy newlywed by her friends. They are needed as a symbol that next to the married couple and after their marriage there will always be relatives and friends who will provide support and come to the rescue at any time.

As blue, which in turn implies purity, honesty and fidelity, brides often used a garter. It is also a good idea to add the shade in question to your makeup or to your outfit, this could be a satin belt or elements on shoes.

Wedding Dress

Probably many people know that according to a long-standing tradition, the dress of the future wife should be white and new. Snow-white - symbolizes youth and innocence. That is why women who are getting married not for the first time often choose other shades of attire. The new is a kind of new life that begins from the moment of marriage.

The custom of wearing white as a wedding dress came to Russia from Europe, because in Rus' on such a day girls wore exclusively red sundresses, which meant maturity and was consonant with the word beautiful.

Fashion is changeable, so in the modern world, brides are increasingly abandoning a snow-white wedding dress. It was replaced by other sophisticated pastel shades such as champagne, tea rose, ivory and so on. And some even replace dresses with suits or overalls, which is the peak of popularity this season.

Availability of veil

Veils have been used as a wedding accessory for 2 thousand years. For example, in Rome, ladies hid their faces with just such an element, this showed their modesty, mystery and chastity. And only after the wedding was the man allowed to remove such a veil from his beloved. Russian brides, according to this tradition, must first get married wearing a veil, thus declaring their purity and purity. If it came to a second and subsequent marriage, then this naturally became unnecessary.

Of course, these days the custom in question has begun to be treated more simply, and the veil is perceived as a beautiful wedding attribute. After all, you can often see newlyweds with a tiara, headband, wreath or some other decoration on their heads.

Removing the veil

Quite an important, but outdated tradition at a wedding. They turn on a slow composition and at this time the mother-in-law replaces the daughter-in-law’s veil with a scarf. This action meant that the girl was moving from the status of a bride to the new status of a wife.

Bouquet and boutonniere

For a long time, the groom collected the newlywed bouquet on his own, picked it in the field or in his own garden. The modern bride is unlikely to allow her lover to choose a bouquet for her on his own, because it must match her festive outfit, accessories, etc. And since many girls still adhere to the belief that the future husband should not see her dress before the wedding, a priori a man will not be able to choose the right accessory in question.

On the wedding day, the bouquet plays an important role in the redemption. Having passed all the tests, the happy groom gives his chosen one a flower arrangement. Taking it in her hands, she agrees to the marriage, then the girl takes a flower from the bouquet and pins it on her beloved’s chest. This is where another custom came from - the presence of a wedding boutonniere, which was necessarily made up of the same flowers as the bride’s attribute.

Modern newlyweds make bouquets and boutonnieres from all sorts of things, from pine cones, berries, and twigs of dried flowers.

Farewell to single life

A fairly old tradition is organizing a bachelorette party on the eve of marriage. In Rus', girls gathered at the house of their future wife, combed her curls, visited the bathhouse and talked about the trials of married life. They did this in order to protect the bride from damage.

The custom of celebrating a bachelor party with friends appeared relatively recently. Indeed, in ancient times, the groom had to go to the bathhouse alone before the wedding.

How exactly you can celebrate a bachelorette party and a bachelor party, look for the links.

Bless the young

Touching upon the topic of traditions in Russia, of course, one cannot ignore such a long-standing custom as the blessing of parents. After all, according to our ancestors, it was after him that their children would definitely be happy in marriage. Each of the future spouses should be blessed by their mothers or godparents in the morning before the wedding.

Further, the wedding ritual in question will consist of 2 more stages. The first takes place before the painting in the registry office. The bride's parents bless her and the groom, most often this happens in the apartment of the future wife, after the ransom, but before leaving the house. After all, it was believed that a new life for lovers would begin just outside the threshold, which is why the first approval should happen before leaving the parental “nest.” The relatives of the girls wished the young couple a happy married life and uttered parting words, which was a kind of approval of the daughter’s chosen one.

It also happened that a couple received their first parental blessing on the day of matchmaking, but since in our days this tradition has almost exhausted itself, many young people receive approval already on their wedding day.

The second thing the lovers receive from the mother and father of the newly-made husband. It occurs after the registry office, but before the start of the feast. Relatives also give a touching speech and wish them happiness in marriage.

Sometimes the groom's parents can bless their son and daughter-in-law already during the celebration at the banquet. Their words can be in prose, poetry, a beautiful story about their child, and then there must be warm wishes for the family.

Ransom

For a long time, the ransom was exclusively financial in nature; the young man had to prove his worth, as well as demonstrate generosity and show that he did not grudge any money for his beloved. In the modern world, it’s already like a fun game, with funny competitions. Her bridesmaids are preparing. If a man cannot cope with the girls’ tasks, then he buys them off with money, candy, and so on. Of course, this is a purely symbolic amount.

These days, many couples refuse foreclosure altogether. A girl can get ready in a beautiful hotel, and the groom comes to pick her up there with a wedding bouquet and they go together to the registry office.

Bridesmaids' dresses and shoes, headpieces or bracelets

It would be very conceptual to sew dresses from the same fabric for all the bridesmaids. This will allow the bride to stand out against their background, add solemnity and avoid the often-occurring discrepancy in colors and styles of bridesmaids’ dresses. You can invite girls to sew dresses of an individual cut, but of the same length and from the same fabric. After all, you call the tune. Also ask the girls to wear shoes of the same color. You can also decorate your friends’ hairstyles with arrangements of artificial flowers or make matching flower bracelets for their wrists. You can choose decor options together with your friends. Colors for dresses and jewelry should be in your “corporate color scheme.”

Deciding on the style

Just 20 years ago, every wedding followed a standard scenario. Nowadays young couples hold weddings of various formats. Classic, bohemian, vintage, underground - there are tons of options. Be sure to decide what your holiday will be like. The choice and decoration of the site, the style of clothing of the newlyweds and guests, as well as many other nuances depend on this.

By the way! We recently wrote about a chamber wedding in the Love Is style, which the newlyweds decided to celebrate in an industrial loft. It turned out cool and unconventional!

Secret No. 5. Attention everyone

It is clear that a wedding is a holiday primarily for a couple in love. But we must not forget about the guests. The celebration program should include moments of honoring parents, grandparents, and godparents. These are all very important people for the couple who definitely deserve attention and respect.

Separate competitions can, for example, be organized for children, if there are a lot of them at the wedding, or prepare some small gifts for guests. In general, you need to start showing attention and respect to wedding guests at the stage of sending invitations, which should, of course, be personal.

Choosing a wedding venue

Unlike a birthday or New Year, you cannot celebrate a wedding at home. Therefore, you can’t do without choosing a place for the holiday. The good thing is that you have many options to choose from.

Lofts

Increasingly, newlyweds celebrate the day of starting a new family in the loft. It's comfortable:

• you can choose a variety of venue options - from classic snow-white halls to bold avant-garde options;
• no strangers - the wedding will take place only among your loved ones and friends;
• You are allowed to bring any food and drinks with you;
• You can invite catering to your wedding banquet.

Here are a few lofts that rent for weddings.

Historic loft on Alekseevskaya

The historic building, built at the end of the 19th century, houses a cozy loft with brick walls and large arched windows. It is designed for 20 guests, so it is ideal for a wedding in a small circle. The loft has two rooms: light and dark. In one of them you can set up a buffet or banquet, and in the second - a dance floor. Additionally, you can rent an outdoor barbecue area.

Luxurious hall near Kurskaya metro station

This stylish, spacious and bright space is suitable for a luxurious celebration. The hall is located on the territory of an old factory, which previously belonged to Count Orlov. To organize a welcome zone, you will be offered to combine the room with another small hall. In the loft you can not only comfortably accommodate all the guests, but also install a mobile stage, organize a dance floor, and a photo zone near an antique piano. Upon request, the manager will provide you with professional sound and light equipment and a projector with a large screen.

From 5000 to 12000 ₽ for 1 hour Chic spacious hall with a piano and white furniture #2442 Baumanskaya12 min. on foot3 reviewsArea 350 m²Seats 300 peopleFrom metro12 min

We also recommend looking at other loft options for weddings in Moscow.

Banquet halls

Another convenient solution for a wedding celebration is a banquet hall, which can also be closed only for your guests. So unusual and different: light and with dark walls, small and roomy, in classic and industrial style - among them you will definitely find your option.

By the way! We recently talked about how to choose a banquet hall for a wedding in Moscow. Be sure to read it: it will be interesting and useful!

Restaurants

There are many restaurants in Moscow where your wedding will turn into a luxurious celebration. For example, you can:

• spend a holiday among the palace vaults of the Turandot restaurant on Tverskoy Boulevard;
• have a cozy party at home on the veranda of the bar-restaurant “Happiness on the Roof” with views of Pushkinskaya Square and the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary;
• enjoy the taste of French cuisine and the atmosphere of aristocracy at the Parisien restaurant on Leningradsky Prospekt;
• have fun in the green hall of the Food Embassy restaurant on Mira Avenue;
• organize a wedding in the English style at Mary Jane on Novodanilovskaya embankment.

But be prepared for the fact that the best restaurants in Moscow are also the most expensive establishments. If you want to have an inexpensive and unusual wedding, we recommend that you take a look at our selection of restaurants that you can close only for your guests.

Other options

In addition to lofts, banquet halls, cafes and restaurants, there are other options for celebrating a wedding. For example, to celebrate the day you started your family, you can:

• on a banquet ship, admiring the views and landscapes of the Russian capital;
• in an old Belgian mansion of the 19th century on the banks of the Moscow River, organizing a luxurious celebration for several hundred people;
• on a furnished roof, watching the sunset and launching festive fireworks into the sky;
• in a nightclub, dancing to fiery DJ sets.

Important! Having chosen your option, do not forget to book your favorite site in advance. If you put it off, there is a risk that someone else will already take it.

Save wisely

When organizing a celebration, you must strictly follow the plan and not go beyond the budget. Trying to make a luxurious wedding out of an intimate celebration, some couples spend too much money on decor. Another case is when newlyweds order expensive catering and gifts for guests, and save on a photographer. The result is the same - the bride and groom are dissatisfied with the wedding because they saved on important things. In fact, having a cheap wedding is easier than you think. Start by choosing your celebration style. We share a list of popular wedding destinations:

• Romance.
• Shabby chic.
• Classic.
• Glamor.
• Rustic.
• Retro.
• Eco style.
• Boho chic.
• Woody.
• Modern.
• Minimalism.
• Beach.
• Themed wedding.

When choosing a wedding style, consider your budget. For example, retro, shabby chic and glamor require expensive decor. Organizing a beach-style wedding far from the water will also be difficult. But other styles are quite suitable for the cheapest design. The main thing is to find an authentic room or a picturesque location in nature. Don’t want to pay extra for on-site marriage registration? Then sign at the registry office in advance, and then say your vows at the celebration at the arch for your guests.

Another sure-fire way to save money on wedding preparations is to do some things yourself. These can be invitations, a bride's bouquet and a boutonniere for the groom's suit, gifts for guests in a hand-made style. If only those closest to you are invited, feel free to come up with a scenario and competitions. Look for ideas on the Youtube channels of famous presenters and on their social media pages. And instead of an expensive DJ at an intimate wedding, you can use rented equipment and your own playlist. Also ask if one of your friends is ready to replace the host at the wedding or give you a cake as a gift. And invite your bridesmaids and groomsmen to choose their own outfits based on your color palette.

What should witnesses do on their wedding day?

Finally, the long-awaited wedding date arrives. A lot of time passes from the beginning of the day to its end; the newlyweds are in constant motion all day, which sometimes becomes a real test for them. Therefore, if there is an opportunity to shift some responsibilities to witnesses, then you should not miss it.

Some recommendations for the witness

• Make sure that the groom does not forget his wedding rings and passports.
• Be an “administrator” of the event and an assistant (bring, help, call a taxi, etc.). He must know thoroughly how the wedding day is going and quickly respond to any changes in the plan.

Recommendations for the witness

• Check the props for the photo shoot.
• Make sure the cortege is decorated as planned.
• Stay in touch with a photographer, videographer, makeup artist and hairdresser.

These are the main traditional instructions. In general, witnesses should vigilantly monitor how the holiday goes so that unforeseen situations and unnecessary tension do not arise at the wedding.

1 week before the wedding

Photo: Pexels.com

Once again, make sure that everything is ready, agreements with the restaurant, musicians, presenter, photographer and cameraman remain in force. Confirm your hotel and restaurant reservations. If you're going on a romantic trip after your wedding, check your departure date and time. Make sure everything is ready for the bride's look - shoes, accessories, dress.

If up to this point you have not had the opportunity to devote time to beauty procedures, then a week before the wedding you still have the opportunity to undergo a medical facial cleansing - in seven days the skin will have time to recover. To relax, sign up for a massage and body wrap that will tone your body. You can also do hair removal a few days before the wedding.

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We are looking for a photographer, cameraman, presenter

There are points on which it is better not to skimp when preparing for the celebration. Of course, you can hold a wedding without a host and photographer, by asking friends and relatives for help. For example, your mutual funny friend can take the place of the presenter, and the photos will be taken by the bride’s sister, who recently bought a brand new DSLR. But the result of such work can be unpredictable. To avoid any unpleasant surprises, it is better to assemble a team of professionals.

Important! If your celebration is scheduled for the high wedding season (late spring and summer), look for a photographer and host no later than 3-4 months in advance. Good specialists have all dates booked long before the start of the wedding boom.

Feel free to choose. It is not necessary to hire him for your wedding after the first meeting with a photographer. Talk to other specialists, look at their portfolio, look for reviews on the Internet. Discuss the cost of services. If you can’t find a common language, look for other people with whom you will feel easy and comfortable.

Stage No. 10. Schedule the day of celebration

A wedding day is not the best time for improvisation. Therefore, write down the timing of this long-awaited event. Write down in your organizer:

• how early you have to wake up to get everything done;
• what time will the makeup artist and hairdresser arrive at your place;
• when will the bride's bouquet arrive?
• what time to expect the groom to appear;
• what time should you arrive for registration;
• when guests begin to arrive at the celebration site.

Call the photographer, operator, presenter again 2-3 days in advance to clarify the exact start time of their work.

Wedding ceremony

Not a single Russian wedding takes place without registry office workers. The official marriage ceremony is held in a special hall, accompanied by solemn music, in an elegant and fragrant atmosphere. If the newlyweds do not want the excitement around their painting, they can choose a weekday for registration and get married in a more casual setting.

But if the ceremony is solemn, then the walls of the registry office will accommodate all relatives and friends who want to attend your registration. The registry office employees approach the ceremony with trepidation. Each registrar has prepared his own beautiful and moving speech for the marriage ceremony. In the presence of guests and witnesses, the registry office employee asks a question about the reciprocity and voluntariness of marriage and, after exchanging rings, invites the newlyweds to sign the civil status act. After this, the newlyweds seal the bonds of marriage with their first marital kiss and spin in the wedding waltz.

All guests take turns congratulating the newlyweds. After this, they move to another room where they can drink champagne and take pictures. At the exit from the registry office, the newlyweds are greeted with friendly shouts of “Congratulations!” and sprinkled with rice, small coins and flower petals. Lovers release a pair of snow-white doves into the sky, symbolizing love and loyalty to each other.

Secret No. 1. Choosing a location

It is very important. Firstly, the restaurant, cafe or recreation center that will become the venue for the celebration should not be too far away so that guests can be transported and they do not have to book rooms for an overnight stay.

Secondly, the capacity of the hall must correspond to the number of guests. Don't forget about the dance floor, where the fun will take place, a place for a DJ, and so on.

In addition, the hall should be decorated according to the chosen wedding style - today it is fashionable to announce that the celebration will be, for example, marine, the main shades are blue and light blue. You need to spend a lot of time decorating the hall so that everything is beautiful and comfortable for everyone.

If the painting ceremony is outdoors, there must be a suitable place in the restaurant or on its territory. It’s great if there is somewhere around to arrange a photo shoot; there are very beautiful corners and interesting decorative details.

Important

Don't forget to think about seating for your guests. Of course, you can let everything take its course - let them sit where they want. But when there are a lot of guests, confusion can begin. Now many people draw up a seating plan for guests and place cards with names on the tables so that everyone knows where and with whom they will be seated during the celebration.

Making a menu

A wedding should not only be fun, but also delicious. Therefore, try to conduct a survey of guests in advance and determine their gastronomic preferences. It will be awkward if you offer a juicy beef steak to someone who doesn't eat meat at all. Or you don’t take into account your guests’ food allergies.

After agreeing on all the nuances, you can create a menu and decide how exactly you will treat your invited friends and relatives. For example, you can:

• select dishes from the restaurant menu;
• order catering;
• invite a chef and prepare all the food on site.

Important! Please check with the site manager in advance whether your own catering, food and drinks are allowed to take away. If there are no such opportunities, you will have to limit yourself to the menu that the restaurant will offer you.

Rule #1. Less is more

The basic principle of a budget wedding, which helps you clearly set priorities and focus on what matters most.
No matter how wisely you distribute expenses, you will have to give up something in any case. Make a rough list of wedding expenses (venue, contractors, wedding images, entertainment, etc.) and highlight the most important items in it. Fireworks at the end of the celebration are, of course, beautiful, but high-quality and tasty food at the banquet is much more important. Instead of filling the candy bar with cheap sweets, it is better to give it up altogether and invest in a wedding cake - let it be beautiful, high-quality and delicious. Is your budget for floristry only enough for the decor of the ceremony? It's OK! It is better to hold a photo shoot with guests against the backdrop of the wedding arch and cut the cake there in the evening than to purchase more flowers of lower quality to decorate three different zones.

Remember a simple thing: cheap decor looks cheap. If you want your wedding to be stylish and elegant, use better quality decor. Even if it is smaller in volume, with proper zoning, the final picture will turn out more beautiful.

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Morning of the bride and groom

7.00 — Get up

The outdoor ceremony saved brides from having to get up at five in the morning in order to have time to do everything before the ceremony at the registry office. After all, it used to happen that it was scheduled for 10.00 or 11.00. Now you can get up at 7.00 or even 8.00.

Still, you shouldn't sleep too long. The day is going to be busy, you should get up early in order to get everything done without rushing. The first hour should be spent waking up: taking a shower, having breakfast, admiring the nature outside the window, and getting ready for the event.

8.00-11.00 — Getting ready

These three hours are spent getting ready in the morning for the bride and groom. When they happen at home, less time is required - all the experts come themselves, which means time is saved on the road. The same applies if the gathering takes place at the hotel where the future newlyweds spent the night.

In cases where the bride goes to a photo studio and the groom to a barbershop, it takes more time to get ready, taking into account the road to the place. And then you still need to get to where you planned the long-awaited first meeting in wedding dresses.

You also need to take into account that now special attention is paid to photographing the morning of the bride and groom. That is, you need to set aside time to have time to work with the photographer.

11.00 - 12.00 - Meeting

Somewhere around this time the couple meets. The photographer captures the first and brightest emotions that grip the bride and groom at this moment. The meeting is often attended by close friends and relatives - parents, brothers, sisters, grandparents. If the groom takes the bride from home, a small buffet is held.

Buy-outs at weddings are now becoming less and less common, and this saves a lot of time and effort.

Bride ransom

Previously, the phrase “bride price” was not a metaphor at all! Indeed, the bride was bought from her parents' house.

Now money has faded into the background. The bride price, which is usually organized by the bridesmaids, takes place in the house of the girl's parents and includes competitions. By going through these competitions, the groom proves that he knows and loves the bride well, and the groom's friends should come to his aid.

This is how the wedding fun begins. Having gone up to the bride's house, the groom takes her to register the marriage. Usually, during the bride price and after it, the bride's parents arrange a small buffet.