- by Lisa
Congratulations to all of our new readers who got engaged over the holidays! We hope you enjoy this special time in your life. Planning the kind of wedding you want can be so much FUN, but it can also be quite a challenge in today's economy. Here are some suggestions for cutting your wedding costs.
1. Trim the guest list - if possible. Sometimes it's not possible due to family situations etc. This is the number 1 way of cutting costs.
2. Consider a freelance photographer – A great “freelance” photographer might fit the bill. Often, the wedding is looked through a fresh and creative lens. Expensive back-end costs are often reduced. Warning – if a professional album is your goal, this might not be a viable option for you. Tip - one might even reduce their cost, for a chance at getting a great wedding in their portfolio!
3. Buy a custom-made dress as opposed to a gown from a bridal salon. I had a bride who loved a $3,500.00 dress. We got a dress made out of "real" silk satin, a cathedral veil which was lined in the same fabric, and a bolero jacket - all for $2,000.00. If that’s not cost savings, I don't know what is.
4. Trunk shows and sample sales are great!
5. Opting for a smaller "show" cake and offering sheet cakes in the back.
6. Cutting the alcohol out of your bar (they will survive one night, I promise). Nobody is saying that you have to offer, but if you offer it - in my opinion, you should pay for it.
7. Choosing a venue that has table, chairs, glassware, silver, etc. Covering the chairs is not as expensive as renting ones (if you find an economic rental solution. Don’t rent the covers through the venue).
8. Choosing a venue you are happy with, decor wise - choosing a venue that you do not like because it’s inexpensive, and then paying twice the rental fee in decor - is not a good plan.
9. Cutting out favors, or combining favors and place cards into one offering.
10. Make every aspect of your wedding matter. Follow this rule of thumb, “don’t just do it because you think you “need’ to do it. Do it because it has a significance to you, your fiancé, your families (collectively) and your guests”. Make the significance known to everyone.
11. Downsize your wedding party (or have no wedding party at all).
12. Have your ceremony and reception in one place - no need to transport yourselves or your guests.
13. Rent instead of buy. Check prices. You will only use this stuff once, and renting will eliminate the need to sell afterwards.
14. Get married during the “off” season. Many vendors would love to work early December, January and February - when things are typically quiet. They might even offer you a terrific deal if you give them your wedding!
15. Create a realistic budget and prioritize. Be honest to yourself and your vendors about how much you can and/or want to spend on your big day.
16. Hire a planner who has a strong network of vendors that they always use. This will save you time and money.
I hope this list will offer you realistic ideas on not only helping you cut costs, but also on maintaining the spirit of your day!
Happy planning!
Keep Your Wedding Costs Down
Cupcakes Galore!
Cupcakes have really taken off as reception fare. Just last week Essence.com had a great article about actress Essence Atkins (of the TV show Half & Half) who tied the knot in a beautiful ceremony and had yummy red velvet cupcakes for her guests. Those cupcakes were made by Southern Girl Desserts in Los Angeles, which is owned by Catarah Hampshire. When we first posted about them last year, some brides-to-be and their families were iffy on having cupcakes in place of the traditional wedding cake. But now they're popping up everywhere - and guests seem to love them. Just one more option for the ultra-creative ladies out there who feel the need to shake things up.
Kylie Lambert of Le Cupcake
Stuffed Cupcakes of Nutley, NJ
Sugar Craft by Rosie
How about cake on the top, cupcakes on the bottom? Courtesy of Alana Hodgson.
ABC Cake Shop and Bakery 
Your Wedding Budget: What To Expect
- by Lisa of ElegantEventDesign.com
Guest Blogger
I find many couples are extremely unrealistic about what they can get for the money that they have to spend. Wedding magazines and the internet may be to blame for some of their views. Brides-to-be feverishly clip or download pictures from magazines or the internet, and choose very beautiful things. But when they come to me, and tell me that they have a 10K budget with 100 people, then we have a problem. Don't get me wrong- I am all about the fairytale and I want to give couples what they want. But, it's also important to give them them a realistic alternative that they will love as well. If I encourage them to live a financial fantasy, no one will be happy in the end.
So, I will review what you should budget for different items. Of course, different areas of the country will differ, but this will give you a general idea.
Reception – 50% of your costs, this will be the largest chunk of money. I include the site, food, beverage, tables, chairs, linens, silver, glassware, flatware, service charges, tax and gratuity. I do not include any of the décor in this cost (flowers, lighting, draping or other decoration items). If you are getting married at a hotel, banquet hall, or other wedding facility which has an in-house caterer, the price per person will most likely include food and beverage. It will almost certainly contain tables and chairs, basic linen, napkin and all of the basic flatware and china options. It might also cover the cake. Often, these types of venues offer 3 or 4 menus; with the differences being more expensive food items, additional upgrades (wine service at the table, international coffee station), passed hors d’oeurvres, more options of linens, upgraded cake and/or bar options, or lengths of open bar, and the like. Of course tax, tip and service charges are added, and in the DC area, those charges could add an additional 25%.
If you are getting married at a venue where there is not an in-house caterer, the price per person will include just the foodstuff. Bar, rentals (tables, chairs, linen), cake, coffee service, etc will be extra. Often times, there will be a service fee included, which covers the cost of all the servers, bartenders, banquet managers, chefs, etc. The amount of that service fee will depend upon the food service type that you choose, as well as the level of set up and break down that’s needed
So when you create your budget, make sure that you are breaking up all these different items. Do not forget delivery fees. And be wary, if you see a flat per person price. Make sure you note what is and what isn't included.
Ceremony – you have to budget for the site or room fee, officant fee, church donation (mandatory or otherwise), and any musicians fees. Ceremony fees are variable, and I have seen them go as high as $2,500.00. The price depends upon where you are having your ceremony, whether you are getting married in a church, and whther you are a parishioner. If your ceremony site is at the same location as your reception, you might have a bit more leverage in negotiating the ceremony site fee. There is always a cost savings advantage when you have your ceremony and reception in the same location (travel, transportation costs, delivery fees, time, etc).
Photographer ¬– Expect to pay about $3,500.00 for a professional photographer, proofs (album or online), online ordering, low resolution CD, and a high-resolution DVD of images (if you are lucky). Photo albums are extra, and range in price from $800.00-$6,000.00, depending upon the album, size, and pictures that are included. I would say that most couples spend an additional $800.00-$2,500.00 above and beyond the package price. If the package already contains an album, they are upgrading, adding pictures/pages, buying wall portraits, or buying accessory albums (parent albums, etc),
When you compare different photographers, make sure you compare apples to apples. One photography package may include an album, DVD of hi-res images, 2 parent albums, and 8 hours of wedding day coverage, while another package just might include the 8 hours of wedding coverage.
Remember that photography is an art. Much of what you are paying is for the photographer’s “eye”. This is very important, because this is how your wedding will be documented for all time.
Flowers and Décor-I think this is the area where the sticker shock strikes hardest. Many of our couples cannot believe the cost of flowers. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, floral designers are worth their weight in gold. I tell our couples to buy a few blossoms (hydrangea, lilies, curly willow and roses) and arrange them. Then, compare their arrangements to that of a professional designer. Ladies and gentleman, you are paying for the design and the ability to professional handle and care for your precious blossoms. It’s not only the flowers, but the art that you are purchasing.
Here are some average prices that our Bride’s spend. Of course, this is dependent upon the location, amount of flowers, and the designer.
Bridal Bouquet – $200.00 Corsages – 30.00
MOH bouquet - $90.00 Altar arrangements - $150-$600.00 per
BM bouquets – $60.00 Unity candle wreaths - $75.00
Boutonnieres - $15.00 Wreaths - $150-$600.00 per
Short centerpieces - $100.00-250.00 per Tall centerpieces - $250-$550.00 per
Cake flowers - $75.00 Buffet/table arrangements - $100-$250.00 per
Invitations – I find this to be the most neglected area when our couples are planning their big day. What is the reasoning? Wedding guests throw them away? This, I don’t really understand, because it is from the invitation that your guests get the first impression of your wedding. If you are having a black tie event, you want to give the impression of a very formal, sophisticated and elegant affair. Your invitation might be engraved or letter-pressed, printed on high quality ecru paper. If you are having a backyard BBQ, than your invitation should say “fun” and “informal”.
Invitation sets (invite, inner envelope, addressed outer envelope, reception, and response set) run $5.00-$20.00/invite depending upon the level of design and paper quality.
I hope I have given you just a taste about how you should budget in a few areas.
Next week, I will follow up with 3 sample budgets (5K, 40K, and 75K) budgets for 150 guests.
Family & Friends: When They're Helpful, When They Aren't
- Lisa of Elegant Event Design
Many couples are struggling with the fact that they want to cut down on costs, but still have the wedding of their dreams. How do you find the balance?
Through the years, I have seen instances of couples using friends or family members to take photographs, shoot video, DJ, arrange flowers, bake the cake/cupcakes, and plan/execute the wedding day. In all cases, the couple had unrealistic expectations of what the free, or reduced cost, help would get them. The work of family and friends do not substitute that of a professional, someone who makes weddings their business. Weddings are large events that are very difficult to execute. This is why there are professionals to help you through the process. I said it before, and I will say it again - time is money, and stress is even more money. I have seen instances where the well meaning friend or family members have caused the Bride and Groom more undue stress and worry, not only prior to the event, but on the day itself.
I have seen instances where the Bride and Groom used a friend to DJ. The couple had to be concerned with getting the DJ equipment to and from the site, helping the DJ set up during the cocktail hour that they should have been enjoying, and then concerning themselves during the wedding because the DJ did not know anything about weddings. There was the aunt who worked at a bakery and wanted to make the wedding cake. She got the cake into the site, but then it fell over and crashed into a million pieces when she was trying to set it up. In many occasions, the couple had enlisted family members to help them with the day of events - help with programs, guest book, place cards, etc. In many cases, I knew they were supposed to be present, because I had them in the timeline and talked to them prior to the ceremony. For some reason, they are nowhere to be found when it’s time for them to perform their duties. Had we not been there, I am not sure what the Bride and Groom would have done. Then, there was the case where the Bride hired a friend to take her pictures. In the beginning it was nice to think about saving a little money. When she was crying over her pictures, a little money saved was not worth it.
Why should you have to worry about how your cake is going to make it to the right place? Why should you worry about how the flowers that your Mother’s friend made will get to the reception site, and set up properly on your wedding day? There are wonderful vendors in all budget categories; the trick is being able to weed them out of, what seems to be like, the endless wedding pool.
It’s really nice of well-meaning friends and family members to offer to help you on your special day. In the end, you get one shot to get it right. Why gamble?
Traditional Cake Toppers Are Back
Cake toppers have undergone so many transformations in the last few years. Why just a short time ago many brides were trying to figure out whether they needed cake toppers at all. But the traditional always returns and now we are seeing more and more of those miniature brides-and-grooms sitting atop wedding cakes. We'd love to know what you think of the traditional cake toppers below. Which of them would appeal to you? And would any of you choose a racy cake topper like the last one?
"Ebony Enchantment" Cake Topper at MyWeddingFavors.com
Lenox Opal Innocence Porcelain African-American Bride and Groom
Apple Tree Cake Topper
iOffer.com
"Sweet Embrace" at MyWeddingFavors.com
Bella-Tiara
Funny Sexy Topper from C&R Unique
A Wedding for $5,000? Yes, Indeed!
-by Lisa R. Nelson
I happen to love working with super small budgets because I see it as an opportunity to become really creative. I love designing events that are different and unique – not the same ol’ thing. Yes, it’s much easier to make a traditional magazine-worthy affair when a couple has the money to make everything fabulous because there are fewer restrictions. But, a great wedding on small budget? Now that’s a thing of beauty. It’s very rare that I come across a couple with the vision – who can see the possibilities and embrace the fact that they are going to have an event that’s a bit different. I love couples who are able not to focus on what they don’t have, but are able to open their minds, think outside the box, and realize great things.
So, this is going to be my focus this week – couples who have $100.00/person or less to plan the entire wedding. First, it is possible, even in metropolitan areas! With that said, you have to make the right choices from the beginning.
Putting guests at 10 foot rounds, with centerpieces, to enjoy a sit down or buffet dinner is not really realistic. Let’s start from the beginning. Say, you want to host 100 guests for $5,000.00 – which ends up being $50.00 for the entire wedding, what choices can you make in the beginning that will save you dough and headaches down the road.
1. Get rid of the wedding party. It’s amazing how much a wedding party can add to a budget. If anything, have a maid of honor and best man and leave it at that. The 20 person wedding party is “out” when you are on any type of budget. If you have 20 good friends that you want to participate in your day – invite them. Just being invited is an honor in itself. You can also choose people to participate in the ceremony/reception – hostesses, readers, guest book attendants, etc. In the end, I think you will be presently surprised that your guests would rather enjoy the wedding than work at it.
2. Hire a planner with professional friends in the industry. Yes, its extra money in the outset, but a creative planner will be worth their weight in gold. He/she will help you develop your theme and direct you to the best possible people. Planners know who to go to, and often times will have friends willing to help you out! What’s better than that?
3. Think of different elegant themes like… Parisian café, Italian bistro, or an evening at the theatre with hors d’oeuvres. These types of themes can be fun to plan around, allow you to stay within budget and make for some interesting food and décor. Plus, you guests will talk about it forever because it’s not the same ole’.
Now, let’s talk about a few pitfalls that plague couples with low budgets.
1. Hiring friends. Family and great friends are wonderful. It’s wonderful to have people who love you and want the best for you. But my opinion is that weddings are very special events that require professionals who know the procedures to make the event successful. Couples who opt to have friends end up having to rent and bring DJ equipment, bring cake plates for the cake, worry about how they will store the cake during the week, worry about transportation, and the like. It ends up being much more work and stress.
2. Trying to stretch a budget to create an event like some other person on the knot or weddingchannel.com. Lisa shakes her head. Not being open and able to change the “mindset” is disastrous. David’s bridal and Mens Warehouse definitely have their place…but there is more than one way to skin a cat. There s nothing more beautiful than an ivory/white silk flowing gown and a dark or light linen suit that sets the tone for the wedding.
So…here we are-back where we started. Just remember that you are lucky to be planning such a wonderful wedding. This is an exciting time in your life. Have fun!
Staying Organized: Label, Label, Label!
-Jennifer "The Clutter Queen" Humes
Guest Blogger
In 2007 there was an estimated 2.29 million weddings held in the United States. Wedding season is busy for friends and families, but brides often bare the brunt of the planning.
A wedding is a fun but hectic time for brides. To stay on top of everything there is to do, it’s important for brides to be organized. Here are some tips:
* Make a detailed shopping list of all of the organizational supplies and tools you’ll need to plan your wedding. You’ll need things like file folders, a three-ring binder, albums and boxes for cards and photos, and a DYMO® Personal Labelmaker – these will help keep you and your fiancé organized while planning the big day. 
* Create a binder with sections labeled for calendar, dress ideas, guest list, registry, shopping lists, showers and parties, thank you cards, gift lists, bridal party schedules, and so on. Take the binder with you on appointments and meetings. Everything will be in one place for easy reference.
* To help keep track of the landslide of wedding gifts you receive, use file folders and label them by category – gift cards and certificates, receipts, returns, etc. Also, consider labeling the outside of the box a gift comes in with who gave it to you. This will help when writing thank you notes later.
* Designate a table in a low-traffic area of your home for crafting wedding favors, invitations, note cards, etc. Label boxes for RSVPs, cards, ribbons, table-setting cards and more.
* Instead of letting wedding cards and photos pile up, store them in an album or photo box. Be sure to label the backs of cards and photos with names, dates, and location for quick and easy reference.
* Make multiple copies of photos and other special memorabilia to create one-of-a-kind “brag books” for your mom, grandma, and soon to be step-mom to show-off to their friends later.
* If there is something you need only for the wedding, consider borrowing from a friend or relative. A family heirloom – like your grandmother’s cake knife or your mother’s cake topper – will not only add sentimental value to your wedding but save you shopping time and money.
* If you plan to provide a special CD for the DJ to use during the reception, clearly label the disc case with the song name and track number. This way there aren’t any slip-ups during your special dance.
Happy planning!
Diana's Wedding Cake Fetches More Than Crumbs
Some people like their pastry flaky or even crusty, right. Well how about this? A slice of wedding cake from Princess Diana's 1981 wedding recently went for almost $2,000. Read HERE to find out who kept it for so long and who bought it.
Wedding Cake of the Day
Since we discussed the Black-and-White theme this week, we thought it might be nice to wrap things up on a sweet note. Take a look at this onyx creation made by April Reed Cakes in New York.
World's Largest Wedding Cake?
The Mohegan Sun says it is. The casino unveiled the seven-tier monstrosity at this year's New England Bridal Show. The wedding cake is 17-feet-tall and it weighs 15,032 pounds. It's almost three-times the weight of the current record in the Guinness Book of World Records for the world's largest wedding cake.
Wedding Trend Watch: Fall Colors
Looking ahead, fall weddings are becoming increasingly popular. Brides-to-be used to choose fall weddings to take advantage of off-season savings. But now they're choosing Autumn for the sheer fun of it. Fall weddings present a fabulous opportunity to turn up the drama and delve into rich jewel tones. Bridal gowns and bridesmaid dresses for the fall sparkle with detail and beading.
Brides-to-be who are getting married in the fall have lots of choices when it comes to color schemes. But first they should decide whether they want a traditional fall wedding color scheme and something more modern. As wedding expert Carley Roney says, "Fall weddings can open up a range of colors and textures that you don't find in other seasons." But what are your choices if you want to avoid a traditional red or orange color scheme?
Brown is your friend. Brown and sage green make a lovely color scheme, as well as chocolate with touches of light blue. Use brown bridesmaid dresses with green sashes or sage dresses with dark accessories. This dress is from Ann Taylor.
Purple with ivory.
Consider carrying purple tulips and cream roses.
Roney also says, "You can also top your tables with ivory table runners and purple linens, and order a white buttercream cake adorned with purple sugar flowers".
Gold and ivory. Try ivory-embroidered linens topped with gilded glasses, chargers, and candlelit centerpieces. 
Carry the scheme with your cake as well.
Combine jewel tones for a dazzling effect. Don't be afraid to use navy/sapphire accents, like navy sashes on your bridesmaids.
We've also spotted some new bridal jewelry trends ahead for fall:
Wedding Cake of the Day
Feast your eyes on this confection.
It's a Double Chocolate Wedding Cake by Joy the Baker . Double yum. And if you think we're gaga over it, you should read Joy's description.
Most Beautifulest Cakes?
Yes, it's Memorial Day. But we couldn't let the day pass without leaving you a little nugget. The editors of Brides were on the Today Show last week to discuss what they believe are the most beautiful cakes of the season. Hmmmmmm... Take a look and tell us what YOU think, by clicking on "Comments".
