Posts Tagged ‘wedding budget’

30 Ways to Save Money at Your Wedding.

Thursday, February 25th, 2010

I was reading through The Knot today, and I found this article under Wedding Budgets.  I know all you Detroit Area Brides are looking to save some cash where ever you can, so here is some tips to help..

Reception
1. Cut the guest list. This will slash your catering costs and save on invitations and even the number of centerpieces.
2. Think off-peak season and save thousands!
3. Hold your ceremony and reception in one spot — it will cut travel time for vendors you pay by the hour.wedding-budget-6
4. Skip the Saturday wedding.
5. Have bigger tables so you need fewer centerpieces and tablecloths.
6. Shop the off-season for extra decor — get modern black vases on sale after Halloween and pretty pink ones after Valentine’s Day.

Flowers
7. Use more greenery than flowers.
8. Swap out costly flowers — did you know peonies can be five times more expensive than roses?
9. Stick to just one or two kinds of flowers.
10. Buy flowers that are in season.
11. Include non-florals, like lanterns.

Food & Drink
12. Serve entree duets.
13. Skip the main course — apps and drinks are fine too.
14. Offer beer, wine, and a signature cocktail instead of a full bar.
15. Serve comfort foods like barbecue chicken, mac and cheese, and corn. It’s fun and often cheaper.
16. Skip the champagne toast.

Cakes
17. Order a small one or two-tiered cake and then supplement cake with a larger sheet cake (hidden back in the kitchen).bicycle_cake_-_medium
18. Keep the add-ons simple.
19. Use fresh flowers, not sugar ones.
20. Reuse ceremony flowers for the cake table.
21. Skip exotic fillings like guava and mango.

Stationery & Favors
22. Get single-page invites to save on postage.
23. Give out one favor per couple.
24. Make your cake the favors.
25. Have favors double as escort cards.
26. Email your save-the-dates.
27. Make your own menu cards, escort cards, and wedding favor packaging.

Photo, Video & Music

28. Have a photographer you love but can’t afford the prices? Ask them if they have a second shooter who will do your wedding for less.

29.  Hire a single maned camera team.

30. Hire a DJ who can do both the ceremony and the reception.

Did you know that bundling services is a great way to save money at your wedding?

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Posted in General, Michigan Wedding DJ & Music, Michigan Wedding Photography, Michigan Wedding Planning & Ideas, Michigan Wedding Videography | 5 Comments »

Unique, Budget Saving Ideas

Monday, January 25th, 2010

Are you trying to get the most out of your wedding budget?  If you are like most Detroit Area brides you are looking to cut costs by doing some Do-it-Yourself projects or enlisting friends to help. Whether you are thinking hand-made centerpieces, unique ceremony decorations, or creating your own silk flower arrangements, capitalize on the skills and interest you have already.

One couple did just that. Instead of struggling to make Martha Stewart approved invitations, the couple did what they knew: stop-motion animation.

Check out their one-of-a-kind wedding invitation video:
(Warning: the clip is a bit long, but no matter how much you watch, you will definitely get a kick out of it.)

Want to make your own unique wedding invitation video?

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Posted in General, Michigan Wedding Videography, Wedding Videos | 5 Comments »

8 Reasons To Hire A Professional Videographer

Tuesday, December 15th, 2009

I often wonder how much thought goes into the budgeting of a wedding.  I see weddings where thousands of dollars go into the flowers, decorations, food, and the wedding dress. This is all great, but none of these will be used again after the big day.

These same weddings that had budgets in the tens of thousands of dollars put the Video at the end, cutting it if necessary.  At your wedding you are creating memories that will be cherished forever.  What if you want to look back at that day ten, twenty, even fifty years later?  Your memories deserve better. That is why I compiled  “8 Reasons To Hire A Professional Videographer.” Keep reading…

  1. Re-live it. Your day flies by. Even the events that you are fully present for will be a blur after your wedding day is over. Will you remember the look on your fiance’s face when he first saw you at the end of the aisle? Will you recall how his voice cracked with emotion as he said his vows? Can you possibly remember every word of your maid of honor and best man’s toasts? Videography is a living memory of your wedding day. bride103
  2. You will miss a lot. You can’t be everywhere, yet you don’t want to miss a thing on your wedding day. What will your fiancé be doing, thinking & feeling just before you walk down the aisle? What expression did your parents have on their face when they were seated in the church? You’ll probably miss your cocktail hour, what was it like? You spent thousands of dollars decorating your reception room, what did it look like before it opened for guests? What were your friends doing on the dance floor when you were saying goodbye to your guests? The list goes on and on…
  3. People don’t live forever. You are creating a living family record. In future years, you will be able to look back at those no longer with you, sharing the memories with your children and grandchildren. Hear their voices, see them laugh, watch them alive and happy. This is truly priceless.
  4. It makes spending all the other money worth it. A well filmed and edited professional wedding video will be a tangible piece of memorabilia that will help you enjoy all of the details of your wedding day over and over again.
  5. It’s a moving picture with sound. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then video is an encyclopedia! cloudy103Professional photographs of your wedding day are important and should be included in your budget. However, don’t forget the advantages that video has over a one-dimensional photograph. Even the very best photographer can’t capture the sound of your laugh or your wedding vows. A picture of your best man holding a champagne glass pales in comparison to hearing his toast, don’t you think?
  6. Quality. Quality. Quality. A professional videographer can provide you with breathtaking, vivid images you can’t reproduce with consumer grade cameras and a willing friend or family member. You have planned for a beautiful day and it should be captured with the same attention to detail. Multiple cameras, operated by experienced professionals, will allow you multiple perspectives of your wedding. You will receive a video that has been professionally edited using your preferences to receive an individualized video that truly reflects you. Your wedding video will be full of stirring, emotional sounds and images of your special day. drive_in
  7. Your kids and Grand-kids will want to watch it and will love it. Suppose you could choose between professional photos of the day your grandparents were married, or a professionally produced video of that same day, in full color, with stereo sound. Which would you choose to view and keep as a family heirloom? Would you rather simply look at pictures or see AND hear your grandparent’s voices and laughter?
  8. You won’t forgive yourself. Learn from other’s experience. In a recent survey, 98% of newlyweds who did NOT hire a videographer urge brides-to-be to include wedding videography in their wedding plans. Additionally, newlyweds that used both a photographer AND videographer agreed that video does a much better job of…dsc_0886
  • Capturing the emotions of the day
  • Recording the history of the day
  • Creating a visual memory that future generations will enjoy more.

Only a professional videographer can capture the living memories of what you did, what you said and how you felt on your special day. To be confident you have a high-quality record of this once in a lifetime event, you should take great care in selecting your videographer.

Need a professional videographer to capture your wedding memories?

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Posted in General, Michigan Wedding Planning & Ideas, Michigan Wedding Videography | 7 Comments »

Let the Scanning Begin

Saturday, November 28th, 2009

So, yesterday was Black  Friday.  To me it is more about sleeping off all the turkey and catching up on the highlights from yesterday’s game, but for most women, including my wife Dani, its about shopping.  Everyone is getting up early, just to get trampled by the more zealous women hurdling herself at the sale rack.  To each their own, right?

To tie black Friday into the wedding world I’ve outlined a few tips for starting your wedding registry. This is one gift list that won’t leave you disbelieving in Santa.

Start Nowwishlist
Registering for shower and wedding gifts needs to be at the top of your list. Start right away.  You don’t have to finish, but give some ideas to those guests who have been dieing for you to tie the knot so they could buy you that mixer they have been raving about.

Team Up
That’s right: recruiting.  Your “soon-to-be” needs to be in on it. It is for him too.  If he’s not gun ho about it, have him go to one store with you then grab the girls.  The mom’s would love to help.

Cover all your basesthenewgrill
People know that weddings are coming later and later in life, and you probably already have the spatulas you always wanted.  Most major stores have gift registries.  You know he’ll want a BBQ, why not throw it on the list. You can think electronics and outdoor  lawn supplies.

Stay Real
That scanner is a powerful thing, but just because that crystal lamp shines beneath those fluorescent lights doesn’t mean it will fit in with his mounted game collection. Choose things that fit with your lifestyle and needs.  Just because it is tradition to have a big punch bowl doesn’t mean you will actually use it.

Fitting the budgetswedding-registry1
Your guest will come from a wide variety of bank accounts and they all want to give you the perfect gift. Make sure you keep plenty of items under a range of prices: under $50, $75, $100, ect.  Your parents’ friends don’t want to buy you 200 wash clothes, and your college buddies don’t want to empty their bank accounts just so they can check something off the list.

Use the Services
Use automatic updates.  This lets you know what’s coming (!!) and lets your guests know what you still need.  Remember to add items if the list is getting low.  This lets everyone buy a gift that they want, not just the leftovers. In-store gift cards are an idea too. Perfect for those after thought items that you just need.  Although it can be difficult to ask for cash on the rocks, ask some close family or friends to spread the word.

Need more expert wedding planning advice?

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Posted in General, Michigan Wedding Planning & Ideas | 10 Comments »

10 Mistakes to Avoid when Planning your Wedding Reception

Monday, November 23rd, 2009

Your wedding day is a time of celebration with light-hearted, good times that create happy memories.   Above all, the day is supposed to be fun. bridedip

The less stress you feel on your big day, the more fun you’ll have.  Great planning helps you avoid forgetting important details.  Avoid these stumbling blocks that threaten to ruin your happy day:

1.  Not prioritizing your budget on the important things.  The banquet is over, and now the party wedding-budget-6begins.  If the majority of your reception time will be spent listening to music and dancing, it makes sense to allocate a proportionate amount of your budget to the vendor responsible for your entertainment.  Whether it’s a band or a DJ, the key idea here is QUALITY.

2.  Not communicating with your vendors. Have a thorough conversation with all of your vendors, and let them know EXACTLY what you expect.  Don’t assume that, because they are professionals with years of experience, they automatically know what you want.  Each bride’s vision is different.  Vendors want to avoid disappointing you, so share the details of your dream with them from the beginning.

3.  Not communicating your needs and expectations with your bridal party. Let each person in your bridal party know, prior to your wedding day, where they are supposed to be and when.  Important moments at your reception can’t be rehearsed, so prepare a timetable for your bridal party that includes the Grand Entrance, speeches and toasts, bridal dances and any planned photo opportunities.  They will be grateful for your organization.

4.  Waiting until the last minute.  Finish everything on your checklist at least two days before your wedding.  You don’t want to be scribbling place cards at 2 a.m. on your wedding day.  Give yourself and your groom a task-free day or two before the wedding to relax and rejuvenate.
drunk-bride
5.  Having too much to drink early in the day or the night before. Not only is it a good idea to avoid alcohol until the final party hours, it’s best to stay hydrated by drinking water or other non-alcoholic beverages.  If you can’t resist a good nip, be sure to eat something.

6.  Spending too much time taking pictures. There are the photographs of special moments you MUST have, pictures of spontaneous moments that are FUN to have, and staged photos that become a nuisance.  Don’t be afraid to say NO to your photographer when you’ve had enough.

7.  Losing your perspective.  Keep your mind on what the day is about, and on the things and people that are really important to you.  Don’t get bogged down in so many details that you forget to have FUN!  If something goes wrong, try your best to take deep breaths and think about the big picture.  Don’t let the little things that might go wrong ruin your night.  Above all, keep your sense of humor!

8.  Getting stressed or overwhelmed.  Eat! Talk! Dance! Have Fun! Keep things simple.  After you’ve greeted your guests, let them find you if they wish to visit.  stressed_bride

9.  Not planning an exit strategy.  Assign end-of-the-night tasks to others you trust, so you can leave unburdened.  Final duties might include gathering gifts and transporting them “home,” paying the hall, and removing decorations — including flowers, centerpieces and other wedding notions.

10.  Immediately leaving on your honeymoon.  Try not to plan a 6 a.m. departure the day after your wedding.  Give yourselves a day to recuperate and get your things together.  Better yet, go back to work for a week before leaving on your honeymoon.

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Posted in General, Michigan Wedding Photography, Michigan Wedding Planning & Ideas | 13 Comments »

Tips for your wedding budget

Wednesday, October 21st, 2009

I know its not fun, but setting a budget early in your wedding planning will save you a lot of headaches and over drafts in the long run.

  • Find out who is financing, how much, and what they would like to contribute towards. For example, your mom may want to buy you your dress and your To Be’s dad may want to pick up the DJ’s tab.wedding-budget2
  • If you are financing part or all, put your wedding money in a separate bank account. This will help with overspending and dipping into your savings.
  • If you are using credit cards, choose a card that gives rewards or cash back. Make some money for all your spending
  • Prioritize your spending.  For example, if you really want great pictures, spend a little less on the invitations.
  • Do not include your rings in your budget.  Your rings are with you forever; they should be seen as an investmentwedding-budget-6

Want quality wedding services that won’t break you budget?

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Posted in General, Michigan Wedding DJ & Music, Michigan Wedding Photography, Michigan Wedding Planning & Ideas, Michigan Wedding Videography | 10 Comments »