30 Apr Let’s Talk Budget….
You are newly engaged, you are walking on cloud nine with visions of your most marvelous wedding running through your head. This wedding is going to be AMAZING. Now, let’s talk budget. Yes, I know that this can be a taboo word to a bride {however, not to her parents, fiance or visa.} Let’s be honest, not every bride has the luxury of an unlimited budget. Weddings can range from and entire exercise in DIY to a million dollar destination affair. Either way, at the end of the day, financial decisions are made. I encourage all brides to develop a budget PRIOR to booking anything. After the budget is established, decide what elements of the event are “must haves.”
Photograph by Leigh Webber :: Florals by Stems
For instance, have you always known where your reception will be held? Do you know EXACTLY what your photographs will look like and what food will be served? Do you know how fabulous the band will sound and which Manolo’s you will wear. Great, do you know what those little objects of you obsessions cost? Ladies {and super savvy fellas}…make a budget so that you can be assured to have what is most important to you. There are a plethora of elements to consider and many ways to make your budget more flexible. For those of you that do not know her, meet Erin from Yoj Events. She is a no nonsense guru in this arena and she has a bit of advice for you.
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{We know you’re excited about being engaged and you want many people to share in your special day, so start the guest list off right! The length of the guest list can quickly become a sticky situation between the couple and the families, so my advice to you is to be pro-active! The guest list determines many of decisions about your wedding day, the venue and the total cost are at the top of that list.
Photograph by Leigh Webber :: Florals by Stems
So, to get started, write down everyone you can think of that you would want to see on your wedding day and then cut from there. Ask your parents and future in-laws for their lists too. Then, throw a dinner party and ask everyone who has a stake in the wedding guest list to attend. (All things are better discussed over food and wine!). There will be people that everyone agrees must be in attendance; there will also be potential guests who everyone does not agree on. Take a few things into consideration: your relation to the guest, how long its been since you last saw then, and my “golden rule” of guests lists, would you be upset if you weren’t invited to their event.
I do not believe in the “B-list!” …and of course I’m going to tell you why:
- Charleston is a destination city. Many of your guests will treat it like a vacation, s0 you can usually only account for about 10% of guests not to show. That is a significant difference from the national average of 20% no-shows.
- You can end up over your guest count. We all know that everyone isn’t punctual with reply cards. You can easily go over your target guest count if you extend B-list invitations and then some A-listers show up you didn’t count on.
- B-list invites are obvious. Let’s just say we all know when we’ve gotten those last minute apologetic phone calls.
Once you’ve got it all narrowed down, I suggest using note cards to keep track of your guests. Using these note cards will help you keep track of your guest count, what you have sent them, and their gift. Keep all of these note cards in a recipe box in alphabetical order–easy to transport and nice to keep from engagement through honeymoon!
So, don’t let the guest list get you down or family members worked up. Your wedding is a time for celebration and whoever is in attendance on the big day will make it special…just stay pro-active and organize from the beginning!}
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Thanks Erin! Thank you also to Leigh Webber and Anne Bowen of Stems. Leigh was also happy to share that the gorgeous spoonfuls in the top photograph are the culinary creation of Cynthia Groseclose of Canape.
{All photographs courtesy of Leigh Webber Photography}
