**This is a perfect motto for every bride out there to keep in mind**

The key to controlling your wedding budget is to ensure that while you are planning everything  - you keep ‘the main thing’, the main thing!  Every bride has a main thing – but find yours and stick to it!

This is the question many of today’s couples are asking themselves.  Since most couples have lived on their own for a few years and have collected kitchenware and house necessities that are still updated and working well – what is left for them to register for?  Is it appropriate to ask for a new Wii instead of that 200 dollar serving dish?  Will a guest be willing to purchase a new camping set or fitness equipment instead of bathroom towels? What will your guests think??

Wait.. did I just say what will your GUESTS think?  Your registry is meant solely to help guide your guests to give a gift in celebration with YOU for YOUR upcoming marriage.  I can see how this can be a sticky situation – especially if you are inviting a lot of traditionalist who may see buying the most updated Iphone for you as a waste of their money.  Is it better to register somewhere and  return the gifts later for money… (I hate to say that this does happen) – and I think it is a waste of everyone’s time!  If you are already established and have your china set and serving bowls,  I fully support picking out movies, outdoor equipment or entertainment games.  As I mentioned earlier, your registry is a guide not a requirement.  If your friends and family don’t feel comfortable with any of your requests on your registry, than they have the choice to present a gift in another route such as monetary or however they choose.

Couples also set up ways to donate money towards their honeymoon online or a charity that they may request donations instead of a gift.  Either way, you are offering another suggestion for your guests to give you a gift in celebration, outside of the traditional bedding and dishes.

What are you registering for.. Fine China or Wii ?

Your photographer is only one person!  Most of the time they will bring an extra body to help them cover the whole wedding, but still I guarantee they can’t be everywhere at all times.  Also, they see the wedding with a professional eye and are taking shots of the big events of the day along with a few of the unforgettable details!

Leave cameras on the table with this note along side it, encouraging your guests to have fun with the pictures and take fun pictures themselves.  Trust me you will be surprised with the artistic ability of your friends and family members! You will have very personal up close shots.  When the professional photographer comes around everyone strikes a pose, when you are at a table with your closest friends you let loose and show your true personality!

It will be cheap and easy to drop off the table cameras and when you get back from your honeymoon you will have a stack of pictures to recap right away your great memories!

**WARNING**  Depending who is at which table, you might have a lot of random shots or blank shots.  If kids get a hold of the camera you never know what will appear! This detail at your wedding could turn out FABULOUS or it could not go as planned.. but I think it is worth the risk!!

You have always dreamed of a 7 layer decadent cake standing tall as the center of attention at your wedding.  While dreams can and do come true, it might not be the conventional way – your wallet may not permit it!  I don’t want you to pass on your ideal wedding cake, but let’s get creative with alternatives.

You can buy a 5-7 layer Styrofoam wedding cake for around $5 at some places.  They key to saving money is at most bakeries, wedding cakes per slice can become expensive very quickly, with the fillings and colors and designs.  Plan to have layers 2 -6 Styrofoam and layer 1 & 7 real cake.  The bottom layer is real so you can use it to cut the cake as newlyweds and the top layer is for you to take home and freeze for your one year anniversary.

Here is what your evening will look like with a styrofoam cake.  First, no one will know it isn’t real! The cake will be standing tall in the middle of the dance floor until it is time to cut the cake, you and your husband will go up to it, cut and share the first piece together.  The banquet servers will whisk the cake off the dance floor to ‘cut’ it in the back where all of your sheet cakes will be waiting. Sheet cakes are not only a great way to save money but also are much easier to quickly cut into 250+ slices. They will save the top of your cake, discard of the remaining styrofoam and serve the delicious flavors you choose to serve your guests!

Goal accomplished…Save money while displaying a beautiful cake and satisfying your sweet tooth!

Source: Wicked Cake Shop, Cake Central