Posts Tagged ‘Bride And Groom’

My husband and I are getting married April 23, 2011 in the most beautiful location of San Diego, CA. But to save money and to cut costs (since we live in Southern California) we opted to save $10,000 (literally) by having a 3 1/2 wedding/reception in the morning/afternoon. Our wedding will take place at 9:30am, then lunch will be served shortly there after until 1.

We’re saving so much because 1) it’s not a 6 hr event 2) there isn’t an open bar 3) no dj and most of all taxes, service charges, and we’re able to keep our wedding small at 50 people instead of having the minimum of 100 people at $130/per (before taxes) This way we’re paying $103/person with taxes.

Anyways! The few friends that I’m inviting are already complaining! "Why isn’t there any music and a dance floor?" "Why don’t you have an open bar?" "Oh you’re just wasting your money." "It’s tacky to make your own centerpieces" (which by the way are gorgeous!– White Orchids submerged in 16" in. vases with black pebbles at the bottom) and so much more trash that I’m just tired of listening to it!

What do I say to them? My fiance and I are on a budget. Our ENTIRE wedding with the reception, venue, dress, cake, photographer, etc.. is about $7500… and honestly, that’s all we can afford. Let’s face it, weddings are more about a show for the family and friends, than the bride and groom. The bride and groom just want pictures.

I want to avoid the added stress of trying to please everyone. Any suggestions? Thank you.
To MessyKatt- Most of my friends are "well off" and have parents who are willing to chip in.. so they expect more out of everyone else as well. I understand what you’re saying… there are 3 people in my life who are causing this stress. & everyone is right, time to cut it out of my life. Thank you to everyone!

You know what? CONGRATS!!! It sounds like it is going to be gorgeous!!!

I am also having a crafty, lower cost wedding (although yours sounds elegant with Orchids and mine is sort of crazy). Here is what you should say:

"Future Husband and I are being financially responsible so we can accomplish our goals in our marriage."

Here is what I say when explaining my $6000 budget: "I don’t want to deplete our savings or go into debt for one day when money saved could go into our future family. We are planning on starting a family after we are married and I can go without some flowers on my wedding if it means our baby will be better provided for." (baby isn’t planned for some years, but people don’t know that.)

And to anyone giving you hassle that isn’t married yet:
"Oh, you’ll understand when you start planning your own wedding." (It is a little catty, but I think well deserved in this case.

AND REMEMBER: it is YOU and YOUR HUSBAND’S DAY! It is what makes you two happy. I have been to weddings where I thought it was God awful boring, but it made the married couple happy so I didn’t regret being there one bit.

Also, making your own centerpieces aren’t tacky at all. Perhaps you need to stop sharing details with these friends that are stressing you out. Your supportive friends should be the ones you are turning to.

Technorati Tags: Added Stress, Amp, Bride And Groom, Dance Floor, Family And Friends, Fiance, Lunch, Morning Afternoon, Pebbles, Photographer, Reception Venue, Right Time, San Diego Ca, Service Charges, Southern California, Vases, Wedding Problems, Wedding Reception, Weddings, White Orchids

Article Introduction:
When it comes to weddings, everything has to be perfect – it is the most important day of the two love-birds and you surely would not want to remember that day as being “that day when the music was too loud, the food were too salty” or “the wedding favors were embarrassingly awful and everybody complained about them”. I may become a bit melodramatic here but I am sure you understand most of this – the bottom line is that everything has to be at peak efficiency and look at

Article Body:
What is the purpose of these wedding favors, what are we to do with them, some people e-mailed me. The answer is rather easy – the purpose of these wedding favors is that they will express a nice “Thank you” to your wedding guests. Some people agree that these wedding favors should not be handed out to just about anyone but to a group of closer guests or to all the guests if the wedding is a small one. Nevertheless, it is your choice entirely when it comes to picking the recipients for these wedding favors. They will also act as something to remind your friends and family of your special day for a long time. Imagine how nice it would be to open your memory box 10 years later and find such a card laying in there. Aside from all these romantic notions, I think it would be wise to discuss matters surrounding the issue of wedding favors issue.

• Considering the budget

In order to add that special touch to your special day, you should not have to spend too much of your budget. This is especially important since weddings are often expensive and the bride and groom cannot spend huge amounts of money on everthing. Wedding favors are very affordable without a doubt with prices varying from a dollar to a few dollars (for those very “cool” ones). Spending a few cents extra on one of those beautiful, elegant favors will surely make a statement.

• Picking the right favors

There is always a matter of choice involved – in other words, you will have to know to pick a favor that will reflect the whole image of your wedding. Let us assume you want to make a renaissance-like wedding – it wouldn’t be recommended to consider favors that reflect that era. Remember that all within your wedding has to remain in harmony – the wedding favors too (if you need personalized wedding favors you may even find shops that are willing to do personalized favors – all you have to do is research in this direction).

Resource Box:
If you are on the lookout for the perfect wedding favors and you have no time to shop around, all you have to do is follow our website at www.newfavors.com. Sarah Mehra has been in the wedding industry since 2000 and started Newfavors.com with intent to provide wedding favors and services at more affordable costs.

Lisa Nixon
http://www.articlesbase.com/weddings-articles/what-you-need-to-know-about-wedding-favors-756124.html

Technorati Tags: 10 Years, Act, Article Body, Article Introduction, Bottom Line, Bride And Groom, Budget, Doubt, Friends And Family, Long Time, Love Birds, Matter Of Choice, Memory Box, Money, Peak Efficiency, Romantic Notions, Wedding Favors, Wedding Guests, Wedding People, Weddings

What is an Event?

An event is not just a mere happening. It is a powerful communication medium with which you can enthuse, amaze, persuade, unite a group or in fact, with which you can accomplish any public relations purpose you set. Well executed, it can and should be a milestone in your life or that of your company. Planning and executing an Event is both an artistic, creative endeavor and one that requires the utmost precision in engineering all of its parts and sequences. It also requires relentless insistence on quality and the upholding of a high standard. Its success depends on the artistic and organizational skills of the event planner working tightly with its customer in creating the event, planning it, selecting all of its elements down to the last detail, and then… making it all happen.

Envisioned Product & Message

The first step the event planner and customer must do is to envision the event in full. It is necessary to get a complete picture of what one wants the event to be like, look like, feel like for the guests or delegates, and what result one is trying to effect and/or what message one is trying to get across. Naming the result and message very precisely is crucial. Without this in mind, the choosing of event venue, agenda, designing of the set, lighting or decorations, and many details could end up betraying the very purpose of the event. Examples of envisioned results could be: for a corporate party that all employees feel they are part of a great and valuable team, proud to be a part of it, and renew their commitment to the company and its goals. The product of a Fundraiser could be a lot of donations of course, but also its attendees reassured that they are contributing to a great and valuable cause, feeling privileged to be part of this endeavor, and willing to contribute even more. The product of a wedding could be for the bride and groom, family and friends to experience a one in a lifetime moment, be awestruck by it, emotionally impacted, foresee together the best possible future, and of course to have a very good time. The envisioned result of a product launch would be that the attendees want to buy the product, use it, market it further, and have trust in you and in the product. So depending on the type of event, the Event Planner and customer should name together the envisioned result they want the event to result in, as well as its message. The planning of each part and detail of the event will have to align and integrate with this message or envisioned result.

Event Planning

Prediction & Sequences

At this stage the event planner in coordination with the customer names all the parts of the event, all of its sequences, and all required suppliers. The Event Agenda is the exact sequence of actions that will take place from beginning to end. Working it out in detail enables one to visualize the event fully and thus predict any and all details which could otherwise go overlooked. How will the guests get there? Should we supply transportations, maps, you name it. What about parking? What happens when the guests enter the venue? For a congress they would sometimes need name tags, in another event you would have a guest list with a reception set up. What happens then? How do they get drinks? Where are the bathrooms? Where do they sit? How comfortable does it need to be? How do we get their feedback when they leave? These are very few of many questions which get answered. Each of the needed suppliers is chosen based on their ability to meet the demand of the customer, be of the required quality and within the event budget. The event planner will have experience with event suppliers and will therefore be able to choose those that are reliable and proven.

Integration & Quality

There again all parts need to integrate one with another in terms of style, standard, and align to the message and envisioned result. Of course higher quality is often more expensive. A good event planner will put a lot of work in finding the best options of quality versus price for the customer, and most often will get deals that only a professional gets. This is why in many cases, using an event planner is not, in the final count, an additional expense. However, in deciding the required quality and to still meet one’s budget one should evaluate the choice of items against the result and message which was envisioned. Replacing an expensive laser show with fireworks could for instance create the same impact and save a lot on the budget. On the other hand, replacing fabric table cloth by paper cloth could significantly lower the effect of the decorations and menu and degrade one’s message. A good event planner will help and guide the customer in making all these decisions and in meeting his budget.

Event Production

Leadership & Team Spirit

The event planner will be the central coordination point with all concerned suppliers to ensure that everything comes off exactly as planned. Good event planners have excellent relationships with their suppliers who work hard to retain the work opportunities they get from the planning company. Good event planners also have excellent leadership qualities in getting everyone to execute their part of the event. They make everyone get along and work as a team. It can be a lot of fun to prepare an event and should be.

Integrity

The integrity and professionalism of each supplier is of the utmost importance. Your event planner should be able to guarantee these to you when choosing the suppliers. The event planner ensures the suppliers perform their task exactly and demonstrate integrity and honesty. This is one of the most valuable services which the event planner provides you, as without it, you could find yourself dealing with logistics and details of the event when you should be preparing yourself to lecture, to get married, or whatever the case might be. The event planner is dedicated to taking care of everything so you do not have to worry about it.

Customer Care & Service Orientation

Events can be complicated matters with many parts and details. Things can also come up at the last minute, which need to be cared for. You as the customer, should be undistracted throughout and should something unpredicted come up, the event planner should do its best to resolve whatever it is, make things appear or disappear. If it comes up at a Congress that it is the birthday of one of the delegates and you want a cake to appear during the lunch, your event planner will take care of it. You suddenly require a security set up for a VIP attendee; the event planner will have the needed contacts to accommodate this rapidly. Of course all should be done to predict each and every requirement way in advance. However should such emergencies come up, having an event planner makes all the difference and allows you to remain undistracted… and a good event planner will take the challenge and meet it.

After the Event

Where feasible and appropriate it is always good to collect feedback from your guests or attendees. This is often neglected but should be done. Whether in the form or surveys, a guest book placed at reception, or by asking around elegantly, one should find out to if one achieved his purpose and to what degree. For instance, the attendees of a product launch should be surveyed as to how they feel about the product and what use they will have of it. This can be key in planning the next step for the customer to take in marketing his product. The attendees of a seminar or congress should similarly get surveyed and can help determine the orientation of a following event. It is part of the professionalism of the event planner to take all such feedback into account to improve where need be, consolidate trust in suppliers, or where appropriate, reutilize successful formats. Good video footage and photography is most often a must. As one small example of many things which can be required after an event; “Thank you” cards for anyone who particularly went out of their way or performed competently can be handled by the event planner. There again a good event planner will help you take care of all the “after event” details and make sure everything is completed to your satisfaction.

Lastly, as a professional in this field for many years, I cannot begin to tell you how much fun it is and how much satisfaction I have in creating and organizing events with and for my customers. Again, an event is not “something that comes and goes” but a powerful communication weapon which well executed can and should be a milestone in your life or that of your company.

Naomi Tavor
http://www.articlesbase.com/weddings-articles/how-to-produce-an-event-115445.html

Technorati Tags: Amp, Attendees, Bride And Groom, Communication Medium, Creative Endeavor, Delegates, Event Planner, Family And Friends, Fundraiser, Groom Family, Insistence, Last Detail, Lifetime Moment, Milestone, One In A Lifetime, Organizational Skills, Public Relations, Sequences, Utmost Precision, Valuable Team

Ok, so my fiance and I decided that we want to get married before our baby is born in February and before he goes into the army. So we picked December. We are on a tight budget though.

I want to know… Is the bride responsible for buying the bridesmaid and maid of honor dresses or just picking them out? Any suggestions on ways to save money on food? Do the bride and groom buy/rent the dress and tux for the flower girl and ring barer?

You do not have to pay for the adults in the wedding, but can pay for the kids. For my wedding we had it at 7, no dinner and just served apps at 10 Get someone to throw you an Immense jack and Jill.

Technorati Tags: Adults, Apps, Army, Baby Born, Bride And Groom, bridesmaid, Fiance, Flower Girl, Jack And Jill, Maid Of Honor, Maid Of Honor Dresses, Planning A Wedding, Planning A Wedding On A Small Budget, Planning Wedding, Ring Barer, Tight Budget, Tux, Ways To Save Money, wedding budget

Im the maid of honor in my cousins wedding. Shes very excited that her neighbors are going to help her plan her wedding for free. Theyre certified wedding planners. However they pressured her into picking out her wedding dress and bridesmaid dresses in 4 hrs, only going to 1 store. Also they tried to tell her what color dresses she can have and what color of flowers need to go in her bouquets. One of them is now in the wedding (after manipulation) and convinced the bride to change the bridesmaid dresses to something that looks good on her (but none of the other bridesmaids). Plus they told her theyre planning her wedding shower and taking her to register for gifts + told her what gifts she should reg for. As the maid of honor I’m offended by that. Especially since I was sitting right there when they announced it. Isnt it my job to do those things? I dont want to put her in a bad situation (theyre her naighbors) but want to make sure she gets what she wants on her day.

As a wedding planner ( not a pushy one lol) it is very important that they (wedding planners) know it is not their day and that they are in fact EMPLOYEES – contracted by the couple. Their conduct sounds very unprofessional. It is our job to LISTEN to what our clients desire and then CARRY OUT the details. Never to take over but kindly offer advice and proper etiquette. One of our most important jobs – is to relieve the bride and groom of any STRESS doesn’t sound like they are doing that so maybe your cousin should find a professional consultant who is in this business to make his/her clients happy – not just themselves.

Technorati Tags: Bad Situation, Bouquets, Bride And Groom, Bridesmaid Dresses, Bridesmaids, Cousin, Cousins, Desire, Flowers, Maid Of Honor, Manipulation, Neighbors, Professional Consultant, Proper Etiquette, She Gets What She Wants, Stress, wedding dress, Wedding Planner, Wedding Planners, Wedding Shower