Wedding Budget: Cuts to Avoid

No matter what your wedding budget is, it's likely that you will be looking for ways to cut costs where possible. And why not? There are so many small things you can do or change that will make a huge difference in the overall amount of money you will spend.  But there are endless amounts of articles about how to pinch your wedding pennies. However, there aren't a lot of articles explaining the things you should avoid cutting back on.

• Don't host a cash bar: Just don't do it. Alcohol can amount to a a large percentage of the costs for your reception, but you can host an open bar on the cheap. It's so common nowadays to go to a wedding serving only beer, wine, soda and signature drinks or a combination of the four. If your reception location allows you to bring your own alcohol, buy some kegs and plenty of wine and you will save big! If you're looking to save even more, think about hosting a morning bruch and serving only mimosas or even going sans alcohol.

Photo Credit: Wedding Bee

• Don't skip table decor: Centerpieces are the focal point of each table and an essential element of your reception decor. A room full of bare tables says restaurant, not wedding reception. Flowers are not the only option for centerpieces either. Think outside the box, but within your theme and use items that are unique to you.

Photo Credit: Benfield Photography

• Don't cut videography: This is often one of the first things to go when cutting costs, but it shouldn't be! Read what wedding pros, MPA Productions have to say about this essential service here.

• Don't serve food just because it's cheap: A deciding factor is your guests' enjoyment is how much they did or didn't enjoy their meal. Taste tests, whenever possible, are extremely helpful in making sure your guests will leave feeling satisfied and not heading for the nearest McDonald's. If the delicious catering service you prefer is out of your price range, think about serving an hors d'oeurves buffet in place of dinner or a brunch reception instead of heavy evening meal.

• Don't ditch the favors: Your guests may have plans to cancel, work to skip and traveling to do in order to attend your event. And aside from that, the people who attend your wedding have contributed a lot to get you and your groom to this point in your lives. For both of these reasons, they deserve a small thank you. 

Photo Credit: Steven Myers Photography and Once Wed

There are so many ways you should save money on your wedding costs. And if you need further assistance, email me and I would love to help you!

What do you all think about these no-no's? Are there any others you think should be added to the list?

Morning of the Wedding Do's & Don'ts

In the midst of all the wedding craziness, plans for the morning of the celebration may seem trivial, but don't overlook this crucial time. Second only to the actual wedding, this will be one of the shortest handful of hours to date. But it will be such a special part of your day that you will want to remember: your last few hours as a single woman!

Don't Stay up all Night: As difficult as it may be to get a good night's sleep before the big day with all the excitement brewing inside you, make it happen! Take some natural sleep-aids, take a warm bath, drink some tea and head to bed early!

Do Wake Up Alone: Spend the first few minutes of the morning all by yourself, soaking in the feeling of knowing it's finally your wedding day. You will be surrounded the rest of the day, so enjoy a few minutes of "me-time" before it all begins!

Do Wear Something Special: Go ahead and buy one of those "bride" or "Mrs..." dresses, robes or shirts to get ready in. Not only does it keep your hair and makeup in tact, but it looks adorable in photos and makes for a wonderful keepsake!

                                                                                                           Source: blog.karikochar.com via Kat on Pinterest

Do Bring Beauty to You: If at all possible, have the beauty experts come to you! Whether it's at your home or a hotel room, being able to stay in one place will keep nerves at bay and allow you to enjoy more. Spend a few minutes the night before gathering fees and tips (if necessary) in envelopes and have them ready for the morning.

Source: elimurray.com via Amber on Pinterest

Don't do Wedding Projects: As tempting as it may be to save money and arrange your own flowers the morning of your wedding, don't do it! The morning of your wedding is a time for relaxation and pampering. If you must do anything for the wedding, assign the task to the bridal party, family or your wedding coordinator.

Don't Forget the Food & Drinks: Make arrangements for food to be delivered or pick it up the night before after the rehearsal dinner. You won't want to spend the morning cooking, so order room service or call a nearby bakery. And if there ever was a morning where mimosas were mandatory, this is it! Better yet, try this new take on a morning bevarage: champagne and tangerine sorbet. Yum!

                                                                                                              Source: pin4fun5921.blogspot.com via Ramay on Pinterest

Do Invite your Photographer: Having someone there to capture the hair-fixing and makeup applying along with the laughs and love will be more imporant than you think!

Source: deliciousness1.blogspot.com via Ronald on Pinterest

Do Create a Playlist: Think ahead and create a wedding-morning playlist of upbeat songs to keep the energy up and make you feel good, like this one below.

Photo Credit: Social Life

With these tips, you will be able to make the most of this short time, making wonderful memories with your favorite ladies!
What do you plan to do (or not do) on the morning of your wedding? Comment below and tell me what you think also belongs on this list.

Winter Wedding: Paul & Stephanie

When I came across Jesse & Gena, I knew I had to work with them so I immediately emailed them and they agreed to share one of their recent weddings! Jesse Daniels Photography is located in Evansville, Indiana, but the team is also available for travel and destination weddings.

In the following photos, you are are able to get a feel for this adorable couple, who chose a fabulously trendy color scheme for their December nuptials. Paul & Stephanie went for a winter wonderland, using snowflakes, ornaments and even "snow fall" during their first dance. In the outdoor photos, the twinkling lights in the trees elicit a romantic feel, while the superhero photos of the bridal party allow for a glimpse at their silly sides. In every image, Jesse & Gena do a wonderful job of bringing the small details to life!

For more information about Jesse & Gena, head over to their Facebook, portfolio and blog. (P.S. I am loving this engagement shoot and you will too!)

Make sure to leave me some comment love and tell me what you are dying over in this wedding post!

Wedding Color Scheme: Navy Blue

If you haven't yet heard, one of the big wedding colors for 2013 is navy blue (Pantone is calling it "monaco blue"), which means I should probably go into the business of reading crystal balls, as navy was my color before it was cool...see?

So if you're looking to stay on-trend (like me) with your wedding colors, you might want to use this deep shade of blue. But then the question remains, as it does anytime you pick your predominant color: how do you know what your accent colors should be? Well, like a good wedding planner, I've got you covered...with plenty of options!

• Navy & Coral: What's not to love about this? I love how the coral brightens everything up. Perfect for spring & summer!

Photo Credit: Wedding Paper Divas

• Navy & Blush: Blush pink is one of my newest favorite accent colors. It's just beautiful! It's light so it brings a look together without overpowering. And flowers in blush are effortlessly elegant.

Photo Credit: Port Gamble Weddings

• Navy & Purple: With these two colors being so close on the color spectrum, they seemlessly blend together to create a gorgeous indigo tone. I suggest using all shades of purple, from lavender to eggplant alongside the deep blue. I love these colors together!

Photo Credit: Indy Getting Hitched

• Navy & Mint: With mint being such a big color in fashion, this color duo makes perfect sense! Honestly, although I'm biased, any shade of green goes perfectly with navy, but this is, by far, my favorite!

Photo Credit: Raymond Lee Jewelers

• Navy & Red: Red & blue may automatically conjure a view of the American flag, and you probably aren't looking for a patriotic color scheme. But simply deepening the shade of red and carefully blending the two shades creates a sophisticated fall or winter pallete, while a brighter shade of red allows for a nautical, summer look!

Photo Credit: OuterInner

Photo Credit: Groom Sold Separately

If you are looking for more color inspiration, check out Style Me Pretty, where you can search photos by color. And if you'd like assistance with your color scheme or anything for your wedding, email me. I'd love to help!

Which color duo is your favorite and which ones could you do without? Comment below and tell me!

Updates

Good Morning, lovelies & Happy Wednesday!

Today is an exciting day for me because my first guest post is being featured on one of my new favorite style blogs! First of all, go check out Vanessa at 7Jaded: a newlywed, fashionista and web designer. Then go check out my guest post on the 2013 trends in bride and groom fashion here.

I also have two beautiful photo posts planned for this Friday and next that you will fall in love with! I know you don't want to miss them, so go ahead and join the site or subscribe to make sure you get updates on new posts!

And finally for today, if you haven't "liked" our Facebook page, now is the time! I am planning an exciting giveaway when we reach 100 likes and we are less than 10 away!

See you all tomorrow with a brand, new post!

Luxury Honeymoon on a Budget

It's Monday, there's snow on the ground here in Indiana and the sun is nowhere in sight. After a short bout of writer's block this morning, the topic of the day was obvious: HONEYMOON!

Paradise Point in San Diego

Whether you're just engaged, halfway through or somewhere in between, dreams of your honeymoon are dancing in your head (maybe behind the list of decisions to make...but they're there). The tradition of an immediate vacation following a wedding is pretty ingenious if you think about it. A week with your new hubs, getting tan and relaxing on the beach sounds so dreamy, it will get you through the most stressful days of wedding plans.

Unless you're one of the lucky few receiving your honeymoon as a gift or planning your own with an unlimited budget, you probably want a luxury trip without breaking the bank.

If you're not already on the mailing list for sites like Groupon and Living Social, you are passing up prime opportunities to save money on 5-star resorts. Or if you already have your options narrowed down but don't like the prices, try Funjet for savings on resorts, airfare, vehicles and activities. Try searching specifically for all-inclusive resorts (especially in Mexico) where everything you could possibly need is at your fingertips and included in your price!

The newest fad in honeymoons are cruises. And why not? Virtually everything is included in the price, (minus alcohol) and the opportunity to visit multiple locations is a serious bonus! Generally, unless you're booking a stay on a brand-new ship, cruise prices are extremely affordable and even more so in the off season! (Bonus for winter brides!!) You can easily book a 5-7 day cruise for two for around $1000 plus airfare. Try using this site to search cruises by port, length, desitnation and cruiseline. Searching by port location is so helpful  because you can save even more money by choosing a port that is the least expensive to fly to or within driving distance from where you live.

Staying within the country will also save you big, especially if you don't already have passports. The United States offers some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Think San Diego (I highly suggest Paradise Point!) and the Florida Keys. Or opt for a different climate entirely. Research the options in Northern California, Colorado or Maine. You'd be suprised at the appeal of a non-traditional honeymoon location and the romance to be found at a cabin in the mountains, a trip to the vineyard, or a bed & breakfast on the East coast.

When all else fails, try a local travel agent and see what options they have for you. I am certainly no travel agent and don't claim to be, but I do have a knack for finding amazing deals on travel, within a couple's budget, so if you're still looking for more ideas or interested in more information, email me, I'd love to help!

Have you "liked" us on Facebook yet? Head over to our page and check it out! We are only 10 "likes" away from our first giveaway!

Guest Post: MPA Weddings

In the short time that I've been blogging and growing my wedding planning business, I've had the opportunity to network with and "meet" so many talented faces of the wedding industry, from all over the country. Thanks to the social-networking abilities of Twitter, I have been introduced to some of my new favorite wedding blogs and vendors. So today, I would like to introduce you to one of them, the award-winning photography/ videography duo of MPA Weddings, Mandy & Adam.

Mandy so cleverly apporoached me about discussing the importance of videography and I'm so thankful that she did. Because if there's one thing that I want my brides to know, it's the importance of the two things you're left with after the celebration is over: photo & video.

      "A wedding video is the most valuable part of a wedding that too many brides overlook.  I can’t even begin to recount how many times people say to me, “I wish I would have had a wedding videographer.”  Shortly after our clients receive their wedding video, we get notes from older siblings and parents letting us know just how much they feel they missed out at their own weddings.  Maybe it’s the way new technology has enabled us to capture such beautiful, cinematic footage of weddings without having to charge and arm and a leg, or maybe it’s that the moments of a wedding (though they take forever to plan) pass by in the blink of an eye.  Whatever it is, the value of a wedding video has never been higher. 

It’s true that a picture is worth a thousand words, but a video is a thousand words and a thousand pictures.  For anyone that is on the fence about hiring a professional wedding videographer or anyone that wants reassurance that they are making one of the best decisions of their lives, there are 5 essential reasons why deciding against capturing your day on video is a big mistake.

      1.     Memories Fade.   With each passing year, the stories get shorter and names change.  The original speech your brother gave that made everyone laugh slowly morphs into what you argue may have been a zinger from dad or a wise crack from a cousin.  When your 25^th anniversary arrives, you have an easier time recalling what you ate, than what anybody said or did.  Fortunately, you have your wedding movie to help you remember.

      2.     Blink Of An Eye.  You spend months (or even years) planning an event that comes and goes in a matter of hours.  As the bride and groom, you start your day getting dressed and moving from one place to the next.  The ceremony comes and goes in a matter of minutes.  After your photo shoot, you are eating dinner and listening to speeches, still trying to comprehend that you just got married!  Next thing you know, your friends and family are seeing you off and you wake up the next morning feeling like you had just been through a whirlwind.  At that point, there is no better feeling than knowing that in a few weeks, you’ll be receiving your wedding video and will have the chance to figure out exactly where the day went.

      3.     What You May Have Missed.  As the bride is the last one to walk down the isle, she clearly wont be able to see the bridal party walk before her or her niece throwing the flowers that took months to arrange.  She will miss her dog trotting the ring down the isle and the laughter of the crowd when they see the adorable arrival sign her nephew carried.  Fleeting moments like these are forever gone and will never be seen by the bride…unless of course you have a wedding video.

  

      4.     Words Are Worth A Thousand Pictures.  Your maid of honor “googled” every brides maid speech ever written and the best man spent weeks combing through draft after draft trying to figure out the best balance of heart felt and funny.   Your father contemplated for years what he would say when the day would come when he would have to give his little girl away.  You spent lifetimes dreaming of your vowels and shed love filled tears trying to deliver them.  Some moments deserve more than just a picture.  They deserve a wedding video.

      5.     You’re The Star.  Let’s face it, for most of us there will only be a few moments in our lives when all eyes are on us and only one time when we spend months and years planning and preparing to have a celebration of our own personal love.  For one night only, you and your lover are the stars of a beautiful love story that you got to design and direct.  Your wedding is your own personal piece of time, an art piece that should be treasured forever.  To not capture the event as completely as possible would be a disservice to all the beauty the moment has to offer.  

It breaks my heart every time I hear “I wish I would have gotten a wedding video.”  I know that there is no way to go back in time and film those moments that have come and gone.  As a wedding photographer, I know the power of capturing a single moment.  As a wedding videographer, I know the power of capturing time itself."

Ready to see this talented team in action? Check out the photos and video from the gorgeous October 2012 wedding of Megan & Rad:

"Adam Chase and his partner, Mandy Philips, co-founded MPA Productions and MPA Weddings.  With a strong passion for wedding photography and wedding videography, Adam brings a unique new style to the wedding industry. Adam has a knack for creating comfortable settings for his clients. His studies from University of Colorado and University of Maryland enable Adam to combine audio and visual skills into epic wedding experiences. Contact adam@mpaweddings.com and visit www.mpaweddings.com for more information."

Thank you so much, Mandy and Adam for sharing such an informative article, that I think is a must-read for every bride & groom! Please make sure to check out MPA Weddings on Facebook and Twitter to see more!