How to Stay on Budget for Your Wedding

Congratulations! You have made the decision to commit and ready to take the next step in planning your big day. This is the perfect time to start thinking about your budget. Unless you are fortunate enough to have unlimited funds, it is essential to set appropriate budget limitations. Your wedding is the most important day in your life, however, starting a life full of debt after your big day will surely cause you unnecessary stress and financial strain for the next few years. The secret of every great wedding is to budget - and to stick to that budget. With that in mind, here are some tips on how to stay on budget for your big day:

1. Get organized

Buy a folder, some dividers and set up section for each part of your wedding: the dress, the flowers, the entertainments, catering, flavors and etc… Keep all related information in that folder so you know exactly where everything is.

2. Do your Research

Before you book any wedding supplier or commit to a venue - do some research. Check out the venue’s competitors and see their package options/prices. Most brides and grooms have never brought some of the things you will need for your wedding so you will not automatically know  what the market price is.

3. Negotiate

Think of your wedding as a business and you are a well needed customer, with money to spend. Your suppliers will expect you to try and get the best price. Do not be afraid to negotiate and you may surprise yourself. If you know yourself and know for a fact, that you are not comfortable with negotiations, bring a friend / relative who is. PS. Be nice to the vendors. No one wants to work with a bridezilla.

4. Get everything in writing - and keep it!

You should always get your quotes and agreements in writing. Even, when negotiating on a price, make sure you get everything in writing. Keep the receipts and stick them into your bridal folder ( see step 1 ). This way everything is in one spot, in case you ever need to reference a price check later on.

5. Watch out for hidden costs

Reading the fine print is a tedious task and it is certainly boring, but it MUST BE DONE. Before making the commitment, make sure you understand all terms of the agreements on both sides of the parties. This will help you avoid sudden surprises that typically come up at the worst possible time.

6. Watch out for extra costs

Your wedding agreement may be clear, however, make sure you are aware of any extra costs. Those little guys can add up and bring you will over your budget.

7. Review, review, review!

Make sure you sit down on monthly bases to review your budget to ensure you are still on track and following the numbers. It is easy to get carried away in the spur of the moment, but if you are truly trying to stick to you budget - it is essential to review it periodically to ensure everything is going as planned.

8. Book ahead

Don’t wait till the last possible moment to commit to a venue or a cake decorator. The typical peak time for booking wedding services is from December to February. To make your life easier, try booking your services either before December or after February to avoid the “Wedding Rush Hour”.

9. Don’t forget to ask questions

Don’t feel shy or awkward asking financial questions. Your suppliers understands, and will be more willing to work with you if you are straightforward about what you want and what kind of financial commitment you can make. If you don’t ask questions you may miss out on a special deal which can save you a ton of money in the long run.

10. Stick to the budget

While you shop for products and services for your wedding you are bound to see nice little things that costs just a bit more than you budgeted. Don’t be fooled by thinking that adding those little things won't put you order the budget. Those costs add up and you will be stuck paying an extra arm and a leg before you know it. Try to stick to what you allocated for each product and if you cannot resist going over the budget in one area, only do so when you have worked out where you can save that amount somewhere else.

5 things to consider when planning a perfect Bachelorette Party

Bachelorette Party

        Ah, the bachelorette party. For some reason this seems like it’s supposed to be just a fun night out with the girls; the “Final Fling Before the Ring!!!”…or whatever else helps party stores sell satin sashes and plastic tiaras for five times the markup... Unfortunately, I’ve witnessed some brides and bridesmaids stress more about the Bachelorette Party than any other part of the wedding. Here are a few party planning tips to genuinely have a good time, - not a countdown until the limo comes and takes everyone home. These are meant to be helpful to whoever is planning the party:

Limitations – This applies to many different aspects of planning a bachelorette party. Sometimes it’s money, and sometimes it’s time. Some might not be able financially afford a weekend trip to Atlantic City or an expensive dinner, night on the town, limo, and a strip club even if split evenly. Some might not be able to take off work to attend, no matter how long in advance you plan it. If it’s between being able to take off for the bachelorette party or the bridal shower, the bridal shower is definitely more important for not only the bridal party, but other friends and family. If you plan the bachelorette party for a holiday weekend, be understanding to the fact that some people might be hosting company or have traditional trips away from home that they will have to attend to.

Age – If you’re planning to have anyone under the age limit of the venues or events (some clubs do not allow anyone under the age of 23 or 25 now) that you want to attend, make sure to look at this as a factor while planning. If there are people in the bridal party that are underage for anything you want to plan, take into consideration that they might feel left out in not being able to celebrate with everyone else.

Enjoyment – It is supposed to be something fun for the bride to bond with her friends and bridal party. If the bride-to-be was never a party girl, try to make it something she would enjoy.  This also applies to other people attending. If someone does not feel comfortable with certain activities, even if they are present for them, try not to embarrass them by intimidating them into participating. Bachelorette parties don’t always have to involve bar crawls, strip clubs, or a crazy all night party. They don’t always have to be at night either. There are plenty of daytime activities available. Consider things like  wine tasting at a vineyard, or look at spa packages, theatre group pricing, manicure/pedicure specials (this could be a time saver if the bachelorette party is planned within a few days of the wedding).

Budgeting – Besides looking into group rates for a more wallet friendly experience, if deciding on using a limousine, contact the livery service (if there is one being used for the wedding), and see if they can give you a discount for using them as well. If plans were made and everyone has agreed or responded, don’t start adding last minute extras that will raise the cost for what was originally agreed on.

Communication - One last tip on Bachelorette Parties. Communication is the key. Try to avoid sending a mass text or a mass email saying something like “____’s Bacheloterre Party on 1/2/14. 400$, dinner + club +  hotel”. What does that even mean?! There are no details about the price breakdown, no information on the type of dinner included or the club, or where you will be spending the night. Besides, is the quoted price of “400$” per individual or per group? Last thing you would want is for people to assume that the price will be split between the entire bridal party, when the price was in fact, quoted for each individual guest. This all can get very confusing, very quickly and more likely bring additional stress to the entire bridal party and most of all, the bride.

Remember, when planning a Bachelorette party, do your homework and research all of the options. Don’t settle for the first Google search result, when searching for “Mexican restaurant near the 14th street”. Break down the prices, communicate well with the rest of the bridal party, cover your limitations and make sure THE BRIDE is going to have a great time. After all, it is her celebration :)

Cheers!

Ps. Here is a shot of my Bachelorette Party in Hoboken, NJ

What to expect when planning a destination wedding

A friend of mine posted in a Facebook status last week requesting opinions on destination weddings. Here’s a tip – never post a “How Do You Feel About…?” query if you have your heart set on a particular idea. She received a response to everything from “Too Expensive!” to “You’re selfish if you make that decision!” ... This girl isn't even engaged, and was just expressing curiosity about an option. Yet, the name calling and harsh criticism was flying five seconds after she hit the post option.

1. Before putting down a nonrefundable deposit at a resort, research the time of year you’ll be traveling. The great deal you might be getting could be due to the fact that it’s a noted time for hurricanes or inclement weather in that region. Having a destination wedding in the resort's off season could potentially save you some serious bucks, so you may want to look into that option as well. 

2. Rather than being put off by all the negativity of opinions (which people will have if you decide to have your wedding in the Caribbean, Disney World, or the pizzeria around the corner) look into the reasoning as to why a destination wedding might be difficult for you to have, especially if the issues arise with people you really want to attend your wedding. 

3. Destination weddings can be rather pricey for guests. Even though the resort might offer all inclusive deals, the cost of everything that’s “free” has to be factored in somewhere. Besides airfare and accommodations, there’s also the issue and added expenses that if they have pets or children, they will have to pay for and acquire the care for them while they are traveling. 

4. Research your country / place of your wedding. This is crucial. For example, when getting married in Mexico you will need to be in the country for at least 48 hours. In addition, you will need to submit a blood test to the local hospital ( don't ask me why ). In Saint Martin you must have 3 witnesses from each bridal party.  The point is this: make sure you do a thorough research on wedding procedures in that particular country before you actually book your venue.

5. Requesting ample time off from work in order to travel to and from to attend the wedding might also be an issue for some if their jobs are not very flexible with scheduling and vacation time. Keep that in mind when setting the date. Some people are simply unable to take off a week from work to travel to the Bahamas.

6. Certain places require a passport to travel to and to return to the country of origin. Adult American passport books and cards cost over $160. They also can take approximately 4 – 6 weeks for a routine application, and 3 weeks for expedited application (which is another fee). Information about obtaining American passports can be found at US Passports and International Travel. 

7. Also, take into the consideration that if you have family members or friends that you really want to be there on your special day, but have medical conditions that need to be monitored or cannot travel for long periods because of a condition, might not be able to attend. My poor friend, who was probably just looking for information on how to plan one or issues that had arisen while others were planning theirs texted me that night thanking me “for being the only person that actually answered her with any sense of reasoning!” What did I write as a comment? The same thing I will write in this article: If it’s what you and your future spouse really want, have a destination wedding, but be understanding that guests you invite might not be able to attend for very valid reasons.

Last words of wisdom: Destination Weddings are a lot of fun. They can cost a fraction of a price you would otherwise pay here, and you will have an amazing time. Before making any major decisions, talk to your groom and research all possible options. Evaluate your budget and make a pros and cons list. If the "pros" outweigh the "cons" - start your research as soon as you can.

Until next time,

11 Tips for The Bride Before The Big Day

First of all, congratulations on your upcoming celebration and commitment to the person you love! Every bride-to-be (and even members of the bridal party) will have moments of anxiety, and it’s perfectly normal. Hopefully, with a few of our tips and tricks listed below, we’ll be able to help you focus on what you should be focused on and enjoy planning what is to be the best day of your life!

1. Remember that this is your wedding. Don’t let anybody pressure you into something they think is perfect or a “must have!” You will never be able to make everybody happy, so focus on what you and your future partner want and what makes the two of you happy.

2. Set a budget and stick with it! Don’t take out an extra credit card or on extra debt that isn't 

necessary. Going a little over budget is okay, but try to stay in range as best as possible. Ignore 

the voice (whether it’s in your head or someone else's in your ear) saying,:“But it’s your wedding!” 

The extra stress and debt for months, or even years, after the ceremony just isn’t worth it.

3. Have a planner or calendar that is only for wedding planning and events. This will leave room for lists and extra information (addressed/phone numbers of location) and not leave you overwhelmed with having multiple appointments or deadlines.

4. Remember, this is real life and not a television special. In order for those shows to be executed properly, it might look like there’s bridesmaid gown drama, but it’s usually staged or edited that way. Everything gets fixed in the end because they have a budget which allows for multiple assistants to ensure everything happens as planned.

5. Don't over do it with Pinterest. It’s great that you might want to hand embroider your baby pictures, with thread made from the hair of a unicorn, but if you don’t have time to, then don’t stress over it.

6. If traveling for a destination wedding or the honeymoon, check with the airline about TSA regulations for everything from passports, proper forms of identification, to what is allowed in a carry-on. Forward this information to anyone that might be traveling the same way for your 

wedding.

7. Try to keep it budget friendly for everyone. Some members of your party might be able to afford a bachelorette party in Vegas, but some members of your party might be working overtime to afford the dress to be a bridesmaid. They want to be there for you and will feel obligated to 

follow along with whatever you want in your plans, so try to keep it fair for everyone involved.

8. Make sure you have cash the night before your bachelorette party and / or your wedding to tip the limo driver, bar tender, hairstylist, makeup artist, etc. to avoid an awkward last minute (that no one has) run to the bank or an ATM.

9. Make sure your shoes fit properly and you have a pair of flats on hand for extra comfort.

10. Use the services, venues, and professionals you want. If someone suggests that they “Just loved ____!!! You have to use ______!!!”, but you didn't love the work they do, do not feel obligated to hire them, even if they are a friend of the family.

11. Keep a table in the room you’re getting ready as the designated place for all food and drink. You might also want to impose the rule that once everyone is in their outfits, only clear liquids can be consumed – at least until after the pictures are taken or the ceremony is over.

The entire experience should be fun and enjoyable for you. Yes, there will be moments when you’re 

stressed or overwhelmed, but remember that what you’re planning for is a celebration and is just the beginning of what is to be the start of an amazing new time of your life.