How Marriage Affects Taxes
The 2011 Wedding Season is in full bloom. If you are one of those who recently got married or are planning a wedding by the end of this year, it is understandable that the last thing on your mind is “TAXES”. But wait! Do you know that getting married will affect your taxes? It might affect your refund or even increase your tax liability, which are popularly called “marriage bonus” or “marriage penalty”, respectably. In other words, your tax situation changes for better or for worse after marriage.
Here are the most important things to know:
- Your marital status at the end of the year will determine your tax status for the whole year. This means that if you are married on or before December 31, 2011 (“married at year-end”), your tax filing status for the whole year of 2011 is “married”.
- “Married at year-end” qualifies you to file your income tax as married filing jointly or separately. There are decisions to make regarding how the two of you should file. Jointly is simpler because you only file one Form 1040. You do not need to figure out which income, deduction and tax credit items belong to which spouse. Married filing jointly is the popular choice of married couples. If you file separately, you will need to file two Form 1040, one for each of you, and you will be ineligible for some potential tax breaks that are not available for married filing separately.
- Notify the Social Security Administration. Report any name change to the Social Security Administration so your name and Social Security Number will match when you file your next tax return. If you have not received your new social security card by the time you need to file your income tax, use your former name (the name that matches your SS card). This way, your income tax form will not be rejected by the IRS for mismatched name and social security number.
- Notify your employer. Report any name and address changes to your employer(s) to make sure you receive your Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, after the end of the year with your correct name and address.
- Notify the U.S. Postal Service. You should also notify the U.S. Postal Service when you move so it can forward any mail, especially IRS correspondence or refunds.
“Marriage Penalty” and “Marriage Bonus”
Before figuring out what tax form and filing status you and your spouse should use, let us talk about the “marriage bonus” and “marriage penalty”. “Marriage penalty” occurs in some, especially when both of husband and wife are earning approximately the same taxable income and filing as “married filing jointly”. Other things being equal, they will pay more income tax than if both remain single. The reason for this is our progressive-tax rate structure. The earner of a higher income pays a higher rate of tax on the last dollar of income. Have a look at the following 2011 tax table: Please note: The tax rate tables are based on taxable income, which is not the same as the gross income on your paystub or the adjusted gross income (AGI) listed on your tax return. Taxable income is after taking any deductions and other exemptions you are eligible for.
| Tax rate | Single filers | Married filing jointly or qualifying widow/widower |
Married filing separately |
| 10% | Up to $8,500 | Up to $17,000 | Up to $8,500 |
| 15% | $8,501 – $34,500 | $17,001 – $69,000 | $8,501- $34,500 |
| 25% | $34,501 – $83,600 | $69,001 – $139,350 | $34,501 – $69,675 |
| 28% | $83,601 – $174,400 | $139,351 – $212,300 | $69,676 – $106,150 |
| 33% | $174,401 – $379,150 | $212,301 – $379,150 | $106,151 – $189,575 |
| 35% | $379,151 or more | $379,151 or more | $189,576 or more |
Notice that once you get past the 15% tax bracket, the married filing jointly ranges stop being double that of the single ranges. The ranges get tighter and tighter as you move up in income. To illustrate, let us look at a simplistic example. Let us assume that you and your spouse each made $80,000 in taxable income in 2011. Let’s also assume that they you have no other income (such as interest, dividends, and capital gains) and did not itemize your deductions. As single taxpayers, your marginal tax bracket will be 25%. However, after marriage, you can no longer file as a single taxpayer (remember?). Filing jointly will increase your taxable income to $150,000. Your marginal tax bracket rises to 28%. The increased tax you will encounter ($310) is called the “Marriage penalty”.
A “Marriage bonus” usually occurs when the two spouses’ income are unequal, that is, one is earning way more than the other. Thus, the more likely that combining their income on a joint return will pull some of the higher-earner’s income into a lower bracket. There are also deductibles and tax credits for married taxpayers, which single taxpayers cannot qualify.
Choosing the Right Tax Form and Best Filing Status:
- Select the right tax form. Choosing the right individual income tax form can help save money. Newly married taxpayers filing jointly may find that they now have enough deductions to itemize on their tax returns. Itemized deductions must be claimed on a Form 1040, not a 1040A or 1040EZ. However, if you file separately, both of you should use the same form. IRS will not allow one spouse to itemize and the other one to claim standard deductions.
- Choose the best filing status. As stated above, a person’s marital status on Dec. 31 determines whether the person is considered married for that year. Generally, the tax law allows married couples to choose to file their federal income tax return either jointly or separately in any given year. Figuring the tax both ways can determine which filing status will result in the lowest tax, but usually filing jointly is more beneficial.
- Check your withholding. If both you and your spouse work, your combined income may place you in a higher tax bracket. You can use the IRS Withholding Calculator to assist you in determining the correct amount of withholding needed for your new filing status. The IRS Withholding Calculator will give you the information you need to complete a new Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate. You can fill it out and print it online and then give the form to your employer(s) so they withhold the correct amount from your pay.
For more tax tips, visit our sister website, AqBiz.net.
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We are Back!
So sorry for the long “hiatus”.
My site was hacked and my web host shot down my site, because, and I quote, “… there is a very high probability that the person who compromised/hacked your account has inserted a back door and the MALWARE propagation will continue. If we did not take your account offline, all the major search engines and ISP(s) would black list your domain name and our server(s). We CAN NOT permit our server(s) to be black listed.”
I can’t really blame them, but this incident got me so upset and frustrated, I almost threw in the towel and give up. If you visited my site during these horrible times, you will be greeted by either “Visiting this site is risky” or “This account is suspended” depending on when you came to visit – prior to my reporting the incident or after. It is very embarrassing, to say the least. My account suspended? It sounds like I was not paying my hosting bill or was suspended for publishing “racey” articles. I assure you that neither one of those are the case.
Finally, everything was resolved and my blog back to its original state. Now I am back to writing blogs that are “completely weddings.” Stay tuned!
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101 Ways to Save on Weddings
Due to numerous requests from our readers, we are reprinting our article “101 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding” in its complete form. Thank you for asking… 
With the cost of weddings spiraling upwards s of $27,000 (depending on where you plan to have your wedding), and the unstable economy, many engaged couples are looking for ways to save money on their wedding. We, at Completely Weddings, have listed 101 ways to cut your wedding cost and thereby saving you money to use somewhere else such as your honeymoon or savings for your first home.
Planning
1. Set a budget. Before you begin shopping and planning, set a goal for yourself of how much you want to spend. Make an effort to keep your costs in your budget, and remember that any additional money you save can go towards your honeymoon or your first home together.
2. Determine your priorities. Sit down with your fiancé and determine which area are most important to you. Do you both value traditions or could you do without a lot of them? Is a DJ the most important thing to have at your reception, or is it a full meal? Chose where you want to cut costs and what things are too important to you to skimp on.
3. Make your own traditions and ditch the old ones. If there are certain traditions that you don’t enjoy, such as throwing the garter and the bouquet (especially difficult if you have a very small wedding), don’t feel obligated to include them. You can create traditions all your own.
4. Don’t hire a wedding planner. If you are planning a small event especially, you don’t need a wedding planner. Invest in an accordion file and a wedding planning book from a bookstore and do it yourself.
5. Keep your eye out for bridal shows. Bridal shows are a great place to get freebies, gather information, and enter contests. The least you’ll walk away with is a better idea of what you want in your wedding, so find your next local bridal show and mark your calendar!
6. Order online. For everything from dresses to flowers to favors, you can get some great deals when you shop online. Do your homework before you make a purchase at any store and see if you can’t find the same thing cheaper on Amazon, EBay, or Overstock.com.
7. Take your time. Don’t rush into decision making. You may fall in love with all of the first things you see because you’re so excited just to be planning a wedding. Take time to make sure you’re getting the right wedding and reception items for your personal taste, and look into getting the best deal for each item.
8. Accept offers from friends and family. If you have particularly talented or crafty people in your family, chances are they will be jumping at the chance to offer their services. If you know that they’re good at what they do, take them up on their offers and enlist their help with DIY wedding projects.
9. Speak up and negotiate. Negotiation is not a lost art. Stand up for yourself and try to get the best deal possible with all of your vendors.
10. Befriend your local librarian. Before you go spending all your money on bridal magazines and books, go to your local library. Here you can browse etiquette and wedding planning books and magazines to your heart’s content without spending a dime.
11. Shop wholesale online. Search for wholesale retailers for everything from flowers to ribbon, and you can get a great deal online.
Invitations and Announcements
12. Skip engagement announcements and save the dates. These extra touches are cute, but no longer completely necessary. Take the time to make a personal phone call to the most important people in your life and let work of mouth do the rest. Or, if you must get the word out, use an email instead.
13. Cut down your guest list. The quickest and easiest way to save money on your wedding is to cut down your guest list. Have a small wedding with only family, or only invite very close friends. Cut the people you never talk to, or all of your coworkers from the list. If anyone is offended explain that it was a very small and intimate affair.
14. Design and print your invitations at home. You can buy blank invitations at any craft store, Target, or Wal Mart. If you or someone you know is handy with Photoshop or graphic design you can even create a very personal picture or logo for all of your wedding correspondence.
15. Print your own announcements. If you did this with your invitations as well, it will be especially easy to make them match. Invitations only need to be one simple card.
16. Eliminate the RSVP card. Have your guests RSVP by phone or online. This will save you the expense of printing the response card and including the extra envelope as well as on postage for the return envelope.
17. Opt out of an inner envelope and tissue paper. The inner envelope and tissue paper are sometimes considered an outdated inclusion. You can easily get by without one or both.
18. Include only the basics. Save on your invitations by only including the very basics on the paper invitation. Put ceremony and reception information on the same invitation.
19. Get an inexpensive personal wedding website. Provide the web page address and include the invitation and all the details online. To get more information on choosing the personal wedding website for you, read our blog “Creating A Wedding Website“.
Flowers
20. Make your own bouquets. You can purchase a wide variety of silk flowers at any craft store. These won’t wilt so you can take your time creating the perfect bouquets.
21. Know what’s seasonal and local. Choose flowers that are in season at the time are your wedding, and that can be locally grown. You can save a lot by avoiding exotic flowers out of season.
22. Incorporate greenery and ivy. You can fill out your bouquets with greenery and ivy. These are cheaper than using flowers only in your bouquet. This will work especially well if you are planning an “eco-friendly wedding” or to include green in your wedding colors.
23. Reuse your flowers. Consider using some of the same flowers decorating your ceremony to decorate your reception. Assign a few helpful friends to transport the flowers after the ceremony and set them up for the reception.
24. Don’t decorate the head table. Instead of decorating the head table with flowers, use the bridesmaids’ bouquets, set in vases along the table.
Food and Drink
25. Go for the buffet. By selecting a buffet instead of a plated meal, you’ll save not only on the meal but on the servers as well. This is also a bonus for your guests who don’t have to decide ahead of time what they’ll want to eat that day, and can fill their plate however they want.
26. Skip the filet mignon. Chose chicken, fish, and pasta as your options. Consider including pork of beef. Steak may seem like a very formal option but it will run up your bill more than it’s worth.
27. Serve fewer courses. You can serve a higher quality three course meal for the same price as a five course meal. There’s no need to over complicate things.
28. Skip the bar. Don’t feel obligated to provide your guests with a bar. Soda, tea, and water will often do just fine. If you have your reception at a hotel there is often a bar nearby that your guests can get drinks from on their own that won’t cost you a cent. Having a reception earlier in the day – during brunch or lunch is often a good excuse to have a dry party.
29. Have friends and family cater. If you don’t mind going for a less formal affair, you can have friends and family cater the reception. If this isn’t quite in line with your reception plans you can also consider doing this for the rehearsal dinner.
30. Have an informal rehearsal dinner. You can save a bundle by having a casual rehearsal dinner. Plan a cookout, potluck, or barbecue. Your guests will still have a great time, and probably enjoy the relaxing atmosphere.
31. It doesn’t have to be dinner. If you move your wedding to an earlier time, you can have the reception at brunch of lunch time. This will allow you to go for cheaper menu options, like fruit and tea sandwiches. If you want a buffet, consider setting up an omelet bar!
32. Save champagne for the toast. There’s no need to keep the champagne flowing all night. You can serve one glass to each guest for the toast, and serve other beverages the rest of the time. For a non-alcoholic toast, consider serving Martinelli’s sparkling cider. It looks like champagne, tastes good and it’s way cheaper.
33. Serve a limited bar. If you don’t want a dry wedding but aren’t ready to spring for a full bar, just serve wine, beer, and soft drinks to cut your costs.
34. Shorten your cocktail hour. Though it is called the cocktail “hour” you can limit the time during which you serve drinks and hors d’oeuvres to save a little money, and prevent your guests from filling up before the meal!
35. Bring your own alcohol. Many locations do not allow this, but if you do your research you may be able to have your reception in a place where you can bring your own alcohol. Wine and liquor can be purchased much cheaper by the case.
36. Select a seasonal menu. Try to include items in your menu that are both locally grown and in season. You can really work down the meal price if you select your fruits and vegetables carefully.
37. Use smaller plates. If you serve your meal on 8 inch plates instead of 10 inch plates, you can serve less food while still providing a plate that looks full.
38. Go for the keg. For large groups it will be much cheaper to buy beer buy the keg – not the bottle.
39. Cut down on servers. Only hire the minimum number of servers needed. Other than serving the meal, they won’t be doing much besides racking up your bill.
Location and time
40. Book a block of hotel rooms. If you will have guests coming from far away to attend your wedding, find a hotel near your wedding that will negotiate a discounted rate for a block of rooms. Advise your family and friends to make their reservations there. If you and your new spouse stay here before or after the wedding this will not only save money for your guests, but for you as well.
41. Choose your day carefully. The most popular, and expensive, time to have your wedding is on a Saturday. Friday and Sunday will be cheaper, and Monday through Thursday is your best deal.
42. Avoid the peak season. The busiest wedding season is May through September. If you avoid these months, you can save a lot of money, and get better services for a lower price. There are also lots of great themes you can incorporate for an autumn or winter wedding!
43. Use the same location. Have your wedding and reception at the same location. This is often available in hotels and country clubs where you can have the wedding in their garden, and reception in a banquet facility. You can negotiate a great deal by having both in the same place, as well as saving your guests some travel.
44. Have a garden wedding. If you choose a garden location for your wedding, you can save on decorations. You may not need any! Let the beauty of the location do it all for you.
45. Use your church. If you belong to a church, they will often provide function halls, some with complete kitchens, free of charge to their members.
46. Have it at home. Getting married at home may seem like an outdated tradition, but if you or your family has a large house or yard, it can often be the perfect location. You will have the freedom to decorate however you want, and your wedding will be a very private affair.
Cake
47. Skip the bakery. Any place that specializes only in wedding place is going to be expensive. Go to your local grocery store, culinary school, or even your favorite restaurant to negotiate a better deal.
48. Serve the entire cake. Saving the top layer of the cake is often considered a dead tradition. You can save a lot of money by serving your entire cake.
49. Use a fake cake. Instead of ordering an expensive wedding cake, why not opt for a “fake wedding cake”? These cakes are made of styrofoam and are beautifully decorated. They can stay on display all day long, even outdoors with no worries about bugs or humidity. They look so real, your guests won’t even have a clue it is fake.
50. Use cupcakes. Cupcakes for wedding cake are getting popular these days. They costs way less than the “wedding” cake and you can have them in different flavors that your guests can choose from.
51. Order extra sheet cake. If you want an elaborately decorated cake but can’t afford one big enough to feed everyone, go for a smaller cake on display, and have sheet cake in back for cutting and serving. If the icing matched, your guests will never know the difference.
Attire
52. Wear an heirloom or vintage dress. Vintage wedding gowns are in for 2009. See if any of your female relatives have a wedding dress they want to pass down to you. Ask your fiancé to do the same. His mother or grandmother may be thrilled to see you in their gown, especially if he doesn’t have sisters.
53. Rent tux’s from the same bridal shop you got your dress from. Many bridal shops will offer a discount on the men’s tuxes if you rent them from their location.
54. Let them wear suits. Instead of tuxes, you can save money for your groom and groomsmen by letting them wear suits instead.
55. Casual groomsmen attire. If you are planing an outdoor wedding, especially, you have a lot of options for the men’s attire. Consider a colored button down shirt and black pants or khakis. Ties are optional.
56. DIY jewelry. You and your bridesmaids can make some of your jewelry yourselves. Buy the thread, beads, and clasps and get all the girls together to craft their own jewelry. This way you will match, while still allowing each girl to have their own personal touch.
57. Go barefoot. If you’re planning a beach wedding you can ditch the shoes altogether! Have the girls go barefoot and consider making barefoot sandals instead.
58. Get a tiara at the mall or online. Avoid bridal shops and fancy jewelry stores. You can find a great tiara at department stores or online at Bridal ‘N Beauty.
59. Rent a wedding dress. You can save hundreds or even thousands by renting a wedding dress instead of buying one. Your wedding dress can be a very sentimental item, so not everyone will want to go this route, but if you’re able to it’s a surefire way to save.
60. Let the bridesmaids choose their own dresses. Many people will now simply choose a color and let their bridesmaids run with it. This works especially well if you have a color like black that’s easy for everyone to match.
61. Borrow your jewelry. You need something borrowed anyway, why not make it one of the more expensive accessories? Ask friends and family members if you can look through their jewelry for your “something borrowed”. They will likely be flattered and you can find some great pieces!
62. Don’t limit yourself to bridal shops. You can find wedding dresses now in most department stores and even online at places like Target! These dresses are a lot less expensive and often look just the same.
63. Choose a non-traditional dress – Your wedding gown can really be any dress that you love and feel beautiful in. If you love vintage clothing, consider any lacy vintage dress for your wedding gown. If you’re getting married outdoors or at the beach, you can even wear a more casual dress.
Hair and Makeup
64. Have a friend do hair and make up – Instead of hiring a professional to do your hair and make up, you can take a more DIY approach. Many people are often best at putting on their own makeup and know exactly how they like it. Or consider having a friend help with the task.
65. Go to a local cosmetology school – Consider getting your hair and makeup done at a cosmetology school instead of a licensed professional. These students are often just as good and will put extra effort into their work to impress their instructors.
66. Get a group mani/pedi’s – Make an appointment to get manicures and pedicures together with your bridesmaids. Let the salon know you are a bridal party. You can often negotiate a discount for the group of you, or get the bride’s free.
Rings
67. Shop for your rings online – Purchasing rings online, especially from a place like Amazon.com can save you a bundle.
68. Opt for simpler rings – If you and your fiancé are on a tight budget, skip the giant diamonds. Get small, simple rings for each other. If you’re a girl who secretly longs for that perfect diamond, you can agree to get new, custom designed rings on your 1, 5, or 10 year anniversary when you may be more secure financially.
69. Use an heirloom – Many families have heirloom rings that they want to pass on. Your only expense may be resizing it.
70. Reuse stones – If you don’t want to use an heirloom ring, consider using the stones from an inherited ring to create your own.
Music/Entertainment
71. Put together your own music – Skip the DJ and play music from a CD you’ve burned for the occasion, or hook up your iPod and set it to a special wedding playlist.
72. Have a friend or family member announce you – If you’re playing your own music, enlist a friend or family member to announce the wedding party as they enter.
73. Make your own short video – Rent a projector (or borrow one from work if you can!) and put together a short video of the bride and groom together. Set it to music and play your video after dinner.
74. Set up a slideshow – Rent or borrow a projector and set up a slideshow or pictures of you and your husband. Set it to loop so guests can catch all your pictures throughout the reception.
75. Enlist a local band – If you know of a good local band, or are friends with any musicians, enlist them to play for the ceremony or reception.
76. Hire student musicians – If you want live music for your ceremony, you can often find a beautiful rendition of traditional of classical music by looking for talented students. Many high schoolers are much better than they get credit for. Contact a high school band director and ask him to see if any of his best students are interested. They will likely do it for a very affordable price. Make sure you get to hear them play your selected piece a couple times before you hire them.
Photography/Videography
77. Hire a student photographer – Many people will urge you not to skimp on your photos. While this is true, hiring a student photographer or even a talented family or friend isn’t a bad idea if you look at samples of their work first and know that they are good at what they do. Students often do better work because they are anxious to build up an impressive portfolio and impress instructors and future employers.
78. Get pictures from your guests – Encourage your guests, especially close friends and family, to take lots of pictures and send you copies or burn them to a CD. Oftentimes, it’s these people who get the best candid shots. Look through their pictures before you purchase everything from the photographer.
79. Use disposable cameras – Don’t hire a photographer for the reception and instead set out disposable cameras on all of the tables. Your guests will have a great time capturing your special moments. You can also enlist one special friend or family member with a digital camera to catch specific moments that are important to you.
80. Purchase the negatives – Negotiate a deal with your photographer where you can purchase the negatives. This way you can make as many prints as you want in a variety of sizes.
81. Get a picture CD – Purchase a CD from your photographer with all of your pictures on it. You can edit the pictures on your own computer, or take the CD to a drug store and use their software. This way you can print the pictures at your convenience and get reprints at any time. Wait for your CVS or Walgreens to run a special and take advantage of their great deals.
82. Enlist friends and family – For video of the wedding and especially the reception, compiling several videos from guests can often be more fun and personal than paying someone else to do it.
Decorations
83. Print your own place cards – You can easily print your own place cards at home and print decorations on them, or decorate them with ribbons.
84. Skip the place card holders – Use place cards that fold in half and stand on their own in place of fancy place card holders
85. Arrange your own centerpieces – You can arrange the flowers yourself for the centerpieces at your reception. Buy silk flowers so you can take your time putting them together.
86. Get creative with your decorations – Instead of flowers, you can decorate with candles, Christmas lights, fruit, seashells, or any number of creative items. Go to a craft store and browse around for inspiration. One way to start is with a fishbowl or shallow dish on a mirror. You can fill the bowl with water and floating candles, or sand and seashells.
87. Have your wedding near a holiday – If you have your wedding near a major holiday like Christmas or Easter you can often save on decorations because the church, or other venue, will already be decorated beautifully. Choose wedding colors that will complement the seasonal decorations.
88. Share your decorations – If there are other weddings taking place in the same venue on the day of your wedding get in touch with those couples and see if you can arrange to split the cost of some decorations and share them for the day. If you want to keep any of these items, be sure to make this clear ahead of time.
89. Decorate with pictures – Instead of flowers or candles, incorporate artistic pictures of the happy couple into the decorations. These can be edited at home on your computer and printed out at your local drugstore.
Favors
90. Make your own favors – Many craft stores sell a variety of small bags, ribbons, and candies. You can save a bundle by filling the bags yourself with chocolates or mints and adding cute ribbons in your wedding colors.
91. Have decorations double as favors – This route is a perfect two-for-one money saver. Place candles at each place setting in a holder with your wedding date engraved on it. Set candies in small decorative glass bowls. You can even make a floral centerpiece out of several small potted plants set together. All of these decorations can become your favors at the end of the night and go home with your guests.
Attendants
92. Buy your attendant gifts online – Shop online at theknot.com or other online bridal stores to find great deals on attendant gifs. Most offer free personalization
93. Have a small wedding party – Opt for only asking your two or three closest friends to be in the wedding party. The fewer attendants you have, the more personal your experience will be.
The Ceremony
94. Print your own programs – Your wedding programs can be a simple trifold, or several pages tied with a pretty ribbon. Any way you do them, these are simple to print at home and put together yourself. Invite your bridesmaids over and make a party of it. If you’re having a small, nontraditional wedding you can go without programs entirely.
95. Give them bubbles – Instead of rice or flower petals, give your guests bubbles. You can buy small bubbles for just this purpose at craft stores or Wal-Mart. Many come with wedding bells or doves already crafted onto the lid. You can decorate them further with ribbons or paint.
96. DIY Guestbook – Buy a guestbook at any craft store and make it your own. Add ribbons or lace to the cover, and decorate the front page. A guestbook that doesn’t specify that it’s for weddings will probably be cheaper, and exactly the same in every other way.
97. Make your own ring bearer’s pillow – If you have a ring bearer, don’t spend a lot of money on the perfect pillow. This is the perfect item to make and decorate yourself. It doesn’t need to be elaborate or complicated.
Extras
98. Skip the limo – You can hire town cars instead of a limo for your transportation.
99. Have a friend drive – Enlist a friend with a nice car to be your driver for the event, and save on a limo.
100. Buy simple thank you cards – If you want a personal touch, print your own thank you cards. For an even easier approach, simply buy a box of simple thank you cards from a craft store. Even stores like Target and Wal-Mart carry these.
101. And lastly, but not least, avoid anything labeled “wedding” from gowns to shoes to cakes, the word “wedding” adds extra costs and usually without added benefits.
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Vegas Wedding
Getting married in Las Vegas is fun, exciting, and can fit into even the tightest of wedding budgets. Weddings in Vegas can be cozy and intimate or wild and themed. If you want to get married by Elvis, that’s a possibility. That’s the great thing about Las Vegas, anything goes!
Getting Married in Vegas – Pros and Cons
A major perk of getting married in Vegas is that weddings can be put together with little to no notice, and there will always be a place available no matter the time or date. There are hundreds of churches and chapels in Vegas, but those aren’t your only options. Hotels, tourist attractions, and public areas can also make elegant wedding locations.
Cons of getting married in Vegas include tacky decorations of some locations and the stigma of having a quickie wedding in Sin City. If your dream is to have your wedding in Vegas and you are afraid of tacky décor, just request photos of the location before you book it. Your Vegas wedding is really all about you and your fiancé, and if having a fantastic time is your main goal, then burgundy carpet shouldn’t be a deal breaker. If it is, there are hundreds more places to choose from in every budget imaginable.
What’s Different in Vegas Weddings?
Las Vegas offers twenty-four hour entertainment, shows, fine dining, and more! You and your guests will never get bored and your wedding trip will be like one big party. Wedding packages even start under $50 for the bride on a shoestring budget, but can range up in the thousands for the bride who wants a more elaborate reception. If you shop around and plan ahead it’s possible to find wedding packages under $500 including limousine services, chapel rental, reception area, a minister, witnesses, and more. Some companies even throw in generic rental flowers and cakes. Anything is possible in Las Vegas and if you go with the right company you can get a fantastic wedding at a great price!
Jenny's Illustration Board
My niece, Jennifer Nalus, is getting married in January, 2010. I was so excited when she asked me to help her plan her wedding. The wedding is in the Philippines and I am in California, so that is a bit of a challenge. All my wedding vendors are in the US and I am not familiar with wedding vendors in the Philippines. However, with my talented sister-in-law and my other nieces helping their sister, everything is working fine. Jenny’s wedding planning is coming together.
Black and White Wedding Colors
Jenny chose black and white as her wedding colors. She and her bridesmaids will be wearing white. The bridesmaids will have black lining on the dresses while the MOH will wear black of the same design with white lining. The groom will wear a black barong tagalog. Barong tagalog is a native formal wear. The flower girl will be carrying a black and white basket filled with white petals while the ring bearer will be carrying a black and white ring pillow.
The reception will be held at the elegant Shangri-La Hotel with 200 guests. The tables and chairs will be covered with black linen accented with white dinner plates and white napkins. A white pillar candle embellished with white butterfly, white silk flowers and pearls will be the main centerpiece. White rose petals and silver-wrapped chocolate kisses will be scattered around the centerpiece to give a colorful contrast to the black table top. The pillar candles will also be surrounded by cute bride and groom votive candles.
Wedding Gown, Bouquets and Cake
Jenny chose a local designer, Olan Roque, to design her bridal gown; and did I say it looks fabulous! The wedding gown is made with Mikado silk and chiffon with cut beads and stones hand sewn into the halter neckline. As for the wedding bouquet, the bride will be carrying red roses, her favorite flower, dotted with stephanotis. The bridesmaids and MOH will be carrying white calla lilies wrapped in black and white satin handle.
The white wedding cake will be decorated with cascading red roses and black ribbons. Replica dolls of the bride and groom will be added to the base cake tier. I was told that the cake is designed and will be made by one of Jenny’s friends. It looks splendid!
Reception Menu
Since Jenny is marrying a chef, isn’t any wonder that the menu is so mouth-watering? It makes me hungry just reading about it! Here is the menu:
Salads and Appetizers
- Selection of garden greens with various dressings
- Potato Salad with croutons, bacons and spring onion
- Coleslaw
Soup
- Pumpkin or Mushroom soup
Main Courses
- Lasagna
- Chicken with homemade barbeque sauce
- Sesame breaded snapper with pickled Mayo
- Kingdao Spareribs
- Lechon
Desserts
- Assorted cakes and pastries
- Fresh fruit platters
More details of the wedding planning later …
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With more and more couples waiting longer to get married, they typically already have the usual wedding gifts such as pots, pans, linens and household items. Thus, many engaged couples are skipping the traditional wedding gift registries and are opting for the modern “honeymoon registries”.
Honeymoon registries allow your wedding guests who would normally buy you sheets and pillow cases to instead purchase part of your honeymoon experience. This is not the same as asking your guests for cash, which is often frowned upon as unacceptable wedding etiquette. Honeymoon registries are as courteous as gift registries. Items on the honeymoon registries can vary widely just like the items you choose in a traditional gift registry.
What Can You Include in your Honeymoon Registry?
After picking the location of your honeymoon, you can register for items such as:
- Hotel stays or bed and breakfast accommodations
- Transportation such as limos and rental cars
- Romantic dinner for two
- Tickets to local shows
- Spa massages for two
- Entrance fees to tourist attractions
Your honeymoon registry isn’t limited to the items seen above either! If you’ve always wanted to do something crazy like skydiving, you can add it to your list and go for it on your honeymoon. Also the more details you give on your registry the more the person giving the gift will feel involved. Don’t just say you want to visit a museum while on your NYC honeymoon, but say you want to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Instead of saying you want three nights at a hotel, you can say you want to stay three nights at the beautiful 5 star St. Regis overlooking Manhattan’s world famous Fifth Avenue.
There are many online services that will help you plan your honeymoon registry. Some even have example registries so you get a feel of how your registry should look. Don’t be afraid to compare companies either before deciding which one to register with, this is your honeymoon you are planning. Pick a registry site that is trustworthy. Here is a site that compares popular honeymoon registries: Creative Honeymoon Ideas
Registering with a travel agency in person is also an option. It may make you feel safer knowing you can speak with someone face to face about your trip. With the right planning, you wedding guests can help you have the honeymoon of your dreams, and you won’t even have to return five crock pots to get it!
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A popular way to celebrate a friend’s last days as a single girl is to honor her with a bachelorette party, otherwise also known as a “hen party”. This event is usually hosted by one or more members of the wedding party, or any friend in honor of the bride-to-be. Although the bachelorette party is never hosted by the bride-to-be, you can participate in its planning.
Generally people think of bachelorette parties as a night of alcohol and watching male strippers. Now a days, it is becoming more of an opportunity for “female bonding” with activities that are fun and appropriate for bridesmaids and friends of any age. If you are looking for alternative activities for your bachelorette party, here are four great ideas for that special girls’ night out.
1. Spa Night
A night at the spa is a popular theme many brides are choosing for their bachelorette parties. Spas are now opening up for private events and will cater to the party requests of soon-to-be brides. Many women find that a facial, pedicure, manicure, and massage not only helps them to de-stress before the big day, but is also an activity that tops a night out in a crowded smoky club. The next day you and your girl friends will be glowing and refreshed instead of nurturing a hung over.
2. Sleepovers
Sleepovers are no longer for thirteen year old girls. Today’s brides are inviting over their best girl friends of all ages for a night of chick flicks, pizza, and secrets. Play some games in between the movies and trading secrets. One such game is “toilet paper bride”. Women team up in pairs of two, each team gets a roll of toilet paper, and the teams try to come up with the prettiest toilet paper wedding gown. You, as the bride-to-be gets to pick the winning team. Another version of this game is to see which team can wrap up their “bride” the quickest with the toilet paper, mummy style. These ultra hip slumber parties aren’t just limited to houses either, for a fun twist have the sleepover at a hotel and order ice cream from room service.
3. Karaoke Bar Fun
For bridal parties that still want to party but want to skip the traditional strip club, a karaoke bar is a fun alternative. You do not need to be an “American Idol” to stand up and belt a tune or two. Who knows, you, one of your bridesmaids and / or girl friends might have a hidden singing talent that is waiting to be discovered.
4. Group Cooking Class
For the undomesticated bride, group cooking classes are a unique idea. Not only will the bride learn some handy kitchen skills, but she can also learn a tasty recipe to cook up for her new husband. If the bride cooks like a pro, substitute the cooking lessons for group scrap booking classes. The bride can learn how to make a beautiful wedding scrapbook instead of having to pay a professional. Bridesmaids can also discover their inner scrap booking or cooking talents in the group class.
Bachelorette parties are no longer just about drinking and watching male strippers. Brides are skipping the traditional party themes and instead are going with a more modern approach. No matter which party theme you choose, you’re wedding group is bound to have a blast!
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Many environmentally conscious wedding couples are choosing to have “green” weddings instead of traditional weddings. Couples are trying to reduce their carbon footprint, protect the Earth, and still have an unforgettable event. Having a wedding that is beautiful, traditional, and also eco-friendly is a possibility if couples plan ahead and exchange regular options for green options.
Start with the Invitation
Traditionally the wedding couple picks out the most beautiful invitations and doesn’t concern themselves with materials used. A green option is to go with invitations that are not only pleasing to the eye, but are also made from recycled materials or hemp. In green weddings it is also acceptable to skip hand held invitations and send out e-invitations through email. E-invites can also say you money on not only invitation costs but also postage.
Eco-friendly Wedding Gowns
When it comes to the Bride’s beautiful dream wedding dress there are also green options available. Gowns made in natural materials, such as organic cotton, silk, and silk satin, are becoming very popular. Hemp is also an option, it absorbs moisture, naturally resists mold and mildew, and therefore stores better. Renting a gown or using mom’s or grandma’s dress is also an environmentally friendly option.
What to Serve On Your Reception
Organic food is easy to come by. Many cake makers already cater to eco-concerned parties. Tell them your concerns and watch them create special dishes just for you that are both delicious and organic. Organic options may also fit into special diets some of your guests may have.
Eco-Friendly Confetti
As the Bride and Groom exit the reception it’s traditional for confetti to be thrown. A green option is bird seed. It’s classic and it feeds the local birds. Never throw rice as once a bird eats rice it can expand in their stomach and make them sick or worse. Bird seed is a safe green option that is also very traditional.
Eco-Friendly Wedding Favors
Lastly, and just as important as any wedding aspect, is the wedding favors for the bridal party and guests. Green ideas are endless in this department. Any organic gift or gift made from 100% recycled materials is acceptable. Some popular organic gifts are organic candles, seed packets, a tree sapling, organic soaps, organic candies and chocolates; even organic food baskets. Your wedding guests would never forget getting a Lucky Bamboo plant at your wedding. For the bridesmaids a gift basket of organic beauty products would be spectacular.
Having a green wedding is just as easy as having a traditional wedding. You can have the wedding of your dreams and still be environmentally conscious. If you plan correctly, your green wedding will be just as elegant, if not more so, than traditional weddings. Your guests will never forget the “green” wedding they attended and you will know you did your part to protect the Earth.
Photo Credits: Elegant Green Wedding by brideadvocate on Polyvore.com
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While you and your Price Charming are busy preparing for your dream wedding, most if not all of you are also looking forward to your happily ever after married life. Not to distract you from your plans and dreams, but have you stopped and think how many marriages survive past the first year of marriage?
In reality, marriage is not a happy ending but a glorious beginning to your new life. While life as newlyweds is exciting it can also be challenging. It is said that the first year of marriage is the hardest and people often speculate on if a new marriage will “survive” the first year. Don’t let speculation and struggles get in the way, take care of the newlywed issues before they become problems and you’ll have a much easier first year.
Here are issues that newlyweds commonly argue about:
- Money
- In-laws
- Roles of each person
- Quality time
- Children
Money is an issue an alarming number of couples fight about, not just newlyweds. Throwing a wedding can start your relationship off in debt. If one of you already has debt, your monthly budget can be strained. Pointing fingers about who spent what will not help in this situation. You and your spouse need to sit down as soon as possible, look at your finances, and get a monthly budget in place. Debt is not the end of the world, even though it can feel like it; you just need a plan to get debt paid off.
Mother-in-laws can be overbearing. His mom (or your mom) means well, but she can make you feel like you’re married to two people instead of one. If she always puts her two cents in on your problems refrain from speaking about them in front of her. Ask your partner to do the same. She can’t give you meddlesome advice on problems she doesn’t know about. It’s also not fair to get mad at her for her opinion when you asked her for advice.
When you are sharing your nesting place, have you discussed who will do the dishes? What about the laundry, paying the bills, grocery shopping, cooking, changing the oil… If he expects you to cook will he be in charge of clean up? Roles around the house aren’t about who has to do what chore, but what can you do to make the household run smoothly. Maybe you and your hubby can do the dishes together after dinner while you both give each other flirty looks and smiles – you might like where it ends up.
When you were dating, as long as you two were together the day was perfect. After you are married you might not want to watch him play golf and he might not enjoy watching you shop. That’s okay, just be sure to set aside quality time together. If one of you has to endure an activity that’s not on their fun list, focus on each other and not the activity.
Children can be a big issue. Should you start trying right away? Do you want to wait five years? Do you even want kids? Hopefully this conversation took place early on in the relationship. If not, have it now. Don’t panic if your partner’s answer doesn’t match
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It used to be an “in-thing” to have disposable cameras readily available for guests to snap photos at weddings. The wedding couple purchases the disposable cameras in bulk, sets them on the tables, the guests take photos, leave the camera on the table and a few days after the wedding the bride and groom remember to have the photos developed. These days, it is no longer fashionable to distribute disposable cameras because you can never be sure how the photos will come out in the hands of novice photographers. You might get dozens of photos of your guests’ feet or the ceiling, over exposed or under exposed photos of otherwise great pictures. In the end, you wasted your money on the cameras plus the cost of developing useless photos.
An Alternative to Disposal Cameras
A new alternative to buying disposable cameras is renting high quality digital cameras for guests to use. I found several companies that offer such services, but Camera Renter is by far the best that I found. This online store offers a photo package for weddings that includes the rental fee for the cameras, shipping fees to you and return shipping, damage insurance, a CD of your photos, unlimited photo downloading for you and your guests, photo hosting, and photo sharing.
Why Use Rented Digital Cameras
Your typical disposable wedding camera holds less than thirty photos, while cameras from Camera Renter hold an average of 450 photos and can take a 15 minute video. A teen sitting at the table may take 10 photos of their date before they realize they just used half the role of a disposable camera. With a digital camera, they can still take 440 more photos or they have the option to delete the photos they just took. You can even order the camera early so you can use them for the rehearsal dinner, too.
The online photo sharing is convenient as guests and family who couldn’t make the ceremony can view your photos and still share in your wedding experience. You can send them an online invitation and they can even view the videos your guests took with the cameras.
For DIY Brides: A Good Alternative to Hiring Professional Photographers
While renting a digital photo package may cost more than disposable, when you add up everything that’s included it’s actually a pretty great deal. Disposable cameras run around $3-10 per camera, plus shipping and handling if purchased online. You run a risk of the film not turning out and having to pay for processing photos you don’t really want. A 10 camera photo package from Camera Renter is $495 and allows you and your guests to take many more photos, videos, and have better quality prints. This is a good alternative for a DIY bride who does not want to spend thousands of dollars for a professional photographer.
Hand Rented Digital Cameras to Trusted Friends or Family
If a cheap disposable camera is lost or broken, it’s not a big deal. If a camera from Camera Renter is damaged you’re covered under the 100% damage insurance included in the photo package. On the other hand if one of the rented cameras goes missing there is a $100 replacement fee. With disposable cameras you would be comfortable letting anyone use them, but with the rented digital cameras you might want to only hand them out to close family and friends who will keep track of them.
In Addition to Professional Photography
For those of you who plan or already have a professional photographer for your memorable event, let him/her handle the official pictures. Give your trusted friends or family relatives these rented digital cameras to capture intimate moments in pictures or in video of your closest friends and family at your rehearsal dinner, wedding ceremony or reception. You will be happier with the number and quality of photos, and enjoy sharing them online with family and friends.
Photo Credits: Camera Renter. This article is written without monetary or other compensation from Camera Rental. It is a service for soon-to-be brides.
