One question that most of my couples grapple with concerns favors. What is a good favor? Should it be one per couple or one per guest? Should a favor even be given at all?
The history behind favors goes back centuries. Since a wedding was considered a lucky occasion, the happy couple shared their luck and appreciation of their guests by way of small gifts of candies, representing fertility, health, wealth, happiness and longevity.
Today, favors come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Some couples choose to make a donation to a favorite charity in their guests' names (which, by the way, is tax deductible) and give out the organization's bracelets as their favors. Some couples choose a favor that comports with their wedding's theme or a favorite activity. Others forego this tradition, preferring to spend the money elsewhere in the celebration.
There is no right or wrong when it comes to your decision regarding favors. Frankly, I always recommend a donation or something edible, so that the guests will appreciate your thoughtfulness. Mini-bottles of wine, chocolates, cookies all make wonderful favors - their packaging can also be part of the favor! A lovely cookie placed in a hand-painted box that goes with your theme is always appreciated!
The question of whether to give one favor per guest or per couple is usually determined based upon your budget. Believe it or not, favors often cost $5 or more per piece. No one will be upset if you give out mini bottles of wine to each couple - they will simply toast to your new life together!
Until next time, happy planning...
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Timing
They say that timing is everything. Timing is when you meet your future spouse. Timing is when you find your first house. Timing is when you ... well, you get the picture!
In wedding planning, timing is one of the first details that you'll face. The overall timing picture - will you get married in the summer or fall, winter or spring? Once you make that decision, it's on to deciding which particular month will be the best for you. Then, you get more specific - on which day of the week do you want to celebrate with your family and friends. Next you zero in on the actual date - let's say, Saturday, August 9, 2008 (which just happens to be my 10 year anniversary!).
Now, you may think you're home free with the timing thing once you've picked your exact date, right? Well, not exactly. You now move onto deciding when, exactly, on your date that you will be married and when your reception will be held. Now, this can be tricky. You don't want to have too long of a time in between ceremony and reception or your guests will get bored, lost, or worse yet - will simply skip the ceremony! However, you don't want to have too short of an in-between time or else you and your new spouse (and bridal party) won't be able to enjoy the cocktail hour because you'll be getting your photos taken -- not to mention a rushed break-down and set-up time for your vendors! I hope I've given you some food for thought to make the timing of your wedding just right!
Until next time, happy planning...
In wedding planning, timing is one of the first details that you'll face. The overall timing picture - will you get married in the summer or fall, winter or spring? Once you make that decision, it's on to deciding which particular month will be the best for you. Then, you get more specific - on which day of the week do you want to celebrate with your family and friends. Next you zero in on the actual date - let's say, Saturday, August 9, 2008 (which just happens to be my 10 year anniversary!).
Now, you may think you're home free with the timing thing once you've picked your exact date, right? Well, not exactly. You now move onto deciding when, exactly, on your date that you will be married and when your reception will be held. Now, this can be tricky. You don't want to have too long of a time in between ceremony and reception or your guests will get bored, lost, or worse yet - will simply skip the ceremony! However, you don't want to have too short of an in-between time or else you and your new spouse (and bridal party) won't be able to enjoy the cocktail hour because you'll be getting your photos taken -- not to mention a rushed break-down and set-up time for your vendors! I hope I've given you some food for thought to make the timing of your wedding just right!
Until next time, happy planning...
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Security
This post is going to deal with a topic on which I've just received a crash course: security. Like insurance, security may be a "necessary evil" depending upon where you choose to have your wedding, or some of the players in it.
Let me tell you what happened this week: I had a client meeting at their wedding venue in Newark at 7:30 pm. I parked in a lot - albeit an open-air lot that I knew would not be attended upon my return. However, I bargained that parking in the lot was a better alternative to simply parking on the street. Well...when I returned to my car around 9:30 pm, I found my passenger side window smashed and my GPS unit stolen. No fun!
I spoke with my clients about this, and we are going to take extra security precautions at their wedding. Although there is a valet service provided, we are going to look into hiring security guards to patrol the parking lot during the wedding, just so that the guests (and me!) will feel extra safe.
This is just one example of how security may be advisable for a wedding. Think about where you are going to be celebrating your big day - could people enter your room without being noticed and grab something off the gift table? Do you have an ex who may want to intrude on your reception and make a scene? Now, my purpose here is NOT to scare you, but rather to make you think about a topic that you may have overlooked in your planning. So, I hope it gives you food for thought!
Until next time, happy planning...
Let me tell you what happened this week: I had a client meeting at their wedding venue in Newark at 7:30 pm. I parked in a lot - albeit an open-air lot that I knew would not be attended upon my return. However, I bargained that parking in the lot was a better alternative to simply parking on the street. Well...when I returned to my car around 9:30 pm, I found my passenger side window smashed and my GPS unit stolen. No fun!
I spoke with my clients about this, and we are going to take extra security precautions at their wedding. Although there is a valet service provided, we are going to look into hiring security guards to patrol the parking lot during the wedding, just so that the guests (and me!) will feel extra safe.
This is just one example of how security may be advisable for a wedding. Think about where you are going to be celebrating your big day - could people enter your room without being noticed and grab something off the gift table? Do you have an ex who may want to intrude on your reception and make a scene? Now, my purpose here is NOT to scare you, but rather to make you think about a topic that you may have overlooked in your planning. So, I hope it gives you food for thought!
Until next time, happy planning...
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Budgeting, part 2
Back to the realities of weddings -- if only lace and tulle were free! Every one of my clients has a budget; some may be larger than others, but no one doesn't have a total amount in mind to spend on their wedding. While Eva Longoria & Tony Parker, and Tom & Katie, may have spent over 2 million on their weddings, they still had budgets to stick to and, if we could ask them, probably had wanted more of something but decided against it because it was outside of their budgets!
So how to get the most bang for your wedding buck, so to speak? First, look to yourselves. What's important to you? Are you foodies - then spend a bit more on the reception site. Are you dance-a-holics - then invest in a superior band. Did you go to FIT - then your gown may be your splurge. Spend a bit more on your passion, but keep in mind that not everything can be your passion!
Another way to stretch your dollar is to make a statement - instead of having little centerpieces on every table, have 1 major one in the center of the room. Or have things do double duty, such as decorations in the church being moved to the reception room.
The best budget idea: hire a wedding planner! While it's true I, as a wedding planner, charge my clients a flat fee, it's also true that I can save my clients money. Sometimes I save them a lot of money by knowing the industry and certain tricks of the trade. I do not accept referral fees from vendors, and ask that the commission be given directly to my couples, so they see their savings directly. Other times the savings is by ideas. I try to recommend less expensive alternatives to achieve the same look and feel for the wedding. For example, if my client wants a very expensive designer gown, I can recommend a seamstress that can create a similar dress for much less money.
But the truth is, you are the ones responsible for your budget! My job is to recommend budget-friendly vendors and to remind you of your expenses - and to offer choices. Your job is to love each other, remember that your wedding day is a celebration of your love, and to share your happiness with your family and friends in a fiscally responsible way. As a wedding consultant, I'm not here to spend your money (although I certainly can do that!) but rather I'm here to assist you along your wedding journey in as happy and stress-free manner as possible.
Until next time, happy planning...
So how to get the most bang for your wedding buck, so to speak? First, look to yourselves. What's important to you? Are you foodies - then spend a bit more on the reception site. Are you dance-a-holics - then invest in a superior band. Did you go to FIT - then your gown may be your splurge. Spend a bit more on your passion, but keep in mind that not everything can be your passion!
Another way to stretch your dollar is to make a statement - instead of having little centerpieces on every table, have 1 major one in the center of the room. Or have things do double duty, such as decorations in the church being moved to the reception room.
The best budget idea: hire a wedding planner! While it's true I, as a wedding planner, charge my clients a flat fee, it's also true that I can save my clients money. Sometimes I save them a lot of money by knowing the industry and certain tricks of the trade. I do not accept referral fees from vendors, and ask that the commission be given directly to my couples, so they see their savings directly. Other times the savings is by ideas. I try to recommend less expensive alternatives to achieve the same look and feel for the wedding. For example, if my client wants a very expensive designer gown, I can recommend a seamstress that can create a similar dress for much less money.
But the truth is, you are the ones responsible for your budget! My job is to recommend budget-friendly vendors and to remind you of your expenses - and to offer choices. Your job is to love each other, remember that your wedding day is a celebration of your love, and to share your happiness with your family and friends in a fiscally responsible way. As a wedding consultant, I'm not here to spend your money (although I certainly can do that!) but rather I'm here to assist you along your wedding journey in as happy and stress-free manner as possible.
Until next time, happy planning...
Monday, July 30, 2007
Budget-Busters
I've been doing a lot of weddings this season, and one constant -- no matter the size of the budget -- is the concern about money and expenses that seems to grow exponentially as the wedding day draws nearer. Given the amount of money being spent for the wedding, I can totally understand my clients' concerns; the average wedding in my neck of the woods is about $40,000. However, budgeting from the beginning, and being disciplined enough to stick to the budget, is the key to relieving this sort of stress at the 11th hour.
As soon as a client hires me for full-service assistance, I give them a survey that I've created over the years. This survey asks all sorts of questions, from the general (how much do you have to spend on your wedding?) to the specific (do you want disposable cameras at your wedding?). This survey helps me create what I've deemed an "engagement blueprint." Based on their answers, I develop a budget that breaks down the overall amount into each vendor category. That way, when I recommend vendors, I only recommend those that fit within their budgetary parameters. And, every month, I send out an email that includes an updated budget based upon actual, contracted amounts.
That said, clients still go over-budget. Why, you ask? Human nature!! Really, when a client goes and meets with a band, for example, I remind them of their budget for music for everything (ceremony, cocktail hour and reception). The entertainment company also asks for this figure so they only show the bands that fit within their budget. But, of course, they are salespeople and they show the 8-piece band that is totally fantastic and fits right in their budget. The next thing, though, is they show the same band with an extra percussionist, horn section and singer, making it a 12-piece band -- the couple falls in love with them and hires them, knowing they are over their budget but figuring they will "make it up" with another vendor. But they never do!
So, my advice is to figure out how much you have to spend on your wedding from all sources -- parents, grandparents, your own savings, etc. Take that total number and divide it among all of the vendors that will be involved in your wedding, leaving a line for "misc." and another one for "tips." Then, try your hardest to stick within each line item!!! As time goes on, it gets more difficult to "make up" any overages and then you find yourself stressing about money the day before you walk down the aisle. I'll write more about this topic next time.
Until then, happy planning...
As soon as a client hires me for full-service assistance, I give them a survey that I've created over the years. This survey asks all sorts of questions, from the general (how much do you have to spend on your wedding?) to the specific (do you want disposable cameras at your wedding?). This survey helps me create what I've deemed an "engagement blueprint." Based on their answers, I develop a budget that breaks down the overall amount into each vendor category. That way, when I recommend vendors, I only recommend those that fit within their budgetary parameters. And, every month, I send out an email that includes an updated budget based upon actual, contracted amounts.
That said, clients still go over-budget. Why, you ask? Human nature!! Really, when a client goes and meets with a band, for example, I remind them of their budget for music for everything (ceremony, cocktail hour and reception). The entertainment company also asks for this figure so they only show the bands that fit within their budget. But, of course, they are salespeople and they show the 8-piece band that is totally fantastic and fits right in their budget. The next thing, though, is they show the same band with an extra percussionist, horn section and singer, making it a 12-piece band -- the couple falls in love with them and hires them, knowing they are over their budget but figuring they will "make it up" with another vendor. But they never do!
So, my advice is to figure out how much you have to spend on your wedding from all sources -- parents, grandparents, your own savings, etc. Take that total number and divide it among all of the vendors that will be involved in your wedding, leaving a line for "misc." and another one for "tips." Then, try your hardest to stick within each line item!!! As time goes on, it gets more difficult to "make up" any overages and then you find yourself stressing about money the day before you walk down the aisle. I'll write more about this topic next time.
Until then, happy planning...
Monday, July 16, 2007
Bride Ideas Turns 5!
It's so hard for me to believe that Bride Ideas is now in its 5th year of helping engaged couples on their way to being married!
Back in 2002, I was working full-time as an attorney in a large NJ law firm in its civil litigation department. I was not happy with my job - stressed all of the time and not feeling any fulfillment even when my client won and, with my help, actually was paid $2 million. I just didn't get any satisfaction out of my job. So, I returned to the exploration of wedding planning as an alternate career. I had started this research a few years before when I was getting married in 1998, but at that time, we were just buying a house and I had only been practicing law for 4 years in NYC. Fast-forward to 2002 and the time seemed right to make the move!
I created Bride Ideas in July of 2002 and began taking a correspondence course from the Association of Bridal Consultants. I attended a couple of one-day seminars and in November attended the 3-day national conference for the Association of Bridal Consultants which was held in Phoenix that year. I did all of this while maintaining my full-time position as an attorney and billing the required 180 hours a month. When it came time for me to start working with my first bride, I was very lucky - she was another attorney at my firm who agreed to keep my secret while I helped her plan her wedding!
Since then, I "went public" at the law firm - and went to part-time status for a while before finally leaving altogether in 2004. Believe me, I never looked back! I find helping you, guiding you, recommending new ideas to you, all the while being creative yet very detail oriented to be my calling. I feel like a million bucks when my brides walk down the aisle (on time!), looking absolutely radiant, knowing that the only thing she has to remember is to say "I do!"
So, looking back on the first 5 years of Bride Ideas is fun - especially since I can see how far I've come. But I'm more excited looking ahead to all of the new and wonderful people that I will meet and assist along their wedding journey! Like you!
Until next time, happy planning...
Back in 2002, I was working full-time as an attorney in a large NJ law firm in its civil litigation department. I was not happy with my job - stressed all of the time and not feeling any fulfillment even when my client won and, with my help, actually was paid $2 million. I just didn't get any satisfaction out of my job. So, I returned to the exploration of wedding planning as an alternate career. I had started this research a few years before when I was getting married in 1998, but at that time, we were just buying a house and I had only been practicing law for 4 years in NYC. Fast-forward to 2002 and the time seemed right to make the move!
I created Bride Ideas in July of 2002 and began taking a correspondence course from the Association of Bridal Consultants. I attended a couple of one-day seminars and in November attended the 3-day national conference for the Association of Bridal Consultants which was held in Phoenix that year. I did all of this while maintaining my full-time position as an attorney and billing the required 180 hours a month. When it came time for me to start working with my first bride, I was very lucky - she was another attorney at my firm who agreed to keep my secret while I helped her plan her wedding!
Since then, I "went public" at the law firm - and went to part-time status for a while before finally leaving altogether in 2004. Believe me, I never looked back! I find helping you, guiding you, recommending new ideas to you, all the while being creative yet very detail oriented to be my calling. I feel like a million bucks when my brides walk down the aisle (on time!), looking absolutely radiant, knowing that the only thing she has to remember is to say "I do!"
So, looking back on the first 5 years of Bride Ideas is fun - especially since I can see how far I've come. But I'm more excited looking ahead to all of the new and wonderful people that I will meet and assist along their wedding journey! Like you!
Until next time, happy planning...
Sunday, July 8, 2007
What to Expect at Your Initial Meeting with Bride Ideas
I'm so happy to meet you! During our initial meeting, we'll discuss a variety of things -- your hopes and dreams for your wedding, where you are in your wedding planning process, even how you met! I try to ask questions that allow me to begin to get to know both of you, and your preferences for your big day. Do you want a band or a DJ? Have you thought about a color scheme? Believe me, there are no right or wrong answers to my questions - even "I don't know" is perfectly right! I treat this initial meeting as a "getting acquainted" session.
And while I'm getting to know you both, you are getting to know me as well. I'll admit it right here in print: I'm a terrible, horrible saleswoman! I don't try to do the hard sell, because I hate that done to me. I don't try to scare you into thinking you can't live without me for the next year while planning your wedding. Pretty much what you see is what you'll get from me during your engagement period. I'm pretty low key with a good sense of humor. I try to give you all the options and then let you choose how you want to go. I'm not the Wedding Police, but I do let you know the "proper" way to do things - then let you decide whether to ignore etiquette's rules. During this meeting, I'll also go over the packages that I've developed over the years and give you all the options to create your own custom package of services from me.
I love meeting with prospective clients - because I know that, hopefully, we'll soon begin planning your wedding and I'll get to know another wonderful couple embarking upon the most exciting journey of their lifetime. I feel that I can offer a stress-free planning and wedding (well, as stress-free as possible!), and I truly want to share my knowledge with you. So, when we meet and I say that I'm happy to meet you, I hope that you know I'm being sincere!
Until next time, happy planning...
And while I'm getting to know you both, you are getting to know me as well. I'll admit it right here in print: I'm a terrible, horrible saleswoman! I don't try to do the hard sell, because I hate that done to me. I don't try to scare you into thinking you can't live without me for the next year while planning your wedding. Pretty much what you see is what you'll get from me during your engagement period. I'm pretty low key with a good sense of humor. I try to give you all the options and then let you choose how you want to go. I'm not the Wedding Police, but I do let you know the "proper" way to do things - then let you decide whether to ignore etiquette's rules. During this meeting, I'll also go over the packages that I've developed over the years and give you all the options to create your own custom package of services from me.
I love meeting with prospective clients - because I know that, hopefully, we'll soon begin planning your wedding and I'll get to know another wonderful couple embarking upon the most exciting journey of their lifetime. I feel that I can offer a stress-free planning and wedding (well, as stress-free as possible!), and I truly want to share my knowledge with you. So, when we meet and I say that I'm happy to meet you, I hope that you know I'm being sincere!
Until next time, happy planning...
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