Wedding Budget 101

Tip #6: Cut Down on Your Printing Costs

As far as your invitations go, you can save a ton of money if you tweak just a few things. For one, choose only one ink color. Three colors might look nice, but it will add on costs that aren't necessary. Choose a colored paper instead and it will add more drama.


Next, consider combining the "Save the Date" cards with your invitations. You don't have to send out the Save the Date cards separately anymore. If you choose to forgo them, and just do invitations, send them out a little bit earlier, and save a lot of money on envelops, stamps, paper and ink.


Also, choose the shape of the invitation carefully. A square invitation might look cool, but will cost extra. Use one that can fit in a regular sized envelope. This way, you don't have to spend more on customized ones.

Wedding Budget 101

Tip #5: Save on Your Cake

Most people don't know they can save a ton of money on their cakes by making just a few small changes.

If you want a big, tiered cake with many levels, have the top one or two levels be real cake, and the rest of the levels just for show. Have the whole thing covered in frosting and decorations, so the entire cake looks real. You can do the cake cutting in front of your guests, with the second or top layer. Then, have a few sheet cakes in the back ready to be cut up to bring out to your guests. Sheet cakes are a lot less expensive and you will save a lot of money.

Next, skip the fancy details. Forgo the hand-made sugar flowers, which are very time consuming, and a lot more expensive, and put real ones that match your wedding bouquet instead. For more flair, you can add ribbon along the tiers. Also, choose butter cream frosting instead of fondant (it tastes better anyways).

Remember, cupcakes are always a fun and inexpensive option too!

Wedding Budget 101

Tip #4: Substitute Your Flowers

Most brides choose to have a lot of flowers at their wedding. They have their own bouquet, the bridesmaids bouquets, groom and groomsmen boutonnieres, corsages for the mothers, the table centerpieces, the flowers in the ceremony (at the altar, along the isle, along the walls, on the chairs, etc) and petals for the flower girls. All of this adds up REALLY fast. Especially if you are choosing more expensive flowers.

To reduce the cost of your flowers, try choosing flowers that are in season and locally grown. If they are flowers that have been flown in from another region, the costs go way up.

For example, if you exchange Black Magic roses for more reasonably priced, deeply colored dahlias in all your bouquets and table arrangements, you'll save about $4 a stem. If you were planning on having five roses per bouquet and 10 per centerpiece and have a wedding party of five gals and guest list of 150 people, you could save $700.

Black Magic Roses

Deep Red Dahlias

(both via google images)

You can even make carnations, which are really really cheap, look expensive and fun!

(via budgetdreamweddings.com)

Wedding Budget 101: Tip #3

Tip #3: Simplify Your Menu

If you just can't cut down your guest list, try simplifying your menu. Your guests don't need to be stuffed after eating dinner, so you can definitely cut down the number of courses you have.

A plated dinner is usually more expensive than a buffet, so think about that too. Most of your guests might event prefer a buffet because it gives them the opportunity to decided what they do or don't want to eat.

Another option is to just serve appetizers, cocktails and dessert. Try having more of a cocktail-style reception where you have high bistro tables and little cocktail rounds for guests to mingle at. Not all guests will have a chair and table to sit down at, but that's okay! It promotes mingling, dancing, and it will cut down linen and centerpieces costs too!

You can also move your reception back a couple hours and have an evening cocktail and dessert party. If you start at 8:00pm, guests will know to eat dinner beforehand, and wont expect to have a full-on dinner. They can sip cocktails and nibble on dessert during the reception and be completely happy.

So as you can see, there are plenty of ways to cut down on your food bill. Do whatever works best for you!

Wedding Budget 101

#2: Reduce Your Guest List

When it comes down to it, this is one of the reasons why most weddings are so expensive. You need to find a venue that can hold a large number of guests, and then you have to wine and dine them all. Its adds up so fast you will be shocked! Especially with today's F&B minimums that you must hit.

Lets say you have an Saturday wedding and reception. You have invited 200 guests and the venue is charging you an $80 food and beverage minimum per guest. Well if you do the math, it adds up to $16,000 without tax and gratuity!!! That doesn't even include the cost for the room rental, your dress, the photographer, and flowers!

Now you see how fast the costs can add up if you have a big guest list. My suggestion to you is to cut the guest list and have a smaller wedding with only your closest family and friends. Again, this is only a suggestion and only one of the options you have to save money on your big day.

Stay tuned for more tips to follow!!

Tip of the Day Series: Wedding Budget 101

For the next ten days, I am going to do a series of posts, one per day, for everything related to your wedding budget. Get excited because I have some good ones coming up!

#1: Decide What's Most Important

Pick the top three items that are most important to you and plan on investing extra money into them (This could be your dress, flowers, and photographer for example). Build them into your budget from the beginning, and you won't have to settle for the next best thing, you will know you can afford it the way you want. Also, this allows for you to know how much money you have left over for everything else, and you wont be unhappy with your decisions.

Wedding Planners Save You Money!

This weekend was extremely productive for me. I had a meeting with one of my couple's at a floral shop and saved them a lot of money. She is very simple and just wants white and maroon Calla Lillies for her bouquet, white Calla Lillies for her 3 bridesmaids, and simple corsages for both mothers. No boutonnieres are needed because of the grooms outfit.

(The bouquet will look like this, but with a few maroon ones in there as well)

I guess the florists she had gone to before hiring me, were quoting her $500 more than what I got her this weekend. I just couldn't believe it! I guess that is another reason why brides should hire wedding planners! Afterwards, the bride told me that she was so thankful to have me and didn't know what she would do without me.

Weekend Sign-off

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Mine will be spent with my boyfriend and our puppy!

Dreaming of doing this on a warm summer day, sometime soon hopefully!

Wedding Website

It's becoming quite popular for couples to make their own website to announce their engagement and for all the details on their wedding. Well, I just thought I'd let you all know that I can set up a couple's wedding website for them, update it regularly with the details and pictures, and even add the couple's favorite music to the page, so the couple doesn't have to worry or stress about it.

A website is a nice detail to have. It allows your friends to learn more about your engagement and wedding planning process. Its a nice way to recognize your bridal party and groomsmen. Many people attending your wedding might not know who everyone is, and this is a great way to introduce them. You can also give more information on the ceremony and reception sites, as well as a running update on where you are in the process of planning.

Tip of the Day: Get the Most of your Budget

If your budget is tight but you have a lot of guests to feed, what can you do?

Start your reception later, after dinner, for a cocktail party. This is a great answer on how to cut back on food and beverage costs. If you start around 8pm, your guests will know to eat dinner beforehand, and you can just serve cocktails and appetizers or desserts. You can still have the traditional cake cutting too.

You can even tie in your wedding colors to the cocktails you serve. Here are some great cocktail ideas:

Wild Blueberry Martini

What You Need:
2 oz. Stirrings Wild Blueberry Martini mixer
1 oz. vodka

Frozen Raspberry Pina Colada

What You Need:
1 1/2 oz. light rum
1 oz. cream of coconut
1 oz. pineapple juice
1/2 oz. fresh lime juice
Handful of raspberries
Lemon and lime wedges, for garnish

Margarita

What You Need:
Salt for rim
1 oz. tequila
1 oz. margarita mix
Splash of triple sec
Splash of orange juice
2 lime slices (1 for juice, 1 for garnish)

Mojito

What You Need:
Handful of mint leaves
3/4 oz. fresh squeezed lime juice
3/4 oz. simple syrup*
1 1/2 oz. light rum
Club soda
Lime wedge, for garnish

Red Cedar Sunset

What You Need:
2 oz. orange juice
4 oz. champagne
3/4 oz. grenadine

All cocktail recipes and pictures from TheKnot.com

Eastside Entrepreneurs Networking and Celebration Party at Bellevue Towers + Lots of Free Giveaways!

Tonight I am going to the Eastside Entrepreneurs networking party that I have helped plan and should be pretty fun! Everyone is welcome to come and check it out. Personally, I am excited to tour the condos at Bellevue Towers! Here are all the details for tonight:

Time: March 25th from 5pm to 8pm

Location: Bellevue Towers - 5th floor of the South Tower

Street: 500 - 106th Ave NE

Parking: FREE parking for this event on site in the Bellevue Towers parking garage - enter from NE 4th and enter parking garage on north side of the building (in alley shared by The Galleria).

Please join us for a night of networking and celebration of Eastside Entrepreneurs and the opening of Bellevue Towers.

Tours of condo units will be available from 5:30-6:30.

Entertainment to be provided by Half Pack Live (a really cool 6 piece band led by EE Mark Haynie) and Event Source Northwest and EE Troy McVicker.

A Little Romance and Debra Luke will provide a tiered Espresso Cake, which will service 125 - 150. A case of wine will be donated by Janita Maestas and Jesse Nelson of The Discovered Network. A case of wine of Italian wines will be donated by Fernando Nardone and Nardone wine.

Bellevue Towers just recently opened and is an extremely beautiful property with many, many cool features - you have to check it out!

Eastside Entrepreneurs just hit 700+ members in the first 5+ months and is growing strong thanks to a lot of great members. Meet other members, exchange business ideas, and connect!Feel free to invite your networking friends and associates!

Door prizes to be given out throughout the evening include:

• (2) $75 gift certificates to Ambrosia Med Spa
• $50 gift voucher for http://www.cb2.com/ donated by Nicole Wexler of Turquoise Decor
• A wickless candle warmer with two gorgeous scents from PluginCandles.com. (Value $40)
• A free video marketing web site from Loma Gregg
• A $60 gift bag containing an Aeropress coffee maker, a bag of organic coffee, Caffe Lento's "Death Before Decaf" t-shirt, and assorted chocolate snacks. Donated by Elena Anzalone of GrendelSweets/ Caffe Lento
• A hair appointment for a personal consultation, shampoo, head massage, Caviar Seasilk Hair Rejuvenation Treatment and Couture Cut at Beaux Arts Hair by Trisha Nerney
• A $100 Ad on EastsideSpin.com donated by Lisa Hilderbrand
• Two tickets to Redwood Theatre's upcoming West Coast Premiere of Illyria (Value: $40) - donated by Roy Arauz
• A 90 minute relaxation massages that you may also include deep tissue and hot stones.$115.00 value. Donated by Terrie Lynn’s Massage, Facials & Waxing. By Appointment. 425-241-4858A
• European Facial best suited for your skin care needs that includes a full arm massage and foot reflexology.$95.00 value. Donated by Terrie Lynn’s Massage, Facials & Waxing. By appointment. 425-241-4858A $50
• Mary Kay gift certificate and a free facial and makeover - donated by Teresa Brittinen
  

Holiday Party Venue Search in Seattle

Had an unexpected morning that turned out great! I just got back in the office from The Tap House Grill and Fox Sports Grill in Seattle, for consideration on a company's Holiday party venue in December (Yes, we start this early. Actually in January). The client loved both spaces so that was good. And now it just comes down to the F&B minimums we get from both venues.

We were a little worried here about Holiday parties in 2009 because of the economy, but it looks like everything is slowly picking back up (fingers crossed!).

(picture via: Seattle Daily Photo)

My Weekend of Wedding Planning at Snoqualmie Falls

On Saturday I had the pleasure of taking a groom and his mother up to the Salish Lodge and Spa in Snoqualmie, WA for consideration of their reception venue. Its a beautiful lodge on a cliff overlooking the Snoqualmie Falls. The view is breathtaking.

The bride wasn't able to make it because she lives in another state and had to fly back, so unfortuntely she could not see the place herself. But the groom and his mother really liked it, and they are going to tell her all about it. Now, all I am waiting for is her approval and it's good to go! (I'm crossing my fingers!)

The couple was looking at the Falls Terrace Room with the outside deck and tent for their reception.

Inside: has built-in bar, fireplace and double doors to outside deck

Outside Deck: overlooks the Falls

Tent with dance floor on deck

I do this for every couple that needs to find a venue for their ceremony or reception. It's one of my favorite parts of the planning process.

Should You Have a Destination Wedding?

Because it is the first day of Spring and I am dreaming about warmer weather, and because I have met several women recently who have had destination weddings, I have to write a little bit about them.

A destination wedding is like a vacation in itself, held somewhere warm and exotic, that lasts all weekend (or longer if you want!). You will know you are a good candidate for them if you have a special connection to the location, if you want a small, very personal wedding with only close loved ones (up to 75 guests), or if you love the laid-back feeling of getting married on the beach with no shoes on!

There are several things you need to consider before choosing your location. Marriage license rules vary from city to city and country to country. Make sure you do your research and get everything together in time for the wedding. If you want to be really involved in the planning process, a destination wedding might not be for you. You wont be able to see everything first hand, and you will have to rely on someone there to make sure it is all taken care of. Also, remember that destination weddings aren't always more expensive than local weddings. It depends on where you go and how elaborate the celebration is. But do remember that it may be more expensive for your guests. Keep travel time in mind. (However, this is YOUR wedding, do what is important to you, and don't let one guest get in the way of having your dream day).

I love that a bride doesn't have to be so formal if she's on the beach. She can wear a short dress, and her bridesmaids can wear tropical colored dresses like these.

No Shoes Required

A listing of marriage license requirements by state is available at http://www.usmarriagelaws.com/. For the Caribbean Islands, go to www.caribbeantravel.com/weddings. For Europe, log on to http://www.marryabroad.co.uk/. You can also go to any city's tourism board website for requirements.

I Haven't Forgotten the Men!

I feel like I have been neglecting the grooms lately; I want to give them a little love too! I got this wonderful idea from my friend, Amy Yamada from 425 Magazine, and she told me about this great place for men. Its called Flint Men's Grooming, on Main Street in Bellevue WA. After hearing about what they do, I have GOT to check it out soon, and so do you!

They specialize in creating a "manly" atmosphere where men can come in, get what services they need done (like haircuts, shaving, executive hand detail, etc) all while watching TV on their huge flat screens and drinking a beer! Its perfect for your groom and his groomsmen for the day before or day-of the wedding.