Tips to keep your wedding on budget :
~ Two of the most effective ways to keep a wedding's cost in line is to 1) manage the number of guests who attend, and 2) control alcohol. Emmett and Suzanne, whose wedding is featured in the Blog "Chocolate and the Ocean " opted for an intimate boutique wedding with only 80 guests. They hosted beer and wine for guests and showcased a signature drink called the White Chocolate Martini.
~ The date of your wedding can also significantly affect its cost. There are only so many Saturdays in a summer, and here in the Pacific Northwest, those dates will command the highest price. Keep in mind, there is much to be said for the romance of a candlelit ceremony on a crisp autumn evening, or the proclamation of " Mr and Mrs " as the first buds of Spring begin to pop. Many of my clients have discovered that being flexible with their wedding date resulted in a wedding they never thought they could afford. Emmett and Suzanne selected February.
~ Think about your story and prioritize your "Dream Team": Nothing will make a wedding more memorable than infusing it with the couple's personality. Every couple is different. A location may be the critical element for one couple, such as marrying at the family farm. For another, it may be that one special photographer who must capture their day. There is no right or wrong in this. By honestly accessing the experience you wish to share with your guests, you empower yourself to take the next step in planning.
~ Epilogue on Emmett And Suzanne's Chocolate Wedding : Over 85% of engaged couples this year will pay for a significant portion of their wedding. Emmett and Suzanne were no exception. In fact, such couples represent the norm in wedding finance.
Suzanne's mother, Kathy , was crushed when her daughter suggested hiring a planner.
"I thought she did not believe I could plan her wedding," Kathy said. "Why would she hire a stranger?"
But Suzanne knew that an experienced planner could save them money. Not to mention the time and stress it would cost to try to plan the wedding themselves. Besides, she wanted her mother to attend the wedding; not work it. And so it was that we all came to work together.
The nitty gritty of it all ... Our biggest single cost savings was the location. Most top consultants have special arrangements with premier venues to receive preferred pricing for their clients. These discounts are passed directly to you and can save you thousands of dollars. Next we assessed what services they needed; photographer, video, cake etc. We took their budget and hired the very best they could afford.
It was not about "the cheapest." It was about getting the most for their money.
The unique centerpieces became a cornerstone for the reception. Both Emmett And Suzanne had a passion for fine chocolate and the winter month of their wedding provided an ideal canvas for the warm glow of candlelight and Suzanne's rich color palate. She described Emmett's seaside proposal as
"the most magical weekend of my life." Hence, their theme, "Chocolate and the Ocean" took shape.
As mentioned in the blog post, Christina Yen of Yen for Chocolate was tapped to create the custom centerpieces. These were the splurge items in their wedding budget. The chocolate menus were created by a master chocolatier in WA. The centerpieces and chocolate menus did double duty, acting as both stunning decoration and most memorable favors.
The same care, attention to detail and sense of fun was poured into every part of Emmett and Suzanne's wedding. This was their story.
What is yours? Shall we create something brilliant?
~ Two of the most effective ways to keep a wedding's cost in line is to 1) manage the number of guests who attend, and 2) control alcohol. Emmett and Suzanne, whose wedding is featured in the Blog "Chocolate and the Ocean " opted for an intimate boutique wedding with only 80 guests. They hosted beer and wine for guests and showcased a signature drink called the White Chocolate Martini.
~ The date of your wedding can also significantly affect its cost. There are only so many Saturdays in a summer, and here in the Pacific Northwest, those dates will command the highest price. Keep in mind, there is much to be said for the romance of a candlelit ceremony on a crisp autumn evening, or the proclamation of " Mr and Mrs " as the first buds of Spring begin to pop. Many of my clients have discovered that being flexible with their wedding date resulted in a wedding they never thought they could afford. Emmett and Suzanne selected February.
~ Think about your story and prioritize your "Dream Team": Nothing will make a wedding more memorable than infusing it with the couple's personality. Every couple is different. A location may be the critical element for one couple, such as marrying at the family farm. For another, it may be that one special photographer who must capture their day. There is no right or wrong in this. By honestly accessing the experience you wish to share with your guests, you empower yourself to take the next step in planning.
~ Epilogue on Emmett And Suzanne's Chocolate Wedding : Over 85% of engaged couples this year will pay for a significant portion of their wedding. Emmett and Suzanne were no exception. In fact, such couples represent the norm in wedding finance.
Suzanne's mother, Kathy , was crushed when her daughter suggested hiring a planner.
"I thought she did not believe I could plan her wedding," Kathy said. "Why would she hire a stranger?"
But Suzanne knew that an experienced planner could save them money. Not to mention the time and stress it would cost to try to plan the wedding themselves. Besides, she wanted her mother to attend the wedding; not work it. And so it was that we all came to work together.
The nitty gritty of it all ... Our biggest single cost savings was the location. Most top consultants have special arrangements with premier venues to receive preferred pricing for their clients. These discounts are passed directly to you and can save you thousands of dollars. Next we assessed what services they needed; photographer, video, cake etc. We took their budget and hired the very best they could afford.
It was not about "the cheapest." It was about getting the most for their money.
The unique centerpieces became a cornerstone for the reception. Both Emmett And Suzanne had a passion for fine chocolate and the winter month of their wedding provided an ideal canvas for the warm glow of candlelight and Suzanne's rich color palate. She described Emmett's seaside proposal as
"the most magical weekend of my life." Hence, their theme, "Chocolate and the Ocean" took shape.
As mentioned in the blog post, Christina Yen of Yen for Chocolate was tapped to create the custom centerpieces. These were the splurge items in their wedding budget. The chocolate menus were created by a master chocolatier in WA. The centerpieces and chocolate menus did double duty, acting as both stunning decoration and most memorable favors.
The same care, attention to detail and sense of fun was poured into every part of Emmett and Suzanne's wedding. This was their story.
What is yours? Shall we create something brilliant?
