You have picked the date and the venue and have already determined that you can use any caterer you want to feed your wedding guests. Now it’s time to select a caterer and that means lots of questions.

If you have been fortunate enough to get recommendations from family and friends be sure to schedule appointments with those caterers as quickly as possible. If you have no such references, a quick look at the Austin Wedding Ideas Directory, which you can get for free all around the Austin area, should give you some great ideas.

The first thing on your mind will be the cost, but you have to know what you are asking for in order for them to answer that question properly. Do you want a buffet or a sit down dinner? Open bar? Dessert? Cocktail hour? 500 people or 50? Who is decorating? Setting up? Breaking down? How long is the event? Is there a specific type of food you want prepared? Your caterer is going to ask you all of these questions and sitting in their office is not the time to begin to think about your answers.

On the other hand, you need to know if they can accommodate your plans so they must be able to answer the same questions, plus one more. Can they do it at a cost you can live with?

Once you have narrowed down your search by looking at ads and websites, and finding out who cooks what kinds of food, choose three caterers to sit down with to discuss all the details and get a firm price. Having those details written down in advance will make it easier on everyone.

A reputable caterer should have a whole portfolio of options to show you and should be more than willing to let you view some of their events and speak to some customers. Discuss your general budget and head count with them and let them come up with suggestions if the budget doesn‘t match reality. Ask specifically if they provide tables, linens and serving utensils, bartenders and wait staff. Are they licensed and insured? Will they provide a sample tasting of exactly what your guests will be served?

Once you are satisfied they are capable of handling your event, include everything you have discussed in your contract so you leave nothing open to error. If they give you a “standard” contract, change it, and make sure you have a lawyer look it over before you sign.

When it comes to weddings, almost anything can be done these days, but if you want to be certain that everything goes smoothly at your reception, you need to start off with a quality venue with a good reputation. Before you even start looking at venues, you need to do three things.

1. Pick your date. You can’t do anything without it because all of the rest of your plans will depend on the rest of your vendors being able to meet that deadline.

2. Decide what type of venue you want. Do you want the services and reception all in one place? Will your special day be outdoors, indoors or some combination? Will you be celebrating close to home or traveling?

3. Settle on a budget and break it down into specific details. How much will you spend on flowers, food, transportation, the gown, the rings. All of these things need to be considered from the beginning of the planning process so nothing is accidentally overlooked.

4. Once you have selected a date and the type of venue you want, you can then start looking at places. Ask friends and family about events they have attended recently. Make a list of their suggestions, and then look at the Austin Wedding Ideas directory to find more specific details.

5. Make certain the venue fits in with your theme. A “Spring” theme should have gardens in bloom, a “Winter” theme fireplaces or snow, etc. Any other theme will need decoration and you will need to know what the rules are at the venue for decorating. The more personal you can make it, the more memorable it will be.

6. You will also need to ask if you must use the venue’s caterer, how many people the site can accommodate, will they provide parking and restroom attendants, and, if all the services -- china, glassware, linens, set up, break down, tips, are included in your price or could there be extra fees to pay when the event is over?

The right venue can make a nice wedding magnificent so get all the information you can before you make a final decision.

The thing you have to remember when choosing a photographer is that they are both an artist and a business person. The artist has the skill and talent to provide you with ever-lasting memories of your special day. The business person inside has to ensure that the artist is paid based on their ability and time spent attending to your needs.

Wedding photography has a distinct style; well two styles actually. There is the traditional method of posed pictures and the photojournalism style that attempts to tell the story of the event as it unfolds, rather than always posing people for perfectly lit, standard shots. To choose the right photographer you need to know what kind of results you want, who your guests are and how cooperative they will be, and how much time you will have for the photographer to get the pictures. If you will have several generations of family together you might actually want traditional photos that will become family heirlooms, as well as some “action” candids. Can this photographer supply both?

Deciding what the pictures should be in advance will help a great deal, as will giving the photographer a list of “must haves.” You should also have your event scheduled well since overtime kicks in once you have exceeded your contractual time period.

One thing you absolutely must do is look very carefully at examples of the photographer’s work. Do you like the photos? Are the colors bright and clear with all of the pictures in focus and showing detail, or are they too bright and washed out? If they are posed, do they look natural?

Finally, you need to have a budget for the photography clearly established. That includes prints, reprints, albums, etc. Ask your potential photographer not only what the costs are but how and when you will get pictures to select. Will he be using film and providing proofs? Will he be shooting digitally and provide a CD or online gallery? How much do duplicates and albums cost and how long do you have to make up your mind? Are you guaranteed to get a particular photographer and not just anyone from the studio?

Once you have narrowed down your choices and met with those you like best, be prepared to make a commitment for the date, and sign a contract that contains specific solutions for contingencies such as overtime, change of venue, etc. Don’t accept verbal commitments for anything; get it all in writing.

Sure, spending the average $30,000 for your wedding and reception would be great, but if you don’t have that kind of money, how are you going to compete with today’s modern weddings? You’ll get creative, that’s how. These tips can give you a great day at a fraction of the cost.

1. Choose your venue and theme cleverly. Go outside. Arboretums, gardens, and parks can be rented quite reasonably and make for a very unique venue. Even if you have to rent a tent to protect you from weather, you could still save a fortune. If you can have the ceremony and reception in the same place, that’s even more savings.

2. Let nature do your decorating. A bright outdoor setting can make your party seem larger than it is because of all the open space and the decorations are built in. In this setting, tuxes, expensive dresses, silver, good china, extensive flowers, and high heels become unnecessary.

3. Pick a better time and day. Saturday afternoon versus Saturday makes a tremendous difference and a weekday you could save even more. A brunch reception can be much cheaper than a full dinner and just as lovely. Your catering hall will be less busy at that time so you won’t be competing for the time slot. Serve just champagne and orange juice instead of an open bar and save even more.

4. Have the majority of your photographs taken at the beginning of the event. Save some for the party of course, but by the end of the evening, people will be all sweaty from dancing, makeup and hair will be wilting, and your guests won’t want to be captured on film looking like that anyway. Forget about the all-day photo package and opt for a few hours instead.

5. Plan your event so that you can do without the Limos. If everything is in one place you don’t need someone to take you to the wedding and then just wait around to take you to the next place.
 

6. Flowers. If your wedding is outdoors, nature takes care of those decorations. Of course you will need bouquets and boutonnieres for the men but keeping them simple will save a fortune.

7. Opt for a DJ instead of a band or even make your own play list on your iPod and play that through the house speakers.

9. The gown. If you insist on a great gown, rent one worth thousands for just a few hundred, or shop around in antique, resale, second hand, or discount shops.
 

10. Buy your invitations online and save on return envelopes by asking your guests to RSVP online.

11. Instead of buying a huge layered wedding cake, order a smaller one and a sheet cake that can remain in the kitchen until serving time.