Most Overlooked Wedding Expenses

When it comes to planning your wedding, staying within your budget is likely to rank high on your list. Helping clients stay on budget is one of my top priorities as a planner, which I'm sure has a lot to do with the fact that I'm frugalista at heart. Earlier in the year, I offered a few tips on how to save money on your big day. And, the other day, I was pleased to come across an article on the Savvy Sugar blog listing the most commonly overlooked wedding expenses. Here's an excerpt, but take a look at the full article to make sure you don't break your budget with a costly oversight.

...it’s easy to remember the large categories, such as the venue, catering, flowers, cake, and, of course, the dress. However, there are certain things that often get overlooked and can add up to a hefty sum if not planned for properly...

 Tips

Before you sign any of your vendor contracts, make sure that they specify whether gratuity is included. Vendors who own their own businesses don't expect tips as they've already included everything in their initial negotiations with you. However, when it comes to the reception venue, you should ask the site manager about the policies for tipping the waitstaff, bartenders, and parking valets. Many catering companies already include tips, which they divide up between the workers. If tips aren't included, expect to pay between 15 and 20 percent of the total catering bill. Those who deliver the flowers and the cake should also be tipped between $5 and $10. It's not necessary to tip your officiant, but if he or any other vendor has done an extraordinary job, you can send a note of appreciation and gift certificate later on. Don’t forget to include tips for coat checkers and powder room attendants as well.

To see the rest of the tips, head over to the original Savvy Sugar article.

The Signature Drink

Shaken or stirred, blended or on the rocks, top shelf or virgin...a celebration just isn't a celebration without a few tantalizing libations.  I mean let's face it, next to the guest(s) of honor, it's often the bar that attracts the most attention at events, so it's worth putting a little thought and effort into what's going to be served.


While hosting a fully stocked bar may suit some, it's just not practical for everyone since it can add thousands to your budget.  So how do you show your guests a good time, without breaking the bank? Enter the signature drink!


I'm a huge fan of signature cocktails at weddings and events. By serving up one or two customized creations, along with a beer and white & red wine selection, you can avoid the sometimes exorbitant costs of the fully stocked bar.


Plus, beyond just the cost-savings appeal, these customized concoctions are an excellent way to add a personal touch to your event. Signature drinks typically mirror the theme and/or colors of the event and provide an excellent way engage your guests by carrying that theme into not only what they see, feel and hear, but what they taste and smell as well.


Here is one of my favorite summer recipes, the Strawberry Mojito.

Strawberry Mojito

Ingredients

• white sugar, for rimming
• 2 large limes, quartered
• 1/2 bunch mint leaves
• 7 strawberries, quartered
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup white rum
• 2 cups club soda
• 8 cups ice cubes
• 
  
• Directions

1. Pour 1/4 to 1/2 inch of sugar onto a small, shallow plate. Run one of the lime quarters around the rim of each cocktail glass, then dip the glasses into the sugar to rim; set aside.
2. Squeeze all of the lime quarters into a sturdy glass pitcher. Toss the juiced limes into the pitcher along with the mint, strawberries, and 1 cup of sugar. Crush the fruits together with a muddler to release the juices from the strawberries and the oil from the mint leaves. Stir in the rum and club soda until the sugar has dissolved. Pour into the sugared glasses over ice cubes to serve.

Ask A Planner: Say Yes to the [Pre-Owned] Dress

Recently, a follower of our Facebook Fan Page asked us to do a post on alternative wedding dress options. Now we're not talking about alternatives like walking down the aisle in your bikini here (though I think that could be a fabulous option for a beach wedding), but rather alternatives to shelling out the Benjamins for a dress you're only going to wear once. This must be the theme of the week because Broke Ass Bride just did a great post on the same topic.

Whether you want to believe it or not, there are many alternatives to that couture Pnina Tornai gown you see on Say Yes To The Dress every week (the new season just started on Friday by the way!). One option is to buy a preowned gown. It's kind of like buying a certified used vehicle. These gently used dresses look spankin' new in most cases, have minimal wear (usually less than 10 hours), but cost a fraction of the price - we're usually talking around 50% off.  Sites like Recycled Bride, Bravo Bride, Wedding Dress Market and the like all have great options, like this gorgeous Kenneth Poole for Amsale dress, originally $4700, for only $2500. I'm tempted to buy it myself right now, but Prince Charming might get a little freaked out if he finds a wedding dress in my closet before he's even proposed. 

Kenneth Poole for Amsale

Just like you rent a car for your weekend road trip, you can do the same for your wedding dress as well. Stores like Bella Bridal in Los Angeles rent gorgeous gowns, sometimes even ones that are brand new! The saving will be even greater than buying a preowned dress...rental gowns usually cost less than $1000.

If  buying or renting aren't your thing though, don't count out stores like David's Bridal or the Bridal Salon at your local Macy's department store. If you thought these stores offered tacky or out of season dresses, think again. In fact, David's Bridal just announced they'll be launching a new line designed by Vera Wang, which will retail from $600-$1500.

David's Bridal

So now that you know your options, don't be afraid take advantage of them. Just think of everything you can do with a few extra $$$ in your pocket - reception centerpieces, that dessert bar you wanted, airline tickets for your honeymoon....you get the point.

Fabulous Wedding Rings...from Costco

While taking care of a little weekend grocery shopping at my neighborhood Costco, I was pleasantly surprised to come across a display case full of a girl's best friend...diamonds! That's right, among the aisles of electronics, food, clothes and pretty much anything else you can imagine, Costco also sells wedding and engagement rings. I never thought to direct clients to Costco for their wedding bands, but I certainly will in the future. While the selection is much smaller than a jewelry store, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality and options Costco had to offer (including a ring very similar to my dream Tiffany ring, but for a fraction of the cost!). The Costco website shows a sample of their selection, but  the display case in your local store may offer a different or even better selection.
 

10 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding Day

The other day, I was reading this article that a friend sent me on budgeting for a wedding. Given that the average price tag of weddings in the U.S. is inching towards $30,000 (and even more than that if you live in a major metro area like L.A.), the article provided some good information on how to save and plan financially for your big day.

Whether you have $30,000 to put towards your big day or not, here are 10 ways you can cut costs and save money:

1. Cut down the guest list – this is the number one way to cut costs on your wedding day. Typically you’re spending upwards of $100 for every guest that attends a dinner reception.
2. Off-day or off-season wedding - most venues offer reduced pricing for Friday night or Sunday weddings, and even bigger discounts if you have your wedding during the off-season months of November-April.
3. Morning or brunch reception - breakfast and brunch receptions are often less expensive than 3-course dinners. You’ll also save on alcohol cost because people are less likely to drink as much mid-day. 
4. Signature cocktails - selecting a signature drink to serve guests during the cocktail hour can help cut down on bar fees since the caterer/venue will not have to set up a fully stocked bar. Whatever you do, never have a host bar where guests have to pay…it’s just tacky. Do it right, or not at all.
5. Use in season flowers - take advantage of in season flowers for your arrangements. They will cost much less than out of season flowers, that have to be flown in from international locations. Consult with your florist about which flowers are in season during your wedding month. Roses, orchids and gerbera daisies are great options that are always in season. 
6. Use a dummy cake - since bakeries usually charge per serving, try ordering a small cake for the cake-cutting ritual, then serve your guests from frosted sheet cakes. They’re just as tasty, but don’t require the elaborate design and decorations that a full-size wedding cake would. 
7. Wear the same dress the whole night - wearing one dress for the ceremony then a different dress for the reception is becoming more common, but it is definitely not necessary. Pick a dress you love and keep it on the whole night. It will give your guests a chance to admire it up-close at the reception and give your photographer more time to capture the dress you spent so much time and effort selecting. 
8. Book vendors well in advance - reserving your vendors 6-12 months in advance will save you money, and stress in the end. 
9. Standard invitation size - steer clear from oversized and square invitations, or invitations with many inserts. The increased size and weight will increase your postage costs.
10. Online RSVP - set up a wedding website that tracks RSVPs rather than including a traditional RSVP card. Note the link to your website at the end of your invitation which will help save money on stationary and postage cost. (You will also want to include a RSVP number for the few guests without internet access.)