WEDDING NOTES™ – Gifts to Remember

Selecting locations for the gift registries for one’s wedding is important and fun.  For your guest’s sake, it is wise to select at least three different resources.  Your purpose is to give guests a variety of options and price ranges when it comes time to select your gift.  To that end, experts recommend that you choose at a minimum, one “high-end” store, one moderate/lower priced retailer and perhaps one “non traditional” resource like a charity.  www.Idofoundation.org is a good place to start as it can help you register for donations to a variety of charities.
As you peruse items for your gift choices, most consultants would remind you to expand your vision of gifts to include items beyond the “usual”.  Many couples end up realizing that they have the best equipped kitchen in town, but have no bedroom furnishings.  Seek input and advice from friends and family before you sit down together to develop your list of preferences.  Their ideas may help you to include items that would be helpful that you would never have considered.
REAL SIMPLE magazine asked brides to identify items for the “Things I Wished I’d Registered For” list they were compiling.  Here are some of the items that made the list.

• Extra Wine Glasses
• Oven to table bake ware – one or two casseroles that can go to parties and events and look good.
• Fine China – too many couples are selecting only something practical to use now.  Brides miss having some fine china to use for special occasions and to “pass on”.
• Bar B Q Grill
• Art pieces for home décor (consider including an art gallery in your list of registry locations)
• A cordless drill
• Decorative pillows and throws for the living room – a quick and effective way to add dash
• Christmas decorations – something special and classic that the couple could bring out each year
• Outdoor gear and equipment like Coleman stoves, backyard hammocks or lawn chairs.

For more help with your gift registry, talk with one of our experienced consultants, as we feature gifts that will be remembered for a lifetime.

WEDDING NOTES™ – What Will It Cost?

The answer –as much or as little as you can afford!  You can have a lavish event that tops $100,000 or you can say your vows and entertain your close friends and family for $1500.   It all depends.  If you are planning a wedding on a budget, we offer some dollar saving tips.

• Avoid a summer wedding.  About 70% of US weddings take place between May and October.  As couples compete for vendors and venues, prices rise – because they can.  Depending on where you live, getting married in the “off” season months can save you money on reception expenses, floral arrangements and photography services.
• Choose a day other than Saturday when most weddings take place.  Marrying mid week or Friday night can save rates on room rentals, food and music.
• Look closely at your guest list.  Pare it down to include only those persons who are really close and have meaning in your life.
• Have your ceremony and reception in the same place.
• Choose an hour when a meal is not appropriate or necessary.  Morning weddings followed by a lovely brunch or a later afternoon ceremony followed by a cocktail reception are wonderful options.
• Use flowers that are in season and fill bouquets with more ribbon and fewer flowers.
• Rather than investing in large floral arrangements in the church and reception areas, consider using rental greenery.  It will fill spaces and create more warmth than large stylized arrangements can.
• A good wedding planner can save you time as well money; and most importantly help assure you of one perfect day.

Be honest about your budget and stick with it.  Look for ways to economize but know which items are the dearest to you.  Always remember that it is the marriage that is important – not the entertainment.  Feel free to discuss your plans and concerns with us.  We can help you have a gorgeous wedding and save you money in the process.

WEDDING NOTES™ – Online Gift Registries

While the bulk of wedding gift registries is still run through big box stores, department and specialty stores, there is a growing segment of that industry that is utilizing the reach and specificity of on line communications.  At one time considered somehow “tacky”, on line gift registries have come into their own and have proven to be a real advantage to couples and their guests.

It’s easy to build an online registry.  Your guests can shop from their homes (or phones), which is a huge convenience if they are out of town.  You can select the items you want in stores and then list them on your e- registry.  You can also list your registry on national sites like theKnot.com, weddingchannel.com if your chosen retailer has a partnership with those sites.

Once registered, you can log on to your site anytime to add, delete or change preferences.  You can also see what has already been purchased.  Some sites will include the information about who ordered what.  That will prove helpful when writing thank you notes.  Gift enclosure cards do not always remain attached to the box containing the gift.

There are also new sites that specialize in “non traditional” registry offerings.  While there is still discomfort around the concept of “registering for money”, some couples are utilizing these sites.  For couples who prefer to accumulate cash for a major purchase, there are www.depositagift.com  and www.myregistry.com. For couples who may prefer a fund for the future, there is a website called www.weddingfutures.com that specializes in gift stocks and/or mutual funds.

Whichever method you choose for your gift registries, remember that under no circumstances should those sites be included anywhere in your invitations.  Depend on members of the wedding party and family to spread the word about your gift registry preferences.

Don’t forget that although gift registries now include non-traditional items, gifts for a lifetime are remembered most.

For other helpful registry advice, speak with one of our experienced consultants.

WEDDING NOTES™ – Questions for a Wedding Planner

Should you hire a wedding planner or are you preparing to do it all yourself?  Most busy working brides today need the help of a professional planner – for all or part of their weddings.  A professional wedding planner’s advice and expertise can save time, money and sanity so don’t dismiss the idea out of hand.  

When you meet with a wedding planner to talk about how much or how little you need him/her to do for your wedding, here are six key questions you should ask to guide that informational meeting.

1. Here are the vendors and venues I am considering using.  Do you know anything about them?  Who are your favorites and why?

The planner can often give you some good feedback about a particular vendor and/or steer you away from potential trouble.

 2.  How many weddings of my size have you done?

If you are planning on a small intimate gathering and the planner specializes in huge society weddings, you two may not be a good match.

3.  If I hire you for my wedding, what is your role and what is mine?

It is a good idea to have clarity around who is responsible for what and in a tight situation, who has the final say?  Do need to have the planner clear every little detail with you or can he/she make decisions based on early parameters you two have established?

4.  How many weddings do you do each month?  Do you have enough staff to cover all weddings you book?  You don’t want to be one of a multitude in June if the planner doesn’t have the staff to handle all of its commitments.

5.  Ask for a client and vendor list and ask if you may call them for references.

6.   Ask for an explanation of how he/she charges.  Is there a flat rate, a sliding scale, extra charges for add ons?

7.   Do you belong to any professional organizations? Associations such as Weddings Beautiful Worldwide have helped increased the value, and raise the professional standards of wedding planners everywhere.

The goal of all good wedding planners is to save you time and money . . . and most importantly for you to enjoy one perfect day! 

WEDDING NOTES™ – Gift Registry Ideas

As brides and grooms confer on what and where to register for wedding gifts, here are some items to be included on the registry that are frequently overlooked but are really necessary for a new home start-up.

• Cleaning supplies – Don’t be afraid to put a nice vacuum on your gift list.  This is the time to find a model that is easy to use and is durable.  If you have a home with stairs – either a split level or multi story model, consider the value of a vacuum on each floor.  If you already have a terrific model, add a hand held/portable vac for your kitchen area.  There is nothing better for picking up crumbs and the inevitable dry spills.

• Iron – while you may still take shirts and professional clothing to a cleaner, there is always a place for a good steam iron in every household.  Put a good ironing board on the list at the same time. 

• China – always register for more china pieces than you think you’ll need or want.  IF you think the perfect size dinner party is 6, order enough for 8.  Likewise, if 8 is your ideal size, order 10 place settings.  Pieces break over time.

• Kitchen – select and place on your list a set of really good kitchen knives.  One good set will last for years and make slicing and dicing a pleasure.

• Entertainment items – Unless you have every electronic device you think you need, take another look at your camera.  Not every photograph needs to be taken by your phone.  What about a DVD or portable TV?

• Gift Cards – more and more vendors are making room for those on gift registries.  These are a nice way to fill in  items you need or want that you did not think of when completing your registry.

You may wish to include some “off Registry” items for your guests’ consideration .Use your wedding website to let guests know that you’d like donations made in your name to your favorite charity.  This lovely way to celebrate your new life together spreads the joy and makes many people happy.

For other ideas on formatting your gift registries, stop in a talk with one of our certified wedding consultants.

WEDDING NOTES™ – Contemporary Traditional

Do those two terms seem contradictory?  At one time they may have, but more and more couples are looking for ways to place their personal stamp on their wedding plans.  The term “unique” is heard more and more as brides search for ways to make their weddings memorable for them and their guests.

Our consultants have lots of ideas on how to do just that, so do stop in to chat with them about ways to personalize your wedding ceremony and reception.

• Consider replacing the traditional bachelor or bachelorette party with a get together that combines both events.  Consider a hike, beach party, bike ride, cook-out, softball game or evening out at a skating rink or bowling alley.

• Rather than hold the rehearsal dinner at a typical restaurant’s party room, book an art museum, a university facility, a park or a historical building to serve as a special setting for your event.

• Supplement your florist’s handiwork and create reception decor with native wild flowers, leaves, twigs, fruits and herbs from a local grower or farmer’s market.

• Some brides have decided to let their bridesmaids select their own gowns based on a color scheme and degree of formality.  This works well when you admire their taste in clothes.  It is wise to set some guidelines – degree of coverage desired, tailored or fluffy, plain or elaborate, length etc.  But within those parameters, maids can choose their own wearable outfits.  Many bridal salons have several designers who can work to truly individualize a bridesmaid’s gown within the “look” of the wedding.

If you have a unique reception venue chosen, consider hiring a local chef you admire or a culinary school to put a special spin on your reception menu.  Think about including family food traditions that may be important to both the bride and groom.  If you can’t afford a sit down dinner, there is nothing wrong with having a desert reception or a small plate limited cocktail reception and wedding cake.

WEDDING NOTES™ – What About Insurance?

When is insuring your wedding good business?  Who would do such a thing and why?

Wedding insurance has reached national attention after several high-profile instances of severe weather which impacted wedding plans last year.  Think hurricanes and tornadoes.

One insurance underwriter has said, “The average price of a wedding last year hit $27,021, according to The Real Weddings Survey.  In some areas it can cost double that.  Escalating costs are prompting many couples to consider wedding insurance to protect these significant investments.”

When should you consider wedding insurance?

• If you are planning a big wedding that is likely to be expensive, consider insurance to cover your plans.  If you buy an expensive car you insure it.  People are more aware of the need to protect their investments.
• Many venues require large deposits well in advance of the event.  Insurance can protect your investment should the venue not deliver on the contract.
• Couples are urged to have an in depth discussion with their vendors about what would happen if “things go wrong”.  If they are not satisfied with the terms of the contract they should seek to amend it.  Kristin Koch from TheKnot.com calls wedding insurance “the ultimate back-up”.

Insuring your wedding may be the last item on your list, but it exists and is increasing in popularity and use.  An experienced wedding planner can put you in touch with companies that write that coverage and can help you decide if that coverage is for you.  Put that on your list of items to discuss with our certified planners.