Ways to WOW Your Weddings Guests

"The Knot" had an article about ways in which to WOW your wedding audience. Of course I had to read through it to see what their take on it was. Well I must say they had some pretty good ideas and if you have some extra money in your budget, I would definitely consider adding one or more of these elements into your wedding.

Guest Transportation: If you are planning on shuttling your guests from the ceremony to the reception, make the journey part of the fun by renting some cool mass transportation. Hire an old-fashioned trolley to get guests from point A to B. And for extra flair, customize the ride by playing fun music or decking out the bus with signs that reads "Sarah and John's wedding or bust!"

Pre-ceremony Cocktails: Nothing like getting the party started a little early?! Your guests won't be expecting any drinks until the reception, so give them a pleasant surprise by setting up at table of light beverages on the way into the ceremony. Just DON'T serve anything too strong-- think mimosas or fruit-infused iced teas they can sip before taking their seats.

Standout Escort Cards: Instead of a paper card that'll get lost or thrown away, upgrade your escort cards to something worth keeping (or eating!). Try personalized cake pops with guests' names and table runners written on them in icing or on a cute tag, or engraved martini glasses that double as favors.

Thoughtful and (Useful) Favors: Keep your guests comfortable all day by thinking ahead. Planning on dancing the night away... put out a basket of flip-flops (in your wedding colors, of course) so guests can take their shoes off. Having an outdoor reception... well it might get breezy, keep your guests warm by offering up some cozy pashminas. And for the summer outdoor ceremony, provide a station with spray-on sunscreen and a stack of inexpensive sunglasses.

To-Go Valet Gifts: Send guests home feeling taken care of by having your valets place small favors or end-of-the-night snacks in your guests' cards before handing over the keys. No valets? Set out baskets of the gifts, such as soft eye masks with notes that say "Sleep tight!" or even hangover kits... for guests to grab on their way out of the reception.

Convenient Child Care: Hire a babysitter or two... and set up a room so your youngest guests can have a place to go when they tucker out. If it's possible pick a room near your reception location so parents can stop by to check in on the little ones and then return easily to the party. Stock the rooms with snacks, games, and a portable DVD player. Also make sure there is a soft sofa and lots of blankets for those inevitable naps.

Hidden Wedding Cost

I found a great article on The Knot about hidden wedding cost that a lot brides forget about when creating their budget!

1. Postage Stamps: Shipping costs vary considerably due to the weight and shape of your invitation.  Oversized, awkwardly shaped and bulky invitation can cost as much as $2 each to mail. 

Solution: Before getting all of your invitations printed, take a sample to the post office and get the cost to mail the invitation. If the cost is too high, you can make adjustments!

2. Wedding Dress Alterations: Your wedding dress will probably be the best fitting item you will ever wear and this is because the dress is tailored exclusively for you. But those alternations can really add up! 

Solution: Ask about what the store charges for every alternation you may need before you purchase the gown. If need be, don't be afraid to take your dress to a less expensive seamtress to have the alternations done.

3. Photo/Video Overtime: Your wedding photographer/videographer is booked for a certain amount of time and once you extend past that time... well they start charging by the HOUR!! And the cost per hour can start at $250.

Solution: When planning the day, factor in extra time for getting dressed, travel time from one venue to the next, and taking photos. You'll get a realistic sense of how long everything should take. Refer to this when speaking with the vendor. 

4. Welcome-Bay Delivery: Most hotels don't factor in a welcome-bag delivery fee when you block rooms. And they may fail to mention the rate unless you ask... they'll just add it to your final bill. They may even charge you a fee for holding the welcome bags if you drop them off before the guests arrive!

Solution: During the booking process, ask about the hotel's policy on receiving and delivering welcome bags to guests' rooms. It may be free or cheaper if they hand the bags out at the counter as guests check-in. If you don't want the extra charge, you can distribute them at the rehearsal dinner. 

5. Rental Transport: You would assume that the rental company would include these extra fees in the price per-item cost. But one could only be so lucky!!

Solution: Ask the rental company what their shipping and packaging fees are up front... if the cost is too high for your budget, shop around a bit. You just might find that you'll actually save some money by renting items from a more expensive company that includes delivery costs at no extra charge.

6. Cake-cutting fee: If you use the cake provided by your reception site, the charge is typically wrapped into the cost. Going with an outside baker can jack up the price. Why? Because your venue's workers are responsible for slicing and serving each piece, then cleaning the dishes . This means... more work for their staff!!

Solution: Go with the site's cake baker. Don't worry... they'll likely be able to work with your vision. If you're set on a particular baker, then call your venue and inquire what the fee is before you sign the contract. 

7. Gratuities: Many couples often think that the "service charge" is a tip for the event staff when it's actually an additional fee that the catering hall charges. For what? To cover their own cost for hiring servers. The service charge typically runs 15-20% of the event's total food and drink fee.

Solution: Once you get the proposed fee, add the service charge percentage so it's already accounted for before the event. The last thing you want is to get hit with an unexpectedly huge bill that just about breaks the bank.

Ways to Keep Your Floral Budget Down

Flowers... Flowers... Flowers... they can make or break a wedding and sometimes at a cost.  Here are a few tips to keep those flower cost down!!

 

1) Be open-minded

When price is the major determining factor, a bride needs to be flexible. She should select her colors and theme then be open to the suggestions of the florist as to how to get the best for her money.

2) Choose a hand-tied bouquet versus a wired bouquet

Tied bouquets are looser, less structured and less labor intensive to create so they are less expensive than a wired bouquet in which each flower stem is replaced with floral wire.

3) Use large-headed blooms, like hydrangeas, in centerpieces

This means the florist would not need to use as many flowers to create a dramatic statement.

4) Don’t have the same arrangement on each table

Use pillar candles, arrangements of ivy and foliage or bowls of fruit instead of floral arrangements on some tables in order to save money.

5) Avoid out-of-season and imported  flowers

If flowers need to be shipped to the wedding, the shipping costs will be added to the bill.

6) Repurpose larger arrangements

Tress and large vases of flowers can be used at the ceremony then moved to the reception site.

Ways to Save on INVITATIONS

Want gorgeous invites that won't push the budget envelope? Below you will find some tips to help get the most bang for your buck!!

1. Forgo Upgrades: Envelope liners, custom ink colors, and hand painted details.... REALLY add up!! 


2. Take advantage of technology: Offset and digital printing run less than half the cost of labor-intensive techniques like letterpress and engraving.

3. Pink the right paper: Imported, handmade, and cottonrag options tend to be more expensive. Cut your cost by asking your stationer to use partially recycled domestic paper for your invitations! 


4. Order extras: Spend now, save later. If you end up needing to print additional invites at the last minute, your stationer may charge you BIG bucks in rush fees.

5. Use your URL: Enclosing a map can be expensive! Print a line at the bottom of your invitation that sends guests to wedding website for directions. They'll even be able to access them from their smartphone.

6. Double Up: Put your ceremony and reception information on one card instead of two!

7. Enlist the Mouse: Instead of enclosing a stamped response card... ask your guests to RSVP online by including a link to your wedding website on the invitation. No more licking stamps for you!


8. Start Writing: Don't want to shell out $3-plus per envelope for calligraphy? Write guests' addresses yourself, and buy a calligraphy stamp for return addresses and RSVP envelopes.

9. Beware the Square: Surprise square envelopes cost more to mail than rectangle ones. (They don't fit through the postal machines and have to be hand-stamped.) Avoid getting dinged with an odd-size surcharge by choosing an invite with standard dimensions.

10. PRINT IT YOURSELF!! Order blank invites and then save a bundle by printing them at home. For the best results use a laser printer and be sure to test print an invite to ensure it's the look your are going for before running all 200 copies!!

5 Ideas to Cut Your Wedding Cost

Most brides, regardless of their budget, like finding quality services and products for a GREAT deal! Below are some ideas on ways to slim down your growing wedding budget.

1. Select a venue that is "all-inclusive". Rather than choosing a site that requires you to bring all of the items needed to set up your ceremony and reception, choose a place that has just about everything you need. This means you don't have to rent tables, chairs, china, flatware, linens, a stage, dance floor, or a sound system. 

2. Don't splurge on tablecloths. Guests have more contact with the napkins. Rent the best ones that you can afford.

3. Have a lunch or brunch instead of dinner. I know many brides have evening receptions, but to cut cost TREMENDOUSLY look at having your wedding earlier in the day. Having a lunch or brunch is usually less expensive and not all guests will want to drink a lot of alcohol during the day. 

4. Rent high-quality stemware for serving wine. Stemware made of high quality crystal or thin glass enhances the experience of drinking wine, so you can serve a less expensive brand at the reception.

5. Expensive flowers should only be used in the bridal bouquet. If you are a bride that has her heart set on a type of flower that is very expensive, use it ONLY in your bouquet. This will keep your cost low, while still giving you the blooms that you love. A florist can help you select flowers that are in season and grown locally, and therefore less expensive, for the bridesmaids and for the decor.