All a wedding really needs is a minister, a bride, a groom, and love. Everything else is simply window dressing, and while pretty to look at and enjoyable to have, they can create stressful distractions for you. The piece that follows offers help for keeping your perspective and really enjoying your wedding.

Remember to consider how you would like the alcohol at your reception served, and how much it will cost. Having an open bar may cost a lot, especially if it is available throughout the entire day. Ask the venue about their various alcohol service options.

Purchasing your gown on the Internet can save you thousands of dollars, but it’s important to buy early so you’ll have time to alter it before the big day. You can purchase wedding gowns for as low as $100 online, but sometimes the alterations may cost you double that amount. Make sure the costs are included in your budget.

Ask anyone who is giving a toast to share his speech with you ahead of time to ensure that the comments are appropriate. Some material, especially jokes, may fall flat or offend some of your guests, so you want to correct these problems ahead of time. Generally, many generations attend a wedding, so a joke that’s funny to young people may not be to the elders.

Your main concern when getting married is, of course, the individual you are going to marry. This life-altering decision is one that should not be rushed into. Take the time to make sure you are ready to make a lifetime commitment to your fiance and consider the things that you love about them, as well as the things that drive you crazy.

Rent diamonds on your wedding day. These can help you look amazing on a budget. At a mere fraction of the cost, you can add that perfect touch of glamour to your wardrobe for the big day.

Luxury-loving and fashionable brides could choose to make their bouquet sparkle; try adding rhinestones, Swarovski crystals or even some diamonds. This can be done with the addition of adhesive or thermally attached crystals, smaller pieces of costume jewelry and maybe even a cherished heirloom. To make sure it goes with your ensemble, remain consistent with the cut, size and colors of the sparkles.

If you are having a destination wedding, a good gift to get your guests is a basket filled with vacation goodies sent to their room. You can include tidbits like tourist maps, sunglasses, novelty towels or even information on nearby attractions. One piece that will really make this idea a hit with everyone is to include a restaurant guide so that all your guests are able to find options that they enjoy.

When you are planning your reception set the time for the afternoon hours. Since most of your guests won’t be interested in drinking much alcohol during this hour, you can save money on your bar costs. Also, dinner receptions tend to be more expensive than lunch receptions, and you’ll be able to spend your savings on something else.

One detail to consider is that the venue lighting can be dimmed, if necessary. While this may appear trivial, you want to have this option, perhaps for your first dance, then brighter for the remainder of your ceremony. Be sure to ask the if the venue has this feature before you commit to it.

A wedding only truly needs a few things for success. The other things that go into the wedding are totally optional. It is nice to include these extras but it is also stressful and can take away from your special day. If you use what you’ve learned here, you can have the wedding you always wanted for a price you can afford!