Now that we’ve gotten the biggest piece out of the way, you are much more equipped to create a more realistic budget. Understanding where the bulk of the costs are going to go is important to creating a budget that you can stick to. Here are a few of my suggestions for creating something that doesn’t start your marriage off with serious drama: Know how you’re financing your wedding. Ideally, you shouldn’t be going in to debt for your wedding. You can want what you want but re

There’s this myth out there that wedding vendors are only charging so much because they are wedding vendors. The reality is that products and services are expensive. While prices vary widely in each category, the range is a factor of the quality, experience, and location of the vendors. You’re also paying for more time than may readily be apparent. A professional vendor will have completed a lot of prep work before the event, and in many cases will have even more work after t

It is difficult to deny the allure of an outdoor wedding. The location options alone seem endless. Beach? Park? Golf Course? Campground? The list goes on. But location notwithstanding, outdoor receptions carry with them some unique obstacles and opportunities that you should bear in mind before deciding the outdoors is the way to go. Consider availability. Reservations for outdoor venues can be hard to get. Oftentimes they are book very far in advance, as demand can be g

By far the largest complaint on wedding planning is the amount of money that it costs to plan one. Weddings can be expensive, for sure, but is it really that they cost “too much” or is it possible that you’re approaching it from the wrong mindset? No matter the case, it’s a good idea to know where the money is going to go for your wedding. How to Decide on a Budget: Many times, people fix on a number that may be reasonable for the day, whether based on actual finances where y

Last week we discussed some of the creative aspects of photography at your wedding, and this week we will deal with more practical concerns. Much like hiring a band or DJ, hiring a photographer requires some solid business practices. A detailed contract is absolutely essential, and there are some important items to consider. First, you should know what format the photographer intends to use. Will it be digital or traditional? Both? A number of portrait photographers, in p

It is difficult to deny the allure of an outdoor wedding. The location options alone seem endless. Beach? Park? Golf Course? Campground? The list goes on. But location notwithstanding, outdoor receptions carry with them some unique obstacles and opportunities that you should bear in mind before deciding the outdoors is the way to go. Consider availability. Reservations for outdoor venues can be hard to get. Oftentimes they are book very far in advance, as demand can be g

The choice between buffet and table service can impact your wedding reception more than just about any other decision. While buffet service is sometimes perceived as less desirable than table service, there are many reasons why that perception is wrong, and why you should consider a buffet. Let’s start with price. Oftentimes caterers will charge less for a buffet event simply because they need less staff to run them, and this savings gets passed on to you. However, the decr

The word budget is all too often associated with austerity, or suffering, or sacrifice. While it is indeed true that, yes, sometimes “budgets” happen as the result of prolonged careless spending, when properly applied, a budget can be both freeing and useful. Your wedding is a perfect place to use a well-prepared budget. For the tech savvy, there are plenty of apps and software products available for budgeting. We aren’t going to discuss the actual mathematics. That’s what