Wedding Gift Guide

How to give the perfect wedding gift

So many questions arise when it comes to giving the perfect gift for our favorite wedding couples.  It can be so difficult to navigate all the rules (and it seems they change all the time)!  Here are a few staple guidelines to abide by when giving wedding gifts.

To wrap or not to wrap gifts?

• The truth is you should Never, EVER EVER bring a wrapped gift to the wedding.  Please refrain from doing this. Although it is a meaningful gesture, it is can actually be pretty rude to bring a wrapped wedding gift. Think about how the "just married" blissful couple will ever figure out how to get your huge wrapped Lobster Pot home or back to the hotel.. eek! I promise you it's the last thing they or anyone in their wedding party wants to think about at 12am. To avoid creating an uncomfortable situation, always ship wrapped gifts before the wedding to the couple's home address or up to a year after the wedding.  Don't forget to include a meaningful card :)

Purchasing Gifts not on listed the Wedding Registry 

• Don't go Rouge! Try to buy a gift off their registry. They spent a lot of time putting together this curated list of special items they need to start their lives together.  Please don't buy something off their list you "think" they will love.  They really want the items they picked out in their style and taste.

Think Outside the Box

• Most modern couples are not only registering for household items but also on websites like zola.com where they can register for furniture, electronics, experiences, weekend getaways and cash funds all in one easy location. Their tagline is "Ask for Everything!" Really truly anything they really want.  I love this concept as it gives the buyer so many great options. 

How much to spend on wedding gifts?

• How much are you really supposed to spend on the shower and wedding gifts".  We all know the age-old rule of giving the couple the price of their reception meal - however, it is just that, an old saying.  There really is no true rule here.  Just give what you can afford, think about your own relationship with the couple and let that be your guide.  One great rule of thumb is purchasing gifts based on 20/20/60. If you are invited to 2 showers and the wedding, spend 20% on the shower gift, 20% on the second shower or party and 60% on the wedding gift.  Set your budget ahead of time so you are fully prepared.  And YES, if you get invited, you should send a gift. Doesn't have to be a big something, but needs to be something.

Happy Planning

MM

So, When is the Wedding? - Unique Wedding Dates to Consider

With engagement season just around the corner, a few things are certain for engaged couples, you must pick a wedding date! Its your event, why not select a unique wedding date? There are multiple days in the year that coupled tend to overlook because they don’t fall on a typical wedding date. Below is a list of dates with benefits ranging from great deals, to dates that will strike up conversation among your friends and family. In addition to that, choosing a unique wedding date gives your guests a break from back to back weddings and having to make a tough decision, should they be invited to two weddings on the same date. Plus, it will be easy for everyone to remember your unique wedding date. The list of benefits goes on and on – just because it’s not a traditional weekend day, doesn’t mean it can’t be your forever day! Take a look at some of these unique dates below!

Holiday Sundays – Attending a wedding on a long weekend is the perfect excuse for a getaway. Most of your guests will have off on Monday so this Sunday wedding has the same benefits of a Saturday, but at a lower price. Martin Luther King Day, Columbus Day and President’s Day are perfect holidays that make for great wedding weekends!

April Fool’s Day – You’ll be saying, “It’s not a joke, we’re really getting married!” if you choose April 1st as your wedding date! Added bonus: think of all the fun hashtags and themes you can come up with around this date.

Summer Solstice – This is the longest day of the year, so you can be sure to maximize your celebration on this date! If you are planning to host your wedding outdoors (weather permitting) or a venue with windows, this is a great choice!

July 3rd – Whether you want to tie the knot in red, white and blue or not, July 3rd is a great date for the perfect summer wedding! No matter what day of the week it falls on, you and your guests will have off for the 4th and what better way to kick off the holiday than creating fireworks of your own.  

Wednesday Before Thanksgiving – Thanksgiving Eve is already the biggest party night of the year, so why not turn it into the biggest celebration of your life! It is likely that friends and family will all be in town to celebrate the holiday so it’s also like a two-for-one on their travel expenses. 

The Week Between Christmas and New Years – What’s a better present than the gift of marriage? Choose a wedding date during this week when friends and family are still in town for the holidays and continue celebrating into the new year!

New Year's Eve – Most people have no plans for NYE. Seriously! This is a huge celebration day and most people are off work, not committed to plans, and will be happy to share and party with you! Bring in your new marriage with the New Year and celebrate with your loved ones! Depending on where you live this date could offer huge discounts as some venues/vendors experience a low season during NYE.

No matter what day you choose, make it your own! If you give your friends and family ample time to plan, they will be able to prepare to attend. 

Happy Planning!

MM

DIY Wedding Centerpieces #MoneyMatters

Make your own Centerpieces and save money

 Centerpieces bring your wedding tables together. They can tie in your themes and colors and really bring life and unique touches to your wedding reception. Centerpieces can also be quite pricey! Can you make your own wedding centerpieces? Of course! I am going to provide you a few tips on how to make beautiful centerpieces and save money. 

1. Research and plan out your wedding centerpieces

Once you have secured your venue and determined your budget, the best way to secure the best deal for yourself in centerpiece purchasing is simply deciding the look you want and planning accordingly. Review sample diagrams for the venue space and determine the approximate number of tables you will have (I always round up and add 2!). Then, determine the materials you will need to achieve your dream look. Make yourself a list.

2. Make a plan to shop for your perfect items

Shop? Yes! Shop! Go! Ok just kidding, don't just go! :) you need a plan. Think of any upcoming holidays leading up to your wedding date. Why? SALES! Think of the changing seasons leading up to your wedding date. Why? SALES! It is much more cost effective to buy fall themed items in the summer than it is in the peak of fall. Craft stores often have sales around the holidays where you can get great deals on glassware and other items. Be patient and smart with your shopping, you will do great! Craft stores may also offer discounts based on the volume of items you are buying. Just ask!

3. Lean on your Family and friends

Bring your family and friends into the hunt! Let them know what you are looking for so they can keep an eye out for you. If you have anyone in your life who is crafty, they may already have a number of items you need! Also, they will likely know where/when to get good deals. Finally, friends and family can offer a hand in putting together your centerpieces with you so you don't have to tackle the project all alone :). Family and friends often have items in their home you can use for decor, I personally have used my own household items to create centerpieces and decor for my couples. It is both an honor and HUGE savings for the couple to utilize items from the homes of people they care about.

4. Make sure to shop online

We all know Amazon is a powerhouse of deals. Use them! Search and see what discounts you can find. I will let you in on a little secret, professionals shop for a ton of items on Amazon too! I am sure you knew that; I feel like we all know that, but we often forget. In your online search do not leave out Google! search for the name of the item and see if there are smaller companies who will sell to you directly. Also, before you head to any store, look online for coupons!!!!! Craigslist, Letgo etc.. are great for purchasing slightly used glassware and other items that can be used for decor. I will let you in on another secret. Coming soon to weddingdayof.com.. wedding decor swap and sales! soon you will able to come right here to list and purchase both new and used items.

5. Meet your wedding vendors halfway

Ok, so maybe despite your best efforts you can't secure all of the items you need. However, with securing as much as you could, you are off to a great start! Work with your vendors to get the remaining pieces. If you want fresh flowers, purchase them and get assistance with the arrangement. Either way, you will save by having at least some of the items secure before bringing in vendors. Just keep in mind that last minute requests can be costly, so make sure you check with your vendors so you can order any necessary pieces with ample time.

Happy Planning!

MM

Wedding Humor

Weddings are stressful, you have to laugh!

There is nothing like a wedding to cause so much stress you can feel the tension rising and taking over! Your planner, vendors, friends, family and sometimes even strangers will try to calm you down and tell you to breathe... everything will turn out great! The truth of the matter is, they don't know if it will. But they do know this, they care. In their own way, they are all pulling for you to have the most magical day ever. However, in my many years of planning weddings, I have learned that sometimes taking a deep breath is just not enough. What you need sometimes is a good laugh! I love using laughter and humor to diffuse a tense situation. Sarcasm is my favorite brand of humor, personally. I do ok with it.

Get your dose of wedding humor online

I also have a secret weapon that gets me through the stress, This Page  Brides "Throwing Cats," has brought me countless laughter and chuckles! Check them out, share it with a friend, or colleague. There is bound to be at least one image that will catch your eye and bring forth a smile! 

Remember, your wedding day is about sharing the love you have for your significant other with your family and friends (and sometimes a handful of strangers). Relax a little and enjoy the moment!

Happy Planning!

MM

#Money Matters What to spend your money on

The trick to hosting a great wedding on a budget is to keep your costs in line with that will matter most. 

What should I spend my money on you ask? The answer is pretty simple, the experience!

In order to host a great wedding, you need to keep your guest's experience in mind. I say host a great wedding as opposed to simply having a great wedding because the reality of the matter is, you are hosting your friends and family at your wedding, and inviting them to share in the festivities with you. 

What People will always remember most during your wedding is how they felt. Give them a memorable experience. Invest your money on the experience they will have. It can all boil down to these 4 areas.

• Catering (including beverages)

Keep in mind the points I noted in my previous post. Create a menu that invites all! make sure vegan, gluten-free, vegetarian and allergies are accounted for. A simple, well-executed menu tops even the fanciest of meals! No need to re-invent the wheel here. Go safe with a menu with flavors everyone can enjoy. You can always add in surprises by offering a few options during cocktail hour or as a separate display if you want to showcase your inner foodie!

• Entertainment 

If you are hiring a DJ, get someone who will get the crowd jumping and reflect your individual style as a couple. Ask if they do anything interactive with the crowd and get their input on your songs list. Your guests should have a great time and entertainment will be the way to do it! If your budget allows for a band, then once again, make sure they play music that reflects you as a couple as well as your family and friends.

• Venue

Sometimes, even the most magical locations can turn out to be a nightmare! I will write another post on venue selection but in the meantime, remember this: your guests! is your location easily accessible? does it provide adequate lighting and comfortable temperatures? Will your table arrangement be tight in the given space or on the other hand, is the space too large? Is the space walkable? Are the restrooms easily located? Ask yourself, if you were a guest at this wedding, would you enjoy spending 4+ hours in this space? Then ask yourself, do I see myself getting married here. 

• Orchestration and overall flow

This is not a shameless plug for WeddingDayof services! But imagine going to a wedding where nobody knows where anything is and the entire event is chaotic. No matter how nice the decorations were or how amazing the couple looked, you will always remember the chaos, frustration and feeling like you didn't know what to do or where to go! Give your guests a positive experience they'll remember for life!

Happy Planning!

MM

Free Dream Wedding!

Free dream wedding?! Sign me up!

Unfortunately, it's not so simple! In my humble opinion, your wedding event should not be a huge financial burden. You certainly don’t want to start your married life with the stress of significant debt! Inevitably, there are pieces to the wedding that will take over your budget. Each wedding is unique so there are factors to consider when budgeting. In this #MoneyMatters series, I hope to share some great money saving tips as well as information and tools to help you plan your wedding.

Sample Costs to Consider

Catering (food)

• Keeping your guests in mind, make sure your menu is a reflection of you as a couple. Maybe you like really spicy foods, consider the fact that everyone will not enjoy that. Thus, I suggest incorporating a few milder options for your guests. Middle of the road is not bad! make sure you ask questions and schedule a tasting to sample everything.

• Alcohol 

Alcohol can get pretty costly depending on what you are serving at your wedding. Something to consider while planning, is will beer, wine, and a signature cocktail suffice? If your guests are not big drinkers or maybe you’re hosting a mid-afternoon or brunch wedding, you may find this alternative to be a good option. Do you want a wedding with no alcohol? try having “mocktails” they are juice-based beverages made to look like cocktails, but without the alcohol! This will significantly lower the cost and your guests will still have a good time with the drinks!

• Labor (if not included)

If you are hosting an event in a park or barn, for example, your caterer may charge separately for labor to include servers and bartenders. The standard is about 1 server per 25 guests for plated dinners. The buffet will require servers based on the stations you have for your wedding. Bartenders will usually be 1 per 50-75 guests. 

• Wedding Venue

Some venues (especially those that do not have in-house catering) will charge a rental fee. Investigate! Make sure you know what the fees are along with any additional charges and taxes. 

• Transportation

If your event is in multiple locations, how will your guests get to and from? Transportation costs can get high depending on how many people are being transported, distance and time.

Happy Planning!

MM

Inspiration Overload!

When your ideas outweigh your actions... you are suffering from inspiration overload!

There are plenty of articles and blog posts about curtailing your inspiration ideas when it comes to wedding planning. But it's so hard!!!!! Pinterest has what seems to be endless inspiration boards dedicated to wedding planning. From garden themed, to chic modern, classic, and everything in between. With so many ideas, where does one start?! How does one avoid inspiration overload? Bridal Guide posted an article entitled, How to Overcome Pinterest Wedding Overload which gives readers a pretty comprehensive guide on how to use Pinterest to plan your wedding effectively.

My best advice? You can't have a rustic, modern, classic, futuristic wedding :)

It's ok to like all of these things, but figure out what best fits your personality and what really speaks to you. What can you not dream of not doing or having at your wedding? Go with that idea. Remain flexible as you're not going to get all of your wishes! But whatever matters most, put that at the top of the list and try to keep it high on that list! Talk it out with your partner and those who's opinion you trust and make your decision from there. Once you decided on the theme or venue or general Pinterest idea, build on it, rather than starting new streams.

Have fun with it, and most importantly, keep your wedding true to you!

Happy planning!

The B-Word

Oh, the B-word.. let's talk bridesmaids! 

It is noted that bridesmaids were once present for the purpose of protecting the bride on her wedding day by confusing evil spirits that may intend to harm the bride. It's a big deal!  When choosing your bridesmaids, choose those who you would trust with your life! :)

In this day and age, bridesmaids are expected to throw showers, bachelorette parties, often travel for the wedding on top of being required to purchase dresses and pay for makeup, hair, accessories etc.. and make sure the bride has everything she needs during her big day.

However, more often than not, brides do not realize how much financial responsibility weighs on their bridesmaids. A prime example is the article entitled How Being a Bridesmaid Is Driving Me to the Brink of Bankruptcy, posted on Alternet (www.alternet.org),  With the average wedding costing a bridesmaid upwards of $1,500.00 it can be more than some can handle. Add to that the hours of planning and events and the stress and it is quite the commitment to make!

So.. How can you make sure your bridesmaids are happy?

Here are 5 Tips to be a good bride to your bridesmaids

1.   Don't be offended if someone declines to be your bridesmaid

 If you would like to keep someone who declined to be a bridesmaid in your wedding, start by asking them what their concerns are. If there is a workaround or something you can do to ease their worries, do it. Otherwise, if they agree to help out, but do not want to be a part of the wedding, then let them help you.

2. Be realistic with your expectations and remain Flexible

These women have agreed to help you on your big day and look out for your best interest. Show that you are looking out for theirs! Try to be flexible in your planning and give them choices. Having options will put your bridesmaids more at ease with the process and seeing that you are trying to be reasonable will make them more appreciative.

 For example

• Select a few dresses you like and ask for their input on which they prefer before the final decision is made. This also applies to hair and makeup choices.

• Schedule events and wedding planning meetings etc… at the best dates/times for the group

• Use email, Schedule Skype sessions or conference calls to discuss wedding details if possible. rather than multiple in-person meetings

• Make sure you work in some time for fun!

3. Consider finances 

Determine what costs you will cover for your bridesmaids and an approximate cost for their expenses. Present your potential bridesmaids with an estimate so they can make an informed decision and prepare accordingly. Try to negotiate with vendors to get your bridesmaids a deal on their dresses or hair and makeup etc… Whenever possible use the talents your friends have to cut costs as well!

4. Keep yourself organized and your emotions in line

find the best system to keep your wedding plans organized and try to stick to it. Inform your bridesmaids of any major changes. Keep in mind that these are your friends and family members, even though you may be stressed out and emotional, don’t take your emotions out on them. Try to consider their feelings when you address them and make these decisions that affect them too.

5. Be grateful

You may think that allowing someone to be a part of your wedding is thanks enough, but please do take the time to give your bridesmaids a warm and sincere thank you for their hard work and commitment to your big day. There will be times that your emotions get the best of you, recognize how important these women are to you and remember why you chose them to stand beside you in the first place. Yes, bridesmaids’ gifts are touching and are a tangible expression of your gratitude, but nothing beats a genuine expression from the heart.

Happy Planning!

MM