Weddings Tailored To Friends And Family

(NAPSI)-Tradition has it that the "big day" belongs to the bride and groom. Yet from the bachelor party to catching the bouquet, the "Hokey Pokey" to the "Electric Slide," it's the happy couple's friends and family who help make the occasion memorable.

You Look Marvelous!

The bride isn't the only person at a wedding who feels the need to look her absolute best. Friends and family feel the same way. According to a survey conducted by Kelton Research for Doubletree Hotels, more than three in five (63 percent) put extra effort into looking their very best, including buying new clothes (53 percent), changing their hair (23 percent) and losing weight (17 percent).

Food For Thought

What's the formula for a terrific wedding? How about friends and family, a big meal and plenty of celebratory drinks? One in three (33 percent) Americans most look forward to the food at weddings they've attended while nearly one in eight (13 percent) look forward to the open bar.

Party People

When invited to an out-of-town wedding, nearly half (45 percent) of Americans most look forward to the opportunity to celebrate with friends or family. Meanwhile, getting away from home and work is enticing for one in five (20 percent) parents, compared to 13 percent of those without kids. Another aspect of the wedding that guests often look forward to is the location of the reception-and that's one thing that the happy couple has a little more control over.

For example, Doubletree Hotels and Resorts are an excellent choice for planning a wedding that is luxurious, simple or intimately detailed. Whether planning for the rehearsal dinner, reception or just a comfortable and affordable place to host friends and family, Doubletree's careful attention to detail and variety of amenities help ensure the wedding party and guests enjoy a relaxed stay.

Grab The Popcorn

And how do the bride and groom's guests get themselves in the mood to celebrate? With their favorite wedding flicks, natch. With all the food, revelry and libations going around, it's no surprise that America's favorite wedding movie is "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" (25 percent). The R-rated, edgier comedy "Wedding Crashers" comes in second at 16 percent.

For help planning your next wedding or event, visit Web sites such as www.doubletree.com/weddings. The site offers useful tips that include location information, a wedding planning checklist and help creating a personalized Web page.

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Creative Budget Tips For Weddings

(NAPSI)-There's good news for brides and grooms. Experts say it's possible to have a wedding to remember without breaking the bank. The key is planning. From flowers to attire to the wedding cake, here are some great wallet-friendly tips that will ensure you will still have a fabulous wedding:

• Set your priorities-How you budget your money is going to depend on your priorities. If serving a four-course dinner is more important to you than hiring an incredible photographer, then you'll want to budget more on food.

For starters, a Web site called WeddingChannel.com has a budget tool calculator where you just enter your budget and the number of guests you're expecting, and it'll give you a suggested breakdown on how much you should spend for each wedding item.

• Pare down the guest list. One of the easiest ways to save money is to invite only close family and friends.

• Choose flowers in season and choose a location such as a garden or a vineyard that already has built-in decor. Even a location that has really ornate details may require fewer flowers and can help you save. If your bloom of choice isn't in season, swap out expensive flowers for ones that still provide the same look and feel.

• A popular way to save on the wedding dress is to hit a sample sale, which experts say can help cut costs by as much as 80 percent. If you're having a fall/winter wedding, check out sample sales during April/May, and if you're having a spring/summer wedding, hit the sample sales in October/ November.

• To save on alcohol, consider unlimited beer and wine with a signature cocktail.

• Get creative with the cake. If you have your baker create a fake layer or two in your wedding cake, and actually serve slices from a sheet cake hidden in the kitchen, you can save about 50 percent per slice.

• Find a comprehensive Web site that can serve as your consultant all through the planning process. For example, many have come to trust the expert advice and tips at the Web site www.weddingchannel.com.

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