Your "Big Day" Budget

Budget --a word most people cringe at when they hear it, especially when it is wedding related. But it is the magic word which will keep the bride on course and help with creating a sense of control in the wedding planning process.

If you have never been married before and you are newly engaged, a wedding budget is the first item on your checklist that needs to be agreed upon. You will soon find out why. If you don’t set a budget, you will (I promise) regret it later. How do I set a realistic budget for my wedding? You ask me. 

A realistic budget is set by number of guests you are anticipating, type of venue (all inclusive or not), and wedding date. On average, a bride should plan on $10k for every 100 guests. Now, granted, if you are at an all inclusive venue this number could be less, it all depends. If you are wanting the fairytale -- lunch or dinner to be served, cakes, flowers, alcohol, linens… the works, you must plan a budget for this. Let’s say you are having a wedding for 200 guests, you want the works, and you are expecting to spend $6k on everything. Would it be possible to feed 200 guests McDonald’s for $6k? On average, when you go to McDonald’s it is $6 or $7 a pop for a full meal. 200 x $6 plus tax, you are looking at about $1,300. Take that and subtract it from $6k and that only leaves you with $4700 for cake, flowers, venue rental, linens, alcohol, wedding dress etc… it wouldn’t even be possible to stick to this budget if you were serving everyone McDonalds (which you aren’t).

You want the fairytale, nice buffet or plated dinner, and on average you will be looking at between $25-$70 a plate, all depends. When you do the math, the $6k budget you had in your mind for everything, will (maybe) cover the food. This is where I come in, and all the other wedding planners of the world…. To HELP you and create a peaceful planning process for your big day! This includes keeping you on track with your budget. Trust me, my mission for every wedding I plan is to execute your vision for your day, at your price! Cheers!

Wedding RSVPs

Who uses snail mail for anything anymore? Besides bills, junk mail, and the occassional birthday card.... very few "sweet" things come in the mail as technology aka facebook, twitter, e-vites, etc popped up all online. But there is one exception- the wedding invitation. Along with the wedding invitation is that tiny, little rsvp card to mail back, and we all know we procrastinate and leave it sitting on our kitchen table, or stuck with a magnet to the fridge, telling ourselves, "I'll mail it tomorrow." This usually doesn't happen, and then your best friend who is getting married, calls me (her wedding planner) and says, "Hardly anyone is rsvping.... everyone is just telling me they are coming!" So my solution to all of this tizzy, is to my bride: Bridesmaids and me are your answer. Let us call your guests and ask politely if they are attending your soon to be fabulous wedding. People are more likely to say "no" or "yes" to a stranger (so to speak) then to the bride herself. To the lovely guests: Put the rsvp in the mail as soon as you know if you can attend or not. It will put a smile on the face of the bride, and help the world to go around a little easier. :)