Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Before you start researching venues for your ceremony and reception, you’ll need to have an idea of how many guests you plan to invite to your wedding. Write down all the people you want to join you on your special day…family, friends, their significant others, kids, etc. Don’t forget to include yourselves and your bridal party in your guest count. Then talk with your parents to see who they would like to invite. The total is your preliminary guest list.
Having a preliminary guest list will help you avoid booking venues that are either too large or too small for your celebration. Imagine choosing a beautiful quaint chapel for the ceremony or a gorgeous historic mansion for dinner only to realize later that you have 200 guests but the chapel only seats 125 and the mansion only holds 150. On the flip side, what if you choose a large ballroom at a trendy new hotel that holds 300 people but your guest list only comes out to 100. While it’s true that having too much space is better than not enough space, it’s still not a good thing.
Another reason you should have a preliminary guest list is to determine if the reception venue’s catering prices are within your budget. Typically, you should expect to allocate about 50% of your wedding budget to food and beverage. If you multiply the number of wedding guests by the caterer’s per person price including service charge and tax (often referred to as + +) and it’s more than half your wedding budget, you may need to consider other venue options or reduce your guest list.
Hope this helps you see why it’s best to make your guest list first.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Now that you’ve chosen a wedding date and determined your wedding budget you’ll be eager to get started with planning the wedding of your dreams. There’s just one thing…how involved does the groom want to be in the planning? Does it match your expectations?
I’ve found that there are a few different types of grooms out there. Which one applies to your groom?
- wants to be very involved and included in every detail related to your wedding
- wants to only be included in major wedding elements like the catering menu, music, or venue but not as concerned with the color scheme, floral arrangements or menu cards
- just wants to know when and where to show up on your wedding day
Are your expectations higher or lower than those of your groom? This is a subject that should be discussed early on so that you both know what to expect.. Believe me, being on the same page will make both your lives easier during the wedding planning process.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
One very important element of your wedding, besides the bride & groom of course, is the wedding budget. How much will you have to spend for your wedding?
Here is a quick way to come up with this figure:
- Existing Funds – Look at how much do you currently have in your bank accounts then decide how much of that amount you want to use toward your wedding
- Joint Funds – Determine how much money you can save each month as a couple and then multiply that by the number of months you have until your wedding
- Tax Refund – If you usually receive a refund on your taxes each year you may want to include an estimated amount to your wedding budget
- Contributions – Sit down with your parents to see if they plan to contribute
Once you’ve come up with your budget amount it will be the basis for your entire wedding not just for your reception. EVERYTHING for your wedding will come out of this amount…wedding attire and accessories, flowers, officiant, transportation, photographer, videographer, décor, stationery, hair & makeup, wedding party gifts, etc.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Choosing your tentative wedding date takes some thought. Although most brides have dreamed of when they’d like to get married, you’ll need to choose your date based on your personal/professional life and availability.
- School Schedule – Are either of you in college or Grad school with final exams in May? If so, a May wedding might not be a great idea. Imagine yourself trying to juggle the final details of your wedding along with studying for a major test or preparing a paper that will count as half of your grade. Do you have kids? If so, will it be easy to have someone get your kids off to school while you’re on your honeymoon? If not, you’ll probably want a summer wedding.
- Work / Career Demands – Does your job get extremely busy during certain times of the year? You’ll want to avoid those months. Are you an Accountant who does taxes? Then choosing a wedding date during the very hectic tax season probably won’t work for you.
- Travel – Will most of your guests have to travel from out of town to attend your wedding? Thanksgiving weekend probably isn’t the best choice considering it is the most traveled holiday in America.
- Weather – Have you always wanted an outdoor wedding? Avoiding dates in late Fall or Winter will be very appreciated by your guests (this may not apply to West Coast readers). You’ll also want to rethink the month of April since it tends to rain a lot {c’mon you’ve heard the saying…April showers brings May flowers}
- Honeymoon Destination – Do you want to honeymoon in the Caribbean? You’ll probably want to avoid months during hurricane season.
These are just a few examples of things you’ll need to consider when picking your wedding date. Ultimately, your actual date will depend on the availability of the venue(s) you select but you should have a month and day in mind before you start your search.
Monday, March 9, 2009
I received the DVD of the October wedding of Stephanie & Bobby last week. Oh how I love re-living my couples’ wedding day. Since I’m working at the weddings I miss a lot of wonderful moments like seeing the bride as she walks down the aisle (I see the back of her), etc.
Lately, a lot of my couples have been forgoing cinematography for their wedding and opting for a photojournalistic photographer. While I understand the need for candid wedding shots, I still see where video can capture moments that still photos can’t…like hearing your spouse say their vows, etc. Just something to keep in mind as you budget your wedding day finances.
The Husband and I have a tradition of watching our wedding video each anniversary while sipping sparkling cider (he doesn’t drink) from our wedding champagne flutes. I always look forward to it.
Monday, January 5, 2009
The holidays usually bring big celebrations but also brings engagements. There’s something about proposing during the holidays…especially for New Year’s. Those of you who are newly engaged and have had some time to let all of the excitement sink in may be ready to hit the ground running. If you’re looking for a wedding planner then you’re on the right track. Before you start your search please read a few blog posts I did last year.
Flag on the Play was related to things that should be red flags to you during your search for a professional wedding planner.
Sometimes You Get What You Pay For was written after a colleague of mine received an email from a bride who was unhappy with her current planner.
Onsite Venue Coordinators vs. Wedding Planners is pretty self explanatory. Some couples think that they don’t need a wedding planner if their venue or caterer has a coordinator on staff. Read this post to see some of the differences between the two.
Website Portfolios and Photo Galleries addresses the difference between photos of a planner’s own events and stock photos from various sources…usually someone else’s work.
Lastly, Apples to Apples was actually written in 2007 but still applies. It was geared toward narrowing down your choice of planners if you are interested in more than one. Make sure you are comparing them equally.
I hope this will help you with your search for a wedding planner. Feel free to contact Affairs With Elegance if you like what you see (and read). We’d be honored to assist with your upcoming nuptials.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Today’s post is still keeping with the topic of giving thanks. I often receive inquiries regarding Affairs With Elegance wedding packages and pricing. I always respond with whatever information is requested. I’ve also had initial meetings with couples who are interested in hiring us for their wedding. Sometimes I hear back from them and sometimes I don’t. I completely understand if we do not offer the services you desire or if we are not within your price range or if you just liked someone else better however, it would be nice for you to say “Thanks for your time but…”
This doesn’t just apply to us but to all of the wedding vendors you contact or meet with. My colleague Terrica of Fabuluxe did a great post on her blog regarding this topic. It is just common courtesy to let a vendor know that you are no longer interested in their services…regardless of the reason. Please keep this in mind as you search for the “perfect” vendor.
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