I’m going to tackle one of my favorite topics again…outside weddings! I’ve told you before that I love everything about them, especially their beauty and uniqueness. An outside wedding can be whatever you want it to be, the options are endless. But there are some challenges that planning an outside wedding can present. So to make your life a little bit easier I am going list the most common “problems” with planning an outside wedding and suggest simple ways to handle them. I have also included a few ideas that you can use to work with nature and guarantee the gorgeous outdoor wedding you’ve always wanted.
Beverages – It is a nice idea to offer water or lemonade available before the ceremony. Since alcohol is dehydrating, serve a variety of lemonades, teas and punches at the bar. Be sure to have plenty of ice on hand.
Bugs – Consider spraying the grounds for bugs and use citronella candles. Have bug spray handy for guests.
Cake – Do not use butter cream frosting or it may melt; use fondant or marzipan instead.
Candles – If you decide to you candles, cover them with hurricane glasses so that the wind doesn’t blow them out.
Chairs – Do not have your guest sit in metal chairs in the hot sun.
Cold - Consider renting a tent heater to keep your guest comfortable. Putting down the sides on your tent will keep the heat in. In cool weather have your bridesmaids wear wraps or shrugs.
Décor - You may want to consider including an arch or trellis to focus the ceremony and frame the bride and groom as they say their vows. Strings of lights or lanterns in the trees, luminaries, and torches all make beautiful outdoor decoration.
Electricity – Make sure there is electricity available for sound systems, fans, and lighting.
Flowers – Leave your centerpieces inside until the last minute so they don’t wilt on a hot day.
Food – Don’t use mayo or perishable ingredients in food that will be sitting out.
Ground - Make sure the grass is mown, the ground raked, and the flowers have bloomed at your wedding site.
Heat – Consider making your programs in the shape of fans. Consider renting an air conditioner or fans to keep your guests comfortable. Upgrade to a deodorant that has Aluminum Chloride to prevent sweating.
Noise- Use a sound system with clip mikes for the bride and groom so that guests can hear your vows over traffic or other noises.
Parking – Consider having valets to help with parking or renting a shuttle to transport guests from nearby hotels.
Permit - Don't forget to contact your city parks department or other local government to find out if you need a permit for an outdoor wedding.
Rain – Have a weatherproof tent and reserve sidewalls and covered walkways in case of rain.
Restrooms – If you wedding is at a private home, reserve portable restrooms; you do NOT want 100+ guest all using the indoor plumbing.
Wind – Secure your seating cards so they don’t blow away. Add tiny weights to your veil to keep it from flying around.
Shoes – Don’t wear thin heals down the aisle or you will sink into the grass.
Sun – For a sunset wedding, make sure guests face away from the sun. Have plenty of sunscreen handy (sunscreen wipes are a good option). Parasols are thoughtful for guest to use during the ceremony.
Themes – Themes that lend themselves easily to an outdoor wedding include beach, fall harvest, garden, rustic country, vineyard, and western.
If you’re planning an outside wedding and have a specific question about it, please feel free to send me a note. I’m more than happy to help, because from “I will” until “I do” I’m here for you.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Budget? What Budget?
I don’t need to tell you that weddings cost a lot of money. The food, flowers, and entertainment alone can leave your wallet feeling empty and your bank account drained. You need to keep a close watch on your expenses throughout the planning or you are likely to spend much more than you anticipated. This is especially important in today’s tough economy. As a wedding planner, the first thing I do when I sit down with a bridal couple is put together a budget. It doesn’t matter if your budget is $5,000 or $50,000, you should still sit down and map out your projected expenses. Then keep track of your actual expenses and compare them with your estimates. Each line item may not match up exactly, but if your bottom line is the same then you and your wallet can breathe a sigh of relief.
How much exactly should you plan on spending on each wedding category? This is going to vary depending on what is most important to you. If you are the type of person that will spend hours pouring over your wedding photos, then you should spend a little more on a great photographer. If you want to dance the night away with all your friends, an excellent DJ or rocking band would be worth the investment. Of course by spending more on one item, you will need to spend slightly less on another thing. It is all about priorities, so decide what yours are. You should work on this step as a couple; you don’t want to have a “spat” with your fiancé because you decided to use 50% of your budget on a designer dress. You can use the percentages I’ve listed here as a starting point.
Your reception will eat up the bulk of your wedding budget. You should designate around 45% of your total budget for this post-nuptial celebration. This figure includes the site fee, rental items (including a tent if your reception is outdoors), food, drinks, wedding cake, and décor. Next, consider designating 12.5% of your budget to hiring a Professional Bridal Consultant. This percentage might be a little higher if you want help with the majority of the planning. It could be a little less if you just want wedding day management. About 8% of your budget should go to the bride’s attire, including dress, veil, shoes, undergarments, jewelry, hair, and makeup. Another 8% is for photography and/or videography. Music and flowers should account for approximately 7% each. Use 4% for invitations and other stationary and 2.5% for wedding bands. These figures leave 6% available for miscellaneous costs such as transportation, the groom’s attire, gifts, accessories, the ceremony fees, and tips.
Once you have a rough outline for your budget it is a good idea to plug the figures into a budget worksheet. Check out the ones at TheKnot.com and also MarthaStewartWeddings.com. I have one I made myself that works well. If you’d like me to send you a copy, just drop me a note. Once your budget is together you can move on to the more exciting aspects of planning your wedding. And you won’t go into debt doing it!
From “I will” until “I do” I’m here for you. See you next time!
How much exactly should you plan on spending on each wedding category? This is going to vary depending on what is most important to you. If you are the type of person that will spend hours pouring over your wedding photos, then you should spend a little more on a great photographer. If you want to dance the night away with all your friends, an excellent DJ or rocking band would be worth the investment. Of course by spending more on one item, you will need to spend slightly less on another thing. It is all about priorities, so decide what yours are. You should work on this step as a couple; you don’t want to have a “spat” with your fiancé because you decided to use 50% of your budget on a designer dress. You can use the percentages I’ve listed here as a starting point.
Your reception will eat up the bulk of your wedding budget. You should designate around 45% of your total budget for this post-nuptial celebration. This figure includes the site fee, rental items (including a tent if your reception is outdoors), food, drinks, wedding cake, and décor. Next, consider designating 12.5% of your budget to hiring a Professional Bridal Consultant. This percentage might be a little higher if you want help with the majority of the planning. It could be a little less if you just want wedding day management. About 8% of your budget should go to the bride’s attire, including dress, veil, shoes, undergarments, jewelry, hair, and makeup. Another 8% is for photography and/or videography. Music and flowers should account for approximately 7% each. Use 4% for invitations and other stationary and 2.5% for wedding bands. These figures leave 6% available for miscellaneous costs such as transportation, the groom’s attire, gifts, accessories, the ceremony fees, and tips.
Once you have a rough outline for your budget it is a good idea to plug the figures into a budget worksheet. Check out the ones at TheKnot.com and also MarthaStewartWeddings.com. I have one I made myself that works well. If you’d like me to send you a copy, just drop me a note. Once your budget is together you can move on to the more exciting aspects of planning your wedding. And you won’t go into debt doing it!
From “I will” until “I do” I’m here for you. See you next time!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
