Financing Your Wedding Day

Even though many couples pay for their own wedding these days, many parents of the bride and groom pitch in with expenses. Below is an alphabetical list of Color who traditionally pays for what, but remember, this is just a guideline offered by generations past and does not represent hard and fast rules today. Humility, kindness, patience and understanding will be needed as you and your fiancée’ sort out a way to pay for your wedding day. Remember – no marriage starts well that begins in debt. It is better to have a small intimate wedding than marital strife. Don’t sweat the small stuff if you can’t afford a big lavish wedding ceremony and reception. A justice of the peace or a pastor who marries you in your own home or the home of parents or a friend may be a good alternative to a big wedding should you prefer or need to go that route. At the end of the day you will be just as married as someone with more money to spend. [table id=1 /] [table id=2 /] [table id=3...

Purchasing Your Wedding Gown

The first moment you see yourself in your wedding gown is one you will cherish forever. No matter whether the “big day” is months away, or that the size is not quite right–you still feel that tinge of excitement knowing that this dress is the one! The first two words that come to mind when shopping for a wedding gown are overwhelming and intimidating. Even confident future brides may have a hard time with the selection process. The wedding gown will be photographed over and over again, not to mention being one of the most expensive dresses that you may have ever bought. You should ask yourself a couple of questions before shopping for your wedding gown. First of all, what season will you be getting married? You do not want to be too hot or too cold on your wedding day. Also, ask yourself, where will the reception be held–indoors or out? The answers to both these questions should influence the selection of your wedding gown. It is very important that you be comfortable on your wedding day. A good tip when buying a dress would be to make your selection eight to twelve months in advance. This way you will not feel rushed. Keep in mind, it takes four to six months to have a wedding dress made and fitted. Allow enough time to make a good selection, but not too soon before you know the date of your wedding or all of the details. You should also establish your budget before going to gown shops. Wedding dresses normally start around $500 and go up considerably. You should...

Budget for Your Smoky Mountain Wedding

Budgeting is the one thing you need to do soon after setting a date for your wedding. Start by talking frankly about finances with your fiancé and perhaps even both families. Some parents will be able to help out and others will not. The main thing is to know how much money you have to start with so that your plans do not get overly extravagant. You don’t want to spend so much on your wedding day that you and your spouse are in debt from the first day of your marriage because this will put a definite damper on your dreams of marital bliss. Be realistic and then, given your budget, plan the wedding of your dreams. Remember that some people spend hundreds of dollars on their wedding and some spend many thousands. At the end of the day, both couples are just as married. Couples who are not in debt will be happier than those who were not so wise. Decisions such as the wedding gown, flowers, reception menu, nuptial decorations, headpiece, limousine and hotel accommodations, and other incidentals will all largely be determined by the size of your budget. Usually, compromise is a must in order for expenses to come in under budget. Being mindful of your future happiness will make hard decisions a little easier. Personal taste and the type and style of wedding can greatly affect the price of your wedding. Generally speaking the more formal a wedding is and the more guests that are invited, the more expensive the wedding will be. Take time to visit several bridal shops so that you might...

Park Weddings

The natural chapel of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park provides a memorable choice for your Smokies wedding ceremony. It’s made easy by the minor Park requirements to have your marriage ceremony in the Park and its historic structures. If you want to have your wedding ceremony in the Park itself or at any of the historic structures such as the Primitive Baptist or Methodist Churches in Cades Cove, simply contact the Park’s Ranger Activities Division (865-436-1266) to request an application for a permit. There are a few simple guidelines you need to keep in mind. Because the historic structures in the Park are of wood, no candles or lamps are allowed. In addition, parking is very limited (6 parking spots at the Baptist Church, for example). An application to marry in Cades Cove must be submitted to the Cades Cove Center. If you want to marry anywhere else in the Park (on a mountain top, for example), a permit is required if you have more than 20 people in your party. Finally, you must understand that even if you have a permit for a ceremony in the Park, you don’t have a reservation in the sense that persons outside your party (tourists) are excluded–they have unfettered access to the premises. Most are courteous enough, though, to keep their...