Final Numbers |
Wedding Day Selection |
One of the most common questions we get as we approaching a wedding date is how to determine the final count if not all RSVPs are returned. To be honest there isn’t a great way to determine this unless you reach out to those who did not respond so you have the most accurate number possible. There is also a chance that those who said they are coming will turn out as a no show and visa versa with those who said they aren’t coming. We prepare based on the final count you give us because you know your guests better than us but for food purposes we try to prepare a bit extra so that you won’t run out of food in case additional people do show up. While planning one thing that seems to help some brides is to assign a percentage of likelihood that the guest will attend, some things to consider are if they live out of town, how close your relationship is, and if it is a holiday weekend. You can determine a weighted average if you assign percentages and then have a ballpark idea of how many guests to plan on even before you get an RSVP back. Example: Invited 150 guests, assign percentages to each guest, add percentages together, divide total percentage by number of invited, this is then the percentage of your total that you can expect to attend. While this is not the most exact way to determine your final numbers it does give you a starting point and at least an estimate.
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When you think of a wedding you traditional think of it being on a Saturday which is by far the most popular day of the week to get married. The catch for you as the planner of the wedding is these dates book up fast! Saturday weddings are followed closely by Fridays and then Sundays coming in third. It seems as though a Friday is the next best day to get married which it does make sense for a lot of couples as you then have the weekend to recover, but whichever you choose Friday or Sunday as your alternative guests will likely have to take some time off work. One benefit to a Sunday is the price break, a lot of vendors offer a price reduction for a Sunday wedding. Also, Sundays are nice for planning a weekend out of it. You have guests arrive Friday and then get to spend the weekend with them before your big day on Sunday and a lot of times they get a price break on flights for leaving on a Monday. Whichever date you decide to get married just keep in mind that those who you want to be in attendance will be there no matter the day as it is your day!
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Music |
Lists |
Music is one area where many brides and grooms may see as an area to cut costs and save money. While if done right and and meets the needs of the crowd and bride & groom then yes an ipod with a playlist it is a god solution. However, some of the benefits of a DJ/Band may be overlooked. Having a professional in charge of having the right equipment for the ceremony and reception is a huge relief as well as having someone keep the evening running smoothly and according to plan can be very helpful as well. Also, an ipod can’t judge the mood of the crowd and play music that is pleasing the crowd and keeps people dancing but a professional can. In summary, if you aren’t going to have music or dancing be a large part of your day than yes you can save some money but if you like to boogie and know that your guests will want to as well then spending the money may be the best route for you.
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Let’s face it, wedding planning can be overwhelming! Lists can & will become your friend! There are many wedding checklists out there that can help you plan a wedding in 2 years or 3 months, so look for one that will fit your needs. Other lists that may be helpful to you might include Photograph List to give to your Photographer so that you get all of the picture taken with everyone that you want in them and the poses you like, DJ songs to play & NOT to play, Timeline for the day of the wedding to keep everyone on track, Items to bring to reception site the day of (cake knife, marriage license, toasting flutes, etc.) & Overnight List to make sure to pack in your bag for the night of the wedding. There are so many components that all come together on one big day but put someone else in charge and have them be the go to person so that you can stay calm, cool and relaxed. Enjoy the day- it will go fast!
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Choosing Vendors |
DIY |
You have so many items that come together all on one big day and when planning you want to choose the best vendor for each aspect. When it comes down to it, we recommend meeting or talking with a few vendors in each category to see if you mesh well with them. You have your unique personal style and there is not one vendor that is perfect for everyone. You want a photographer who has a portfolio of photos that you love and want captured on your day. You want a DJ/Band who can help your night run smooth and specializes in the music that you love! You want a baker who makes your favorite cake or cupcakes. You want a venue that you can see yourself getting married and is easy to work with. You want a florist who can make the flowers of your dreams come to a reality. I could go on and on but the trend is what YOU want, it is your day and your vendors should seek to please YOU and make your day perfect! Ask for recommendations from family and friends because they know you and can help when choosing who would meet your needs.
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Year over year the number of bride’s who claim to be a DIY-er grows. Whether it be to save the budget or because there are so many more resources to get ideas. The most popular resource by a landslide being Pinterest, you can find ideas, advice or inspiration for each aspect of your wedding. Many times when we ask brides “Where did you get that idea?” they say Pinterest. As we continued to get these responses we decided to start our own page & boards to give others inspiration from what has been done at our venue. We enjoy helping couples plan and love to share ideas that we have enjoyed! It is also worth mentioning that the number of websites for planning have grown significantly as well and wedding blogs can give advice from real brides, with so many resources available it is impossible to not have ideas for your wedding but on the other hand it is easy to get lost with so many possibilities out there. We stand by our suggestion that we give brides “simple is better” which is true for our venue, the outdoors offers up so much that you don’t need a lot for it to look beautiful but each person has their own taste and style so we welcome you to decide for yourself.
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