1. Have your invitations and save the date cards printed on recycled paper.  Or alternatively, send electronic version of these cards via email.

2. Trim your guest list to reduce the environmental impact of travel.  Travel creates the biggest negative environmental impact for weddings, and reducing the number of people attending can erase a big portion of your carbon footprint.

3. To save on local travel you can also have your wedding and reception in the same place.  This reduced travel between venues  – and will probably save you money as well!

4. Have an afternoon wedding outdoors. You wont have to deal with the impact of heating or cooling massive venue, thus reducing electrical use.

5. Give your guests something recycled or reusable as wedding favors.

6. Use local flowers that are in season.  This saves on transportation of flowers from other regions – even other countries.

7. Use potted plants as centerpieces.  You can plant these flowers after your wedding, or give them away to your guests.

8. Choose a caterer who uses local  ingredients.  This saves on food transportation.

9. Hire a photographer who offers digital proofing.  Printing hundreds  of proofs can have a significant impact on the environment.  You could also forgo prints and an album entirely and simply purchase the rights to your digital images.

10. Finally, because its almost impossible to have a totally green wedding,  – you can purchase carbon credits to offset your impact.  Carbonfund.org has a great impact calculator. Just enter your info,  calculate your impact, and purchase enough carbon credits to offset it.

Thanks to Lem Lynch Photography for the images.

Do you have any tips or suggestions to reduce the environmental impact of your wedding?  Feel free to leave a comment!

Alert guests well in advance

Send your invitations a couple months earlier than you would for a regular wedding. This ensure that your guests have enough time to plan ahead. A destination wedding usually requires people to take several days off work, and invest a good deal of money into travel. Informing your guests as early as possible gives them the time to get their schedule sorted out, and their travel plans finalized. One great idea is to send a “Save the Date” card 6-8 months prior to the wedding before sending a formal invitation.  This gives your guests plenty of time to adjust their plans.

Check your hotel for group rates

Many resorts or hotels – particularly in popular travel destinations – will often have bulk group rates for rooms or services. If not, many will give you and your guests free upgrades. Make sure to find out well in advance.

Travel somewhere reasonably priced…

…if you want most of your guest list to attend. While a wedding in an Irish Castle might seem like a great idea, keep in mind that it will be cost prohibitive to many of your guests. Consider a destination location that’s not so far that people will a) not be able to afford it and b) not be able to attend due to time restrictions.

Keep in mind that some people will not attend. Don’t be offended.

Remember that no matter where you have your destination wedding, a good chunk of your guest list simply wont be able to make it. You have to go into your wedding planning with this in mind, and not get offended when some of your guests can’t make it – even if they are close friends or family. And make sure they know that its OK if they don’t attend. You may even want to state this in your invitation.

Hire a local wedding planner.

It will be very difficult to deal with all the details and intricacies of your wedding from afar. Make sure to get a local planner to help you out. Local planners know all of the good venues and vendors, and can help you out immensely. And many have a great deal of experience dealing specifically with destination weddings. Working with a good wedding director can take a lot of these hassles out of your hands and make your wedding day run smoothly.

If you are hiring local vendors, make sure to get references.

Depending on where you are getting married, there are likely plenty of wedding vendors. Make sure you get at least a couple references from previous clients and real brides before hiring anyone. This is especially true if you are getting married in another country where seeking legal damages for a lousy vendor can be difficult if not impossible.

Research marriage laws.

Research local laws for marriage, and do so well in advance. This is especially true if you’re getting married outside the country. But some states have different laws as well. Some locations require great deals of paperwork, blood tests, and all sorts of other requirements. Make sure to look into this before planning your ceremony.

Arrive early to make sure everything will run smoothly.

Make sure to show up at least a day or two in advance of the wedding. This will enable you to visit all of your venues and do a dry run of your wedding. It will also put your mind at ease and reduce your stress level significantly.

Thanks to Lem Lynch Photography for the images.

Do you have any great destination wedding tips! Leave a comment below!

Planning an outdoor wedding in the Charlotte area? Outdoor weddings can be wonderful, but there are some factors you may want to consider.

Have a backup plan in case of weather.

You plan your wedding so far in advance that there is no way to determine what the weather will be like.  What if it rains?  Good venues will have an indoor area where you can move your wedding in case of inclement weather.

Alert your guests.

Make sure everyone knows that your ceremony will be outdoors.  Don’t assume everyone knows that the ceremony or reception is outside.  Guests may have allergies or other issues that you may not know about.  The polite thing to do is give them warning so they can so they can prepare appropriately.

Be aware of the sun.

If you’re having a mid-day ceremony, consider that the sun may be beating down on your guests and you may want to have a brief ceremony.  Getting married a little later in the evening might be a great idea – but keep in mind: if you have your ceremony at sunset; be sure that your guests are not staring straight into the sun.

Be aware of insects

- especially in spring, and especially if it has been rainy lately.  Setting up citronella candles or fans can clear the air of mosquitoes.  Also, some venues will spray an area for bugs before your wedding – be sure to check.

Consider the temperature.

If it is hot and you are having an outdoor reception, it’s a bad idea to have food that cannot stand up to being outdoors.  Things like fish or anything with mayonnaise should be avoided.  If your outdoor reception will last into the night, it may get colder.  Make sure your reception venue has indoor space, or be sure to let your guests know that it may get a little chilly.

Working with a good wedding director can take a lot of these hassles out of your hands.  Great venues – like the ones listed below – have taken into account all of these considerations (and many more!) and will assist you greatly in making your outdoor wedding perfect.

Check out these great outdoor wedding venues:

Victorian Crow’s Nest

Monroe, NC

Located close to Charlotte in Monroe, NC, the Victorian Crow’s Nest is a beautiful Victorian styled wedding venue. Available for weddings and receptions, with a capacity of 250.

Learn more about the Victorian Crow’s Nest

Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden

Belmont, NC

Located in Belmont, Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden is a beautiful Botanical Garden that hosts both weddings and receptions. A truly unique location for your wedding. Available for weddings and receptions.

Learn more about Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden

Birkdale Golf Club

Huntersville, NC

Located in Huntersville, Birkdale Golf Club is a fantastic location for your wedding. Have your ceremony outdoors on the lawn, then celebrate your reception inside the Palmer Pavilion. Available for weddings and receptions.

Learn more about Birkdale Golf Club

University Hilton

Charlotte, NC

Located in uptown Charlotte, the Hilton Charlotte University Place provides an urban outdoor location for your wedding. Available for weddings and receptions.

Learn more about The University Hilton.

Carrigan Farms

Mooresville, NC

Located Mooresville, Carrigan Farms features a beautiful rock quarry and a sandy beach. Carrigan Farms can host your outdoor wedding and reception from March through November. Available for weddings and receptions.

Learn more about Carrigan Farms

The Point Lake Club

Mooresville, NC

Located just north of Charlotte in Mooresville on the shores of Lake Norman, The Point Lake and Golf Club is a beautiful location for your wedding and reception. Available for weddings and receptions.

Learn more about The Point Lake Club.

The Peninsula Yacht Club

Cornelius, NC

Located on the picturesque shores of Lake Norman, The Peninsula Yacht Club’s quiet elegance offers an unparalleled experience on your wedding day.  Weddings and receptions.

Learn more about The Peninsula Yacht Club.

Note:  Most of the venues listed below have several areas within their venues with different capacities to match the size of any wedding.

Founder’s Hall

Capacity: 500-1000

Located right in the heart of downtown Charlotte at the corner of Trade and Tryon in the Bank of America Corporate Center is Founder’s Hall.  Available for weddings and receptions.

Learn more about weddings at Founder’s Hall.

Belk Chapel

Capacity:  500

Located in the Myers Park area of Charlotte on the campus of Queen’s Univeristy, Belk Chapel is one of the most popular locations for your wedding ceremony.  Available for weddings only.

Learn more about Belk Chapel.

The Point Lake Club

Capacity: 500/Reception  230/Ceremony

Located just north of Charlotte in Mooresville on the shores of Lake Norman, The Point Lake and Golf Club is a beautiful location for your wedding and reception.  Available for weddings and receptions.

Learn more about The Point Lake Club.

Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden

Capacity:  300

Located in Belmont, Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden is a beautiful Botanical Garden that hosts both weddings and receptions.  A truly unique location for your wedding.  Available for weddings and receptions.

Learn more about Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden

Carrigan Farms

Capacity: 300

Located Mooresville, Carrigan Farms features a beautiful rock quarry and a sandy beach.  Carrigan Farms can host your outdoor wedding and reception from March through November.  Available for weddings and receptions.

Learn more about Carrigan Farms

Birkdale Golf Club

Capacity: 250

Located in Huntersville, Birkdale Golf Club is a fantastic location for your wedding.  Have your ceremony outdoors on the lawn, then celebrate your reception inside the Palmer Pavilion.  Available for weddings and receptions.

Learn more about Birkdale Golf Club

Rumbling Bald Resort

Capacity: 200-300

If your looking to get a little farther outside of Charlotte, Rumbling Bald Resort on scenic Lake Lure may be perfect for you.  Available for weddings and receptions.

Learn more about Rumbling Bald Resort.

Tote Bags

1)  LL Bean Signature Canvas Tote Bag

What bridesmaid couldn’t use a multi-functional bag that is great for overnights and ideal for the beach?  The bags range in price and size.
Check them out at LLBean’s website:  www.LLBean.com.

2) Diamond Initial Charm

The perfect token to show your appreciation for your bridesmaid.  Come on, we all know a diamond is a woman’s best friend.
Available at ArnoldsJewelry.com.

Flip Flops

3)  Personalized Jewelry Box

A Beautiful Reflections personalized jewelry box (item #1146) is just one of the many options available at www.PersonalizationMall.com

4) Flip-Flops

After a few cocktais, standing in heels may be a little easier to endure, but more tha one shot of tequila will be needed to make all the pain go away.  So why not give your bridesmaids the gift of comfort.. with a pair of flip flops by Havaianas to help them dance the night away.  www.Havaianasus.com

5) 5×5 Inch Mini Wedding Photo Album

While this item is not offered everywhere, why not give your bridesmaids a memory book that will last a lifetime.  It’s simple and easy.  The small, personalized album perfect for tossing in a purse is offered at WowWeddingAlbums.com.

For more great gift ideas, check out our Gifts section!

Wedding vendors tend to charge less money in the off-season because they are not as likely to book weddings for those times of year. The off season for weddings is late fall, and winter. November, December, January, and February are considered off-season, but dates in December that are near Christmas and New Years are still considered ‘hot’ by many vendors.

Get Married on a Friday or a Sunday

The vast majority of weddings take place on Saturdays. Weddings vendors are not as likely to get booked on a Friday or a Sunday, so they tend to give you discounts on those days. The great thing about a Friday or a Sunday wedding is that you can often get high-end services from top vendors for a reduced price. For instance, your ideal venue is not only less likely to be booked, but it can also potentially be much less expensive.

The same is true for many of the other vendors who provide wedding-day products or services.  Check with your vendors to see if they offer a Friday or Sunday discount.

Get Married Earlier in the Day

Earlier in the day guests are more accustomed to eating a lighter meal, and wont be dissapointed if you provide a smaller (and less expensive) spread. Also, if you have an open bar at your reception, your guests will drink less at an afternoon event than they will at a night event.

Trim your Guest List

You don’t have to get married in front of everyone who you have ever met. Keeping the guest list to family and close friends can save you a great deal of money on catering, gifts, invitations, and can reduce the size of the venue(s) that you need to rent. Also, having fewer bridesmaids and groomsmen will save money on attire.

Examine your Packages

If your getting a package deal from a vendor, look at whats in your package and determine whether or not you really need everything included. Most vendors will work with you, eliminate products or services that you don’t really need, and reduce the price of the package.

Get Everything In Season

It can be very expensive to import out-of-season foods and products for your wedding. Flowers that are in-season are more plentiful, therefore less expensive. You can also save money on catering by making sure all of the fruits, vegetables, seafood, and all other seasonal food is in-season.

Tips for Doing it Yourself

While you can save some money by doing things yourself, sometimes the extra time, effort and stress that you create outweighs whatever money you might save. You will have enough to deal with on your wedding day without worrying about doing work that you could have paid someone else to do. Small DIY projects may not be a bad idea to save a few bucks – but make sure you dont bite off more than you can chew.

Also, some people think they can save money by recruiting family members or friends to perform wedding day services. What ends up happenening is that your friend has to spend your wedding working, and is unable to enjoy your day. And keep in mind, they are amateurs – and are more likely to make errors. Imagine winding up with a terrible, shaky wedding video, dark, underexposed photographs, or inedible food. Not only can this ruin the memory of your day, but it can ruin a relationship with a friend or family member as well. Its always best to leave professional work to professionals.

The venue should be the first element of your wedding that you book.  The number of venues in the Charlotte area are limited, and the great ones get booked well in advance. Its best to book your venue 9 months to one year prior to your wedding.

Seperate Wedding and Reception Venues?

Booking one venue for both the wedding and reception can potentially save money and reduce hassle – but a lof of venues are not equipped to handle both.

If you need two venues, you should consider the distance between them and how easy it will be for your guests to be transported between the two.
You certainly don’t want to get two venues that are a long distance apart as travel can be tedious and expensive for both you and your guests.

Venue Size – Will it be big enough for your party?

Think about the size of your wedding party, and how much room they will need to be comfortable. Remember that once chairs and tables are added, and caterers and DJs set up their stations, the area will seem quite a bit smaller. Venues will inform you of how many people can fit comfortably within their space – be sure to keep this in mind when booking.

And remember that a lot of venues have several different sections, each with different capacities – and different prices. This gives you a lot more options within any given venue.

Indoor, Outdoor, or Both?

Many brides desire an outdoor wedding. Consider the time of year, the temperature, and the weather when considering an outdoor venue. Make sure the venue also has an indoor area in case it rains. Since you book your venue well in advance, its impossible to predict weather, so its necessary to have a backup plan.

Other Services Provided by Venues

Many reception venues provide other wedding services as well, including catering, flowers, cakes, and planning. You can potentially save money on your wedding by getting a package deal from a venue – but don’t feel like you have to use all of their services. You might find it easier to cater everything to your specific needs by selecting all of these vendors yourself.

Also, most venues have a “Preferred Vendors” list – a list of vendors who they have worked with in the past and recommend. The advantage of these lists is that the vendors on them are most likely professional, reliable, and have worked the venue before and know it inside and out, so there will be no surprises.

Click here to find the perfect Charlotte are wedding and reception venue!

Carrigan Farms - Mooresville, NC

Lem Lynch Photography

Selecting Your Photographer

Great photographs are timeless, and hiring a great photographer to capture the moments of your wedding day is a must.   Finding a photographer that matches your budget and personal style can take a little effort, but it is worth it in the end.  Keep in mind that you will have these photos for years, and you want to look back on something amazing that captures the mood of your wedding day and the spirit of the bride and groom.

Finding a Photographer

Listing sites such as this one are a pretty good place to start looking.  You can also use search engines, and other local resources.  Most venues have a ‘preferred vendor’ list which includes photographers who they have worked with and recommend.  When you find a photographer you like, make sure you talk to him or her, and get a feel for their personality.  Most are happy to set up a meeting and show your printed photographs of their work.

When to Hire a Photographer

Good photographers tend to get booked very quickly. Its always best to look for a photographer as early as possible. A good rule of thumb is to go after a photographer right after you decide on your venue. Usually start looking about one year or more in advance of the wedding, and try to book at least 6-9 months in advance – even earlier if your getting married on a popular date.

Style of Photography

Most photographers have websites so you can browse their work, and see if it matches your personal taste.  Make sure you look at a lot of different photographers work so you can determine what you like – and just as importantly – what you don’t like.

Photojournalistic photography is getting more and more popular with today’s brides.  However, its still very important to get standard, more traditional shots for albums, family, and friends.  Many photographers will accomodate both needs, and offer a combination of both styles.  They will photograph your wedding in a candid, photojournalistic manner, but also take traditional style shots.

But in the end, its ultimately a matter of personal taste – what do you want your photos to look like?

Determining the Best Value

Dont just compare prices when comparing photographers – look at what you’re getting for the money.

Are your finished prints included in the cost? Are albums included? If so; how many, and what type? Can your proofs be placed online? Can you get the copyrights to your digital images or negatives?

Look at the overall cost of your package in comparison to what your getting for it. While one photographer might be more expensive, you may get more in return.

Also, keep in mind that most photographers can cater a package to meet your specific needs. If you want to add a parent’s album – or remove an hour of coverage – many will accommodate.  Most photographers are happy to work with you so you get exactly what you want.

Finally, remember that your not just paying for the prints – your paying for the photographers expertise and skill. Good photographers will cost more, but it is usually worth it if its in your budget.

Other Factors

Keep in mind that some of the larger photography studios have several photographers on staff.  Make sure that you talk to the person who will be shooting your wedding and see his or her work. Get in writing who will be photographing your wedding.

Click here to locate the perfect wedding photographer!

Lem Lynch Photography