When planning a wedding one of the first steps is budgeting. It is important to make sure that when financing a wedding you figure out just how much you need to spend in order to get the wedding you want. Once you have a good idea of the amount of money you expect to have, then you can set your expectations accordingly.
It is a good idea to sit down with both sets of parents and ask them for specific amounts that they have allotted for you to spend on the wedding. It might be easier to ask for them to finance a specific part of the wedding such as the catering, honeymoon, ceremony, etc. Then decide how much you are planning to contribute to the wedding. Add up all of the contributions and then form budget.
According to theknot.com "The average cost for a 150-person wedding is about $25,000 (higher in urban areas).
* Here is a basic breakdown of what you can expect to pay:
Reception: 48%-50%
Ceremony: 2%-3%
Attire: 8%-10%
Flowers: 8%-10%
Entertainment/Music: 8%-10%
Photography/Videography: 10%-12%
Stationery: 2%-3%
Wedding Rings: 2%-3%
Parking/Transportation: 2%-3%
Gifts: 2%-3%
Miscellaneous: 8%
* To avoid stress, allot about 5% of your budget for a "just-in-case" fund.
* If you're paying for your honeymoon yourselves, remember to budget for that as well".
Once you have a good idea of how to allot the money it will be easier to make decisions based on what your budget allows for. This will take the stress and anxiety out of buying knowing that you won't go over budget. Just make sure not to spend more than you have allowed for or plan to take that out of a different category!!
Monday, April 27, 2009
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Picking Out Your Wedding Cake
Picking out a cake was extremely overwhelming for me.
I would highly recommend having an idea in your head of what you want before you meet with the baker. It is a great idea to look at pictures of cakes in magazines or online but realize that it is not always realistic to get what you see in the pictures. Often times those are iced pieces of Styrofoam and staged and fixed on photo shop. But it is important to look in the pictures for idea on the shape, size, colors, and details you would like to have for your cake.
It is also important to note that some bakers are better at design and construction but not as good at the taste and visa versa. Make sure to see a portfolio to get a good idea of their designs but also be sure to taste the cake before hand as well. Sometimes they will pull a sample out of the refrigerator for you to try, make sure however to try a piece at room temperature or one that has been sitting out for a while as your cake will most likely be sitting out for five or six hours at least. You need to get a baker that will produce both a quality tasting and looking cake!
Next, consider the topper for your cake. It is a good idea to have that in mind as well. A popular cake topper is a personalized letter topper. You can put you and your new spouses initial on the top.
It is also nice to use fresh flowers on your cake. If that is something you are considering, be sure to consult with your florist about the different options you have. Using fresh flowers can be a beautiful and inexpensive way to go. It can also be nice in tying together the different elements of your wedding decorations.
The most important thing is to not go into a meeting with your baker or wedding planner, like I did, without any ideas of what you are looking for because the options are vast and the designer will appreciate some specific inspirations to go by. You can do it!
I would highly recommend having an idea in your head of what you want before you meet with the baker. It is a great idea to look at pictures of cakes in magazines or online but realize that it is not always realistic to get what you see in the pictures. Often times those are iced pieces of Styrofoam and staged and fixed on photo shop. But it is important to look in the pictures for idea on the shape, size, colors, and details you would like to have for your cake.
It is also important to note that some bakers are better at design and construction but not as good at the taste and visa versa. Make sure to see a portfolio to get a good idea of their designs but also be sure to taste the cake before hand as well. Sometimes they will pull a sample out of the refrigerator for you to try, make sure however to try a piece at room temperature or one that has been sitting out for a while as your cake will most likely be sitting out for five or six hours at least. You need to get a baker that will produce both a quality tasting and looking cake!
Next, consider the topper for your cake. It is a good idea to have that in mind as well. A popular cake topper is a personalized letter topper. You can put you and your new spouses initial on the top.
It is also nice to use fresh flowers on your cake. If that is something you are considering, be sure to consult with your florist about the different options you have. Using fresh flowers can be a beautiful and inexpensive way to go. It can also be nice in tying together the different elements of your wedding decorations.
The most important thing is to not go into a meeting with your baker or wedding planner, like I did, without any ideas of what you are looking for because the options are vast and the designer will appreciate some specific inspirations to go by. You can do it!
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Just the Right Wedding Favors
Wedding favors are a popular way of thanking your guests for coming to your wedding. These favors do not need to be expensive gifts, but they do need to have a little time and thought put into them in order to not look "cheap."
Wedding favors that do not look cheap and inexpensive (but don't end up costing you a fortune) are things like boxes of M&Ms, packets of plant seeds, personalized lip balm, chocolate cocoa packets, packets of playing cards, or even miniature tape measures. Wedding favors such as these can often be personalized to fit your wedding with different colors, names, and designs. When you customize something to fit your wedding, it makes your decorations much more special.
Try to find wedding favors that are either unique, practical, or themed. When a favor is themed, it is usually themed based on the season or the unique theme of your wedding. Such themes are often one of the following: Asian, Beach, Fall, Winter, Spring, or Vegas. These are among the most popular themes but there are many more.
Small inexpensive wedding favors are perfect for treating all of your guests with, but when it comes to giving gifts to your wedding party and maybe even a few family members that are more deal to you heart, you may want to try getting them a special personalized gift.
Gifts that have a name engraved or embroidered on them usually mean much more than just an ordinary gift card to a store. When you start to think about the gifts you will give your bridesmaids and groomsmen, consider a personalized gift to tell them how much you love them.
Enrich your wedding with just the right wedding favors!
Wedding favors that do not look cheap and inexpensive (but don't end up costing you a fortune) are things like boxes of M&Ms, packets of plant seeds, personalized lip balm, chocolate cocoa packets, packets of playing cards, or even miniature tape measures. Wedding favors such as these can often be personalized to fit your wedding with different colors, names, and designs. When you customize something to fit your wedding, it makes your decorations much more special.
Try to find wedding favors that are either unique, practical, or themed. When a favor is themed, it is usually themed based on the season or the unique theme of your wedding. Such themes are often one of the following: Asian, Beach, Fall, Winter, Spring, or Vegas. These are among the most popular themes but there are many more.
Small inexpensive wedding favors are perfect for treating all of your guests with, but when it comes to giving gifts to your wedding party and maybe even a few family members that are more deal to you heart, you may want to try getting them a special personalized gift.
Gifts that have a name engraved or embroidered on them usually mean much more than just an ordinary gift card to a store. When you start to think about the gifts you will give your bridesmaids and groomsmen, consider a personalized gift to tell them how much you love them.
Enrich your wedding with just the right wedding favors!
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Tips for Your Bridesmaids for 2009.
Here are a few tips to help you plan for your bridesmaids.
Choose a color! It is great to pick a color and have all of your bridesmaids match. But because all of your bridesmaids most likely will not have the same body type it can be helpful for them to pick a dress that fits them well, yet, is your chosen color. Many bridal shops are now offering different styles in the same color. Want to be a beloved bride? Pick basic black. It will be much easier for the girls to find a dress in black than in avocado.
You can always personalize your dresses! By adding ruffle trims, ribbon belts, varied hemlines, and floral embellishments you can take a typical bridesmaid dress and make it into a unique sophisticated dress that would never be pegged as a multiple. You can also try adding an "extra" onto different styles of the same color to tie them all in, yet make it a dress that the girls will actually want to wear again!
Mix up the bouquets. Consider having each bridesmaid carry a bouquet of different flowers, all within your wedding colors. So if your colors are pink and white, one girl could hold a bouquet of dark pink peonies, another of pale pink daisies, and another of white hydrangeas. Your bouquet could then consist of a couple flowers from each of theirs that would bringing the look together.
Most importantly you want your friends to like you before, during, and after your wedding. So don't jump on a trend before thinking about how your friends will feel and look!
Choose a color! It is great to pick a color and have all of your bridesmaids match. But because all of your bridesmaids most likely will not have the same body type it can be helpful for them to pick a dress that fits them well, yet, is your chosen color. Many bridal shops are now offering different styles in the same color. Want to be a beloved bride? Pick basic black. It will be much easier for the girls to find a dress in black than in avocado.
You can always personalize your dresses! By adding ruffle trims, ribbon belts, varied hemlines, and floral embellishments you can take a typical bridesmaid dress and make it into a unique sophisticated dress that would never be pegged as a multiple. You can also try adding an "extra" onto different styles of the same color to tie them all in, yet make it a dress that the girls will actually want to wear again!
Mix up the bouquets. Consider having each bridesmaid carry a bouquet of different flowers, all within your wedding colors. So if your colors are pink and white, one girl could hold a bouquet of dark pink peonies, another of pale pink daisies, and another of white hydrangeas. Your bouquet could then consist of a couple flowers from each of theirs that would bringing the look together.
Most importantly you want your friends to like you before, during, and after your wedding. So don't jump on a trend before thinking about how your friends will feel and look!
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