Tag: wedding budget

  • Small Wedding Ideas for an Intimate Affair

    Small Wedding Ideas for an Intimate Affair

    Have a smaller percentage of your guest list, but keep the whole the celebration. Have you been overwhelmed by the thought of gathering 200 plus of your “closest” family & friends together for your wedding day? You can have a reception with just your closest family & friends. But still with all of the things that will make your wedding feel like your personalizes wedding. Incorporate specific preferred options like entertainment, invitations, dinner, white dress, cake, and any other detail important to both of you. Shrinking it down to a cozy, intimate size guarantees you’ll love where your money goes and have tons of memories with “every” single guest. With an intimate wedding there are planning changes to make, details to consider, and a larger budget to work with now with less invited guests. Here are a few small Wedding ideas for an intimate affair.

    Keep the Guest List Short

    A small wedding is only small if the guest list is as small as possible. Not sure how to cut it down? One handy suggested tip is to look through your text messages and calls, and only invite those you’ve spoken with in the last three months. We speak more often to those who matter most. Another suggestion is would you take this person out for an expensive intimate dinner? Or would you have this person and their guest into your home for an intimate dinner or as a weekend house guest? Thinking about how close your relationships are will help ensure you are truly comfortable with those you surround yourselves with on your intimate wedding day. Of course, other people will want to know you’ve tied the knot. Make a list of those who will want to know the big news, and send out a wedding announcement after the fact.

    Alternative Venues Choices

    Fewer people on the guest list means you open up your choices to a multitude of different venues when choosing a nontraditional venue. Restaurants are at the top of the list. They’re unique spaces that have everything you need in one place. Just make sure you love everything (the style, the menu, and the existing décor) as being able to change it is less likely. Also recommended are hotel suites, many of which have beautiful indoor and outdoor spaces as well as galleries, gardens, wine bars, and nightclubs. You can have it in an intimate affair in a place that is meaningful to the couple. Family homes can pose many challenges for events with a large guest list, but work well with a smaller group.

    Rethink Traditional Options

    If you’re still in love with the idea of a space that’s more of an expected wedding venue like a hotel ballroom, museum room, or a dining room at a country club rethink it.

    The challenge with a traditional venue is making sure it feels full with an intimate amount of guests and not like a lot of guests didn’t show. Design comes into place here in making a large space feel intimate as you have the opportunity to get really creative with seating and table layouts, as well as adding things like a lounge or creative bars and food stations. Consider an extra-large round table for 20 to fill more space, or mix up how the venue is usually used by having the ceremony where others might have dinner and vice versa. With a smaller group, you can think outside the box about where you host each part of the celebration. Also, when you’re looking at venues, keep the size of your celebration in mind. Privacy is of the utmost importance, especially with a small guest list. Before you book anything, make sure the venue won’t have another wedding at the same time as yours. You really want to feel like you have the place to yourselves.

    Traditional venues are full of unexpected spaces that are perfect for smaller celebrations. Consider areas that are often overlooked, like the library of a large historic estate for example.

    Know What You Need

    Every wedding, no matter the size, will need entertainment, food, a bar, staff, rentals, and some décor. Keep those options in mind as you’re making plans.

    Even tho it’s more intimate, it’s a great idea to hire a wedding planner. Even if it’s only for a day of coordinator since you have more of a budget to work with. To have someone there to facilitate the flow of the day. You can enjoy it instead of worrying about whether alcohol or food is running low. Top priority service for any wedding is important but with an intimate celebration, the service should be over-the-top excellent.

    Skip What Isn’t Important

    As you’re determining the details, decide what is important to you and your partner and skip the things that don’t matter. Many couples choose to skip some of the traditional dancing and other formalities at a small wedding. Know your crowd and replace it with an activity everyone will enjoy. Or keep it in the timeline if your loved ones love to dance. Of course, if you do love dancing, keep the DJ set up or band’s size in mind so not to overwhelm your intimate wedding space. Be sure to hire a simple DJ/MC team or smaller group of musicians. That way you can have the formality of special dances and other formalities without it being over the top.

    You can easily skip some of the typical add-ons that couples try to get into their budgets.  For example, there’s no need for a photo booth, printed ceremony programs, or wedding favors. You will be spending much more one-on-one time with each guest, so some of those extras aren’t worth the cost.

    Splurge Wisely

    Your budget will go further with fewer guests, so use those extra funds to really enhance the evening. You can hire live musicians like violinists for your ceremony and a jazz trio to play for cocktails. A top notch photographer is also a great investment. With fewer people at your tables your guests will really relax. That will create an intimate atmosphere. Hire a trusted photographer who will capture the laughter, the tears, and the clinking glasses, etc. since those are the moments you’ll treasure most. You can also upgrade the dinner menu. Make it an indulgent seven-course meal, complete with a choice of fine wines and spirits. Valley says. With an intimate group, you can really personalize every detail of your menu.

  • How to Host Your Wedding at Your Home

    How to Host Your Wedding at Your Home

    There are many ideas on how to host your wedding at your home. A sense of familiarity, undeniable charm, and personal sentiments make for a day that’s original. Invite your guests into a space that holds some of your most cherished memories as a child, an adult, or both. Nothing says love like a wedding with a home sweet home welcome mat. Since residences are rarely suited for events and large gatherings, private homes need considerable attention when it comes to finalizing logistics like lighting, parking, and additional rentals.

    Depending on the size of your home and your guest list it’s important to consider factors like catering, landscape design, ceremony setup, and décor. For larger homes built with a significant number of hosting rooms, the need for an outdoor tent might not be as necessary. But for a more intimate setting, the use of a backyard tent might be a good idea for added space. The balance between wanting to highlight the unique features of your home and adapting the space to your unique personal preferences is important. That is something that needs to be planned out with all you vendors. Here are some tips from brides.com for hosting your own successful private wedding at home.

    Reserve Dressing Rooms

    Eliminate the need for transportation. Organize all of your wedding prep as well as your wedding party’s within rooms of your home. Just like any other location, it is so important that the getting ready area has ample lighting (natural is always best). With a good space for the hair and makeup team to set up, mirrors, and access to outlets.

    Utilize the Entire Property

    Make sure to embrace all indoor and outdoor space and elements of your home. Create a flow throughout your home by hosting different events in a variety of different areas. A ceremony in the garden followed by cocktails poolside is a great way to keep the flow of movement. Then transition guests to a tented space or inside your home into large room or rooms for dinner.

    Have a Weather Plan

    Be flexible and ready for a plan B in case of rain or inclement weather. Depending on the formality of your reception, choose a tent or tents that are as casual or refined as your day-of style and décor.

    Get Creative With the Uniqueness of Your Surroundings

    Embracing the uniqueness of your home’s surroundings is a great way to make sure your wedding day vision is unique & comes to life. Envision a ceremony backdrop in the back or front yard.  Next to a custom groomed tree or vine filled wall or fence or possibly a side wall of your home made of brick with a fireplace, to name a few ideas.

    Have a Strategy for the Catering

    Continuing these tips on how to host your wedding at your home includes catering. Caterers will stress the importance of bringing in the right equipment. This will put on a top notch celebration in such an intimate setting.  From their perspective, working in someone’s home requires a few extra steps. Checking for a water source, power source, and other lighting needs. It also means bringing in all of the required equipment for cooking and serving your guests high quality, fresh, and delicious cuisine.

    Don’t Skimp on Entertainment Space

    You want your guests to have a great time! So keep in mind the importance of a dance floor area when allocating space in your home for your reception. Setting up a dance floor in a spacious outdoor tent is a great consideration. This will ensure there’s plenty of space for dancing as well as your DJ or bad entertainment and their equipment. This area can also be a focal point for all your guests to witness your formalities.  These include your introduction, first dance, toast, cake cutting, etc.

    Adapt the Space to Your Needs

    Make it easy for your guests, and yourself, by adapting your space to fit all of your event’s hosting needs. Bring in power generators, restroom trailers, additional lounge seating, additional tenting, tables & chairs etc. The last thing you want to worry about is adding additional stress on your home. That includes not being able to properly accommodate all your guests with seating, restrooms, and coverage for inclement weather.

    Emphasize the Intimacy of Your at Home Wedding

    A perk of having a wedding in your own home is the intimacy that comes with it. Your entertainment should most definitely highlight the intimacy and coordinate all other elements throughout your event to keep guests informed & engaged on formalities & special moments. From the table layout of your reception to the personalization of your rehearsal dinner menu, each event is an opportunity to reflect the familiarity of your home venue choice.

    Surprise your Guests a Grand Exit

    Ending the night with a spectacular send-off. This is one of the best ways to cap-off your celebration. Just because you found a way on how to host your wedding at your home doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice this special moment. Keep in mind to leave space open either in the front, or the back of your home with no parked cars, etc to guarantee a seamless & special send-off experience.

     

     

  • Winter Weddings

    ADVANTAGES TO HAVING A WINTER WEDDING

    Contrary to some misconceptions, there are advantages to having a winter wedding. Summer weddings can be amazing but there are some downsides to consider.  An extremely hot day could make a hot mess of a bride’s beautifully done hairstyle and makeup. With hectic summer schedules and vacations a good portion of your guests might have to RSVP ‘no’ to your warm-weathered reception.  That will affect your list of guests you want to share in your special day. With a  winter wedding, you can avoid those pitfalls. You also get some beautiful snowy wedding photos, holiday-themed wedding decorations, and more.  Being a winter bride or groom can lead to a special wedding day and have advantages. From less stress over heat & humidity to better venue rates, check out these advantages to having a winter wedding from our friends at brides.com to a winter wedding.

    LESS STRESS

    -With winter weddings there is a lack of stress about the outdoor elements since they typically take place inside. The risk of rain and wind can make the planning extremely stressful and costly if you need to add a tent. Also, guests can be exposed to heat and cold at outdoor weddings which can make them very uncomfortable. By taking Mother Nature out of the mix means less stress for you, your vendors, and your family & friends.

    MORE VENUE DATES AND BETTER RATES

    -Most locations and vendors book up quickly during the spring, summer, & fall months and come with a heftier price tag.  The same venues and vendors are available for a lower price during the colder months. Because the winter months aren’t as busy as others, they’ll also be able to focus more of their attention on your wedding reception. That will give you better service. Fall is tough for vendors and venues because they’re juggling so many events along with more brides, families, vendors, and logistics.

    FREE DECORATIONS AS A BONUS

    -There are several benefits to a wedding celebration during the winter during the holidays. One is that any venue you select will be already be decorated for the holiday season.  That adds a more celebratory feel to your wedding day. It also is at no extra cost to you and fares well with pictures and the holiday spirit.

    CHEAPER TRAVEL AND ACCOMMODATIONS

    -Travel and hotel stays are at peak pricing in the summer when school is out and families take vacations. Winter weddings allow your guests to take advantage of off-season pricing for their travel and accommodation options. This bodes even more so if it’s a destination wedding. This is a plus for all your guests as certain honeymoon destinations will have preferable winter pricing as well.

    BEST TIME FOR A BLACK TIE WEDDING RECEPTION

    -If you’re planning a formal black tie wedding, you’ll hear much less complaining from your guests in black tie attire when it’s cold outside. Tuxedos weren’t meant for the heat of outdoor summer ceremonies and cocktail hour. They are the perfect choice for indoor winter weddings, as are gowns covered in sequins.

    SUMMER HEAT CAN AFFECT YOUR OVERALL MOOD

    -Some people don’t deal well in the summer heat. It makes them irritated, cranky, and a sweaty mess. When it comes to weather, you can always add layers to combat the cold, but in the hotter months, well, you can’t exactly take off your clothes. So if you’re stressed about being hot and sweaty for your wedding photos, then a winter wedding is the way to go.

    BEAUTIFUL SNOWY WEDDING PHOTOS

    If you’re blessed with a sprinkling of snow on or before your big day, you can snap some stunning snowy wedding photos that will rival any sun-drenched summer pictures.

  • brides maids

    What your bridesmaids should & should not pay for?

    Being a bridesmaid is a big responsibility and could be very costly proposition. Weddings in this day and age involve so much more than just the reception. There are several events and expenses for your bridal party to incur leading up to the big day. Are you thinking what your bridesmaids should & should not pay for? Below is a guide we found on Brides.com for who pays for what on events leading up to the big day as well as expenses for the big day.

    Bridesmaid Dress

    ⁃  This is usually covered by the bridesmaid. If the bride requests a general type shoe or accessory to go along with the dress, it is paid for by the bridesmaid as well. If the bride wants the bridesmaids to wear specific shoes and accessories to go along with the dress, then the bride should pay for them.

    The Bridal Shower

    ⁃ If the bridesmaids are hosting the bridal shower then they should all share in the expense of paying for it. If a family member, like a grandmother or aunt, offer to host a party then they will pay for it but the bridesmaids should also contribute to help cover the cost. Bridesmaids should also help with setup, breakdown, or any necessary cooking. Bridesmaids are expected to bring gifts to the bridal shower as well, either individually or as a group.

    The Bachelorette Party

    ⁃ For a single night event, the bridesmaids are all expected to split any expenses incurred for food, drink, entertainment, and transportation for the bride. This would include champagne and sage for the bride as well. If going away for a weekend everyone, including the bride, should pay for their travel and accommodations. The bridal party should split the expense of any favors, T-shirts, games, or other gifts for the attendees and treat the bride. The weekend activities should be split by all including the bride except for the “big night out” or highlight night of the weekend where the bride will be treated as above.

    Hair and Make Up

    ⁃ If the bride requires everyone to have it done by the same salon or same artists, then she should pay for it including the tip. If hair and make up is at the discretion of the bridesmaid to do it themselves or use their own artists, then it’s at their own expense.

    Travel and Hotel Accommodations

    ⁃ The bridesmaids are expected to cover their own costs to the reception for a destination wedding. Brides will usually book a block of rooms at a cheaper rate for accommodations. This makes it more cost effective for the bridesmaids. Brides will also research and shop for travel options to help find less expensive options for the bridesmaids.

    ⁃ With all of what your bridesmaids should & should not pay for they are expected to give a wedding gift on the wedding day.

  • Word, writing, text  Guest List. Business concept for Planning Wedding Or Event Important Guests Lists written on notebook book paper on the wooden background Today

    Trimming your Wedding Guest List with Minimal Drama

    Couples are usually trying their best to stay on budget when planning their wedding. One way is to limit the guest list. But how can you do it? We found these helpful tips at Brides.com.

    Trimming your Wedding Guest List with Minimal Drama

    ⁃ Your wedding is a celebration of close family and friends. Try to avoid inviting family or friends missing in action or you haven’t spoke to in years, who are really not part of your life anymore. Shy away from sending reciprocating invites to people that invited you to their weddings years ago. Unless you are still good friends with them this would be a good way to trimming your wedding guest list with minimal drama. Draw the line or give limitations on friends invited by your parents and in-laws, especially if you’ve never met them before.

    ⁃ Work friends could inflate your wedding guest list by a couple of tables. If they are coworkers who you just have an occasional casual lunch with or share workspace with, you can just have a happy hour celebration. Have something with them after work one day instead of inviting them to the reception.

    ⁃ An unruly guest can put a damper or ruin the reception of your dreams. Avoid inviting people with a track record of being unruly at previous weddings or is always getting kicked out of clubs or bars. You’ve spent so much time planning and investing funds into this day, don’t take that chance.

    ⁃ Another way to trimming your wedding guest list with minimal drama. is make it an adult only wedding. Most couples would welcome a night out away from the kids and routine for a little bit where they just kick up and enjoy.

    ⁃ Avoid giving your plus ones to guests who are not in a relationship. Especially if the plus one is going to be someone you’ve never met before. This avoids the awkwardness of meeting someone for the first time at your wedding reception.

     

  • Wedding Planning Timeline Blog

    Sequence of events to plan your wedding.

    Once the initial excitement of getting engaged wears off, the planning starts. With an average 16 month engagement in the US, there are certain key preliminary decisions to make that will get you started with the sequence of events to plan your wedding. Selecting key vendors such as your venue, entertainment, photographer/videographer, flowers, wedding dress, tuxedo, etc. Doing these steps first will get you on your way.

    Guest List

    Come up with a tentative guest list to help determine and narrow down the venues that you may want to consider that will cater to your number of guests. Start off with the most important guests like immediate family and friends. Continue with extended family, then coworkers, neighbors, parents friends, etc. Then narrow down from the bottom up.

    Budget

    Come up with a budget and figure from where (savings, salaries, credit, etc) and possibly from whom (parents, grandparents, close friends). Funds will be coming to help pay for the venue and all the related costs of a wedding reception. Knowing and narrowing down the number of guests, as discussed above, will help determine your budget.

    Location

    Next step, choose the locations of the ceremony and reception. Will both be at your venue or will the ceremony be in a different location? If in separate locations, you will have to account for travel time and accommodations for you and your guests. If you’re considering a destination wedding it is even more logistically challenging. Consider the extended travel, accommodations, and comfort for you and all invited guests. You’ll possibly have to deal with your vendors via email, phone calls, FaceTime/Skype and forego the comfort level of dealing with many of your vendors face to face.

    Theme

    Choose a theme, season, and day of the week for your wedding day based on your personal preferences. Season & day of the week can dramatically affect your budget. It will help your budget if you chose off peak months such as January & February. Also, considering a Sunday, Friday, or weekday can also significantly reduce your overall budget. The same venues and vendors you would be considering will cost much more on a Saturday and during peak wedding season. The theme or season you choose will affect your choice of decor and floral arrangements/centerpieces as well.

    Wedding Planner

    Hiring a wedding planner is an extra expense up front, but, for those couples with busy career schedules, can save you money & time throughout the whole planning process. By pointing you in the right direction and suggesting the sequence of events to plan your wedding. This also means recommending vendors who fit your personality, style, & budget. They can handle a lot of the grunt work to make it a less stressful & enjoyable experience as you plan your wedding and the smaller celebrations leading up to your wedding with close family & friends.

    The Right Vendors

    Hire vendors who book up quickly such as DJ/Band, photographers, & videographers so you can book someone who fits your style, personality, and budget. Higher quality & reputable vendors book up quickly and earlier in the planning process so don’t procrastinate and continue to check off items on your checklist.
    Start shopping for your wedding dress. Finding the one that captures your heart and fits just right may take a lot of trial & error and many higher end gowns take many months to be delivered once ordered. You want to get it at least several weeks before the big day in case minor fitting adjustments need to be made.

  • LaptopWithNotepad

    WEDDING PLANNING BEFORE BOOKING VENDORS

    With so many decisions, big and small, creating a personal budget, coming up with well thought
    out timeline, and being focused on detail are key. This will likely be your first time organizing
    such a large-size event, so Wedding planning before booking vendors would be a huge help. Any
    bride-to-be who has spent even just one day wedding planning knows it takes an immense
    amount of organization.

    ESTABLISH A BUDGET

    Coming up with a budget based on the couple’s income, savings,
    and possible family contributions (parents, grandparents, etc.) will help narrow your
    choices as far as venue and other vendors. Avoid falling in love with venues and
    vendors you just can’t afford and therefore avoid the disappointment of not being able
    to hire them.

    COME UP WITH A GUEST LIST

    Coming up with a tentative guest list will provide the
    approximate number guests attending your reception and help you aim for a venue that
    can comfortably accommodate your number of invited guests. Once the right size
    venue within your budget is booked, you can consider other vendors to decorate/work
    within your venue logistically ie: florists, DJ with production services,
    photographers/videographer etc.

    CREATE A WORKABLE TIMELINE WHEN PICKING A WEDDING DATE

    With hectic work schedules, family obligations, holidays, unexpected life issues, etc. pick a workable time
    line to plan your wedding so it doesn’t become a stressful process. The wedding day
    does sneak up on couples and it should be a process shared and enjoyed with immediate
    family and friends.

    RESEARCH/INTERVIEW VENDORS WHO WILL WORK BEST WITH YOUR PERSONALITY

    To avoid stressful situations, hire the right group of vendors who work best with both
    your personalities. This will help fulfill your vision for your wedding day. By having these
    preliminary discussions with possible vendors early, it will help set the tone of the planning
    process.

    HIRE A WEDDING PLANNER

    Even though an additional cost, hiring a wedding planner from the get go can help you attain your wedding day vision while working within your budget. Career driven couples with hectic schedules will benefit most with having a wedding planner throughout the whole wedding planning process. An experienced
    wedding planner has relationships with many vendors and can point you in the right
    direction of vendors that fit your budget and personality. Most couples say the week
    before the wedding day is the most stressful. That’s when problems with unexpected
    details come up, leaving some brides stressing and overly coordinating instead of enjoying time with family and friends. Hiring a week of or even day of wedding planner is an
    option that can help handle last-minute vendor meetings and unexpected situations
    that arise.