| NOTICE: If you don't read this article BEFORE you plan | | | | sell is the name of the game. Their job is to part you |
| your wedding, you are going to lose money! I | | | | from your money. Your job is to be a smart shopper |
| guarantee it! | | | | and keep as much of your money in your pocket as |
| I'm going to share a few secrets with you so that you | | | | possible. |
| can plan your wedding, save loads of money, and still | | | | You are the Queen of your wedding day. As the |
| be sane by your wedding day! | | | | Queen, you have the final say so and the final |
| (1) Steps for planning a wedding: You can do all of this | | | | responsibility to create your beautiful day. But that |
| yourself without hiring a wedding planner or wedding | | | | doesn't mean you have to be crazy by your wedding |
| consultant! | | | | day. So remember, delegate, delegate, delegate! I |
| (2) Regardless of your wedding budget, you will save | | | | remember hearing famous businessman and former |
| a huge amount of money! | | | | Presidential Candidate H. Ross Perot speak one time |
| (3) I don't care if you have a year to plan or a month | | | | about succeeding in business. He said you cannot |
| to plan, you can still have the wedding of your dreams | | | | know everything, therefore you surround yourself with |
| at the price you want to pay! | | | | brilliance. Now there was a man who had a handle on |
| We did a gorgeous garden wedding and outdoor | | | | control issues, ego, any Superman complex. He was |
| reception and planned it in 2 weeks for under $1000! | | | | absolutely correct. You can not be everywhere and |
| And that included the wedding gown! | | | | do everything at once. You must delegate. Many of |
| TIP #1: When you are shopping for goods or services | | | | the duties, as well as follow up, should fall to your maid |
| for your wedding, NEVER say it's for a wedding! | | | | of honor, bridesmaids, and family members. |
| Wedding purveyors are part of the service industry, | | | | Yes, you absolutely can hire a wedding planner or |
| and service industry automatically mark up their goods | | | | coordinator to plan your wedding. But it will cost you |
| for services. But wedding vendors mark up greatly! So | | | | approximately 15% of the total cost of your wedding. |
| you're putting together a little function, retirement party, | | | | Today's weddings average $27,000-$40,000, |
| whatever, but not a wedding! | | | | depending upon your geographical location. So NOT |
| TIP #2: Negotiate from a position of power. For | | | | having a wedding planner can save you major money! |
| purposes of this article, let's just state the principle as | | | | And of course, those average costs are just that. |
| this: when you make your initial calls to the vendor, you | | | | They are not the Platinum Weddings that you see on |
| are not checking prices, you are accepting bids for | | | | television. And wedding coordinator are not Mr. Short |
| whatever good or service that you seek. That puts | | | | as seen in "Father of the Bride." He was such a hoot, |
| the ball in your court instead of the vendors. | | | | that I'd almost be willing to hire him just to experience |
| TIP #3: When you call a vendor, you need to have | | | | his craziness. But wedding planners are regular people, |
| exactly in mind what you seek. Changes can be made | | | | just like you and me, and they all have their own |
| and negotiated later, but for now, you need bids from | | | | foibles and preferences. That's why when you work |
| multiple vendors that are exactly alike so you are | | | | with a coordinator, you have to have definite ideas and |
| comparing oranges to oranges. | | | | really healthy boundaries, or you'll end up with your |
| I am not a certified wedding planner or consultant. But I | | | | coordinators favorite wedding instead of your own. |
| have been a bride several times :) and am a minister | | | | TIP #8: Plan your time wisely! First things first: no |
| that has married many couples and heard the horror | | | | wedding without a venue to marry and/or have a |
| stories. So many years ago, I began to develop my | | | | reception in. So first you have the place, then the |
| own wedding planning program, before we even had | | | | minister or officiate if you're not marrying in your own |
| the internet to make comparison shopping so much | | | | church, then you focus on your vendors: flowers, food, |
| easier! | | | | rings, ect. Create a timeline and stick to it! Nothing left |
| I have heard brides say that they weren't willing to get | | | | until to the wedding day other than pampering yourself! |
| married in their back yard if that was the only way to | | | | TIP#9: Flowers are a large part of your budget. Stick |
| save money. Well, guess what? It's not the only way! | | | | with "in season" flowers. You'll save much more than |
| TIP #4: Many office buildings have beautiful gardens | | | | going for exotic varieties that are out of season. |
| and/or fountains as an atrium area. Did you know how | | | | Besides, very, very few people are aware of what is |
| easy and inexpensive it is to hold your wedding in one | | | | in and out of season. |
| of these? | | | | Tip #10: From your flower budget, focus the most of |
| TIP #5: Did you know that a $2000 wedding dress has | | | | your alter flowers. That's the direction that your guests |
| about $200 worth of fabric and labor in it? That's | | | | will spend most of their time looking at. Then make |
| because almost all of these dresses come from | | | | these flowers do double duty for you on your |
| overseas markets made in near slave market | | | | reception tables. Spend less on a huge bridal bouquet. |
| factories. But you can save on your own dress with | | | | Your quests will be watching your radiant face as you |
| this one trick: when you find a dress that you like, ask if | | | | come up the isle rather than your bouquet. |
| it is available in a less expensive fabric? It is, I assure | | | | I hope these few tips will help you be on your way to |
| you! | | | | a beautiful, cost saving wedding day. There really are |
| TIP #6: I can give you many cost saving ideas for | | | | as many possibilities as your imagination. And that |
| dresses and where to buy them, here's just one: Buy a | | | | includes your ceremony. Be flexible and make your |
| very simple white gown and make it your own | | | | day fun. After all, just because you "know" something |
| wedding dress. Fabric stores, as well as online sources, | | | | was supposed to go a certain way, your guests won't |
| have beautiful lace, appliqués, beading, and | | | | have any idea. Although family and friends will offer |
| more which can be added to a plain white dress. | | | | many suggestions, some of them very good by the |
| TIP #7: Never buy your wedding accessories from a | | | | way, it is, ultimately your day. Your job is to please |
| bridal shop. This includes shoes, veils, tiaras, headpieces, | | | | yourself and your partner. You're making memories |
| ring pillows, ect. Why? Because wedding shops have | | | | that will last a lifetime. Make your day as special as |
| built in "service fees" built into the cost of every | | | | your love! |
| product. They are a service intensive industry, and up | | | | |