Dress- Sorelle Bridal Store, Earrings/Bracelet- Anthropologie, Shoes- Kaboodle, Suit- J.Crew, Reception shot- Chelsea Elizabeth Photography, Lemon Meringue Cupcakes- Rachel Rae Magazine
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Purple Inspiration Board
Selecting the color of your wedding is probably one of the more important decisions you make when planning your wedding. Ultimately, it determines the entire feel of your day. Modern- black and white, clean lines; Natural- pastels, wheat, natural wood... I could go on for days. And until you fully commit to, let's say, a bridesmaid's dress, the possibilities are endless.
Here's one I threw together for a friend of mine. The wedding will be next June, and she's going for an elegant look. Because it's still early summer, I'm hoping to keep things light and airy by staying in hues of purple, lavender, and amethyst, and also, by putting the groom in a grey suit, rather than a black tux. This eliminates, or at the very least minimizes, the complete formality of the wedding. Having a groom stand up in a monkey suit in the middle of summer, outside, is no way to make him, or the rest of your bridal party comfortable. And I'm not saying a wedding shouldn't be a serious or formal occasion, but think there's more to a wedding than bowties and cumberbunds.
Bridal gown: Maggie Sottero, BM dress: Dessy, Tux: Men's Warhouse, Cake: The Knot
Friday, March 12, 2010
The Budget
Monica: (To Chandler) How great are you, you little saver?! I mean, the-the amount you have is exactly the budget of my dream wedding!
Rachel: (starting to cry) Ohh, you guys are so made for each other.
Chandler: Well, you’re not suggesting that we spend all of the money on the wedding?
Rachel and Monica: Ah, yeah!
Script courtesy of FriendsCafe
Determining how much to spend on, lets face it, a party, can be pretty daunting, and often the souce of much frustration during the planning. Is $100 a head too much? Yes. Do I really need programs? No. Will my guests care if I don't provide them a favor? No.
Sticking to preset guidelines (and percetages) is a great way to make sure you stay on budget. That being said, I've always maintained that a couple should have one big splurge. Something that regardless of price, within reason of course, they want to have. Whether it be a premier photographer, a dress, a photobooth, food, it's one thing that they weren't willing to compromise on.
Now, if splurging happens to be your middle name, I suggest you think about changing it. Brides often talk about having champagne tastes for a beer budget. Or that their eyes are larger than their stomach. It's important to keep this in check while you're planning.
Here's a general breakdown:
Reception: 48%-50% (this includes rental fees, food, and booze)
Ceremony: 2%-3% (this includes rental fees, officient, and donation)
Attire: 8%-10% (your dress, hair and make-up, and his tux)
Flowers: 8%-10%
Entertainment/Music: 8%-10%
Photography/Videography: 10%-12%
Stationery: 2%-3% (this includes postage too!)
Wedding Rings: 2%-3%
Parking/Transportation: 2%-3%
Gifts: 2%-3%
Miscellaneous: 8% (this includes favors, tips, etc)
Rachel: (starting to cry) Ohh, you guys are so made for each other.
Chandler: Well, you’re not suggesting that we spend all of the money on the wedding?
Rachel and Monica: Ah, yeah!
Script courtesy of FriendsCafe
Determining how much to spend on, lets face it, a party, can be pretty daunting, and often the souce of much frustration during the planning. Is $100 a head too much? Yes. Do I really need programs? No. Will my guests care if I don't provide them a favor? No.
Sticking to preset guidelines (and percetages) is a great way to make sure you stay on budget. That being said, I've always maintained that a couple should have one big splurge. Something that regardless of price, within reason of course, they want to have. Whether it be a premier photographer, a dress, a photobooth, food, it's one thing that they weren't willing to compromise on.
Now, if splurging happens to be your middle name, I suggest you think about changing it. Brides often talk about having champagne tastes for a beer budget. Or that their eyes are larger than their stomach. It's important to keep this in check while you're planning.
Here's a general breakdown:
Reception: 48%-50% (this includes rental fees, food, and booze)
Ceremony: 2%-3% (this includes rental fees, officient, and donation)
Attire: 8%-10% (your dress, hair and make-up, and his tux)
Flowers: 8%-10%
Entertainment/Music: 8%-10%
Photography/Videography: 10%-12%
Stationery: 2%-3% (this includes postage too!)
Wedding Rings: 2%-3%
Parking/Transportation: 2%-3%
Gifts: 2%-3%
Miscellaneous: 8% (this includes favors, tips, etc)
Image courtesy of Bridesmaid.com
Monday, March 8, 2010
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Contracts and Vendors 101
However, the cleaners can also refer to the unfortunate circumstance of being ripped off, dooped, conned into believing that the deal you're signing for is actually worse that you think.
It isn't until you walk into your favorite bar in the light of day, with the unflattering florescent lights on, that you see the contract for what it's really worth. I am a firm believer, unfortunately, that vendors relish in the after-engagement glow of soon-to-be-brides, knowing that the bride will often forget to ask or overlook something inherently missing from the contract.
When signing contracts with vendors it is extremely important to read between the lines and scour every last detail.
- Flexibility
- You don't have to take and sign a vendor's contract for face value. If there's something you'd like to change, add, subtract, talk about it with the vendor and get it in writing. This might include making sure the venue for your outdoor ceremony has an alternative indoor space (like a ballroom) available in case of (gasp!) rain.
- Refunds
- Where in your contract does it talk about a refund. Should something ever go wrong, do you have a way out? Or, does the vendor have the upper-hand indicating that all bets are off if you fail to pay on a specified day, nullifying your contract, leaving you high and dry. If a DJ plays a song on your "DO NOT PLAY" list, are you able to deduct part of your final payment?
- Details
- Reading every line of your contract is crucial to fully understanding what you're getting yourself into. I suggest always bringin a highlighter to contract signings, and go through and highlight any sentence that causes concern- and let the vendor clarify any questions once you've gone through the entire contract on your own. It's also perfectly acceptable to take the contract and "sleep on it."
- Never Forget
- It's important to include the following on every single contract:
- Name of the vendor (and the person you will be in contact with throughout the process)
- Direct contact numbers
- Wedding Date
- Date and time vendor should arrive at location
- Payment total and payment schedule
**Remember**
NOTHING is guarenteed to you until you put down a deposit.
Until there is a deposit, you have no contract... no guarentees.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Could you sign please?
Guests books are a funny thing.
Originally, a guest book was a way to document who attended a gathering, and act as a souvenir of the wedding day.
Nowadays, brides are looking to more functional ways to keep memories alive.
At Wedding Bee there's a really great article for unique guest book ideas, ranging from typing everyone's name on an old typewriter to a makeshift photo booth with instant Polaroids placed in a book.
Lately though, I've been digging the idea of artwork as a way to remember the day. When guests arrive, have them grab a piant brush, pick a paint (in colors already selected by you of course) and hit the canvas! At the end of the day, not only are every single guest contributing to your day, but you've got a piece of original artwork to hang it your place!
You can give your guests free reign over the canvas and get ideas like this:
Originally, a guest book was a way to document who attended a gathering, and act as a souvenir of the wedding day.
Nowadays, brides are looking to more functional ways to keep memories alive.
At Wedding Bee there's a really great article for unique guest book ideas, ranging from typing everyone's name on an old typewriter to a makeshift photo booth with instant Polaroids placed in a book.
Lately though, I've been digging the idea of artwork as a way to remember the day. When guests arrive, have them grab a piant brush, pick a paint (in colors already selected by you of course) and hit the canvas! At the end of the day, not only are every single guest contributing to your day, but you've got a piece of original artwork to hang it your place!
You can give your guests free reign over the canvas and get ideas like this:
Or, if you're not willing to relinquish complete artistic freedom to you guests, have them paint inside the lines!
Choosing a Photographer
For me, photography was my must have. My splurge for the wedding.
I've always loved photography. I took a couple classes in high school and dabble in it on the weekends, but nothing special. What I do know about photography is that it has a way of capturing emotion like none other. Yes, a painting reflects the emotions of the painter... but photography, it captures the emotions of others. And with a keen eye, a photographer has the ability to capture every emotion on your wedding day.
My approach to choosing a wedding photographer was a bit, you could say, unorthodox. I got recommendations from several women on The Knot and checked out their websites. I had found one that I was interested in and contacted them immediately. They told me they weren't able to hold our date without a deposit. I think on some level what sold me initially was they mentioned that if we weren't the right fit, they would refund the $200 and that would be it. At that point it was worth the leap of faith and I sent the check out. Two weeks and a half-hour meeting later I was completely sold on the husband-wife duo. I had picked my photographer!
Choosing a photographer is like choosing your insurance agency. Let's put it this way-- it's oober important. You're trusting the individual(s) you choose for your day will do they best job they can that day. That they will protect your memories. You believe that they will guide you through one of the best days of your life, capturing the first glance, the first kiss, a sweet stolen moment, a tearful father-daughter dance.
If you look back at your parents wedding album, your aunts photo album, your cousin's aunt on the other side's album, they all look the same. An unfortunate side effect of getting married circa 1960 to 1999. But since the turn of the century, brides have desired something more... a photographer with a photojournalistic side. This side tends to capture the emotion of the day. It has the ability to tell the story without a single word.
I've always loved photography. I took a couple classes in high school and dabble in it on the weekends, but nothing special. What I do know about photography is that it has a way of capturing emotion like none other. Yes, a painting reflects the emotions of the painter... but photography, it captures the emotions of others. And with a keen eye, a photographer has the ability to capture every emotion on your wedding day.
My approach to choosing a wedding photographer was a bit, you could say, unorthodox. I got recommendations from several women on The Knot and checked out their websites. I had found one that I was interested in and contacted them immediately. They told me they weren't able to hold our date without a deposit. I think on some level what sold me initially was they mentioned that if we weren't the right fit, they would refund the $200 and that would be it. At that point it was worth the leap of faith and I sent the check out. Two weeks and a half-hour meeting later I was completely sold on the husband-wife duo. I had picked my photographer!
Choosing a photographer is like choosing your insurance agency. Let's put it this way-- it's oober important. You're trusting the individual(s) you choose for your day will do they best job they can that day. That they will protect your memories. You believe that they will guide you through one of the best days of your life, capturing the first glance, the first kiss, a sweet stolen moment, a tearful father-daughter dance.
If you look back at your parents wedding album, your aunts photo album, your cousin's aunt on the other side's album, they all look the same. An unfortunate side effect of getting married circa 1960 to 1999. But since the turn of the century, brides have desired something more... a photographer with a photojournalistic side. This side tends to capture the emotion of the day. It has the ability to tell the story without a single word.
Image courtesy of Canon Rumors
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