7 Thoughtful Touches to Add to Your Wedding Day for Your Guests

All eyes will be on you on your wedding day – from people gushing over your fabulous outfit to guests talking about how amazing your cake is – this is all about you and your partner.

With that being said, the people you’ve invited to your wedding are your guests, so it’s important that they enjoy your day just as much as you do.

This doesn’t mean that you need to go out of your way to make your wedding day about your guests, but there are small things you can do to make the celebration even more memorable.

Give them a welcome bag.

Wedding welcome bags are a hot trend at the moment and guests love them! Welcome bags don’t need to be over the top either. A simple tote with a bottle of water, some snacks, and maybe some comfy shoes for when the dance floor opens is a simple but effective way to make the day super comfortable for your guests. The more local to you items you can include the better. Consult with your wedding planner if you need some great ideas.

Offer drinks before your ceremony.

Guests will be hanging around for at least 30 minutes before your ceremony starts and if you are getting married during the warmer months, offering a refreshing welcome drink can get the day off to a good start.

Keep them warm.

Getting married during autumn or winter? Place a few blankets or pashminas at the entrance of your ceremony venue to ensure guests are warm while you’re saying your vows.

Shield their eyes.

If your ceremony will be taking place outside, make sure that your guests can see exactly what’s going on by offering them a pair of sunglasses. Buying them in bulk will cut the cost of this fun wedding extra.

Cater for late-night munchies.

If you know that most of your guests will be dancing and having a good time late into the night, bring a few sodas and light snacks out later in the night to keep their tummies full.

Send them home with a treat.

Say thank you by sending your guests home with a delicious treat such as a cupcake. This could even double up as a late-night snack if you want to save on costs.

Create a charging station.

Make sure that your guests can keep taking photos and recording fun videos of your day by setting up a phone charging station at your reception.

Making your wedding day extra-special for your guests doesn’t need to be complicated or cost a fortune – it’s the smaller details that matter.

What to do and Where to Start with Wedding Planning Now That You’re Engaged!

It happened! You are engaged! What a moment! This may be quite surreal or be something that you have been waiting for, for quite some time. However the question was popped, it finally happened and the moments, days and weeks following your proposal are guaranteed to be a bit of a whirlwind!

There’s lots to do, so many people to contact and much to get organized for but don’t be overwhelmed – there’s plenty of time to plan your wedding and the rest of your lives but if you’re like many newly engaged couples, you’ll be wondering what the next stages are after your engagement and in what order you should do them.

But before you start to stress, don’t worry you are in the right place and I’m here to help!  

From countless Pinterest boards, wedding magazines, shopping for the perfect outfits and venue searching…. planning a wedding is a timely process and one that’s usually hugely underestimated but you don’t need to start planning every decision the second you say “yes” to your significant other.

Every couple’s timeline is different, you don’t need to race up the aisle or rush any part of the planning process. When it comes to the timings of everything, yes it can be confusing – Who do you tell? How soon should you have an engagement party (do you even want an engagement party…)? What planning tasks do you need to tackle first? These are really common questions that many engaged couples wonder; luckily I have the answers for you.  

Read on for what to do now that an all-important proposal has happened. 

Break the news 

One of the first steps after you’ve got engaged is to share your happy news. Take as much, or as little time as you like! Some couples want to tell everyone as soon as possible and have the Instagram announcement posted pronto while others may like to keep it a secret to be enjoyed only by a few close friends or family for a little longer.

When you are ready to tell the world do make sure you’ve told immediate family and friends before posting to social media. Once your immediate family and closest friends are in on the news – you can go public and get your relationship status changed on Facebook.

If you are planning on posting a ring selfie be sure to get a manicure or at least make sure your nails are cleaned and shaped – you don’t want anything to distract from that gorgeous ring!

Enjoy being engaged 

Round up some of your best friends and family and go out for a celebratory drink or meal, or have a special date night with your partner if that’s more your style. You’re engaged, and it’s most definitely worth celebrating.

Once you have shared the news of your engagement you can now take as long as you’d like to just enjoy the experience with your partner. Relax, don’t jump straight into the planning and just enjoy this new relationship status for a little while. You may decide to have a party or arrange an engagement photo shoot to mark the occasion.  

Of course, if you are planning on having a shorter engagement or you just want to get straight into the planning then you won’t want to delay the planning for too long – do whatever feels right for the two of you. 

It’s also worth mentioning that you may want to get your ring insured early on. It’s a pretty sentimental piece of jewelry after all. If you add it to your home insurance policy it’s usually pretty inexpensive.

Get organized 

When you are ready to get down to the wedding planning – I'd suggest getting an organizer or a planner to keep everything in one place. There will be a lot to coordinate over the next few months. Get into the habit of keeping important information in a specific place – there's nothing more frustrating than trying to hunt out a contract or RSVP’s when you really need them.  

Start to have those discussions about what kind of wedding you both want to have. A formal gathering?  A relaxed outdoor wedding? Do you want a church?

 If you have no ideas where to start, think about what suits your individual personalities, do you enjoy a good party or are you happier at smaller, more intimate gatherings? Once you have an idea of your overall wedding vibe other things will fall into place.

The Internet is a super helpful tool when it comes to all things weddings. Pinterest and Instagram are great places to start. Create your own mood board and pin things that appeal to you, it’ll be handy when showing your suppliers exact colors, the atmosphere and mood you want to recreate for your day and ensure an overall cohesive look between every element.

Next, it’s time to think about what’s important to you as a couple. You may have always wanted a hog roast at your wedding or to arrive by horse and carriage, if you have something that you have always had your heart on then you should have it – and if you have a budget, make savings elsewhere.  

After you’ve had some of these high end discussions it is also time to think about hiring a wedding planner. If your lives are busy, full of things to do (school, work, family, life), you may want a planner. If you struggle with research and making decisions, you may want a planner. If you have a wedding vision that has lots of moving parts, you may want a planner.

Set aside some time to plan 

Popular wedding dates and venues get booked far in advance (like 12-18 months in advance) so if you are hoping to get married in the next year or two, it’s sensible to start thinking about dates early on. Find out what works for both of your families and whether there’s any dates to steer clear of.

Once you have chosen a wedding date, start a list of tasks that need planning. You can’t book a wedding without a venue so you’ll want to research venues and call or visit for information about available dates and pricing. You’ll want to have discussions about your wedding size and budget early on into your wedding planning. You can’t move forward with any area of your wedding plans until you’ve determined an overall budget and know who may also be contributing to parts of your wedding. Once you’ve had discussions about your budget and guest size you’ll be able to make decisions and book your wedding date and venue.

I would recommend setting aside some specific days or allotted time with your significant other to go through plans regularly between now and the wedding day. Planning is best done in stages so as not to get too overwhelming. But don’t let wedding planning take over date night, as it’s still important to set time away from planning as a couple. By allotting time specifically to tackle your wedding to-dos you’ll accomplish so much more than just getting round to bits ‘here and there’ at the end of a long day.

Make a list of what each of you is going to do and split the tasks so that you can both be involved. This will keep both of you involved, every step of the way. Keep communicating too so that you don’t end up contacting the caterer twice or booking two florists! Your partner may not want to be so involved in choosing the decorations for the tables and so that can go on your list and you may decide that you are happy for them to choose the evening entertainment and so that’ll go on theirs. Have some tasks that you’ll do together too and you’ll soon get into the swing of wedding planning.  

When the planning gets tough, take a break from it all. It will wait. Spend the time to reconnect as a couple and get excited about the day ahead.  

And there you have my top tips of what to do now you are engaged! Welcome to wedding planning, we know you are going to love it and remember I’m here to answer any questions you may have.

5 Ways to Enjoy More of Your Wedding Planning

You’re about to celebrate and commemorate your relationship in a big way. There is so much to consider as you plan a wedding, so much so that it can easily become overwhelming and stressful. This doesn’t have to be the case though – with a few simple adjustments, you can enjoy more of your wedding planning process.

1.  Delegate as Much as Possible

Avoid burnout by accepting help from people around you. Just because you want things done a certain way doesn’t mean you can’t ask for help. Friends and family are more than willing to help you out, you simply have to ask. Hand over tasks that you were planning to DIY. The extra hands will reduce stress and get things done more quickly.

Also, your wedding vendors are there for you! Have a question, not sure what you need or if you should DIY something. Reach out.

2.      Think About the Experience More

While it’s important to stick to a budget for your wedding, it can make the planning process more stressful. Instead of focusing on what you are able to purchase to bring your wedding day to life, focus on how you want your guests to feel. Once you start focusing on the experience, you will find that you don’t actually need everything you thought you did. Look at those things that will help you and your guests remember the sounds, smells, tastes and feelings evoked at your wedding!

3.      Put All the Essentials in One Place

Couples can spend a lot of time answering the same questions once they start inviting guests to their wedding. To bypass this and reduce wedding planning stress, create a wedding website where guests can access all the information they need for the day. You now have more time to focus on other more important tasks. Creating an online gift registry is also highly recommended.

4.      Spend Enough Time on Vendor Research

Hiring experienced vendors is another way you can spend more time enjoying the months leading up to your wedding. Experienced vendors are more organized and will help you better plan your day without much effort on your part.

5.      Find Time for Self-Care

If you don’t find time for self-care, you might wake up on your wedding day feeling exhausted and frazzled. Self-care doesn’t mean a weekly spa visit either. Simply finding time to switch off for an hour several times a week is all you need. Take a long bath, go out for a quiet dinner with your partner with no wedding talk, or arrange a brunch with your besties. When you’re more balanced, the wedding planning process doesn’t feel as overwhelming.

If you are worried that you might turn into zilla, keep these tips in mind. The wedding planning process can and should be fun and memorable. 

Expert Tips for a More Picture-Perfect Wedding

Image - Sarah Kay Photography

You’ve put months of planning into your wedding day – from flower arrangements to bridesmaids’ dresses and canapes. However, once it’s all over, your photos are all that’s left to remember your day by. Therefore, it’s important to ensure your photos are as picture-perfect as possible.

While there’s no way to plan for every possible eventuality, these tips will cover the essentials.

-          Have a touch-up makeup set handy

Your makeup will look beautiful once you step out the door but sweat and tears could ruin that fresh look. Having a touch-up makeup kit handy will ensure you look great from start to finish.

-          Stay hydrated

It’s essential to keep drinking water throughout your day. However, to avoid smudging your lipstick, opt for water bottles and straws instead of cups.

-          Clean your rings

Your photographer will want to take a few detail shots, and these look a whole lot better if your rings have been cleaned and polished. Be sure to send your rings in for a cleaning before your big day. You could also keep some ring cleaner on hand to get rid of smudges on the day.

-          Get someone to keep a few tissues

You never know when you might need a tissue on your wedding day so ask one or two people in your wedding party to keep some handy.

-          Consider buying sweat-proof t-shirts for your guy

The last thing you want in your photos is sweat marks. Whether your groom sweats excessively or you know it’s going to be hot on your wedding day, sweat-proof t-shirts will avoid unsightly marks in your wedding photos.

-          Keep a disposable toothbrush in one of the bathrooms

If your photographer will be sticking around for photos after you eat, it’s best to give your teeth a quick brush. This way, your teeth will look great in all of your photos.

-          Buy a beautiful hanger

A wedding dress always looks more beautiful when it drops down from a beautiful hanger. These are inexpensive and will make all the difference to your wedding dress photos.

-          Clear up the room

Before your photographer takes those all-important getting-ready photos, clear up the room. Get rid of clutter, including trash, handbags, accessories, and anything that shouldn’t be in any of the shots.

-          A shot list

Lastly, don’t forget to create a photo list for your photographer before the day. This way, you can focus on enjoying the photos instead of worrying about whether your photographer is getting all the shots you had in mind.

**** Bonus tip ****

Use first and last names in your list as well as what side of the family they belong to. It will make it easier to track that person down or call out their name when it is time for them to join you for pictures.

With these simple tips in mind, you can look forward to eye-catching wedding photos that you will love looking back on over and over again.

The Father-Daughter Wedding Photos Brides Shouldn’t Miss Out On

Scott English Photography

There is nothing quite as heart-warming as the connection between a father and a daughter, especially on her wedding day. There are so many moments throughout your wedding day that involve your dad, but there are a handful that should definitely be on your shot list.

- The first look. Capturing your father’s reaction to seeing you in your dress for the first time is a must. If there is one father daughter photo to add to your list, it’s this one. Check out the blog post I wrote about the reasons why first looks aren’t just for you and your partner :)

Jonathan Allison Photography

- The post-look portrait. After your photographer captures your father’s natural reaction to your dress, pose for a portrait with him. This can be a really moving and emotional portrait that you both can treasure forever.

Jonathan Allison Photography

- The hand kiss or a similar ceremony moment.. You will always be your dad’s little princess, so grab a shot of your father holding and kissing your hand before he gives you away. This is a big moment for you both and it’s always something I ask the photographer to capture.

Laura Segall Photography

- The embrace. Another option is to capture a warm embrace with your dad. This is another shot that you can treasure for years to come.

SJA Studios

- The tie. To involve your dad in more photos during the getting-ready process, grab a few shots of you tying his tie or bowtie for him. Or have him help you with your necklace or hold your bouquet as you step out of the car.

- The walk down the aisle. This must-have shot is always beautiful. Not only does it capture this moment with your father but the emotions you feel as he guides you down the aisle towards your partner. If possible have your photographer capture the moment between your dad and your future spouse.

Ryan No Bull Photography

- The dance. Lastly, if you’re planning to dance with your dad, make sure your photographer knows to capture this moment. Dad is remembering all those times he twirled you around the living room!

Kalena Photography

If your dad is one of the most important people in your life, speak to your photographer about other photo ideas for your big day.

Wedding Designer, Wedding Planner - Both or ???

If you are planning a wedding chances are you are speaking to and negotiating with lots of different companies. Hopefully, to help you stay sane you’re considering a wedding planner or designer. So, what is the actual difference between a wedding planner and a wedding designer?

If you want to enlist some help when you start planning your wedding would you benefit from having both or are they actually interchangeable?

It’s likely that the tasks they perform will have an element of overlap, but it’s also the case that they each have a very different focus and the initial brief that you give them will be based on this.

Let's take a closer look at each, so that you can decide where the best place would be for you to invest your money to help you make your day a memorable occasion for all of the right reasons.

What does a wedding planner do?

In this case it’s all in the name, a wedding planner is going to be there right from the start with you, helping to plan each aspect of your wedding.

A priority within their role is to take the pressure off of the two of you, to help reduce your stress and anxiety levels, suggest ideas, make trusted recommendations and help with your budgets and give advice on pricing too.

Wedding planners will stick with you right through the process and be present on your wedding day too. They will be helping to ensure that everyone is where they need to be and at the right times so that the day goes as smoothly as possible (notice I didn’t say perfectly :) ).

Most wedding planners will be able to help with the following areas:

·   Reviewing your budget, breaking it down, allocating chunks of your budget to different areas of your wedding, and reception, based on your priorities as well as average market pricing in your area.

·   Creating checklists so that everyone knows what needs to be done and by when.

·   Liaising with pro team members and venues.

·   Set up and removal of different elements on the big day.

·   And of course – management of everything on the day from ensuring everyone in the wedding party knows what they need to do and where they need to be, through to guest management, pro team liaison and any troubleshooting and problem solving too.

A wedding full service planner will often put in hundreds of hours of their time into your wedding day, they will know you as a couple inside and out and be on hand to support you each step of the way, resolving as many issues and problems as they can for you.

Although you will come to your own agreement with your wedding planner over what they are responsible for and when you can contact them, you should think of them as your right-hand person who is there to support you in every way possible.

What does a wedding designer do?

In a nutshell a wedding designer is there to help you with the aesthetics of your wedding – bringing your wedding to life through color, props, and layout.

They are going to help you to wow your guests with how your wedding and reception is laid out and the items that you choose to utilize on this day. This could be helping you to finalize a color palette, designing centerpieces for your tables, or sourcing that one ‘wow’ element that you have visualized but need help to bring to life.

A wedding designer’s role has very little to do with the overall planning of the wedding. The role of a designer is purely aesthetic - a wedding designer creates a cohesive feel and your desired atmosphere. They’ll offer guidance on fabrics, textures, color palettes, props, furniture, and all décor elements.

Most wedding designers will be able to help with the following areas:

·   Finalizing your color palette.

·   Recommending trusted pro team members.

·   Designing table layouts and centerpieces.

·   They may be able to provide linens, chair covers and embellishments.

·   Sourcing of props and oversight of installation and take down.

·   Making sure the aesthetic vision you had for your wedding comes to life.

A wedding designer can help to remove the stress of all those final preparations and the on day set up of your wedding.

They may also be able to save you a considerable amount of money by being able to recommend reliable, trustworthy pro teams, and when it comes to any props, chair covers and embellishments they may have a variety that you can rent which will be perfect for your day and save you the expense of purchasing.

Should you hire a Wedding Designer?

• Is the décor and atmosphere of your wedding is important to you

• Would like someone creative involved who is able to take a blank canvas and turn it into the space you imagined

• You want someone to be wholly responsible for decorating the event space for your wedding.

• You’re looking for ornate or difficult to source props or equipment.

• You have a specific, detailed theme in mind and need help developing and executing it.

…then hiring a wedding designer may just be for you. Typically due to the nature of their work they tend to book up quite early on so we would recommend sourcing your wedding designer as far as 12 months before your wedding day. This will also give your chosen supplier time to source any obscure or unique items for the day.

In Summary…

Whilst there is an area of overlap between a wedding planning and a wedding designer, they have very different roles to play when it comes to the planning and execution of your wedding.

Deciding on the level of help you want to invest in will depend on a number of things including how much of the planning you want to do yourself, how much time you have to invest in planning your wedding, how creative you are and of course the budget that you are working with.

 You could opt to work with just one, both or neither – the choice is all yours but hopefully you now feel armed with the information that can help you to make an informed decision.

And if you do decide to higher a wedding planner, please reach out! We’d love to help!!

Why Your Wedding Reception is About Your Guests (and NOT You)

If wedding ceremonies are all about the newlyweds, then the reception is all about the guests. Wedding photos will not be as beautiful without your loved ones in the composition.

At first glance, the title of this blog might raise some eyebrows—especially for all the nearlyweds out there. The truth is, weddings will not be complete and meaningful without your friends and family there to bear witness and celebrate it with you. It will not feel as special if there is no one to share a feast with and enjoy every memorable moment on your wedding day.

That is not to say that the spotlight should be given to your guests during your reception. Rather, it means showing appreciation for their presence and time.

Wedding Receptions Represent Togetherness 

When planning your wedding, you think about the venue, the theme, the decorations, and most typically, the food. 

Why is that?

The reason is that weddings are not just a celebration of love. It is also sharing an intimate milestone with the people who matter in your life. Otherwise, why would you painstakingly make sure that everything—from the meals to the venue to the details—suits your dream wedding perfectly?

Your guests add more excitement to your party. You base your reception’s overall vibe of the people who make up your ‘exclusive crowd’. You want to leave a good and lasting impression and may even hire a professional wedding planner to help do the job.

Here are a few more reasons why your wedding reception is defined by the people who attend your special day:

Guests share the flood of emotions at your wedding.

No wedding is  complete without a dose of happy tears, contented sighs, and boisterous cheers. All of these  emotions are not enough to be contained within two individuals only. Your guests are there to experience and honor your love story with your spouse. They are one with you in acknowledging your brand new journey. Besides, wouldn’t the happy emotions double or triple with more people there to experience it with you?

You express gratitude to your guests through your reception.

Your wedding reception gives you the opportunity to express your appreciation to your guests. By feeding your guests and providing them with a one-of-a-kind event that they will enjoy and remember, you make them know just how much their presence means to you. At the end of the day, the people who truly care about you and the milestones in your life are the ones worth hosting an amazing wedding reception for. 

Be more thoughtful of your guests.

While the couple chooses what to serve at their wedding reception, that does not mean that the menu is entirely an exhibition of foods that only the two of them fancy. Generally speaking, when you invite people to celebrate a milestone in your life, it is just right that you be considerate of their needs. By that, it means considering whether some of your guests have allergic reactions to specific types of food or spices. The least you can do for the people who can make time for your special day is to go through your guest list and check whether your choice of food does more harm than good for them. 

The food is not the only detail to consider on your reception. The venue and accommodation are just as essential. For instance, if you plan to get married in the winter, it would be best to choose a cozy, indoor venue complete with warm drinks and soups. If you are to be wed during the hotter seasons, an outdoor setting may or may not be ideal.l. You can also have fans and additional stations for refreshments prepared to keep your guests feeling refreshed throughout the entire celebration. 

More importantly, check whether your wedding venue is accessible for most—if not all—of your guests. How easily will they be able to get transportation to reach the venue? Can your budget accommodate shouldering the travel expenses for all your guests? Also, how will you ensure the safety and comfort of guests who may have underlying health conditions or disabilities?

The reception is essentially a thank you to your guests.

When you ask people to attend your wedding you are asking them to commit to a number of things. Potentially taking time off from work, pull their kiddos out of school, paying for transportation and accommodations, buying new outfits and purchasing gift(s). This all adds up. And yes, your guests will usually, joyfully do these things to be a part of your wedding celebration. But how do you think these same guests will feel if there is little to no consideration for them after the wedding ceremony? If there is nowhere for them to sit, no food or drinks or limited, specialized food or drinks, no consideration for their health or dietary needs, or asking them to pay for food or drinks? It is for these reasons that we say that your reception is about your guests.

Written by Sophia Young Content Studio

Ask an Expert - 7 Wedding Gown Questions Answered by Laurie Dickman - Laurie's Bridal, Scottsdale AZ

I’ve been planning weddings for a long time and one of the things that I’ve come to appreciate is that I work with a lot of fabulous professionals that really know their stuff. I’ve also learned that each specialty has a number of quirks about it that always inspire questions. In our Ask the Expert series, we’re going to talk with, well, the experts and answer some of those fun questions that you may or may not have wondered about.

In this post we are going to talk with Laurie Dickman with Laurie’s Bridal based in Scottsdale, Arizona. Laurie sells amazing gowns with a personal touch. She truly cares about each one of her clients and wants them to feel gorgeous on their wedding day! Here’s a little more about Laurie -

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Originally from New York, Laurie’s flair for fashion began in her teenage years, when she started working part-time at a high-end clothing and dress boutique in her local mall. In the very early 1990’s, she started working for a leading bridal dress and headpiece manufacturer. Laurie worked her way up and was soon traveling all over the United States as a Trunk Show Coordinator, training store owners, and their employees on how to properly sell wedding gowns, to educate their customers and to help listen to what the consumer wanted and bring that back to the company.

‘I loved every single thing about our wedding! I still look at my wedding pictures and LOVE LOVE LOVE my own wedding gown and yes, I still love my groom too!’ I tell all of my brides to be true to who they are when choosing their bridal gown. Don’t worry about matching the venue, but match who you are. ~ Laurie

Laurie wants all of her customers to have fun. With a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere, surrounded by gorgeous dresses, it’s not difficult to find that dress of your dreams here. Bridal appointments are private and exclusive and you get to work with Laurie, herself! Being a hands-on owner, Laurie definitely brings the fun back into dress shopping!

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Now, about those questions -

1. What is the ideal number of people to bring with when trying on dresses?

Ideally, we recommend you bring the 2-3 closest people in your life. Buying a bridal gown is very emotional and personal. Too many opinions may not be a good thing.

2. How soon should I start looking for a dress?

We recommend 12-15 months in advance. Most special order gowns, meaning, not purchasing off the rack, can take anywhere from 5-9 months, depending on the designer.

3. When should I schedule alterations?

Typically alterations should be scheduled about 2-3 months before your wedding, depending on the time of year. There is a busy season for alterations and you don’t want to find your alterations specialist saying they don’t have time to take you.

4. Should I get a bustle?

ABSOLUTELY!  Why wouldn’t you want to get a bustle?  Do you want to be lugging around that gorgeous train all night? I tell all my brides, bustling is an art and can be almost as spectacular as the front of your gown.  By the way, that little loop under the skirt, is NOT a bustle. It’s for the bridal shops to lift the bustle up off the floor and hang it up. An alterations specialist is worth every penny! 

5. Will you recommend a dress for me, or do I need to know what style I want to wear?

I chat with every bride prior to her appointment to hear what her vision and her thoughts are. By the time she comes in, I already have an idea of what she’s thinking. I tell every single bride, “My job as a stylist is to also put you in gowns that you may not have thought of. A good stylist will put you in gowns that look amazing on you, whether or not you like them, that’s up to you.”

6. What should I bring with me for my appointment?

UNDERWEAR!!!  Not only should you wear your underwear, but please wear proper underwear, not a thong. Nude seamless panties are perfect. You’ll be in and out of gowns all day and need to be comfortable.  Trying on bridal gowns is like trying on bathing suits, until it’s yours, underwear is a must ☺

 Also you may wish to wear a strapless bra.  Even though most gowns come with built in bra cups, a strapless bra will help you feel more comfortable. 

7. What is your favorite tip for people dress shopping?

Every single bride hears this from me, I should trademark it I say it so often: “Be true to who you are because you don’t want to look back at your pictures and think oh my, what was I thinking.” It’s ok to say yes at the first shop, in the first dress. Don’t be pressured into buying something you think everyone else wants you to buy. Most importantly, have fun! This is an exciting time in your life, that you plan to only do once!

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Looking for your wedding dress? Make an appointment with Laurie today! And tell her I sent you!

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Website - https://lauriesbridal.com

Emails - LauriesBridal@Gmail.com

Telephone - 480-699-3973

Address - 14891 N. Northsight Blvd Northsight Crossing Shopping Center Scottsdale, AZ 85260

7 Do's And Don'ts To Planning A Wedding During Covid

This pandemic knocked the world on its butt. Basically overnight everything changed. Tons of stuff was outright cancelled or postponed to a TBD date. This included tons of couples weddings. I personally had 2 weddings cancel, 3 postpone indefinitely and countless others chose not to move forward with planning their weddings. I’ll be honest, it broke my heart. My couples plan for months, years even - saving money, picking out the details and making all the plans - and this all came to a screeching halt.

We’ve adjusted to a during pandemic “normal” and now we have an idea as to what steps we need to take to plan a wedding during Covid (and what we steps we need to not take).

1. Do keep planning

   Things may not look like they once did (for a little while), but you need to keep planning. Vendors will have less time on their schedules for new clients as they navigate through all the rescheduled events. And check out virtual wedding shows in your area. Don’t know what a virtual wedding show is - check out this post “What is a Virtual Wedding Show”?.

2. Do hire a planner

   I know this may not be in your budget, but please look at hiring a coordinator, wedding manager or planner. They are keeping track of all the executive orders, rules and mandates and can advise you the best course of action to take. They also know how to work out a physically distanced ceremony and reception, how to implement the safety measures and can advise you on options to keep your family, friends, guests and vendors safe.

3. Do read your contracts and ask questions about postponement policies

   This one is important. Review each and every contract (especially if you don’t have a planner). Take a super close look at the postponement and cancellation policies. If something is unclear or doesn’t seem to be covered ask questions before you sign.

4. Be flexible

   This one will be hard, because it seems that mandates regarding weddings change from week to week, heck even day to day. But, being flexible will enable you to roll with those changes versus being sidelined by them and unable to proceed with planning.

5. Don’t send out save the dates

   Not knowing what the future holds, don’t send out save the dates. Your family and friends will stress about needing to make a long term decision. You’ll stress because you asked people to come and now have to go back and tell them that you can’t accommodate them. If you still want to let people know about your wedding add it to your wedding website or your social media platforms.

6. Don’t break the local mandates, rules and regulations

   Even if your venue says your wedding is a private event and the rules don’t apply to you, don’t break the rules, orders or mandates for your area. All it takes is one different interpretation of those mandates and your wedding could be closed down, fined or labeled a super-spreader event.

7. Don’t give up on your dream

   While things may look different, don’t give up on your dream - marrying your best friend, with your closest, most important family and friends surrounding you, wearing a killer outfit, having an amazing meal with the most gorgeous pictures and video to look at can still be had. Go after it.

You’ve got this! I have confidence in you and your vendors to make your wedding everything you dreamed and you’ll have an amazing story to share over drinks :)

5 Tips For Attending A Virtual Wedding Show

Thanks so much Covid for changing the way we plan weddings (insert total sarcasm voice here).

You can’t interview vendors in person. Talking about your wedding with your family and friends after dinner is mostly non-existent. And you can forget about attending a wedding expo or wedding show.

Or can you?!?

Have you heard of a virtual wedding show? No, check out our article on What Is A Virtual Wedding Show??? Interested? We thought you might be! How about some tips on making your experience amazing?

1. Put the date and time on your calendar as soon as you sign up and make it a priority.

   I know stuff happens, but you won’t get any benefit if you don’t actually attend. Besides, most of the discount codes won’t be given out until the end of the show.

2. Download the appropriate app before the show.

   This one seems a little silly, but it will make clicking the link and getting into the show faster and easier day of.

3. Take a peek at the schedule and see who you want to be sure to be present for.

   You may have already booked a vendor or two already and are really interested in others. Look at the schedule to make sure you’re online and in a place to listen and interact when those you are super interested in will be presenting.

4. If you have the time, listen to everyone, even vendor categories you may have already booked.

   You may pick up some tips, tricks and advice to help with those vendors already booked.

5. Open the emails that come before and after the show from the organizers and participating vendors.

   This is where the discount codes, special offers and other goodies will be given to you. You don’t want to miss them.

I know this isn’t ideal. It isn’t normal. It isn’t what you dreamed about. And trust me, my heart is breaking for you. But I do love that I get a more intimate experience with you while you decide which vendors to hire. I love that attending a virtual option keeps you safe. And I love that the vendors that chose to step into this mode of working with you are among the most progressive and professional in our area.

Mark November 15th, 2020 on your calendar and get your ticket to the Arizona Online Wedding Show!

What Is A Virtual Wedding Show???

So there is pre-Covid life which I think most of us are really missing right now. And then there is during Covid life, which unfortunately is our current reality. And I’m going to be honest with you, during Covid life is really, really terrible in so many ways - no parties, no get-togethers, limited travel, limited everything including how you plan for your wedding.

Remember this -

Leads to this (usually) -

But in-between we have a whole lot of this -

Wedding planning involves a ton of research, talking to loads of people and spending tons of money. Pre-Covid, you would talk to your friends over dinner for referrals and to make plans, meet with more than a few professionals as you try to hire just the right person for the job, oh and attend wedding shows/open houses.

All of which YOU CAN’T DO RIGHT NOW!!!!

Does this mean that you’re supposed to wing it? Not plan a wedding? Try and figure things out using Google and praying that you are hiring someone with value, integrity and who has just the right stuff?

Or…

You could attend a virtual wedding show. What’s that you say?? You’ve never heard of a virtual wedding show?!?! Let me tell you all about it!!!

A virtual wedding show has so many perks that I don’t know why we didn’t have them pre-Covid!

• They are typically free or very low cost to attend.

• You don’t have to fight through traffic and pay for parking.

• Crowds are non-existent (unless you have 1,000 of your best friends staying at your house).

• No back breaking bag full of promotional materials that you took just to get someone to leave you alone.

• They are full of curated, professional vendors that are on a schedule so you can pop in and only watch the ones you are interested in.

• You can interact with the vendors on a one-to-one basis and ask all the questions, without feeling over-whelmed.

• Typically you are still offered a discount or some other perk for signing on.

• You can attend in your PJ’s or hanging out by the pool.

• No need to get a babysitter, you can watch on mute while the kiddos are in the other room.

• Need an excuse to get together with your besties but don’t want to expose them to 3,000 other people? Have a watch party with mimosas!

• No masks or social distancing AT ALL!

You’ll still get to meet amazing vendors! You’ll still get to work on planning your wedding! You’ll still get those moments of “OMG, I really am getting married”.

So, you’re hooked and ready to sign on for the next show???

Mark your calendar for November 15th, 2020 at 11:00 am and register for your free ticket to the Arizona Online Wedding Show!

4 Reasons You Should Hire Professionals (and let Uncle Bob attend as a guest)

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Image - George Street Photo & Video

I get it, truly I do. Getting married can be expensive. You will probably experience sticker shock at least once during the planning process. And it may be tempting, especially if you have any well meaning family members or friends that “do (insert product/service you are looking for)” as a hobby or maybe even “professionally”, to save a few dollars and either ask for or take them up on an offer for a hugely discounted or free product/service.

9 times out of 10 THIS WILL BE A MISTAKE. Why? I’m so glad you asked!

You’re Not A Client

I’ll say it again for those in the back. You are not a real client with a contract to protect you and the person providing the service. A contract can be the single most important thing you will receive from your vendor team. It will detail out what they will provide, what you need to provide, when it will be provided and it provides you with protection in case they don’t show up or perform according to the terms of the contract.

You’re Not A Client (Again)

We have a tendency to not have as high of expectations from family and friends as we do a complete stranger. We also tend to not want to be as aggressive and self-serving when it comes time to ask for the things we truly want. And family and friends tend to think that because you are family or friends that it’s okay to not be as on, as complete, as on time, as professional, as honest as they would be with a stranger. After all you still have to sit across the table from each other at Thanksgiving or see each other at work or spend time socially together after the wedding.

Your Venue May Not Allow Non-Professional Vendors

This is a big one, especially anything to do with food, music and flowers. A professional vendor is typically defined as someone with a business license and more importantly general liability insurance with a minimum of $1,000,000.00 in coverage. Most hobbyists don’t carry insurance and aren’t operating a true “business” (reporting income, paying taxes, registering with the proper agencies, etc.).

They Have No Backup

Have you ever asked someone to house sit and the day before have them say something came up and they can’t help you out? Have you ever asked Cousin Sue to make cookies for a party and have to throw them in the trash because they look (and taste) terrible? Have you every asked someone to help set up tables and chairs at Thanksgiving and have them get there late (with no warning)? No big deal in these situations, but on your wedding day, it could be a disaster. Running late, not showing up, bringing inedible food are all things that (typically) don’t happen with a professional unless it is life or death. And even then, a professional will have a network of other professionals to take care of you.

Reality Check

That picture at the beginning of this article really happened at a wedding I coordinated. I didn’t know until the day before that the client was self-tenting their reception space. I was assured that it would be okay, that additional sandbags would be used to anchor the tent. And I was counting on the weather to be typical Arizona weather and be gorgeous. Between a freak wind storm and a non-professionally staked tent, the picture above was the situation we had on our hands about 2 hours into the reception. The professionals that were on hand helped handle it and we took the entire structure down to ensure that we didn’t have any injuries due to flying tent pieces. But could this whole thing have been avoided by hiring a team to install the tent - you bet!

5 Tough Wedding Day Questions Answered

You’re planning your wedding, minding your own business and then from out of left field you come across something that doesn’t seem quite right. Or even better, you’re asked a question by a well meaning family member or guest and you aren’t sure how to respond. Sweet I Do’s has been doing this wedding thing for almost 10 years and we have the answers to 5 of the toughest wedding day questions, ever!

Can we bring our kids to your wedding (and you don’t want them to be there)?

The answer is simply, no. But nothing is simple in this minefield of a question. You don’t want to be the bad guy and tell everyone, no or get flak from actually daring to say you want an adults only wedding.

It’s okay, just say that due to venue restrictions you just can’t have any children at the reception. No one needs to know that those venue restrictions are coming from your personal preferences.

If you continue to get pressure to allow the kiddos, then state that your event insurance doesn’t allow for children at an event where alcohol will be served (this one only works if your wedding will actually have alcohol served).

If you are having your own kids or immediate family member kids only, then tell inquiring minds just that. The only children at the wedding will be immediate family.

Compromise - If you can swing it in your budget, you can offer to have a licensed and insured sitting service provide on-site care in a different area of the venue.

Is it okay to only serve beer and wine?

The answer is, yes, it is perfectly okay to only serve beer and wine at your wedding. We understand that alcohol can be expensive and having 100+ people drink for a few hours can cost big $$$$. Just don’t try and pull one over on your guests and have a secret stash of a little something for just you and your partner. It tough on the bartenders to have to tell people over and over that that particular thing is only for you.

We want all the money!! Can we just tell guests to bring cold, hard cash for our gift?

No! No, you may not. First, you never get to assume that someone will bring a gift to your wedding (they should, but you know abut that whole assuming thing). Second, while we have changed a lot of traditions with regards to weddings, asking for cash is just rude in any situation. People aren’t stupid. Create a small registry for the die hard gift givers and everyone else will get the idea - no honey fund or cute poem needed.

Plus ones, yay or nay?

This one is really hard for me. I’m of the opinion that no one should get to define another persons relationship status, level of commitment or ability to handle social situations. Trying to draw the line at married or not, number of years in a relationship, playboy or playgirl tendencies or how well they know and will interact with other people at your wedding is stressful and not something I think you should do. Just speaking from the heart here. Plan your guest list to give everyone a plus one. While I know it isn’t ideal to have potential strangers at your wedding, I promise unless it is a super intimate wedding, you won’t have time (or eyes) for anyone but the love of your life.

I’m not really close with my (insert family member here). Do I have to do the traditional wedding “things” with them?

No, you don’t HAVE to do anything. It is your wedding day. If you have talked about it with your partner and you both are on the same page, then do things your way. Having a wedding planner or wedding day manager will help make this situation go smoothly and no one will be the wiser. Our goal is to make sure that your day fits your vision and that you have all the best memories!

Have a question that we missed? Let us know!

4 Wedding Day Emergency Items You'll Forget To Pack

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We know it will happen. It has happened before and it will happen again. My team and I are putting the final touches on a beautiful wedding and an embarrassed member of the wedding party comes up and says, do you have __________, we forgot to bring it. While we have yet to be stumped on a request (well there was that one time that the couple wanted special toasting flutes, but forgot to actually order them, but that’s a story for another day) we do want to tell you about the most forgotten items and remind you to put them in the bag, in the car.

Black Socks

We actually have 5 pairs of mens black socks in our wedding day emergency kit because this is the number one item that is forgotten. I know it’s weird, especially since more than likely the guys are renting their shoes with their suit or tux, but socks aren’t included. And no, your white knee high socks just won’t cut it.

Phone Chargers

We have chargers for both Apple and Android phones in our emergency kit because, while you may think about charging your phone at the end of the night, those babies are getting a workout on wedding day and you may need to charge them before the wedding to ensure they last all night long. Remember to pack the cords with the wall plug because finding a USB port is hard and no the DJ won’t let you plug into their laptop for just a few minutes.

Tampons

Yes, we said it. Pack some just in case. Again, we have some in our kit, but our brand may not be your brand. And nerves have a way of wrecking havoc on Mother Nature and her schedule.

Prescriptions

This includes all drugs as well as prescription glasses/sunglasses/contacts. While we do have some over-the-counter medications in our wedding emergency kit, we don’t carry prescription anything with us and there are times when we’re in remote locations that don’t have a pharmacy around the corner.

A great wedding day manager will have a pretty extensive wedding emergency kit, but it won’t have everything. If you normally take it with you on an overnight trip, pack it and thank us later!

5 Reasons You NEED To Plan On Doing A First Look

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Image - Allison Slater Photography

You’ve met with your photographer for your wedding day and they ask if you want to do a first look (or maybe they don’t ask (sigh), which is another blog post entirely). Before you make up your mind, check out 5 reasons this wedding day manager feels that you NEED a first look.

1. Timing

This is probably the biggest reason I strongly recommend having a first look. If your wedding day manager or planner has worked your timeline to its fullest advantage, you would be done getting ready at virtually the same time regardless if you were planning on a first look or not. Where timing gets a little sticky is after the ceremony. The sunset waits for no wedding and getting a little behind in taking pictures after you get married means you run the risk of pushing the rest of the night into crunch mode. Having a first look means you have more time after the ceremony for whatever you need it for and you know you have amazing images from earlier in the day.

2. Calm those nerves

This is a big one as well. Even if you’ve been with your partner forever, you will still be nervous on your wedding day - nervous to be getting married, nervous being up in front of all those people, nervous seeing the love of your life on the day you pledge to be together forever. Taking those 15 minutes to just see each other, talk to each other, touch each other will make all the difference in the world. And you will still feel all the butterflies when you see each other at the end of the aisle for the first time.

3. Enjoy cocktail hour

You spent all that time picking out fabulous food and drinks for cocktail hour and then you don’t get to enjoy it. Why? Because you spend the entire cocktail hour taking pictures. Having a first look can cut that picture taking time in half (depending on when you ask your family to arrive for pictures before the ceremony). We see this as a win win situation for everyone. You get to enjoy cocktail hour, your photographer has more time to capture your wedding day and your guests can even sneak in a few extra minutes with you.

4. Photographers love the extra time

Sometimes timing just is against us and things happen - people are late, dresses don’t fit quite right, spills happen and the time that the photographer would have been able to use to capture detail images and cocktail candids gets eaten up capturing wedding portraits, wedding party and family images. By having a first look, you free up your photographer to grab all the detail shots and fun candids that happen during cocktail hour. Plus they can get creative with the time that they do have to take you to fun location and try interesting poses.

5. Venue disadvantages

You may have found a venue that only gives you a certain number of hours for your ceremony and reception and there just aren’t enough hours for everything that you want to do. Or it is a pretty place, but doesn’t have that “wow” location that you’ve always dreamed about for wedding pictures. By having a first look, you can get more bang for your buck. I know, how will scheduling a first look that takes time work in your limited time favor? Hear me out. Scheduling a first look allows you to pick the spot and decide how long you want the session to last - first date location, favorite park, water background, desert back drop, the choices are almost endless. Plus, you can take as much or as little time as you’d like (just let your wedding day manager or planner in on it so they can schedule the timeline accordingly).

I know there are a few things that may cause you to question having a first look.

It’s tradition.

You’re right, it was tradition, back when couples were part of arranged marriages and the parents of the bride didn’t want the groom to run away. All joking aside, if you are truly tied to the tradition of not seeing each other until you walk down the aisle, consider a first touch or blindfolded first look.

I won’t have that “wow” moment/feeling.

You will have that moment, promise. If you have a first look, you get to have that moment twice. Nothing will take away that feeling of seeing your beloved walking down the aisle to pledge themselves to you.

I have limited time with my photographer.

Most photographers have a time limit on their package. If you are already having them capture getting ready moments, then they will be there pre-ceremony anyway. If you are not having them there pre-ceremony because you feel you need them through the end of the reception, work with your wedding day manager or planner and shift all the must have moments to the time period before the photographer leaves for the evening. Doing this will allow your time to begin earlier and you can have that first look.

4 Things You Should Expect From Your Wedding Day Manager

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We understand! Planning your wedding is hard. This is probably the first time you have planned something this large, with this many moving pieces and to be frank, this expensive. You want to know that you have made all the right decisions and spent your hard earned money well. So you hire a wedding day manager (day of coordinator, planner, wedding manager, etc.) to help with the stress and to ensure your hard earned money and all your tough decisions play out perfectly. How do you know you’ve put your trust in the right person? Take a look at 4 things you should expect from your wedding day manager.

Involvement

Your wedding day manager should be involved before the week of or day of your wedding. While not a full or partial planner, they are still responsible for knowing your vendors, venue and your vision for your wedding day which they can’t reasonably do if they don’t get involved sometime between 2 and 3 months prior.

We are passively involved from the moment you sign our contract - gathering documents, reviewing contracts, offering referrals and being available to answer questions. We become actively involved 6-8 weeks prior to your wedding - working on your timeline, floorpan, reaching out to your vendors gathering needed day of information and working with you to put all the little details together.

Availability

Like any business your wedding day manager may have office hours and may have even limited communication based on the package that you purchased with them. Totally understandable, we have them too! However, their availability to you should not be completely cut off until a certain date passes. Not being available to you before a certain date means that they have to go into potential crisis management mode and play catch up, plus they can’t advise you on decisions that may have consequences that you are unaware of.

We want to know all about your wedding! Talk to us as much as you would like!! We are available to answer questions during our business hours via email starting the day you sign your contract. We want to know what is going, what you are thinking and how your wedding day vision is evolving. Knowledge is power and we want all the information!

Communicative

This one should go without saying, but your wedding day manager should communicate with you on a semi regular basis, from the time you contract until your wedding day (monthly communication at a minimum) just to check in and make sure everything is still proceeding on schedule. What shouldn’t happen is that you send them some money and then not hear from them until your official “start work date” occurs.

We talk to you about how often you want to hear from us. If you want us to check in every couple of months, we will. If you want monthly check-in’s we’re happy to do that as well. Our open door policy truly encourages you to reach out to us as well!

Friendliness (and TBH controlling, too)

Your wedding day will be one of the most emotional days of your life. You will experience high highs and low lows. You need a friendly face around and you also need to know they are in control of the entire day. Your wedding day manager should be friendly but in control at all times. At no point in the time leading up to your wedding should you feel like a burden, like you aren’t important or that they aren’t in control.

One of the reasons we like to talk face to face before you hire us is so you can get to know who we are as people. What you see is truly what you get. We want to ensure that we click and that you trust us absolutely. On your wedding day we are your cheerleader, your advocate, your director and yes, occasionally your bouncer.

If at any point in your planning process you don’t feel that your wedding day manager is fulfilling your expectations, have a sit down chat with them. You need them to be in your corner every single step of the way.

Haven’t hired someone yet? Reach out and schedule a FREE consultation so we can get to know each other, let’s see if we click!

10 Things You NEED In Your Wedding Day Getting Ready Room

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Image by Graced By Light Photography

It’s time!!!! Grab your wedding dress, your veil and head over to your bridal suite to begin getting ready, it’s time to get married!!

Before you head out, take some tips from this wedding day manager on a few extra things to grab, just in case -

(Oh, and a little heads up - We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. What this means is, if you click one of the links and purchase a product on this page, I receive a small monetary compensation from Amazon. The price you pay is not increased in any way to cover this compensation.)

Now for the good stuff!!!

Reusable StrawS

You’ll want these throughout the day, but especially after you have your lipstick on. Not only do you need to hydrate, you’ll want to keep your lipstick fresh and keep the possibility of spills down to a minimum!

Button-down Shirt

We know that the cute t-shirts that match are all the rage. all over Pinterest and let’s be honest, you want them for the cute pictures! Instead, opt for a cute button-down shirt with embroidery or in fun colors to make it so much easier to get changed into your dress without messing up that expensive hair and makeup.

Snacks and Water

Please, please, please take (and eat) some healthy snacks and loads of water to drink while you’re getting ready. You will be so busy - getting ready, taking pictures and saying those I do’s (YAY!!!) that staying hydrated and having energy will be the last thing on your mind, but will be the first thing you miss (especially if you’re the type that gets hangry).

Needle and Thread

Inevitably someone will pop a button, rip a seam, or tear a dress. Be prepared with a small sewing kit.

Spray Deodorant

While spray deodorant may not be your thing typically, you’ll want some on your wedding day. Trust me, you’ll want to apply one last time after you get into your dress and apply some on your thighs (chafe on your wedding day will not be your friend)!

Shout Wipes and a Tide Pen

Spills happen, especially when you have a lot of people in a small space, with make up and hair products and snacks and drinks and possibly even little ones all in one place at one time. This is another one of those would rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it things - trust me!

Note Paper and a Pen

Take a few minutes while your getting your hair and makeup done and write down a few things that you love about your partner and a couple of memories from the day. Send the note to your partner and then keep it to look back on.

Charger Cords

I know this one seems like a no brainer, but I can’t tell you hw many times I’ve been asked for an extra cord for a phone, iPad or Kindle (and I have them all). And make sure you bring the wall adapter.

Fashion Tape

This one isn’t just for you - depending on the dresses your ladies are wearing they may need to keep things more secure - no wedding day wardrobe malfunctions!

Boutonniere Pins

So, this one is for the guys! If your florist doesn’t use magnet backing, they will typically only send one pin with each bout. You will need two - get the black headed ones and make sure they are extra long!

I know that you don’t want one more thing to think about, and if you are a Sweet I Do’s client, these are things we have for you because we want you to be in the moments and making the memories! If you aren’t a client, reach out and see what we can do for you!

First Looks - They Aren't Just For Your Spouse To Be

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Image by Harley Bonham Photographic Artist

Some of my favorite moments of a wedding happen just before the ceremony. I adore watching all the details come together, seeing all of the beautiful people and watching all the moments unfold. As a wedding day manager I encourage a first look - it helps with nerves and it allows you to get a ton of the formal, posed pictures out of the way allowing so much more time for couples portraits.

But first looks aren’t just for couples!

I also strongly encourage (if it is at all possible, I know sometimes it just can’t happen) a first look between a bride and her dad, a groom and his mom, a bride and her mom, a groom and his dad or any other combination. Having those moments when a parent sees their child, all decked out and about to walk down the aisle about to become someone’s amazing spouse, recorded for all time is so very precious. Images evoke memories and these memories can be so emotional that I want to ensure that if it is at all possible to arrange, it happens. Taking those five minutes now will be so worth it in 20 years!

Ask your photographer to help make this happen!

When your photographer reaches out and asks about your must have images, ask to have this moment added in to the mix. It can be done just prior to your first look with your future spouse and won’t add that much time to your timeline. Keep it sweet and simple and have your makeup artist on stand by to do a little touching up before you cast eyes on your fabulous spouse to be!

Wedding Alcohol Calculator

Image - Couple of Bartenders and Hannah Schmidtman Photography

Buying the alcohol for your wedding? Have no idea how much to buy? Let us help! Check out our guide below!

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Tips

• Buy in bulk and/or by the case. Most Sam's Club and Costco's will allow you to shop without a membership and will accept returns of unopened bottles/cases. Bevmo will ice and deliver your alcohol if you purchase more than $500.00 in products.

• Make sure to get a licensed/insured bartender to serve your alcohol.

• Get event/wedding insurance with an alcohol rider to protect yourself and your guests.

• Ask your bartending service if they provide glasses, ice, napkins, mixers, etc.

• Tip your bartender through their contract/personally and ask that they not put out a tip jar.

 

You Can't Save Money By Avoiding the "W" Word

And trying to lie about it may cost you in the end!

You've gotten engaged and are busily planning your wedding. You think you have a good idea what everything will cost. You start shopping around and discover almost everything seems to cost more that you expected!!!

The Myth

You do a little research and think you've discovered the reason - everyone out there (i.e. all the "experts" on the internet) claim that you're paying more because you're using the word "wedding". That there is this huge conspiracy of professionals that are part of the "wedding industry complex" just waiting to take advantage of you.

The Reality

Wedding professionals do typically charge more for a wedding. Now, I know what you are thinking - "I told you I was getting taken advantage of by saying it was for a wedding. I'm just  gonna say it's for a party and save some $$$$!"

You may save some money, but you will lose many, many things.

The Losses

1. You'll lose your professionals trust. It's not a great way to start a relationship by lying to your vendors/professionals. They won't trust you for the rest of the night and trust is a hard thing to work without.

2. You may void your contract by lying. Big deal right? Once they show up what are they going to do, leave? No way! They'll still do the work, so you win a discounted fee for the same service, right? Wrong!!! They can chose to leave, to refuse to work unless their fee (probably at a higher cost then if you had just told them the truth) is paid or hold your end product hostage until you pay up.

3. They won't be properly prepared for your wedding. Dressed in shorts and a t-shirt because you lied and said it was a casual party versus dress clothes - a real possibility! Show up a little late because timing isn't critical to a birthday party - sure thing! Bring the incorrect items or amount of items because you didn't give an accurate head count or portray the importance of no substitutions - count on it! Reduce the amount of staffing because it is just a party and has no critical moments or needs any extra care - yep! And the list can go on and on...

4. You'll lose the time and extra care that goes into a wedding. I know, I know, every event should have the same amount of time and care, but reality is a wedding is a one time, one shot deal. Every pro that I know takes a little more time, a little more care, puts little more work in when they know that they have one chance to capture/work/create that once in a life moment.

Truth

Do you want to know why products and services cost more for a wedding?

Because there is a level of expectation with a wedding that doesn't exist with most other events.

Photographers capture more images, have more people to pose, have a vested interest in making sure that every single image is flawless. And to do this it takes TIME and TALENT, both of which cost money.

Florists hunt up the most perfect blooms they can find, spend extra time arranging and rearranging those blooms, spend extra time ensuring each and every flower will withstand the rigors of posing, moving and handling that occurs during a wedding. This takes TIME and TALENT.

Bakers spend more time ensuring that every decoration, every angle of a wedding cake is perfect. Typically a head baker handles the wedding cakes and an apprentice or new team member handles low key event cakes to "practice" on.

Do you see the recurring theme here - TIME and TALENT.

Weddings take more time and talent to execute. To get that Pinterest/IG worthy wedding takes time and talent.

Time and talent rightfully cost more money. You wouldn't be happy if someone came into your place of employment, had half the skills and education you did and worked half the time you do, but made the same salary as you. Why would you expect your wedding professionals to work for less and produce more?

I know this seems preachy, and it is. This lie that we charge you more just because has got to die. We charge more because we do more. If you don't see how or understand why, please just ask. We'll be happy to explain all the more that you get when we are working a wedding versus any other event.