Get Married in a Museum

Choosing where you have your wedding is, simply put, hugely important. Not only is it the place where you will stand up in front of your loved ones and declare your love for each other, but it is also the place where you will become a family. What you choose to surround yourself with that day will not only add to the fun and atmosphere of the party, but also live in your memory forever. Why not choose a wedding venue that’s important to both of you? Why not get married in a museum?

Museums are wonderful places for weddings for a variety of reasons. They bring history and elegance to any event, but especially a wedding; they are extremely well kept (better kept than even the loveliest of dedicated wedding venues in some cases, since they’re public spaces that are regularly maintained); they already have fantastic, priceless décor; and they come in all shapes, sizes and types.

Image the ambiance that a natural history museum would bring to your occasion? Or the open, eclectic atmosphere of a modern art museum? What about a shoe or pottery museum?

Almost all museums have spaces available for rental, as well as a preferred vendor list of caterers, photographers and rentals. To find the right museum for you, do an online search of museums in your area, then, with this important detail out of the way, you can start dreaming of how you’ll look in that dress standing next to timeless pieces of art.

Get a FREE Wedding Venue Questions Checklist Click Here

9 Unique Wedding Venue Ideas

Choose a ceremony or reception venue that's entirely out of the norm to instantly set the scene for a wedding your guests will never forget. Bonus: You'll seriously save on decorations -- these super-cool spaces speak for themselves.

Museum Venues

Think beyond the art museum: Natural history museums, city museums, air and space museums, and even children's museums often have spaces to rent after hours. You'll probably have an exhibit as your backdrop (like an awesome dinosaur skeleton), which is the perfect talking point for your guests. 

Tip: If you're interested in getting married at a museum, ask whether the staff can provide guided tours for your guests during cocktail hour.

Converted Building Venues

Wedding venues are popping up all across the country in buildings that at one time had an entirely different use. For example, former warehouses, monasteries, factories and even airplane hangars can be rented out for your party. Adding flowers and decor to an unconventional and raw space creates a beautiful contrast. And since some converted buildings are now run by event companies, many amenities (like a kitchen) will be built in.

Tip: If you're working in a space where events aren't typically held you may want the help of an event designer and wedding coordinator.

City, State and National Park Venues

Public parks provide some of the prettiest backgrounds you'll find for your fete. And while they're the perfect spot for an intimate, casual wedding, pulling off an affair on a grander scale can be done. Scout out the scene and do your research: Many public spaces require you to apply for a permit ahead of time and will have some restrictions as far as bringing in rentals, sound, and food and drinks.

Tip: Because you might not be able to set up a tent or book a spot for a long period of time, public parks are typically better suited for your ceremony. Research nearby resorts, hotels and restaurants with a view of the spot you love for your reception.

Conservatory or Botanical Garden Venues

If you've always imagined getting married surrounded by flowers, consider having your wedding at a local botanical garden, conservatory or horticulture center. Many gardens have pretty fountains, tree-lined paths, perfectly manicured flower beds or an ethereal greenhouse where you can marry.

Tip: With high glass ceilings and tons of natural greenery, you won't need to bring in many of your own flowers; decorate with non-floral elements like candles (if they're allowed) and glass vessels.

Historic Libraries

Iconic libraries make the perfect backdrop for a sophisticated soiree. If you love literature, you'll totally fall for the idea of marrying in the midst of the classics. 

Tip: Take inspiration from your favorite novels to plan your party.

Boat Venues

Love the water? Plan to wed on any seaworthy vessel: sailboat, yacht, riverboat or ferry. Your guests will love it, and your photographer will be thankful for the changing backgrounds throughout the day.

Tip: You don't necessarily have to get married on the high seas if you want to get married on a boat. For example, some historic ships or out-of-commission military vessels are permanently docked but open for weddings.

Antique Store Wedding Venue

If you spend your weekends antiquing and your house or apartment is filled with flea market finds, then you might be sold pretty easily on the idea of an antique-store wedding. Think about it: All that kitschy-cool decor you'd buy or rent anyway is built right in!

Tip: Mix and match everything on your tables, from the centerpiece vessels to the chargers and glassware to fit the laid-back vintage vibe.

Tree House Venues

Yes, you read that right. You can actually get married in a tree house. Typically these are cottages on stilts in the middle of a forest, with lodging for a few people and stunning views. Talk about taking the woodland wedding theme to new heights!

Tip: Plan a rustic outdoor-inspired wedding weekend full of activities like hiking and campfires.

 

Theater Venues

If you're into the performing arts, then you'll probably feel right at home marrying on stage. Love the theater but want to get married outside? Then look for amphitheaters in your area. Just keep in mind that summer is usually a big time for events, so you may want to consider early summer or late fall. 

Tip: Raise the curtain for your entrance and have your bridal party enter from stage right and left to really play up the performance theme.

Get a FREE Wedding Venue Questions Checklist Click Here

Guest Tracker Workbook FREEBIE

 {Wedding Planning Series}

Tracking Guest RSVPs

Free Download

♥ ♥ ♥

Tracking all of the responses from your invited wedding guests can be quite a nightmare! In our latest weekly Wedding Planning Series feature, we’re not only giving super useful advice on how to manage your RSVPs, but we’re also throwing in a FREEBIE Wedding Guest Tracker printable to help you keep track of your invited guest’s yay’s and nay’s!

Grab Your Free Guest Tracker Workbook Printable

Manage your guest list RSVPs in style with our free Guest Tracker Workbook printable from our weekly Wedding Planning Series.

TIPS FOR TRACKING WEDDING GUEST RSVPS

1. Invite only as many guests as your wedding venue can accommodate - Although, a quarter of guests are likely to decline, rather be safe than sorry and resist the urge for over inviting.
2. First number your RSVP cards, before sending - When printing out your RSVP cards, include a number on your guest list that corresponds to each guest’s name and the respective number of plus one’s invited. This will save the day when you’re tracking who has RSVP-ed from a range of RSVP cards without guest names. If this top tip has completely slipped your mind or it’s too late to have it stylishly printed onto your RSVP cards, get your hands on a magical invisible ink pen and start smiling as you’re able to number your RSVP cards without your guests noticing your handiwork under normal lighting. 
3. Set an RSVP deadline and make it stand out – Set a RSVP deadline for your guests to respond by and ensure that it stands out on your wedding invite and/or response card. If possible, set your “RSVP by” date for at least one month before you have to confirm final attendance numbers with your venue and caterer. Destination weddings differ in the vast amount of time needed to plan in advance starting with your Save-the-Dates, which should be sent out about 9 months before your intended wedding date. Invites should be sent at least four and a half months before your Big Day, with an RSVP deadline set for two months before your wedding date so that travel arrangements can be made. 
4. Send your wedding invitations on time - It is generally accepted for your wedding invites to be sent between 3 months to 6 weeks before your wedding date as shown in this uber useful Wedding Stationery Timeline {Wedding Planning Series}. Ideally, you should try to send out your wedding invites 2 months before your wedding date, which will firstly, allow your wedding guests with about one month to respond, and secondly, give you a month to follow up with guests that haven’t rsvp-ed and to confirm final numbers with your vendors.
5. Introduce your guests to your fabulous friend, RSVP - Keep it short and sweet! In your wedding invite, bring up the inclusion of your RSVP details or response card amongst the details by asking your invited guests to please respond using the attached RSVP or response card to let you know if they’ll be attending. Ensure that your response card stands out from your wedding invitation. 
6. Make RSVP-ing easy peasy - Take the ugh out of your guests responding, by providing them with a few different ways to RSVP depending on what they’d prefer. If you’re dead-set on having actual response cards, then ensure they’re pre-addressed with enough postage stamps included to find their way to you at no cost to your guests. Make sure that your response cards include an email address, name and contact number of a person who will track your RSVPs and/or wedding website that your guests may also respond to. 
7. Track your RSVPs using a spreadsheet - Track your guest’s names and plus one (if applicable), contact details, their yes/ no response and meal preference in a spreadsheet. We’ve created a gorgeous spreadsheet to save you the sweat ‘n time!
8. Time to follow up - As your guest’s RSVPs begin to trickle in and the RSVP deadline has come and gone, now it is time for you to follow up with those invited guests who didn’t get back to you. Extend a call according to priority from those closest loved ones first, before you tackle the rest.

Grab Your Free Guest Tracker Workbook Printable

Grab our FREEBIE Guest Tracker Workbook printable below!

Get some super smart wedding planner wisdom in our {Wedding Planning Series} can be!

Get Our Wedding Planning Series Here!

Wedding Budget Calculator Workbook

Wedding Budget Workbook FREEBIE

 {Wedding Planning Series}

Your Wedding Budget Breakdown

Free Download

Although sticking to a budget may prove tricky when planning your wedding, keeping track of your budget and spending needn't be! Continuing upon our Wedding Planning Series, once again we’re sharing expert advice to take the sweat out of planning your wedding, we have broken down your wedding budget, bit by bit and we’ve thrown in the most fabulous FREEBIE Wedding Budget Workbook to help plan your Big Day!

Establishing your wedding budget is one of the first things to tick off your long list of things to do when planning your wedding. Before making any bookings for your wedding, it's important to first work out your budget, so that you know exactly how much you can dish out on each item of your wedding.

Grab Your Free Wedding Budget Workbook Printable

Enjoy another free printable from our weekly Wedding Planning Series! To keep track of your wedding budget, grab our free Wedding Budget Workbook printable, which will be an invaluable tool while planning your wedding.

Not only does establishing a budget stop you from spending beyond your budget, but it also helps you to not underspend on important items, like photography, for example. While some couples can't confidently decide on a budget before planning their wedding and prefer to decide how much they're happy and able to spend on their wedding items month by month, others prefer to set an established budget before embarking on planning their big day.

Wedding Budget Breakdown

Once you have decided on your total wedding budget, it will be easy to determine how much you can spend on each wedding booking by breaking your budget down into the following ratios.

WEDDING PLANNER: 10% OF BUDGET

10% of Wedding Budget: Wedding Planner | Considering that your wedding planner will be working closely with you, for often a year before your big day, this is a small price to pay for the piece of mind you'll get from having your wedding taken care of by a professional, not to mention the additional savings you'll be privy to in their guidance.

WEDDING CEREMONY: 5% OF BUDGET

5% of Wedding Budget: Wedding Ceremony | This should include the fee for your ceremony venue, as well as your marriage officiates fees, which will include performing your ceremony and the legal registration of your marriage.

WEDDING RECEPTION: 37%-40% OF BUDGET

37% – 40% of Wedding Budget: Wedding Reception | Your wedding reception budget should include your venue hire, menu, beverages, as well as the waiter, bar staff and gratuity.

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY: 14%-18% OF BUDGET

14% – 18% of Wedding Budget: Wedding Photography | Possibly one of the most important wedding bookings for your big day, is your wedding photography. Do not skimp on your wedding photography.

WEDDING MUSIC: 5%-7% OF BUDGET

5% – 7% of Wedding Budget: Wedding Music | This amount is set aside for your DJ and depending on the size of your budget, a live musician or band too.

FLOWERS AND DECOR: 10% 15% OF BUDGET

10% – 15% of Wedding Budget: Flowers and Decor | A very important wedding item is your wedding flowers and decor, if you can, you could spend up to 20% of your budget on this item as this will be one of the main aspects of your wedding that your guests remember.

ATTIRE: 10%-15% OF BUDGET

10% – 15% of Wedding Budget: Attire | This portion of your budget should cover your bridal gown and grooms suit, as well as your bridesmaids, groomsmen outfits and your bridal party's hair and makeup. As this could be a tight squeeze, she advises that you spend with caution in this area.

WEDDING STATIONARY: 3% OF BUDGET

3% of Wedding Budget: Wedding Stationary | This amount should account for your save-the-dates, invitations and all on the day wedding stationary such as your order of service, seating chart, table numbers, name cards, menus and thank you cards. As stationary can be quite pricey, she identifies this as another area of your wedding that requires you to spend wisely.

TRANSPORTATION: 2% OF BUDGET

2% of Wedding Budget: Transportation | I would recommend that couples leave this item till the end stages of their wedding planning in case they prefer to allocate this portion of their budget elsewhere. This is because their guests will never notice that they didn't have that cream, 1975 Rolls Royce dropping you off at your ceremony if you didn't manage to book it. Hiring any kind of transportation when your family could be driving you is considered more of a luxury, for after all the other important wedding items have been booked.

GUEST FAVORS: 2% OF BUDGET

2% of Wedding Budget Guest Favors | To budget for gifts for your guests should divide 2% of your budget by your number of guests to determine how much to spend per person.

It's easy to feel pressure to spend more than this, but remember that the people who attend your wedding are there to celebrate in your beautiful union, and the guest favors should really just serve as a memento of their special evening spent with you,”.

RESERVE: 2% OF BUDGET

2% of Wedding Budget: Reserve | Lastly, it's important to set aside some of your budget for any unexpected expenses, or price increases. If you're careful when making your bookings and clear about the date of your wedding, unexpected expenses should be unlikely, but it wouldn't hurt to set some money aside just in case!

Breakdown List of Your Wedding Budget 

Ultimately, these numbers are flexible according to what your wedding priorities are. For some, stationary is hugely important, while music is just a random wedding necessity, so they'd rather spend more on seating charts and menus, than on their DJ, for example. It's important to have a good think about what's most important to you both, before setting out your wedding budget breakdown. Listed below is a suggested breakdown of your wedding budget.

Wedding Planner: 10% of Budget
Wedding Ceremony: 5% of Budget
Wedding Reception: 37%-40% of Budget
Wedding Photography: 14%-18% of Budget
Wedding Music: 5%-7% of Budget
Flowers and Decor: 10% 15% of Budget
Attire: 10%-15% of Budget
Wedding Stationary: 3% of Budget
Transportation: 2% of Budget
Guest Favors: 2% of Budget
Reserve: 2% of Budget

Grab Your Free Wedding Budget Workbook Printable:

Oh my! Good looks and brains! Not only is our free wedding budget planner download the prettiest wedding budget workbook around, it will also help make planning your wedding on budget a breeze!

Begin your wedding planning journey by establishing your budget in style! Go ahead and grab our FREEBIE Wedding Budget Workbook printable below!

We hope that our wedding budget breakdown has made it easier for you to plan your budget to include all of the special touches that will bring your Big Day together. Remember to keep up to date with all of our weekly Wedding Planning Series advice features! Check out our previous Selecting a Marriage Officer {Wedding Planning Series} feature, which shares key guidelines for choosing the right marriage officer for you.

Enjoy Our Wedding Planning Series Here!

10 WAYS TO MAKE YOUR BRIDESMAIDS FEEL SPECIAL

You are such a kind bride wanting to learn a few tips and tricks to ensure your bridesmaids feel special! Read on and Happy Wedding day! 

Ask them to be in your wedding party in a special way. You don't have to spend a lot of money but a sweet gesture that required thought will truly show how special it is to you for them to stand by your side - and they will gush about how much they loved the way you popped the question!

Planning an out-of-town or far away destination wedding? Help your maids get there. Traveling costs are daunting and can add up so help relieve the stress for your girls by helping out with some aspect of the travel cost. For example provide a room for them to stay in or gift each bridesmaid a Visa gift card to help out with their flight.

Let them mix and match dresses. Not one bridesmaid is the same and neither is their budget or body shape. Give your bridesmaids a swatch of the color(s) you are wanting and let them have the freedom to choose style and price range. This is a win, win as your bridesmaids will be comfortable in their selection and will likely have invested in a dress they will wear again for other occasions.

Spend a day in the shoes you are selecting for your bridesmaids to wear. If you don't feel comfortable in them for an extended period of time... do you really want them to have to smile and grin the blisters and aches throughout your big day? They will love you for choosing comfort over style!

Give them a detailed schedule of the wedding weekend before hand including what aspects are mandatory and which are not. They will appreciate you communicating with them so they are able to make proper arrangements for themselves, and their children, etc..

8. Gift your girls something personalized. It is so much more meaningful than gifting them identical things. This way they really cherish the thought that was put into it. If you need ideas check out our shop- we have customizable hankies, totes, tanks, and more waiting for you here.

Take a few moments at your rehearsal dinner to introduce all your bridesmaids. It is likely that neither your family or husband's family members are familiar with each of your bridesmaids so it is the perfect time to share how you met with the people in your life. It also gives you one more opportunity to thank each bridesmaid individually for being there.

Have some pampering girl time. Whether it's a day at the spa or some time set aside for you girls to do self manis and pedis, that bonding and prep time is so fun and you will all feel in sync when it comes to the wedding day. You don't have to spend a fortune on spa time... just break out the polishes, make some home made teeth whitener, and get the tanning lotion going together the night before for girls night.

Give them small day-of tasks. They will feel appreciated if they can help you check off your to do list rather than just showing up and looking pretty. If they are able to contribute to your big day they will feel even more included!

Feed them throughout the day of the wedding! Seems like a no brainer, right? But having snacks and drinks throughout the day is an absolute must! They are spending the day with you, so the least you can do is nourish them starting with coffee and breakfast all the way to your wedding dinner.

Thank each of your bridesmaids individually with a hug before your wedding reception exit. It is likely that you'll be jetting off on a honeymoon and be unplugged on vacation with your now husband for a while. Make sure you show some love to each of them before the night is over.

Wedding Table Planner Seating Chart Workbook

Wedding Table Planner & Seating Chart Workbook {Wedding Planning Series}

Wedding Table Seating Planning

Free Download

♥ ♥ ♥

In a former Wedding Planning Series feature, we dished out awesome advice for How to plan your guest list {Wedding Planning Series} by dealing with a few tricky guest list situations! This Tuesday we share top tips for seating your wedding guests. 

Even if you’re keen to dodge this task or delegate it to someone else like your wedding planner or mum, planning your wedding table seating is something that you and your hubby-to-be may have to personally see to as you’re likely to know most of your guests best. Soak up our prized tips below to guide you along your way and be sure to grab our heaven-sent freebie Wedding Seating and Table Planning Worksheet printable to add to your wedding planning file!

Get Your Free Wedding Seating & Table Planning Sheet Printable

While referring to your list of wedding guests who have confirmed their attendance, download and use our free Wedding Seating and Table Planning Sheet Workbook printable to help you arrange your seating in record time, minus the sweat and tears!

General Wedding Table Seating Tips

• Plan enough time for your wedding table seating planning - A mouthful indeed! Even if you’re dreading the thought of planning who sits next to who, rather put aside enough time to get it done, so as to avoid making last minute mistakes.

• Expect last minute changes by being prepared - Last minute RSVPs or cancellations are inevitable and should be prepared for! Although you should start your table seating planning as soon as your response cut-off date has arrived, try to add your finishing touches to it as close to your wedding date as possible. This will allow you to update your seating plan or escort cards accordingly. An easily editable seating plan created from a blackboard or mirror background are perfect for making hasty last minute changes.

• Plan your guest table seating according to your venue - Get a copy of the floor plan of your venue so you can visualise the venue and consider any immovable structures such as walls or pillars and so you know where the entrances, exits and lavatories are.

• Assign your guests a table, not a seat - As opposed to having no seating plan at a more informal affair, which could get a little tricky; allocate your wedding guests a table number or name and allow them choose their own seat.

• Aim for no more than 10 guests per table - Of course this depends on the type of table (round or rectangular), but between 6 to 10 guests per table is ideal for guests to sit comfortably and chat.

• Have a seating plan or two as a guide for your guests - More traditional weddings call for a seating plan that allows for the seamless seating of your guests. Displaying a large seating plan or two will easily direct your guests to their table minus the traffic jam usually caused at larger weddings!

 

TIPS FOR SEATING GUESTS AT THE HEAD TABLE

• Choose between a top table, sweetheart table or other - Depending on how formal or casual your wedding is and your personal preference, you can either have a traditional top table that seats the newlyweds and a few members of the bridal party or a cute sweetheart table for just the two of you. Then again, place your own twist on tradition by mixing it up with a few close friends and family at the table where you are sitting!

• Sit within facing view of your guests - Whatever seating option you choose, try to position your table and seating within facing view and easy reach of your guests.

TIPS FOR SEATING GUESTS AT YOUR WEDDING

• Make sure each guest knows and gets along with someone at their table – Remember that a wedding is an event that your guests may look forward to and enjoy catching up with long lost friends and family members, so try to place them near to other guests that they do know and get along with. Create tables where each guest or couple knows and gets along with at least one other person or couple and would enjoy the occasion even if they didn’t click with the rest of the table. If you can avoid it, don’t attempt to place your guests at tables with others that they don’t see eye-to-eye with. 

• Seat guests at a table where they have shared interests and backgrounds - This is especially important when seating guests who are not part of a group such as your family, close group of friends or colleagues. Mix ‘leftover’ guests across the rest of your tables where common interests or backgrounds are shared. If possible, allow guests who are likely not to know anyone else or to be seated near to anyone that they know, to bring along a plus-one.

• Seat groups of guests together where possible - Try to seat couples, groups of friends, family members and work colleagues together at their own tables and mix in a few single or leftover guests.

• Reach for the icebreakers to well…break the ice - If you can’t avoid splitting up guests or would prefer to push your guests to get to know your friends and family better by seating them at a table full of strangers, then break the ice by having fun table games or quizzes.

• Seat older guests carefully - Consider that older guests may appreciate being seated closer to the lavatories and where the speeches are being held, yet further away from blaring loud speakers, the dance floor and a noisy kids table.

• Consider your guest’s seating needs - For instance, pregnant guests or guests with wheelchairs may need more space at their table and closer access to exits and lavatories.

TIPS FOR SEATING CHILDREN AT YOUR WEDDING

• Seat younger kids with their folks - It will be easier for everyone if younger children are seated with their parents. Coloring books and crayons, comics and similar amusing distractions can be useful to keep smaller kids entertained.

• Seat older children at their own table - Older children and teens may appreciate having a table to themselves, preferably closer to the back of the room or exits so they can move about.

Get Your Free Wedding Seating & Table Planning Sheet Workbook

Plan your wedding seating like a professional with our free Wedding Seating & Table Planning Sheet Workbook printable from our weekly Wedding Planning Series.

PS. Signed up already? Using the password sent to you when you first signed up, gain access to this freebie and more by visiting our downloads section.

 For tracking your wedding guest RSVPs, grab our free Guest Tracker Workbook FREEBIE {Wedding Planning Series} plus a few crucial tips for collecting your guests’ yays and nays in record time!

Follow our entire wedding planning series by clicking here.