24 The QUEE NS Courier • bridal • JUNE 23, 2016 for breaking news visit www.qns.com bridal HONEYMOONS ON A DIME By Tresa Erickson While some newlyweds can still afford to cap off their big day in grand style with a trip for two to someplace exotic, there are many that can’t. Once they’ve paid for the wedding, there is little left for a honeymoon. Fortunately, you can still have a great honeymoon on a shoestring budget. Here’s how. Leave at a later date Who says you must leave for your honeymoon immediately s following your wedding reception? Enjoy your big day and postpone the honeymoon of your dreams until you can afford it. Wait six months or a year to book the trip. You’ll have more cash to spare and more time to find the best deals. Go during the off-season Off-season prices are far cheaper than peak season prices. Schedule your honeymoon during the offseason, and to save more cash, consider going to a less popular destination. The rates will be cheaper, and there will be less people to contend with. Book way in advance Generally, the earlier you book your honeymoon, the cheaper the rates will be. Start looking for a destination long before your expected departure date and shop around for the best deals. Cut costs where you can You don’t have to go all out to have a good time on your honeymoon. Think about your plans and find ways to save. Choose less expensive accommodations, especially if you intend to be out and about much of the day. Pack lunches instead of eating out. Take advantage of all free or low-cost activities. Stay close to home If you are really short on cash and can’t afford to go away, stay in. Check out the deals in your area and arrange for a mini staycation. Book a room at an inexpensive hotel and spend the day checking out attractions and activities you’ve never had time for. If you can’t afford a hotel room, stay at home and have a candlelit dinner. It doesn’t really matter where you are as long as you are together. Honeymoons don’t have to break the bank. You can still have fun and celebrate the beginning of your life together on a shoestring budget. It just takes some advance planning and creative thinking. FLOWER GIRL ALTERNATIVES By Tresa Erickson Some brides simply cannot envision their walk down the aisle without a little girl dressed to the nines strewing rose petals before them. They bestow the honor on a young friend or family member, and more often than not, it goes well. Other brides are not keen on the idea of having children in their wedding or have no real good candidates to serve as their flower girl. Lucky for them, there are other options. A well-trained pet can make a great flower girl, or ringbearer, for that matter. Who wouldn’t enjoy the sight of a bride’s beloved Pomeranian pup walking down the aisle in a lacy floral collar? No petals would be strewn, but for venues that do not allow the practice, having a pet for a flower girl might be ideal. Exotic pets may serve as flower girls as well, providing they can be escorted, carried or rolled down the aisle. For pets willing to be dressed up, there are dozens of formalwear styles available from dresses and tuxedos to hats, veils and dressy collars and leashes. Performers are another option. Brides interested in making a spectacular entrance can hire a juggler, acrobat, clown, etc. to serve as their flower girl. Who wouldn’t enjoy receiving a rose from a ballet dancer pirouetting down the aisle or a daisy pulled from a magician’s hat? Flower girl performers work rather well for themed weddings, especially in venues that do not permit petals to be thrown. Guests may also serve as flower girls. Baskets or bags of flower petals can be placed randomly among the seating, attached to the ends of pews or handed out at the guestbook. Whatever the method of delivery, guests will have access to flower petals to scatter down the aisle. For venues that do not allow petals to be strewn, guests may blow bubbles, ring miniature bells or sing softly. Brides just need to make sure they note in the program what guests are to do with the items provided. Brides who have too many people to choose from may want to select a group of kids to walk down the aisle in place of a flower girl or ringbearer. Who wouldn’t take great delight in a 10-year-old pulling a small red wagon with his two younger sisters in it? Small children’s choirs or junior bridesmaids are other options. These are just some of the alternatives to the flower girl tradition. With some thought, brides are sure to come up with ideas of their own.
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