What Does it Really Cost??? Part 3

Once you have picked out where you are going to have your wedding or reception, it's time to get down to the details that the guests will get to enjoy. Some couples think that these details are not as important as venue or catering but in the long run, flowers/décor and entertainment are just as important.

There are many different flower options and décor settings that you can pick from. Depending on what your theme is or what colors you are using for your wedding, you can have an array of options to choose from. Flowers can brighten up your ceremony space even if you just place petals along the aisle with no other flowers at the ceremony. Majority of ceremony sites allow flowers and majority of couples choose to have some kind of flower decoration during the ceremony. For your reception, you can use centerpieces that are only flowers, do not have flowers at all or even a combination of both. Centerpieces are the main focal point for your guest when they are at their table so you want the centerpieces to reflect your personality and the theme of the wedding. More and more couples are drifting away from the standard flower only centerpieces and are having a detailed decoration that ties in with the theme or colors of the wedding. These centerpieces can range from $20-$150 per table depending on how much detail you put into them. This is true with flower centerpieces as well. Flowers can be very costly depending on the time of year and what type of flower you choose. They can range from $50-$350 a centerpiece depending on how big and how many flowers you want. The picture below to the left is a centerpiece that cost $350 while the picture to the right cost $65. It truly depends on how big and elaborate you want your centerpieces to be.

                                  

                                         A non-traditional centerpiece for a beach reception

When people go to a wedding they want to go and have a time to remember. Picking the right kind of entertainment can really make your reception come alive. When you are deciding what kind of entertainment you want for your wedding and reception, you may pick between having a live band or hiring a DJ company to entertain your guests. These two are very different in the ways of pricing, atmosphere, and even music styling. When you hire a live band to play at your wedding there are a few things to keep in mind. Having a band is great if you are wanting your guests to enjoy a show along with some dancing. Bands typically take a break every 20-30 songs which stops all playing and you will have a silent reception for about a third of your night if you don't have a professional group who know what they are doing. Most bands will have a prelude of music in between these times and will always make sure to fill the room with joy and excitement. With this being said, if you have a live band and want them to play the ceremony, cocktail hour, and the reception they might not be able to be at all the places to setup and perform in a timely matter so please think about the logistics and discuss with your group what they believe would be the best transition. Live bands can range from $2,000-$5,000, it just depends on who you book for your event. It's better to get a great band and create that wonderful experience than to try to cut costs here. They will really set the tone for the whole night so you want professionals who are full of personality and spunk!

The other option you can go with is having a DJ. A professional DJ company can transform your wedding and reception into the life of the party with nonstop music from beginning to end. Most DJ companies have majority of songs so anyone can request a song and have it played which allows your reception to have a large variety of music. However, if you don't check out your DJ's before the event and at least meet with them, there could be a lot of issues to arise. A man with a microphone who isn't a professional DJ could do one of two things: talk to much or kill the mood. There is nothing worse than a chatty DJ throughout the night. They need to know your balance of structure and fun. A monotone DJ or one who doesn't know how to feel the crowd can also be a killer of the night. It is very important to meet and analysis who you are hiring for entertainment.  DJ's can be very reasonable with price. If you just want a basic package you can get book a DJ for under $1,000 or if you want up-lighting, monograms, slide shows, and all the works, it can range to about $3,000-$5,000.

Centerpieces and entertainment can really show your guest who you and your fiancé truly are and can be very reasonable in price as well. These elements of your wedding will help make your day even more special and memorable to everyone that attends.

What Does it Really Cost??? Part 2

After the question has been “popped” and you have picked out your dream gown, you may be thinking, what is the next step?! Picking your venue, caterer, and invitations are your next big decisions.

When picking a venue, you have many options of where to have your wedding but one question you have to ask yourself is, do you want to be inside or outside. There are many differences in these two options and the biggest difference is the pricing. Many newly engaged couples want to save money and decide to have the wedding in their parents backyard or at a local park. These options sound great since they are free but one might forget that you have to bring everything to that location for either the ceremony, reception or both.

Depending on the size of your wedding, tent rentals can range from $250-$4,500. Whether you want a small tent for guest to just relax under during the reception, you still have to keep in mind the cost of tables and chairs. You can always move chairs from the ceremony to the reception but you still need areas for your guest to sit if you choose to have a cocktail hour. Along with renting tables and chairs, if you choose to have an outdoor wedding, you will need to power your tents and have electricity for the DJ and anything else that uses electricity. This is an additional cost that can slowly increase your wedding costs. Even though outside weddings have many cost that most couples do not think of, they do have many positives. If you find an outdoor location with wonderful views, you will have everyone at your wedding talking about how breathtaking the views were. It also allows you to not pay for a room plus all the extra fees you may have with an indoor location. You can always keep your venue to a very reasonable price if you choose an outdoor location just by planning your budget accordingly.

 

If you decide to have an indoor venue, you would not have all the extra costs of tables, chairs, tents, and electricity. Most venues include the table and chair prices in their cost along with adding the cost of linens for the tables. Having an indoor venue allows you to not worry about weather conditions that may occur and can enhance your wedding even more. Simple details in a building or space can make certain items pop and be more noticeable. There are downfalls to having an indoor venue just like any location. Some venues may have rules and regulations that you would have to abide by which might mean you will have to give up a few things to make them fit into those regulations. Another is high demand for indoor locations during fall and winter months. If you are planning on getting married in those months, plan in advance so you can receive the venue that will make your day even more magical.

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

The next big decision after you choose your venue is to decide if you want to have a buffet or a sit down dinner for your reception. There are pro's and con's to both choices but you just need to decide which one will be best for your reception. With a buffet, it allows your guest to pick from a larger option than a plated dinner. If you are having a large amount of guest, a buffet would be less expensive than having a plated dinner since most caterers only charge for the amount of food and not a certain price per person. If you are having a smaller number of guests a buffet might not be the best option since you would have a great amount of leftover food and you may feel like it is going to waste. Having a plated dinner is great for a more formal reception. A huge advantage to a plated dinner is your guest do not have to get their own food but instead are served and can enjoy their time at your wedding.

Flat Printing

 

Before you get too far into your planning, you will need to get your invitations made and sent out to all your family and friends. There are so many options now-a-days for invitations and it can be hard to decide what you and your fiancé want. There are four major kinds of printing for invitations that can range in prices. The cheapest type of invitations are flat or digital printing. Flat printing consists of the ink being laid flat on the paper. A metal or paper plate is created from a black and white image with a laser printer and is lightly coated with ink. Digital printing allows you to use color ink and use digital printer to create the images. It allows multiple color options, more graphics, and ink coverage to the edge of the paper.

 

Digital Printing

Thermography is a popular type of printing which simulates engraving but keeps the price a lot lower. Thermography starts with flat printing and while the ink is still wet, it is covered with a light powder that is heated so it rises. Engraving is the last way to print invitations. The use of copper plates will have your invitation carved in on a plate and then pressed into paper where it forces the paper to raise slightly where the press is on the front. This method is very expensive so if you are on a tight budget, try to find another way to make your invitations look like a million bucks without costing that much.

Thermography

 

These three things are major parts of your wedding that can eat up most or all of your budget before you realize what is going on. Keep in mind that you can always make something look very elegant and expensive at a very reasonable cost, you just have find the right items to fit your budget.

What Does it Really Cost??? Part 1

As more and more people are getting engaged and planning their weddings, there are many aspects where couples exceed their budget. Finding a very similar or almost identical product for a much lower price is much easier than you think!

Even though most women do not get to pick out their engagement ring, there are a few women who get the option to pick out what they want. Your man might not know the difference in styles or cuts but he does notice the price. Many rings are more pricey for a big diamond with a simple band while some may look over the top and pricey when they very reasonable. The images below show the difference in prices in rings with similar looks but with a different carat size.  

The ring on the left looks very pricey but it is actual $1,150 and ½ carat, 14K white gold. While the ring on the right is 14K white gold, 2 1/6 carat cushion-cut engagement ring and looks very similar to the 14K white gold on the left but this ring is $7,690.

While the ring on the left is a simple 14K gold band with a 1 carat for $1,779, the 1 carat, 14K gold ring on the right looks exactly the same but cost $6,500. The only difference is the brand of the ring. Having a name brand ring adds to the cost and increased this rings cost by almost $5,000.

 

Rose gold is becoming more popular and the left ring is a ¾ carat 14K rose gold and is priced at  $1,990. The ring on the right is 14K rose gold 1 5/8 carat with a chocolate diamond and is more elaborate than our right rose gold ring. This ring has almost a carat more which makes the total cost $8,900 and is $7,000 more than the one on the left.

The engagement ring is the first step in planing your wedding while the next step can be different for every bride and her fiancé. Most brides start to look at wedding dress as their next step.  Just like the rings we looked at, many brides can find their dream dress for an inexpensive price with a desinger look but not at the designer price. Let’s look at the difference between big name designers and dresses that look alike but for much less. 

 

The dress on the left is a Dennis Basso while the dress on the right is very similar in style. The Dennis Basso dress is $5,000 while the dress on the right is only $970. The difference is very minimal and can save a bride a great deal who is sticking to a tight budget.

The dress on the left is a Lazaro sweetheart ball gown with a jeweled embellishment for $5,000. The dress to the right is Da Vinci and is only $970 and has similar style with less embellishment but will save a bride around $4,000 and can help you stay on your budget.

 

These charmuse dresses are a perfect fit for any bride that wants a lighter, softer dress on their big day. The dress on the left is a Dina Davos sweetheart A-line for $3,000 while the right dress is the same material but is only $670 by Da Vinci.



 

 As you make those big decisions for your wedding day just remember you can always find a similar product for a lower price. You just have to look in the right place to get the bargain you want!

COLORful Ideas!

A ring in spring can lead to so many decisions and one of the most difficult might just be your colors!

         Here are some fun and helpful ideas to hopefully spark the color scheme inside of you!

Oh HONEY! MOON Over These...

The Affordable Honeymoon.

Let's get real.... After you have planned and experienced the biggest and most splendid day of your life you want to continue with that feeling into your honeymoon. However, you've just spent a pretty penny and are not too excited any more about that over the top trip you have ahead where you will be dropping a good buck every day. You still want the experience without the price, right? Well, FEAR NOT! Here are a few places to look into with travelling for your honeymoon.



You want Hawaii? Think Honolulu!

This beautiful island is centered on sterling blue beaches and low prices! If you stay away from the tourist spots and follow the locals, you could experience something wonderful that will stick with you forever. No passport required, participate in some hot yoga by the sea, sip on the the local Oeno wine, go whale watching, and so much more for a bargain!






Thinking of Crossing the Atlantic? Let's talk about the Balkan Peninsula.

I'm talking about Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, etc. Think I'm kidding? This area has one of the most flavored histories and is also surprisingly gorgeous!
Where to begin!

Turkey!

Of course you know of the wondrous Turkish Baths! Who wouldn't want to run into the famous folk and belly dancing! Why not explore the rich country or the historical inner city!






How about my winter wedding? Where should I go?

India!

The flight will be the biggest expense you have on this trip. But once you get there, you will be wowed by the culture and excitement of the night!Just around November, India's northern region has cooled down and you can enjoy the TOP spots like the Pink City and the Taj Mahal without the heat!









No matter where you go, it is going to be the time of your life but it's always nice to not have to worry about how much money is slipping from your pocket.

Valentine Fever!

             Love is in the air and proposals are blooming! What better way to propose than an all out February blow out. Everyone always makes fun of the over the top and cheesy proposal you see in the movies, but sometimes that’s just what is needed. Valentine’s Day is a great day to plan something amazing and unique just for her. Here are some fun ideas that you can think of when planning to pop the big one;

The Nesting Proposal

              Most ladies have sat their man down and made them watch the wonderfully romantic “Serendipity”. Even though Jon stole Sara away by the end, it was quite an ingenious proposal. Here’s how to match it. We like to call it “The Nesting Proposal”. It resembles the Russian Nesting Dolls pattern where you beginning with a large box and as it is opened there are smaller and smaller boxes inside.  Inside the smallest box is the ring box. Nifty right?!

 Flash Mob Proposal

                I’m sure you’ve seen one of these. The popularity of flash mob proposals has jumped in the last year and is great for a public display of your love and creates wonderful memories. You don’t have to be an amazing dancer or have friends who are. There are even groups online that will come help you for free just because they love what they do. This kind of proposal takes a lot of planning and practicing. Also be aware that if you are planning it near local businesses to let them know as a curtsey.

The Media Proposal

               There are so many ways to use the media in a fun and creative way to propose. Just to throw some ideas out there; Skywriting and flying banners are great but you have to be in the right place at the right time. Take out an advertisement in the local newspaper or magazine that she usually reads. This is one of my personal favorites, plan to have a movie date and make a video proposal that is put into the commercials before the screening of the film. Just make sure you get there on time! Stadium proposals have been around forever but they still work wonders! Last but not least, the billboard proposals are such a great surprise. You can even talk to local business about sharing the space to help pay. All of these are great surprising ways to pop  the question!

2013 Never Looked So Good

It’s 2013! Even though it is just another day, it feels like a new wave of life, to refresh our lives and live our lives in a new light. The one thing we have to remember is that what a new year brings us, is not just a way to make goals for ourselves, but it brings us hope. Hope for adventures; hope for excitement, hope for a size 4, but most importantly hope for happiness and a future for success. We may last only a week not drinking sodas or not eating sweets, but what will last is the ability to believe that this year, 2013 will bring us love, joy, peace, and ultimate happiness. We make choices each day, from what to eat, to what to wear, to how we treat others. In the New Year let us restart the way we live our lives each day and make it count from the beginning. So let’s all make 2013 the best, not just for our waistlines, and ourselves, but to help others enjoy each day to the fullest from the start. So, smile, say thank you, or pass along a compliment. Happy New Year Everyone, let’s make it fabulous!