Not using the Internet to plan your big day.  This includes using a “wedding website” to announce your wedding.  In today’s times, the Internet is used for anything and everything.  One in five couples use the Internet to send invitations, send save the date announcements, RSVP to the wedding and/or reception, and even for their registry.    Even if you prefer old-fashioned paper invitations and save the date reminders, using the Internet to compare prices on other items is sure to save on your wedding budget

Assuming you have to stick with tradition, you are the bride and groom and you get to decide just how you want your wedding day to be.  Just because mom and dad had a traditional wedding with a formal dinner and 5-tiered wedding cake doesn’t mean that is what is right for you.  Many couples are opting for a less formal dinner.  Maybe a buffet, or just a cocktail hour is what you had in mind.  Another option besides a huge wedding cake is cupcakes.  Traditional wedding cakes can start at about $5.00 per slice whereas cupcakes are about $2.50 – $3.00 each.  In addition, ever consider a doughnut wedding cake?

Another area to think about in saving money is an open bar.  Wedding guests love it, pocketbooks cringe with it.  How about splitting the difference and opt for an open bar to a certain time of the night, or with a limit on how many free drinks each guest is allotted?  If you are adamant about having an open bar so everyone is happy (except maybe you), then limit the amount of different varieties of liqours to choose from.  For example, you do not have to have 4 different premium Vodka’s.  Instead, have one premium and one shelf variety.  Survey your guests to get an idea what you need to have available.  If no one drinks Crown Royal, then do not have it as an option.  Another cost saver is to have a signature cocktail for the evening.  This can be one or two different drinks that are inexpensive (but wonderful tasting) to make.  Another thing to ask about is if your venue (or whomever you purchase your bar items from) will credit you back for any bottle that is not opened at the end of the evening.

Last but not least, do not be afraid to negotiate for better pricing.  When asking for a discount, don’t say “how much is this, this and this”.  Rather, say “this is my budget, what can you do for me”, and go from there.  Pretty much everything in the wedding industry can be negotiated.  It never hurts to ask for a discount.  The worse thing they can say is NO.

Think about these tips when planning your wedding.

February 1 - Wedding Saving Tip – Skip expensive centerpieces. Instead, use items around the house like books, glassware with tea lights & family photos.

February 1 - A+ for originality – Custom made wedding bands with waveform of the couple’s own voices. ”I do”. http://bit.ly/zxCQ3r

February 2 - Great article – Top 10 Cooking Blogs - http://bit.ly/zNczUb

February 2 - Drew Barrymore Engaged and Planning Wedding and Dishes on Her ‘Fancy’ Engagement Ring – Style News - http://bit.ly/yPCdMj

February 2 - See 12 stars’ wedding engagement rings with pictures – See the big bling belonging to Hollywood’s leading ladies - http://bit.ly/vZduV8

February 3 - Fashion runway – G-String Wedding Dress – What wil they think of next? http://bit.ly/wYNNH8

February 3 - A bold article by GLAMOUR – 6 Wedding Traditions No One Will Miss - http://bit.ly/wVzXpW

February 4 - Wedding Saving Tip – Not fond of wedding cake? Consider having a dessert buffet. Assorted cookies, candies, pastries and homemade pies.

February 6 - Just in case you missed them, here are the best commercials of the Super Bowl according to Hulu - http://bit.ly/yrsTBO

February 6 - Skip the vase. Think goblets, mason jars, milk jugs, trophy cups, beer growlers, tin cans and ice buckets. http://amzn.to/vVsHbv

February 7 - Sharing a cool product we like – Indigo Album Design’s photo album. Very modern, includes matching box. http://bit.ly/s9URL3

February 8 - New Press Release – WeddingMuseum.com Launches 40+ Song Lists for Wedding and Party Planners - http://bit.ly/x5oL15

February 8 - Wedding Saving Tip – Save money on a guest book. Instead, get pictures of guests as they enter the reception – as couples or groups.

February 9 - Article on MSN – Top 10 Chic Valentine’s Day Wedding Ideas -http://bit.ly/yTYtzR Valentine’s Day is next Tuesday!

February 10 - ?8 months before the wedding – Create a wedding website. Check out our custom free wedding websites: http://bit.ly/sb51Ee

February 11 - Adele’s “Someone Like You” Wins Tenth Annual Musicnotes.com “Song Of The Year” Award - http://bit.ly/yP3kMj

February 11 - Just in time for Valentine’s Day – Check out this cake topper offered from the Paris Las Vegas http://bit.ly/wLliEX

February 13 - Picture posted of wedding cake – includes zombies and spy agents cake topper - http://bit.ly/AuvVNO

February 13 - The Grammys took place last night. In celebration, here’s an article of the 90s where are they now - http://bit.ly/wkYAp1

February 14 - Diets for Women: 7 Plans That Target Ladies - http://bit.ly/yTQLPA - These plans, from Weight Watchers to the Petite Advantage Diet, are geared toward women.

February 14 - Looking for a location for an outdoor wedding? Consider rooftops, local fields and parks, pool decks, golf courses, and ship decks.

February 15 - http://bit.ly/AlQBHu Jenna McCarthy: What you don’t know about marriage. In this funny, casual talk from TEDx, writer Jenna McCarthy shares surprising research on how marriages (especially happy marriages) really work. One tip: Do not try to win an Oscar for best actress.

February 15 - Feel good story – Leukemia Victim Gets Second Shot at Life, Wedding Photos - http://bit.ly/zNrGfP

February 16 - Photo Strip and descriptions – Wedding Dress Options for a Variety of Budgets - http://bit.ly/AwfyeN

February 16 - ?101 Celebrity Wedding Engagement Rings with pictures -http://bit.ly/AFlzzj

February 17 - Friday Question: Would NOT having a facebook login prevent you from registering on a website?

February 17 - Money Saving Tip – Purchase a Cricut and create your own save the date cards and programs and much more! http://bit.ly/x1TinJ

February 17 - Wedding planning article – 5 Costly Wedding Mistakes -http://yhoo.it/yNX1QF

February 18 - Wedding planning article – How to Make a Courthouse Wedding Special With DOs and DON’Ts from David Tutera - http://bit.ly/wgLl8N

February 19 - Purple and teal wedding colors are all the rage. 3 fun wedding colors include tangerine, ice blue and eggplant. http://bit.ly/rXMthQ

February 20 - Wedding article – Honeymoon getaways for less -http://cnnmon.ie/zEVCCH These romantic getaways offer many of the same attractions as some of the world’s most desirable destinations, but they cost a fraction of the price.

February 21 - Beautiful and creative wedding cake – picture http://bit.ly/yPM5Va

February 21 - Great personal wedding day picture – My dog saying Goodluck to me on my wedding day. http://bit.ly/yNEQQw

February 21 - Not Your Average Wedding Frills – 20 Amazing ideas with photos for unusual wedding must-haves. http://bit.ly/yKS89F

February 22 - Having a fall wedding? Think about buying pumpkins and carving out the b&g’s initials, wedding date or other wedding scenes. Don’t forget to spray them with Pam, freeze them and lastly add candles.

February 27 - Pink and Green Wedding Cake with Fresh Flowers - http://bit.ly/AhNc5i

February 28 - The Perfect Gift for the Bride Who Has Everything - http://bit.ly/A0Gxid

February 29 - Natalie Portman’s Wedding Ring to Benjamin Millepied – Style News -http://bit.ly/Aah24F

February 29 - Facebook is changing the layout of all pages to their new design by March 30. We are resizing one of our banners. Once it is complete, we will transform to the new layout – the timeline.

As a result, we decided to give you, our readers, the best sources for finding the perfect wedding ceremony reading.

• Recite the lyrics of your favorite song.  This could include a song about the bridal couple (motorcycle riders – Song: Born To Be Wild, ice cream lovers – Song: Ice Cream).  In addition, the song read during the ceremony can be played as the bride and groom’s first dance song.  Love songs may include John Lennon’s Grow Old With Me and Dance Me To The End Of Love written by Leonard Cohen.
• Recite your favorite Bible scripture.  One of our favorites is 1 Corinthians 13 – Love Is The Greatest.
• Recite your favorite poem.  It doesn’t have to be a love poem.  Just select a poem that describes the bride and groom or describes their feelings for each other.
• Wedding ceremony readings from movies.  There are an unlimited number of movies that contain a wedding ceremony.  Such movies include a quote from The Prophet and a famous quote from the movie When Harry Met Sally.
• Popular literary excerpts from the likes of Plato and any other great literary writers.  It could even be an excerpt from your favorite book!  Check out Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte.
• Take an exempt from an opera.  Verdels’s opera La Traviatta is a great example.
• Also review your favorite love story plays.Review Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare.
• Not only excerpts from movies common, so are love meaning excerpts from your favorite TV shows.
• Last and probably the most important is to write your readings from the bride and groom’s own hearts.  Nothing will be more powerful than from the bridal couple themselves.

I hope this gives you some ideas on the verbiage for your wedding ceremony.  There is plenty of examples on the web for each category.

January 2 - Unbelievable Story – Swedish woman finds wedding ring after 16 years, on a carrot - http://yhoo.it/tgkG33

January 3 - Video posted by GMA on Yahoo! – Wedding Trends 2012: Liposuction, Breast Lifts for Brides-to-Be? - http://bit.ly/wA18OG

January 3 - Just for a laugh – BofA: New Bride Can’t Deposit Wedding Checks Because She Didn’t Take Husband’s Name http://huff.to/yrd7gM

January 4 - Hot news story on MSN – Destruction of wedding dresses sparks outrage, disbelief - http://on.today.com/yrcGyM

January 4 - Wedding Saving Tip – Skip save-the date cards. Instead, save trees and send emails through services like Pingg http://bit.ly/vdzP1u

January 5 - Article on MSN – 50 Genius Wedding Cost Cutters -http://bit.ly/whYh7Z

January 5 - Wedding Saving Tip – People are smart and they can follow a basic wedding ceremony without a program. Save the money unless necessary.

January 6 - The next BIG celebrity wedding Justin Timberlake & Jessica Biel?http://huff.to/yPfOvo

January 6 - Easiest wedding centerpiece? Buy a potted plant and a pot that suites your wedding style. Then, care for the plants with sun and water as needed until your wedding day. Hope you have a green thumb!

January 7 - A retro DIY project for place cards – Get music cassettes and create your own custom label with the guest’s name on it.http://amzn.to/tKhpOv

January 8 - Planning a late-night wedding reception party fest? Consider a late snack before guests drive home like burgers, tacos, and pizza.http://mcd.to/xD77As

January 9 - A photo album of upcoming 2012 celebrity weddings http://on-msn.com/xsRT5a. Includes Drew Barrymore, Matthew McConaughey, Britney Spears, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Simpson, Jennifer Hudson, John Legend, Mario Lopez and LeBron James.

January 9 - Picture of Vera Wang’s wedding dress for Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott - http://bit.ly/wPksax

January 10 - Found a great article thought we would share for decor ideas – 10 Great Etsy Shops You Need to Know - http://bit.ly/xsh1wj

January 10 - Trying to lose a few lbs before the wedding? New Year: New You: 5 easy ways to get fit at home for Under $50 - http://abcn.ws/zkjzGI

January 10 - OMG – This is a very funny photo at a wedding. No one is safe from the photographer; including the alter boy!http://imgur.com/gallery/bBs7D We all have seen photos like this. Sometimes they make the best pics – photojournalistic photography! Check out Wedding Photojournalist Assn for more infohttp://www.wpja.com/

January 11 - A unique guestbook is to have a dictionary http://amzn.to/rzKipJ with colored pencils. Then, guests circle a word and write a story about it on the page that describes the bride and groom. Better yet, go to a garage sale and get an older edition to add a more unique aspect.

January 12 - Creating a DIY centerpiece? Check out supplies from Michaels, Joanne’s, Pier 1, Target, Hobby Lobby, Walmart and local craft stores! You can do it! I read today that 90% of Americans are within 15 miles of a Walmart.

January 14 - Wedding Saving Tip – Skip printing menus for every guest. DIY Project – Make your own giant menu from particle board and chalkboard paint

January 15 - Love music? Download the sheet music for your favorite songhttp://bit.ly/rrEnn9 Then, roll the paper for a candy favor or cover.

January 16 - Wedding Saving Tip – Want to save cash on your wedding cake? Use real flowers vs sugar flowers as they are less expensive to buy than make.

January 16 - Great wedding video of the groom and groomsmen dancing for the bride to Justin Bieber’s Baby Baby Baby. http://bit.ly/wbmcTW

January 17 - Pinterest is an online pinboard. We found their page for wedding events with very cool picture ideas. Check it out! http://pinterest.com/all/?category=wedding_events

January 17 - Wedding Reception Tip – Having a low-lying table centerpiece? Be sure it is lower than 14″ so that guests can talk with each other effortlessly.

January 18 - 12 months before the wedding, decide on a wedding budget. Utilize our wedding budget calculator: http://bit.ly/vB2xqX

January 18 - Feel Good Story – Cancer Diagnosis Leads To Impromptu Weddinghttp://news.yahoo.com/video/portlandmewmtw-18230145/cancer-diagnosis-leads-to-impromptu-wedding-27910134.html via @YahooNews

January 19 - Wedding Saving Tip – Skip a second reception dress. Purchase a comfortable wedding dress that you can dance all night long in

January 20 - ad wedding story but a reminder to live life to the fullest! – Man Marries Dead Girlfriend In Joint Funeral And Wedding Ceremony In Thailand - http://aol.it/xrf3r8

January 20 - Add some flare to wedding invitations with personalized stickers. Visit Partyink on Etsy as an example. http://etsy.me/tiwycj

January 22 - According to The Wedding Report – The total average wedding spending for 2011 was $25,631, a 3.4% decrease from the 2010 total of $26,542.

January 23 - Wedding Honeymoon Saving Tip – Top 5 Travel Sites To Help You Save Money article - http://bit.ly/z6zpLF

January 24 - Wedding Tip – Spend money on what matters to you. If you will throw away napkins, then why get them printed? Instead, upgrade photography package as your pictures will last a lifetime!

January 25 - Wedding Saving Tip – If you are watching every penny and have pretty handwriting, skip a calligrapher – Plus, print on your PC as there are many special fonts available.

January 26 - Interesting wedding photographer’s story online – Why Wedding Photographers Prices are “Wack” - http://bit.ly/x7oGSD

January 30 - Wedding Saving Tip – DIY project, decorate your vehicle with a Just Married theme and skip paid for transportation. Also think tandem bike.

January 30 - Wow! Interesting wedding photo album – Dad missed brother’s wedding, photoshopped him in - http://imgur.com/a/rSXoc

January 31 - A picture of a sign at a wedding venue. Not your typical wedding location! http://bit.ly/y6EeI8

January 31 - Not sure what to do with your flowers after the wedding? Donate them! Consider senior center, nursing home, church or hospice center. Keep in mind that hospitals will not accept flowers due to health risks.

The wedding ceremony is beautiful and very heartfelt.  It transpires without any hitches.  The bridal couple enters the reception hall to a standing ovation.  Then, everyone eats and the formal dances are complete.  FINALLY, the part-e begins.  Thirty minutes transpire and no one is dancing.  This is not the reception party that you had envisioned.  You pictured everyone dancing the night away.  However, no one is dancing.  What can you do to get people on the dance floor to get the party started?  We offer the following recommendations to get the party started.

• What guests are the most likely to dance?  Yes, it’s the young adults.  Therefore, play current music hits that are to on the charts now including Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Black Eyed Peas, Rihanna, etc.  The younger crowd could get the party started.
• Men typically will not get up to the dance floor to many high tempo songs.  Think about playing a couple slow songs consecutively to get couples to the dance floor.  Play well known songs by every age group such as Unchained Melody by the Righteous Brothers and What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong.
• Play an anthem song that everyone knows that they can sing along to.  Rock – Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey, R&B – Shout! by the Isley Brothers, Country – Friends In Low Places by Garth Brooks, Classic Rock – We are the Champions by Queen and much more.  Know your crowd and the type of music that get’s them excited.
• Talk to the bride and groom beforehand and get an idea of their favorite music style.  Find out if they like group dances and which ones suit their fancy.  You can play a group dance but it must be headlines by the bride and groom leading the way.  Such dances include he conga, the train, the electric slide, the macarena and so on.  Reminder – keep the bride and groom in the forefront so that everyone joins in.
• Finally, plan a group dance to get everyone on the dance floor.  This way it will be hard for them to leave!  One such planned dance is to invite all married couples to the dance floor.  Then, start removing married couples from newest to oldest until the longest married couple is remaining.  The, give a bride’s bouquet to them as a gift from the bride and groom.

Do you have any further suggestions to fill the dance floor when empty?  Please comment in!  Lastly, stay away from our list of songs not to play at weddings.