your perfect bridesmaid > A Modern Brides' Survival Guide

Meet Crave Catering

2011-03-15T18:42:00.000-07:00

We recently had the pleasure of talking with the super talented folks at Crave Catering: http://www.portland-catering.com/. Below they share some insight into their business as well as general tips for picking a caterer.

How long have you been in business? How did it begin?
Crave Catering has been exclusively catering off-site since 1997. It all began with a free-standing culinary stand at the Farmers Market at PSU. Folks began to crave our food more than one day a week, creating a demand and yielding a small, family-owned restaurant serving the greater downtown Portland area. That wasn’t enough; our customers began to ask us to bring them our delicious food at their special events, boosting the little restaurant into a full-time catering business. Now, we’re proud to cater at just about any kind of event and any kind of venue.

What's your specialty?
Simply put, crafting mouth-watering food out of a symphony of local ingredients. We partner with farmers and merchants within 100 miles of our kitchen as much as possible, which means the ingredients are fresh, crisp and locally grown. It’s important to us to not only create delicious cuisine but also give back to our planet and our community at the same time.

What's your favorite food?
Our favorite food is the kind that is grown by our friendly farmers; the kind that tastes best on its own because it’s that fresh and that tasty; the kind that is in season so it’s at its peak of freshness and perfection. Overall, we’re a bunch of foodies who simply enjoy a range of cuisine from all over the world: French, Northern Italian, Nuevo Latino and pretty much anything that presents something new to our tastebuds.

What do you think is key to a successful event?
The key to a successful event is hiring professionals to handle everything for you, from planning to cleaning up. Sure, you can save a dime by doing a few things on your own, but it may cost you your time and your energy while also shifting your focus from other important details of the event. We make it look easy because we’re experts, but you’ll quickly find it’s hard work and best left to those who have the know-how and the right equipment to get the job done right.

How would you describe your ideal client?
The ideal client is someone who is passionate about food and passionate about where that food is sourced. We love to work with those who share our joy of cuisine, but also love to work with folks who are open to suggestions and will confide in us, sharing their most detailed visions and dreams so we can better make those come true.

What do you think someone should look for when hiring a caterer for their wedding or event?
The things to look for when hiring a caterer would be first, responsiveness. Is the caterer quick in returning your calls and sending a requested proposal to you? Do they listen to your vision and needs and appropriately reflect that back to you? If not, seriously consider how that will transition to the day of your event. When hiring a caterer, also consider the length of time they’ve been in business and even ask for references to other folks who have used them for similar events. It helps to hear outside perspectives and will generate more confidence in your decision.

What do you do, when you're not doing what you do?
Other than out learning more about the culinary world and local farms, we’re also out playing when we’re not an event. We all share a love of this region and enjoy exploring it, whether it be snowboarding, hiking, camping with our families and dogs, gardening or just trying a new restaurant. All in all, we stay entertained and happy.

Anything else you want people to know:
Well, for starters, you can check out our website for menus and follow our blog at crave.catering.com, or give us a shout at 503-224-0370

There are also a couple of things many people don’t know we do and one is catering to film crews. We’re one of the only caterers in the Portland area who has a mobile kitchen where we can tag along as films and commercials are made, feeding the hungry crew a large variety of hot food along the way. This requires a tenacity for planning ahead and a flexibility to squeeze into any location, which makes us experts at off-site catering for any type of event or venue!

The second thing is fairly new. We continue to push ourselves to be more sustainable each year. Our owner, Mark Lopez, owns some land in Southwest Washington and has begun to grown many of our ingredients. Now that’s fresh: picking them off the vine on the way to work!

Top 10 Ways to Get Stunning Images on Your Wedding Day

2010-12-10T10:25:00.000-08:00

Good Morning Brides!

Melanie and I recently had the pleasure of meeting with Ryan Ricketts of Ryan Ricketts Photography and we were so impressed with his talents, knowledge and passion for wedding photography that we asked him for some tips on how Brides can make the most of their Wedding Photography Investment. Below are his suggestions for getting the best wedding pictures possible.

It’s no revelation that planning for your wedding can be a daunting affair. Hours upon hours pile up to make sure every last detail is taken care of and no loose ends are left. Family members on both sides are pulled in all directions. Blood, sweat and makeup are all shed in the name of your wedding day. With all of the distractions going on, how do you make sure you get fabulous and timeless photos of one of the most special days (if not the most special day of your life)?

1. Makeup artist/stylist – Consider working with a makeup artist or stylist to make you look your best on your wedding day. That isn’t to say that your best friend or your aunt can’t do a great job, but it is best left to someone who is on the forefront of styles and trends to deal with your look. Proper makeup will work to cover up any potential wrinkles you may fret over (don’t worry we all have them!) and allow you to feel more secure and radiant on your big day. Also it’s amazing how well professionally done makeup photographs!

2. Wedding consultant – Enlist the help of a professional wedding planner such as Your Perfect Bridesmaid (www.yourperfectbridesmaid.com ) to take on the planning process and day-of coordinating for your wedding. They can help with design elements and coordinating with the necessary vendors. Leave it to professionals to sort out proper vendors for your needs. Not only will wedding coordinators act as a preventive headache medication, but you will feel less stressed at your wedding allowing for more carefree photos.

3. Pre-wedding consultation – A few months before the wedding, sit down with your photographer and talk to him. Get to know the company and discuss some of the “must-have” shots for your wedding. Having an open discussion with your photographer before any pictures are even taken will ensure that you and your photographer are both in agreement on the plan for the wedding day and that there are no surprises come the big day. This is the first step in building a great relationship with your photographer. Wedding photography is a true collaboration between bride, groom and photographer and all the parts must fit for the shots to be magical!

4. Engagement session – Plan an hour or more for a portrait engagement session with your photographer a few weeks or months before your wedding. Meeting with your photographer will give you an idea of how the three of you interact and will make you feel more comfortable in front of the camera. Trust is a big factor in choosing a photographer, and after a fun and exciting afternoon with your photographer, you will rest-assured he will provide great photos later at your wedding.

5. Photo checklist- Create a list of must-have photographs from your wedding day. Typical lists include shots before the ceremony (dress, getting ready), shots at the ceremony (guests entering, parents being seated, the kiss, rings), posed photos before reception or before ceremony (bride with bridesmaids, bride with parents), etc. Work with your photographer to create a list that you will be happy with. There are no right or wrong answers, just think about what shots would be most important to you!

6. 30 Minutes – Plan for at least 30 minutes for you and your groom to be photographed after the ceremony (and before the reception). Depending on the time of year, location, etc., it’s best to plan these shots for about an hour or so before sunset – so you can be flexible here on the timing, but make sure you assign at least a 30 minute period to knock out some beautiful portraits together!

7. Family member assistant – Assign a trusted family member who knows most of the attendees at your wedding to be the “go-to” person for the photographer. This designated family member will be especially crucial when you are doing the posed photos to make sure all family members are included in the requisite shots. They can help to point our, corral, and direct leaving you free to enjoy your day. Don’t take on any unneeded responsibility!

8. Step aside – A simple one, but important – before the wedding day or on the wedding day, ask your (or have your wedding coordinator ask) the wedding officiant to step aside briefly during the first kiss during the ceremony so the photographer can take a shot of the two of you. Having just the two of you (without the random officiant) in the photo will make it that much more special.

9. Breathe – Yes, you must breathe, believe it or not. But all joking aside, nothing comes across more in wedding photos than a bride who is stressed or otherwise preoccupied. So take a few seconds and take some deep breaths and relax. Give yourself to the moment.

10. Have fun! – This is it! This is the day you’ve been waiting for. Relax, have some fun and let your personality shine through in the photographs. These are photos you will cherish for your lifetime so make sure YOU are coming through in the photos. If you don’t care for a certain pose, just let your photographer know and feel free to be spontaneous!

Of course there are many more things you can do to ensure you get beautiful wedding day photographs, but these are the most essential and easily attainable. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to reach out to me directly.

Cheers,
Ryan
Ryan Ricketts Photography
(360) 696-4702
contact@ryanricketts.com
www.ryanricketts.com

We really thank Ryan for all of his wonderful tips. Ladies, if you are still in the market for a wedding photographer I encourage you to take a look at Ryan's portfolio and schedule a meeting asap!

Understanding the Differences Between a Venue Coordinator and a “Day of Wedding” Coordinator

2010-10-26T08:46:00.000-07:00

One of the most frequently asked questions wedding coordinators receive is: “Why do I need to hire a wedding coordinator when my venue comes with a coordinator - wont they take care of everything?” The short answer to that question is oftentimes “no”, but many couples don’t find that out until the day of their wedding. We have prepared this cheat sheet to help you understand the many differences between the two. We want to clear up any misconceptions so you are not disappointed (and frantic) on your wedding day!

Very simply put a wedding coordinator’s client is you, the bride and groom; a venue coordinator’s client is their manager (the venue). A venue coordinator is there to coordinate anything that relates to the venue; where as a wedding coordinator is there to coordinate anything that relates to your wedding.

Both a wedding coordinator and venue coordinator are very important, but they play very different roles. The roles may overlap slightly depending on the venue and the wedding coordinator but this list of responsibilities is a good place to start understanding the differences. Most importantly, a Day of Wedding Coordinator represents you and all of your wishes on the day of your big event. Our biggest tip is to make sure you discuss specifics with your venue coordinator to ensure everyone is on the same page and to avoid any surprises the day of your wedding.

Venue Coordinator will:

• Give you a tour of the space
• Book your date
• Answer questions/explain rules of the space such as “no candles”, or “music off by 11”
• Create a floor plan
• Set up table and chairs
• Organize a tasting, if there is an on-site catering company
• Provide you a list of vendor partners
• Tour the space with you
• Unlock the doors
• Be present during set up, ceremony and or reception to ensure that all venue regulations are followed
• Take care of any emergency issues such as overflowing toilets or blown fuses
• Ensure that the event ends at the time indicated on the contract
• Lock up the venue at the end of the evening

Day of Wedding Coordinator will:

• Assemble a master timeline and ensure it is understood and followed by all vendors
• Review contracts and identify any potential issues. Ensure vendors follow through with contractual obligations
• Direct and assist guests through ceremony and reception
• Organize and run your dress rehearsal
• Decorate your ceremony and reception to your specifications
• Line up and cue the bridal party and musicians/DJ for your processional
• Attend to the needs of the bride and bridal party
• Distribute bouquets and boutonnieres
• Distribute final payments and tips to vendors
• Set out personal items (guestbook, escort cards etc)
• Coordinate your grand entrance and exit
• Ensure your photographer knows when all of your special moments will take place
• Adjust the timeline as necessary and communicate with all of the vendors
• Coordinate all of the special announcements with the DJ
• Create a seamless wedding by being your liaison between your family, friends and vendor
• And most importantly, a day of wedding coordinator will take care of any last minute changes and emergencies that come up on your wedding day (i.e., vendors not showing up, transportation issues between ceremony site and reception site, wedding crashers – they do exist and we have dealt with them, late starts, missing bridal party members, etc…)

We hope that this break down of responsibilities helps you understand the differences between a venue coordinator and a wedding coordinator and most importantly we hope it helps you prepare for a smooth and picture perfect wedding. And of course, if you find that you would like the benefits and peace of mind that comes with knowing you have a team of professionals there to ensure your plans are executed perfectly, be sure to contact us for a custom day of coordination quote. You can read about our services and see our rates on our website; www.yourperfectbridesmaid.com. We would love to be Your Perfect Bridesmaid!

Kindly,

Kim and Melanie

Using your creative decor budget wisely

2010-10-16T09:22:00.000-07:00

Hello brides, we hope you are enjoying the planning process – whatever stage of the process you are in. We know this time can be stressful, but we hope it is also enjoyable. Our sincerest hope is that our regular tips help make the process more creative, fun, and less stressful by providing ideas on how to save money, and stretch the dollars you are using. As always, we hope you never forget that this journey you are on is about the marriage, not the wedding.

This blog post is dedicated to décor, specifically ceremony décor. We will get into reception décor next edition.

Your décor budget is one of your best opportunities to save money and really showcase your creativity. There are countless ways to save money.

Ceremony Décor: When planning your ceremony décor, remember to think in terms of your pictures. Most of your pictures will be taken up at the altar, so focus your attention and your dollars up where you and your fiancé will be standing. If you decide to go with large alter arrangements plan them with the idea of repurposing them for your reception. (They will look great at the guest book table, cake table, seating card table, buffet etc) Another money wise idea is to use groups of potted plants (hydrangeas, or various greens, in pretty pots) which you will then be able to take home and keep forever (or if you are like us, until your black thumb kills them). Regardless of how long you manage to keep them alive, potted plants have a much longer lifespan than cut flowers, and with a little TLC they can be a great investment into your landscaping.

Pomanders are another favorite décor item for ceremonies. These are often very inexpensive and pretty easy to make yourself. These are also able to be re-purposed at the reception as decoration in bathrooms, buffet table, or even the head table. Use them to hang off of the two head chairs or group together on tables, or jazz up door handles into your reception venue. Another idea with these is to use fake flowers. We do not often recommend fake flowers, but a Styrofoam ball from Michaels and some fake daisy’s make an easy and beautiful craft project.

An inexpensive way to really have a striking entrance for only a few dollars is to have your custom monogram painted on your aisle runner. A few tips on this project. If you are going to use an aisle runner, you will save some serious $$ if you buy one online vs. renting one. Rental companies charge an arm and leg because there is high risk of damage not to mention dirt (since everyone is walking on them). I know its counter intuitive, but trust us on this one. Secondly, a custom monogram is such a great way to add that customized, lux feel to your wedding stationary without spending a fortune. A monogram (when it’s created by someone who will give you the file) allows you to still DIY your invites, programs labels, etc., but it gives them a very personal, professional feel. A talented graphic designer can then take your runner and paint on the monogram. It looks very pretty, and if you have a few extra dollars, and want a dramatic entrance go for it! Let us know if you would like the name and contact info for some graphic designers who can help you create your custom monogram.

Our current favorite touches have to do with flower girls. For a touch of glam have your flower girl carry down a floral purse, instead of a basket. These are super cute and inexpensive. They are especially handy if your ceremony location doesn’t allow you to throw rose petals, or if you have a long train on your dress that will just catch the rose petals and pool them under your dress. To add whimsy to the flower girl’s role, create wands with ribbon and attach paper or silk flowers to the ribbon. They can “fly” their wands as they walk down the aisle.

We hope you found this information useful. Please let us know if you have any questions.

Take care,

Kim and Melanie

Bella Femme Studio Party - You're Invited

2010-04-29T10:57:00.000-07:00

Bella Femme Photography is hosting our "coming out" party as Portland's premier Boudoir, and Maternity photography studio!

We would like to invite you and your friends to join us on May 8th at 7:00pm at our studio in SE Portland. Email info@yourperfectbridesmaid.com for the address.

In addition to our photography we are also pleased to highlight the works of four talented local women artists. We will have make up artist Jessica Belknap on site giving make up advice, Rio Wren will be displaying some of her gorgeous lingerie, local jewelry artist Cari Woods will be showcasing some of her beautiful creations, and Love, Margaux will be showing off some of their chic computer bags

We are excited for the party and we hope to see you there!

Kim, Melanie and Jessica

Are you considering a Wedding Coordinator, but not sure if it is worth the investment? Here are 10 reasons to say ‘I Do’ to Your Perfect Bridesmaid.

2010-04-21T11:19:00.000-07:00

1. You Will Save Money
We understand how much of a financial commitment a wedding is, and we understand the need to stay under budget. Your Perfect Bridesmaid can save you money through negotiating with your other vendors, and recommending affordable options to help you achieve your dreams. Lastly, Your Perfect Bridesmaid’s years of event planning experience will help you prevent costly mistakes.

2. You Will Save Yourself A-lot of Time
The average wedding takes more than 250 hours to plan. Not many people have the time to plan their wedding and keep their sanity. Your Perfect Bridesmaid will streamline the planning process and will make navigating the path to the alter easy and enjoyable. We will help ensure the time you do spend planning your day is efficient and useful.

3. You Will Reduce Stress
The life secret no one mentions is that engagement is a very emotional time as you face the many life changes ahead. Working with Your Perfect Bridesmaid to plan your wedding will all you and your fiancé peace of mind and will help make the transition a little more smooth.

4. You Increase the Quality of Your Big Day
Vendors can make or break your wedding day and your budget. Your Perfect Bridesmaid helps make your vision a reality by working with you to choose the best vendors who will bring your vision to life while staying within your budget.

5. You'll Be Organized
Your wedding day agenda is essential to ensuring that the day runs smoothly and according to schedule. Your Perfect Bridesmaid will help you create that agenda and then work with the entire wedding party and all of the other vendors to ensure they have the information they need and that they arrive on time and prepared to be a part of your special day.

6. You Will Reflect Your Personal Style
Your Perfect Bridesmaid works hard to stay on top of the latest trends and wedding styles. We also are great listeners. Together, those traits will help ensure your vision is executed precisely, according to your personal style.

7. You Will Be Able to Maintain Peace in The Family
Simply put weddings are stressful and just when you think they would bring everyone together, they have a tendency to strain family dynamics. Your Perfect Bridesmaid can ease tensions by acting a neutral third party mediator. We can recommend solutions to the various hurdles that pop up all the while ensuring the bride’s vision is accomplished.

8. You Can Avoid Accidents on Your Wedding Day
Your Perfect Bridesmaid’s experience is like insurance for a flawless event. We help to ensure that your whole day runs smooth and we guard you from any missteps, should they happen. On the day of your wedding, your happiness is our primary concern.

9. Details wont be Forgotten
There are a million details to every wedding. Your Perfect Bridesmaid will ensure that while you are greeting guests and enjoying the festivities that those details are being taken care of.

10. You Can Just Be the Bride
It is impossible to truly enjoy and remember the special moments when you are worrying about the wine supply or why the D.J hasn’t started playing yet. Don’t work on your wedding day! You have spent your life dreaming of your wedding, hire Your Perfect Bridesmaid to manage the event and troubleshoot when necessary. Your family will thank you too. Hiring an experienced coordinator will allow your family and friends to enjoy the day along side you.

Presenting Bella Femme Photography!

2010-02-07T15:47:00.000-08:00

Hello,

Well, as you have probably noticed, our blog “went quiet” for a few months. While we definitely didn’t intend for it to, we are now able to explain why. A few months back we embarked on a collaborative effort with Jessica Watson Photography (www.jessicawatsonphotography.com) to develop and launch Bella Femme Photography – a company that specializes in providing a one of a kind experience for women.

You may have heard the saying that women are like diamonds - in the sense they have many “facets” or sides. Bella Femme is about allowing women to display – and capture - a side of themselves they may not always demonstrate, and others may not always see.

For our first shoot, we are focusing on capturing women's sensual, sexy, bold side with boudoir pictures. Our approach to boudoir photography is about capturing a state of mind, personal strength, and individual beauty. Our goal is to provide you with a warm and fun experience that will yield a new found appreciation for just how fabulous you really are - both inside and out. While the pictures may end up being a gift for a loved one, we assure you, the experience will be the biggest take away.

Our first event is scheduled for March 28^th. I encourage you to be bold and sign up. For more information on Bella Femme check out our website (you will see it too got a face lift) at www.yourperfectbridesmaid.com

Now that we have Bella Femme launched and running, we are committed to being more diligent about blogging and sharing advice on how to have the weddings of your dreams, with out breaking the bank. We will be in touch soon!

Stay tuned, and Stay Sane!

Kimberly and Melanie

Saving on your reception

2009-10-15T09:22:00.000-07:00

Hello,

Welcome back to Your Perfect Bridesmaid's Wedding Wednesday Blog, where we share ideas to save money on your wedding. This week are you sharing tips on how to have the traditional wedding reception – an evening reception with a dinner.

For this type of reception, the biggest tool in your toolbox is your negotiation skills. You must remember that when dealing with vendors you are doing a business transaction. With that you need to be comfortable negotiating the price of everything. These vendors are in the business to make money. Your job is to have the wedding you want within your budget. It is our experience that the vendors to operate on a sizeable enough profit margin to lower their rates from their introductory proposal and still make a profit. When negotiating always remain calm, kind and professional. Remember this is a business transaction, and it is best to check your emotions at the door.

Take their initial price and talk to them about the areas where they can go lower. Get specific with the prices you would be comfortable paying. And, be prepared for some give and take. Negotiations are never one sided. In the end we are confident you will get the majority of what you want and save a considerable chunk of money.

Also, if you find you aren’t comfortable negotiating with your vendors, this is a service Your Perfect Bridesmaid offers. We have found that the amount of money we can save by negotiating on behalf of our clients more than pays for our fee. Feel free to contact us if you would like to learn more about how we can save you money.

In addition to negotiating, you can make other choices to save money. While these are not hard and fast rules, in our experience we have found these “rules” to apply more often then not.

Sliming down your guest list is the best way to save money ( a lot of money) – period!
It is more affordable to have your reception on Friday or Sunday night then on Saturday.
It is more affordable to go with a menu featuring seasonal food then food not in season.
It is more affordable to have a buffet dinner then a plated meal.
It is more affordable to serve beer and wine, rather then hard alcohol.
Depending on the corkage fees and prices of the venues house wine it may or may not be cheaper to bring your own alcohol. Also, remember the time and effort it will take to buy and transport the alcohol to the event.
It is more affordable to have a smaller wedding cake with sheet cakes for serving (and your guests will never know).

We can go on and on (and we will next week) about the many choices you can make to keep your wedding in budget. Next week we will discuss the choices you can make to save money on decorating. Until then, happy planning! Stay tuned and stay sane!

Melanie and Kim
http://www.yourperfectbridesmaid.com/

2009-10-07T09:11:00.000-07:00

Hello, welcome back to Your Perfect Bridesmaid's Wedding Wednesday blog where we share cost saving strategies to have your perfect wedding on a budget.

This week we decided to focus on cost saving tips for your reception as that is the most expensive component of your wedding budget. We will cover the different aspects of your reception over the next few weeks so stay tuned to find some serious saving techniques.
Here at Your Perfect Bridesmaid we firmly believe you can have a wonderful wedding, and not spend a fortune. We also believe that it is very important to set a realistic budget and stick to it so that you aren’t starting your married life in debt because of your wedding. The wedding is one day, your marriage is for forever.

What type of reception?

In our last blog we talked about how to sit down with your fiancé and discuss what was important to each of you in the wedding and to budget accordingly. Hopefully that conversation yielded an answer on what type of reception you were going to have. We find that many couples want the traditional sit down dinner reception. This traditional style reception is of course the most expensive. However, given our current economy, and the ever so common presence of student loans and existing credit card debt, we are finding that more and more couples are getting creative with the type of reception they have in order to save money. This movement is really a return to the type of weddings our grandparents had – and who doesn’t love vintage chic!

Some ideas to really save on your reception include:

An elegant champagne and cake reception following your ceremony. Splurging on a great cake and slightly sweet bubbly will add a stylish simplicity to your affair. If you are getting married in a church you can rent out the church hall, for much less then a traditional venue. We also love this type of wedding in a rose garden. You can step it a bit by offering tea sandwiches, and crudités. Think tea length gowns, peep toe shoes and pearls. Envision simple bouquets tied with ribbon, men in brown or grey suits and a subtle three piece string band quietly serenading your group.

Friday night tapas and sangria party. It you want to add a little spice to your reception book a venue for Friday night, with an 8:00 start time. Tapas, or kicked up appetizers, are a fun way to offer delicious food, and keep the prices down. Sangria is one of the most economical ways to offer alcohol. To make this delicious drink simply pick up some cheap wine (red or/and white) and add some brandy, and juice. Throw in some cinnamon sticks and top with sliced oranges, and lemons. Feel free to get creative. You can pick up some fun jars at Ikea and presto you are done. Another benefit to this type of party is that you can create a fun, elegant party using reds and blacks, colors most venues have on had, thus eliminating extra rental costs. Get your girlfriends together to make tissue paper flowers, and buy traditional Spanish fans to incorporate into your décor. Black lacquered vases, red flowers and amber candles would be romantic and sultry.

Courthouse wedding and dinner for 30 out on the town. While some couples wish to get married in a church, others prefer the simplicity of a courthouse wedding. Remember, it is about you and your groom. For a truly intimate affair, gather your closest family and friends and get married by a judge. The architecture in most court buildings is quite striking and provides a bold, back drop to your wedding. After a simple, heartfelt ceremony, gather your guests and head to one of the many amazing restaurants we are fortunate to have here in Portland for dinner. Many restaurants will allow you to bring in a few extra decorations for such an occasion like professional flower arrangements and candles. We like this type of wedding pared with a gorgeous white/ivory silk ensemble for the bride and a black suit for the groom. Large bouquet of white flowers and hits of gold or silver. Sophisticated, and classic.

We could really go on and on with alternative wedding reception ideas. The key is to accept your budget reality and make the most of what you have. Next week we will discuss the traditional wedding reception and illustrate where and how to save to make that dream come true on your budget.

As always, if you would like to discuss some of the ideas we just shared in person we encourage you to send us an email at info@yourperfectbridesmaid.com. Our initial consultations are always free, and there is never any pressure to commit. We hope you are enjoying the planning process!

Stay tuned and stay sane!

Kimberly and Melanie

Your Perfect Bridesmaid

Wedding Budget Part 1

2009-09-29T20:07:00.000-07:00

There you are, with a beautiful sparkling engagement ring on your finger, visions of wedding day bliss running through your head, you really can’t image being any happier to plan the most amazing day in your life. Then suddenly there it is… the dreaded and pesky “B” word, budget. Budget is really one of the first and really the most important factors to consider when planning your wedding. Your budget will dictate every aspect of your wedding. From catering, to photography, to flowers, to venue, to dress, to wedding rings, to honeymoon… the list goes on and on. Before you can commit to any of the above listed wedding necessities, it is extremely important to sit down with your soon to be spouse and determine a budget for your wedding. This will probably be your least favorite conversation because finances are not necessarily everyone’s favorite or most romantic topic. However, don’t despair!

The whole premise behind our company – Your Perfect Bridesmaid - is that you don’t have to compromise your wedding, just because you happen to be on a budget, and let’s face it, technically everyone is on a “budget” of some sort. But what budget means to one couple is not necessarily the same to the next couple. The typical wedding we plan has a budget between $10,000 - $15,000. We know from experience that you can have the wedding of your dreams and not get into debt. We are committed to helping our brides have their dream wedding minus the stress and debt that usually comes with that. The first few rounds of our blog are going to share some of our tips for coming in under budget without having to compromise your dreams for your big day.

We firmly believe that the first crucial step in managing your budget is sitting down with your fiancé and agreeing on a final price tag for your wedding. Whatever that final price ends up being, you both need to be 100% committed to that number and making the decisions to keep you from going over. Remember, keep focus on the marriage. While your wedding is a day you will remember forever, it is only one day. Your marriage is your forever.

The budget conversation definitely isn’t romantic but neither is a stack of credit card bills. Learning to talk about money, and finding a way to shed the feeling of “having to keep up with the Jones’, will serve your relationship years after you say “I do”.

Once you commit to a final budget with your fiancé reach out to family members to see what they are able to contribute. Once you land on a final figure from all possible sources, sit down with your groom and talk about the type of wedding you two want. We understand that most grooms turn a funny shade of green when you start discussing the more detailed aspects of the wedding. We have found that you can get what you need by discussing just four key questions:

What time of the year do you want to get married?

How many people do you want to invite?

List three adjectives you want to use to describe our wedding?

What are the three things we want to focus on? (i.e. food, alcohol, photographer)?

Once these basic questions are answered you can likely move forward more confidently and more assured of your decisions. After you land on a final figure, grab one of the budget spreadsheets you find in most wedding magazines. Note: We have mixed feelings about these spreadsheets. On one hand they are a great tool to keep you organized, on track, and they keep you from forgetting important elements of your wedding. On the other hand the percentages they allocate for each element (i.e. 50% for you reception) do not take into account the priorities of you and your groom. We suggest using one of the templates to create your own spreadsheet that is representative of the wedding you and your fiancé are trying to create. When you are creating your spreadsheet indicate which aspects are most important to you and allocate your dollars accordingly.

Congratulations! You have just taken some crucial first steps to ensuring a successful wedding and marriage. Learning to “talk money” is a very important skill for any marriage. We will continue this series of budget saving tips with specific tips to save on the various elements of your wedding. Next week we are going to offer suggestions for saving on your reception. Stay tuned and stay sane!

Kim and Melanie