Is Elopement Right For You?

Planning An Elopement

Choosing to elope is a very personal decision. Eloping means that you and your fiancé decide to get married alone with no traditional wedding ceremony or reception. It is usually done in secret. Deciding to elope is often a very spontaneous decision, and something that a couple doesn’t plan very far ahead of time. Some people also consider a destination wedding to be an elopement, but this is not a true interpretation of the term. Since a destination wedding or even a small at-home wedding still involves guests, invitations, and a reception, these are not “real” elopements in the traditional way.

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Wedding Etiquette - Tipping Your Wedding Vendors

WHO TO TIP AND HOW MUCH TO TIP

It may be the last thing a frugal bride wants to hear, but tipping wedding vendors is an absolute requirement.  You will benefit to plan for this early in the planning process.  Never take the amount you are being charged at face value.  Always factor in your tip so that you don’t come up short on the big day.

When determining who to tip and how much they should get, the first thing you need to find out is if there are any gratuities included. Many vendors now include gratuities in the bill. This is especially common among caterers.  If your caterer included gratuities, you do not need to tip your servers.  If gratuity is not included, it is important to consult with the catering company on the best method for tipping.

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Wedding Etiquette - Bridal Registry

One of the most fun and exciting parts of planning a wedding is going shopping with your fiancé and selecting items for your bridal registry.  While you can’t politely broadcast your wish list, most guests will ask what kinds of gifts you want to receive.  Therefore, it is important to be prepared with an answer.

The most common way of selecting gifts for a wedding is through a bridal registry.  You can now find bridal registries at almost any store from Crate&Barrel to Target.  Choose one or two of your favorite stores and visit their website or inquire in person about their bridal registries. [Read more]

Wedding Etiquette: Cash Gifts

As the marriage age grows steadily higher, more and more couples find themselves entering marriage with all of the basic dishes, linens, and home goods that are usually listed on a bridal registry.  In many cases, the bride and groom may really prefer cash as a wedding gift.  While traditional etiquette frowns on this, don’t immediately give in and register for items you don’t need.

Best Way to Ask for Cash Gifts
While it is still considered rude to ask for money outright, there are plenty of more subtle ways to go about doing this.  The best way to let your guests know what you want is by word of mouth.  Make sure that your close friends and family all know that [Read more]

Financial Questions to Ask Your Fiancé

I came across this financial questionnaire from Real Simple and I felt that my readers will be interested in knowing how their respective fiancé handles his finances.  The best time to have a frank financial discussion is now.  You both need to know your savings and spending habits.  Many marital troubles arise from arguments about money.

What if you find out that you have different ways of handling your respective finances? Then, it is time to compromise and agree on where to loosen and where to tighten your budget or financial spending.  It is best that you both have a clear understanding and a shared approach on how best to handle your finances before you say your “I do’s”.

Print this Money Checklist To Ask Each Other and start talking about your future financial plan.

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