Buyer Beware!

If it Seems to Good to be True, IT IS!

Everyone loves a great deal. I love a great deal! Especially on a fantastic new pair of designer shoes! But that doesn't mean I'll purchase a knock off. Not only can you see it from a mile away, but even the best knock off doesn't come with long term quality. And if there's one day that demands nothing but quality, it's your wedding!

Searching for the right wedding vendors to service your big day is a daunting and grueling task. There seem to be millions of choices and a mass array of package options. So to get you started on the right path, let's review some basics:

1. Start with a Realistic Budget and Stick to it. Set yourself up with the right starting point by making sure your budget is realistic when compared to the product / service you're expecting to receive. From there, don't waste your time looking at vendors you can't afford and skip over the ones that are below your price point. You know what you are willing and able to spend, so concentrate your efforts on those vendors who fit that budget.

2. Compare Apples to Apples. When price shopping makes sure the packages you're comparing offer the same standard of service and the same perks. If the wording used is ambiguous, just ask the vendor for clarification. And remember, price isn't everything! You don't want to get caught up in a pricing match, only to realize that the end result is poor service.

3. Beware of the "Too Good" Deals. Generally speaking, you get what you pay for. If someone is below the market average, ask yourself and them why? Quality vendors charge accordingly. Remember you're not just paying for a product but also for the service that goes with it. That's not to say that you should rule out professionals who are just starting out and trying to build a client base and a portfolio, hence the lower than average pricing. Just make sure you fully understand what you're getting in the end.

For the most part, it's about your due diligence. If you're working with a wedding planner than you've got the bases covered. They'll know which questions to ask to make sure you're getting what you need. If you're doing it on your own just keep in mind that you should ask however many questions you need to, to ensure you walk away feeling comfortable about what you've just paid for. In the case of vendors with tangible products, i.e. a transportation company or a DJ, don't be afraid to ask to see the products. Check out the cleanliness of the vehicles or the standard of musical equipment. You don't need to be an expert to pick out a worn down car or a sound system that looks like it has had it's share of tough times!

And alway remember the service aspect. Do you mesh well with the professional? Are your personalities a match? You want to make sure that every wedding vendor you work with is on the same page as you in your wedding day vision. After all, it's your day!

All the Best!

Kasia

Tips for a Budget Friendly Wedding

Cut Some Corners Without Compromising on Style

Unless you’re one of the lucky few where budget is not a factor for your wedding, chances are you’re going to have to cut some corners at some point in the planning process. Considering your wedding is one of the most important days of your life, the key is to cut the right corners. The following tips are some creative ideas on how you can save money wisely without compromising your final goal, a beautiful wedding.

Wedding Favours:

You want to properly thank your guests for their gifts and for celebrating your special day with you but favours can get expensive, especially when you’re having a large wedding. Thankfully you can easily do some penny pinching here all without anyone being the wiser. Here are a couple of great ways to save yourself some money:

Package your own Favours. A lot of gift stores either charge extra for packaging or include it in the product markup. Although you’ll need a hand with this one, and that’s what bridesmaids and wedding planners are for, packaging your own favours will save you money and can be done well in advance, saving you last minute stress.

Have a Candy Buffet. A recently popular trend, more and more couples are going for this option and for good reason. A candy buffet not only looks great but it’s fun and who doesn’t love candy? And it’s as easy and budget friendly as a visit to your local Dollar Store and Walmart.

Prelude Tip: Don’t think you can make this one more formal? Of course you can! Consider chocolate instead of candy, raised glass stands instead of vases and decorate your favour bags with lace.

Décor Tips:

Décor is another area that can get pricey, but it’s also an important part of your day. The good news is there are some really easy ways you can save a few bucks without compromising on style or effect. Here are just a few:

A Centerpiece Spin. There’s no cardinal rule that says you have to have florals for your centerpieces. That’s not to say that flowers aren’t beautiful, but they can also get very expensive. Instead consider creative alternatives that match your theme, like vases filled with crystals and candles.

Double Up. Make your décor do double duty by having your centerpieces as your favours. Adorn each table with candleholders in varying heights. At the end of the night each couple takes home one holder. Not only is your gift practical but what's more romantic than a candlelight room!

Reception Setup:

As the most expensive part of your budget, taking up 40-50% of your available finances, this is a good place to look for some budget friendly options. That said, there’s good reason your reception venue takes up half of your budget. Your reception is the most important aspect of the day and not an area you want to cheap out on. But frugal and smart you can be! Consider some of these easy to implement tips.

A Toast to the Cocktail. Consider a cocktail reception for just your closest family and friends. Cutting down on the number of hours your celebration will last not only cuts the cost of the venue itself but will also save on other expensive aspects like food, hors d'oeuvres versus a 4 or 5 course meal, entertainment, just a few hours of solo guitarist is a beautiful touch and potentially less expensive than a DJ, and alcohol, the less time they have to consume the less they’ll consume!

Cash Bar Alternatives. As a professional wedding planner I would never recommend a couple to go with the cash bar option. You wouldn’t charge your friends for drinks if they came to your home for a celebration, you shouldn’t do so just because you’ve opted for a large venue. But you can consider a smart and money savvy alternative, a limited bar. This can be accomplished by serving only wine and beer or you can include one popular and versatile spirit like vodka. Create a signature cocktail to make it that much more appealing.

And then of course the obvious…

The easiest ways to save money across the board:

• Get married during the off season months including January, February, March and November
• Get married on any day other than Saturday

If you’re not dead set on a summer wedding or you’re ok with a Friday celebration, go for it. Many vendors provide off season rates.

I hope that you have found these tips useful. The best news is we’re just grazing the surface here. There are many more ways in which you can save yourself money. It's just a matter of getting creative.

All the Best!

Kasia

Tips on How to Successfully Execute a Wedding Theme

The Essential Basics of Wedding Themes

Ah, the wedding theme! One bride’s joy, another bride’s pain! Here’s the thing though, you simply can’t have a wedding without a theme. Even those who go about planning their wedding without a conscious theme in mind, still end up with one. Think about it. Considering all the many components that come together to create a wedding, if you didn’t have a common thread linking them it would be one big mess!

Some themes are more obvious and creative than others. Some are subtle and simple in nature. Whatever the case, a theme is a necessary component to easing the planning process and keeping you organized. At first thought it might seem like a lot of work and may even be overwhelming, the thought of remembering to incorporate a theme into all your wedding decisions, but it doesn’t have to be the case. Here are four easy steps to help you successfully and easily execute a theme:

Decide on a Theme From the Start. As eluded to above, deciding on a theme early on will make the planning process a much smoother one. Like declaring a budget and sticking to, choosing a theme helps you weed through the endless options available to you, sticking to only those that match the overall effect you are going for.

Keep it Personal. Ideally you want a theme to reflect who you are as individuals and as a couple. It could be a reflection of your cultures, your religious beliefs, your favourite pastimes, an homage to how you met, or countless other things. Making a theme personal adds a great deal to the ambience of the day and it’s all that much easier to implement as it’ll come naturally to you.

Incorporate it Everywhere. It’s critical to consistently incorporate your theme or else it just isn’t a theme. From the first communication you send out to your guests, whether that be an engagement announcement, a save the date card, or an invitation, you should set the tone and formality of your event and introduce your theme. From there your theme will likely impact everything from your dress choice, your favours, your food selection and the services you decide on, the type of entertainment you retain, and so on.

If you consider yourself to be a simple, understated person and/or couple, you may be cringing right now at the thought of a theme popping up in every part of your wedding. You may be imaging something colourful and loud and not your style as part of your day. But that doesn’t have to be the case at all. Yes you can get creative and cute with a theme, like a beach wedding theme where you encourage guests to where their flip flops, give out personalized mini beach chairs as the favours, and serve up margaritas as your signature drink. But just as easily simplicity can be your theme. By keeping your colour palette natural, perhaps having an outdoor wedding with simple candles as your centerpieces and a donation as your favour, simple can be your theme.

Stick to it. Do not make last minute changes! And this rule doesn’t just apply to the theme. Many brides, once the wedding day starts approaching closer, start to second guess decisions and consider making changes. Now’s not the time. You picked what you did for a reason, because it was important to you and it felt right. Stick to it and you’ll have an incredible day!

All the Best!

Kasia