Tag: wedding mistakes

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Destination Weddings… Worth The Hype?

A topic that has left engaged couples hemming and hawing: destination weddings.

When my husband and I first started our wedding planning, he was totally into the idea of having a destination wedding… I on the other hand was so not into it. Now that we’re married, and our wedding day has come and gone (wouldn’t trade it for anything, best day ever), I can definitely see why some couples choose to have a destination wedding.

Like just about everything else in the world of wedding planning, destination weddings have their lists of pros and cons – but overall, it comes down to one question… Is it right for you?

Pros

  1. Wedding + Vacation All-In-One

    Maybe the most obvious pro… Who doesn’t love a vacation? Of course, this is great for yourself and your significant other, but think about how excited your guests will be to realize they get a bonus vacation when they attend your wedding!

    Not everyone gets the opportunity to get together with their best friends and family and go far away to luxury land of relaxation and enjoy time together – this is it folks.

  2. Less Is More

    Planning a wedding consists of so many things. One of the biggest stressors on your to-do list might be decor.

    Now imagine getting married in a beautiful place like Jamacia; the ocean will most likely be your backdrop for the ceremony.

    If you’re getting married at a resort, the resort itself most likely has gorgeous lush gardens, beaches, etc. so you really won’t need to focus much at all on your own decor.

  3. Built-In Honeymoon

    As soon as the party is over, you and your new spouse don’t have to deal with travel for your honeymoon. You’re already there and ready to relax and enjoy your time together as newlyweds.

    You can enjoy your honeymoon in a couple different ways – continue to spend time with your friends and family who joined you in celebrating your wedding day, or you might opt for some special alone time. Either way is possible when you have a destination wedding.

  4. More Affordable

    Believe it or not, but destination weddings are generally less expensive. Granted you have to take flights and hotel/resort stays into account, but most resorts offer incredible deals when you’re traveling for your wedding.

    Be sure to ask the resort about wedding packages; many offer packages that include photography, food, free night stays, and more.

    When you consider all of the separate charges you’ll have for a wedding in your hometown, destination weddings can definitely be the more affordable route.

    >> Check out these fast and easy side hustles to save some extra cash for your wedding and honeymoon <<

  5. Intimate Celebration

    Lots of couples struggle with their guest list. Whether they have to fit a large number of guests into a limited capacity venue, or if they’re trying to find the right words to let their fifty 2nd and 3rd cousins know that they aren’t invited… setting your guest list is stressful.

    Having a destination wedding is a great excuse for only inviting those friends and family members that you feel especially close to; no need to invite your Great Aunt Karen that you haven’t heard from in 10 years.

Cons

  1. Planning Can Be Challenging

    Wedding planning can be challenging in general… add a foreign country to the mix and you’re sure to deal with a few extra dilemmas.

    Meeting with vendors is an important aspect in wedding planning, but when you’re getting married somewhere far away it can be impossible to meet you vendors in advance.

    Of course, communicating with your vendors via email or phone might be possible, but also consider that there may be language barrier depending on where you’re headed to.

    Destination weddings can also be more challenging if you are not familiar with the area. Planning transportation, timing out the routes, and reserving stays for your guest can all be more difficult if you don’t know your way around.

  2. Not All Your Guests Can Make It

    If you’re looking for a more intimate wedding celebration, a destination wedding might work great for you. However, if you’ve always wanted a huge wedding with 300+ guests, you might want to rethink the ‘destination’ part. In most cases, destination weddings do not have the capacity for a larger scale wedding.

    Also consider which of your guests might not be able to make it for their own personal reasons. Destination weddings require your guests to take time off from work, find childcare (dog-sitter in my world), and have the funds for plane flights, hotel, etc. Aside from those types of personal reasons, remember the guests that might not be physically able to travel far away.

    One of the main reasons I decided against a destination wedding was because my grandma would not be able to make it for health reasons… and it was so important to me that she be there on my wedding day.

  3. Be Aware of Fraudulence

    Many people don’t realize just how common this is. Not having much knowledge of the area, resort, and the local vendors you may be using can lead to you being scammed.

    It sounds like a no-brainer, but do your fair share of research before committing or signing any contracts. Having a professional wedding planner is a great help! Most wedding planners with a lot of experience will have connections with vendors in popular wedding destination countries.
Categories
love: weddings

10 Questions to Ask Venues Before Committing

You’re starting to dig into your wedding planning adventure. Selecting a wedding venue can be stressful but it doesn’t have to be! This part of the planning process can be such a fun experience for you and your fiancé. Just like a book… don’t judge a venue by its cover – good or bad.

You’ve found a venue that you really like, maybe you’ve found 3! How do you pick the venue that will be best for your wedding? Below are some key questions that are so important for you to ask your venue before committing and signing the contract.



Consider printing these questions to bring with you when you check out a venue!

  1. Is my preferred date/time available?
    You might have a specific day and time already set in your head for your wedding day, or maybe you’re lenient and okay with different dates as long as it’s during a specific season. Either way, talking to possible venues about this is obviously important. Some venues (especially since Covid) regularly book out weddings 1-3 years in advance! Don’t let yourself fall in love with a venue only to find out that you’d have to prolong your engagement longer than you were wanting to.

  2. What is the guest capacity?
    This question speaks for itself. Some venues can accommodate 300+ guests, while other venues only have the space for 50-75 guests. Be sure to sit down with your fiancé and consider your guest list before deciding on a venue… Trust me, friends, cousins, and co-workers can really bulk up the guest list if you’re not being careful and specific enough.

  3. How late can my wedding go?
    Some couples might not be all about the dancing and celebrating late into the night, but some want to party ’til the sun comes up! Most venues will set a curfew between 10pm and 1am. Find out if this also includes clean up time.

  4. Do you provide a day-of-coordinator?
    Before I got married, I barely knew what a day-of-coordinator was. My venue included a woman named Dorothy as my day-of-coordinator and ooooh my goodness she was fantastic! I honestly don’t know what I would have done without her. Not only was she there to assist during the rehearsal and to help with anything I needed on my wedding day, but she even helped me through the entire planning process. We had multiple meetings before my big day to go over set up, layout, food, tablecloth colors, etc. It’s a huge plus if your venue provides a day-of-coordinator!

  5. Is there a backup plan in case of inclement weather?
    Here is another one that is personal to me and SUPER important. Part of the reason why I chose my venue was because of the stunning view in the ceremony space – up on a mountain. Of course, there’s always the (sad) possibility that it will rain, storm, or in my case… multiple severe thunderstorms, during your ceremony. It’s important that if you are planning an outdoor ceremony or reception space that you have a backup in case of bad weather. Make sure you check out the backup plan too, just to make sure you would be fine with the space if need be!
    (My planned ceremony space vs. My indoor backup ceremony space.)


  6. Do you have a preferred vendor list and are we limited to that list?
    Some venues allow you to bring in any food or beverages for your wedding; while other venues require you to stick with either their catering and beverage service or from a company on their preferred vendor list. Though it’s not as common, sometimes vendors such as the DJ and florist are even on a preferred vendor list. This is a good question to ask just to confirm the vendors you are planning on using are allowed at the venue

  7. Do we have access to a bridal suite and groom’s suite on the day of?
    Though not all brides and grooms think it’s necessary, a bridal suite and a groom’s suite are both very helpful! If you are getting hair and/or makeup done on-site, the services are usually done in the bridal suite. These rooms also aid as a place from the bride and groom to stay hidden and away from each other until the ceremony or the first look. Plus, imagine how fun it would be to enjoy mimosas with your girls to calm your nerves before walking down the aisle!

  8. Can we set up the day before?
    If at all possible, setting up all your decorations and signage a day or two before the big day is so incredibly helpful. It can take some time to get everything arranged just how you want it and you already are busy enough on the morning of your wedding. As long as there isn’t another wedding in the same location or room the night before, you can usually set up in advance!

  9. What is all included in the price?
    Many venues will supply items such as chairs, tables, linens, dinnerware, etc. You can save a lot on rentals if your venue offers these types of items at no extra cost!

  10. What is your cancellation/reschedule policy?
    This question might also sound like a no-brainer; it’s very important. God forbid something happens where you have to either postpone or cancel your wedding (especially now with Covid), you want to make sure you are covered and that you aren’t out all of the money that you spent on your venue.



Categories
love: weddings

Setting Your Budget

As much as we might not like to think about it, setting a budget for your wedding is one of the first steps you need to complete before really getting into the planning process.

Sure, you can find a beautiful venue, the perfect dress, and a DJ that you absolutely love… but what happens if you don’t consider your budget first?

Wedding planning can be stressful enough already, you don’t want to realize months into planning that you can’t afford it all and you need to look for more budget-friendly options.

WHAT AN AVERAGE WEDDING BUDGET LOOKS LIKE…

50 Percent: Venue + Catering

In most cases, at least half of your budget will go towards your venue and catering expenses and your venue.

Renting your venue can be pretty spendy; talk to your venue about pricing for the different seasons of the year, and the pricing for weddings on a Friday or Sunday versus a Saturday wedding.

Depending on the number of guests you’re planning to have at your wedding, catering is usually the highest ticket item.

Some couples decide to do a buffet rather than a plated dinner as it might be a little less expensive.

It’s also common (but not necessary) for couples to provide appetizers, dessert, a late-night snack, and sometimes beverages throughout the night.

15 Percent: Photography + Videography

Many brides and grooms don’t realize how expensive photography and videography for their wedding day can be. Do your research on different professionals in your area.

I booked a high schooler for my wedding videography; his pricing was very low compared to others I had found because he was so young and just getting started. However, he had been doing wedding videography for a few years already and other types of videography for a long time; it was his passion. I watched some videos from his portfolio, and they were amazing! I saved over $1,000 by taking a chance with a new up-and-coming videographer.

That being said, don’t totally skimp out on your wedding photographer and videography. After all, these are the photos and videos that you will look back on for years to come to cherish the best day of your life.

12 Percent: Bride + Groom Attire

Make sure you set aside at least 12% of your budget for all things wedding attire.

This will include your dress, tuxedo, shoes, jewelry, veil and tie. A dress and suit for your rehearsal dinner, bridal showers, and bachelorette/bachelor parties might also be needed.

You can also add any grooming services you might be interested in such as hair and makeup, manicure, pedicure and waxing.

10 Percent: Decor

When couples think of the decor needed for their wedding, some might say “centerpieces… what else?”

There are actually many other items that tie into the decor category. Decor can include flower arrangements, tablecloths, seat covers, event lighting, signage and more.

8 Percent: Music + Entertainment

Whether you’re interested in a DJ or a live band, the entertainment and your wedding is super important!

In my opinion, interactive DJ’s are fantastic at keeping guests engaged and having fun. Depending on your venue, you might also need to rent a dance floor.

5 Percent: Miscellaneous Spending

Okay… this can include so many things, but mostly the low-ticket items.

For items in this category, include your wedding bands, transportation (if necessary), stationary for your save the dates and invitations, and an officiant.

Tip: Save $400+ by getting a close friend or family member ordained (usually free) to officiate your ceremony for you.

BEFORE SETTING YOUR BUDGET, ASK YOURSELF THESE IMPORANT QUESTIONS….

Questions to Consider When Setting Your Budget

Who (if anyone) is helping you pay for the wedding, and much are they offering to contribute?

How many guests MUST be in attendance at your wedding?

What is most important to you?

What are you willing to splurge on?

What can you do without?

What is your budget?

How will you keep track of your budget?

AVOID THESE BUDGETING MISTAKES…

Oops! Top Budget Mistakes

Not being realistic

Not having a discussion with each person contributing to your wedding and determining who is paying for what

Not keeping track of your spending throughout the planning process

Not making decisions on what must be part of your wedding day versus what you could go without having