Simple Ways To Save BIG!

Over the past few months, I've been challenged to think of creative ways to save money as I plan my wedding next October. Based on my findings, here's a quick list of simple ways to save big!

1. Simplify your stationary. Whether this means you skip save-the-dates, tackle DIY invites, or simplify a super formal invite by cutting down on the amount of pieces included (which also cuts down on your postage).

2. Do more borrowing. Rather than buy new items for every aspect of your wedding, consider borrowing a few things from family and close friends. Some of my ideas have included jewelry (thanks Mom!), wedding veil (thanks Auntie!), or card box (thanks Wendy!).

3. Warning: This next one may not appeal to everyone (including me), but I'm going to at least throw it out there... Consider shopping for a 'gently used' gown rather than buying a brand new one. Websites like savethedress.com and woreitonce.com are good places to start.

4. Offer signature drinks. This is a great alternative to an open bar which can get out of hand very quickly. Trust me, it's in no way tacky to host only a couple signature drinks, or you could also choose to host only wine and champagne before/along with dinner.

5. Minimize your menu. It is absolutely unnecessary to offer chicken, steak, fish, and a vegetarian option to every guest. Watch out for those split-entree fees which can quickly add to your budget, and make a choice to minimize the options. It is perfectly acceptable to only offer two options, or you could offer just one that includes two proteins. It's a wedding, not a 5-star restaurant (although I hope the food tastes like it is!!).

6. Research thoroughly before booking your honeymoon. You don't necessarily have to limit yourself to vacationing in the U.S. to save big... Just be a smart traveler! Do some price checking and try to get the best deal you can. Do(!) keep in mind that you don't want to completely sacrifice your experience for a lower price. It's always a good idea to consult with a travel agent and/or refer to reviews on sites like tripadvisor.com. Do the best you can to strike a balance between affordability and enjoyability!

7. Be honest about comparative bidding. Often times, companies will be willing to price-match if you give them the opportunity and present it in a non-threatening way (and are truly honest). If they decline, politely accept and move onto the next option.

Happy Holidays! [And Happy Planning!]

Using Bells For Holiday Decorating

Here are a couple more Christmas decorating ideas to spruce up your home for the holidays, both of which incorporate inexpensive bells. The first idea is extremely simple and very festive.

Tie classic silver bells (or any other color you choose) with decorative ribbon to doorknobs throughout your house. If you can't stand all the festive noise, I recommend placing the bells only at your front door. This idea allows visitors to jingle their way into your home this Christmas. :)

The next idea requires a bit more time and effort, but the end result is worth it. This decorative touch would be adorable in a kitchen or front window.

1. Purchase a tension rod at your local hardware store or Wal-Mart/Target.

2. Cut strips of decorative ribbon of your choosing about one foot longer than the length of the window.

3. Tie the ribbons evenly-spaced along the tension rod that you have secured inside the window frame.

4. String on bells and ornaments, knotting them in place approximately 5 inches apart.

5. Repeat across the window.

Tip: This looks much better when you stagger and vary the bells and ornaments (as shown).

Only 10 more days until Christmas... Hope you're all almost done with your holiday shopping!

Simple Can Be Beautiful

As promised, I'm going to share another idea for holiday decorating with you. This particular one is extremely easy to put together (I know I always say that, but it's true)! All you need is an ornament tree of your choosing and various holiday objects to add splashes of color. A few ideas include candy canes, small red/green wire bows, tinsel, peppermints, and ornaments.

To get this look, all you need to do is decide on your theme and scatter the objects on the wire tree. This adorable item would be the perfect accent at your bar or buffet table for this year's holiday party.

If you don't have a wire tree, check out www.ornament-trees.com. They have a very diverse selection that includes just about every style and color you could think of- black, white, colored, rotating, brass, gold, and silver, to name a few. This particular idea goes to show that simplicity can be really beautiful [Is anyone else with me that many holiday decorations have now become overly embellished, too technological, and just plain gaudy?]

Deck The Halls

One of my very favorite aspects of event planning is decor. I love finding unique and creative decorating ideas, especially for the holidays! Over the course of the next month I'll be sure to share multiple easy and inexpensive ways to decorate and prep for holiday events. Here's the first...

How perfect would this be as a simple centerpiece (surrounded by candles, of course) or for placing on your mantel or coffee table? All you have to do is put ornaments on top of leaves in a cake stand, and you're done! I think it may be even prettier to use garland and rich greens rather than the leaves as shown. In addition, I'd add some red ornaments too! Stay tuned for more ways to deck the halls this season!

Psst! 15% OFF EVERYTHING.

Hope everyone had a restful and enjoyable Thanksgiving weekend. I certainly did! Just wanted to pass on a great coupon code that's currently circulating. It applies to any purchases made via the Get Married online store. Enter in the promo code 'greatdeal' and receive 15% off everything in your shopping cart. What a great way to kick off your shopping this season!

Get Married offers invites & save-the-dates, ceremony and reception essentials, wedding favors, bridal party gifts for men and women, shower supplies, and honeymoon/travel items. Check it out at http://shop.getmarried.com/index.jsp. I'm not quite sure when this offer expires so don't delay!

Floral DIY

With the help and expertise of the people behind Real Simple (which is one of my most favorite magazines in the world by the way!), I am going to show you how to transform supermarket flowers into gorgeous bouquets. It is not as difficult or as time-consuming as it sounds, I promise! Just make sure you do a little practicing beforehand, and maybe even ask a couple of friends to help you out. You will save a lot of money if you can pull this off!

Mixed blooms:

1. Buy a bouquet of monochromatic mixed blooms at your local market. Suggestions include rununculus, fresia, tulips, and small white roses.

2. Remove the green fillers such as asparagus fern and hypericum.

3. Rearrange the flowers so they are mixed well and at the appropriate height levels.

4. Tightly secure the bundle with floral wire and taping supplies.

5. Cover a large portion of the stems with matching satin ribbon and fasten with a pearl headed pin or vintage brooch.

Purple Flowers (How gorgeous for fall?):

1. Buy several bundles of purple flowers at your local market such as irises, statis, and carnations. Try to vary the size, shape, and shade as much as possible.

2. Once you have the mix, arrange them in an alternating pattern. You want the unopened irises to be juxtaposed by the fluffier carnations so it balances out.

3. Fasten the stems with floral wire. Make sure you do this from the top of the long stems toward the bottom to avoid them getting separating and appearing 'droopy.'

4. Cover the stems and wire with a thick satin ribbon.

5. Fasten with a pearl headed pin, brooch, or even tie a bow with decorative ribbon. Voila!

Depending on how many bridesmaids you have in your wedding party, this could be a DIY project that is well worth the effort.

Planning A Destination Wedding - Part I

This week, I started gathering initial information for a wedding I may be planning for 150 guests in Puebla, Mexico. If you are considering going the destination wedding route, let me tell you... It's not a bad idea to hire a consultant to help you with this undertaking [and I'm not just saying that because I am one!]. If you think planning a local wedding is a tricky task, try coordinating all of the details from a completely different part of the world!

As long as I'm doing so much background work, I thought I'd share with you some planning tips and etiquette tidbits so you don't need to reinvent the wheel when/if you begin planning your own destination wedding. To make this as concise as possible, I'm going to format this particular blog as a Q & A article. This is a vast topic that I could write pages about, so I'll start with the basics. If there are any major questions or topics you feel I left out, send me an email and I will get back to you with some answers. :)

Q: Is it necessary to pay for my guests?

A: In general, it is not required that you pay for your guests' travel costs or accommodations. Of course, if you're able to pay for even a portion of the cost, your guests would certainly appreciate it. Either way, try to choose a location where there are several price points available in terms of food, lodging, flights, etc., and then let your guests decide for themselves.

Q: Should I bring my own vendors?

A: At the very least, I recommend that you bring two very important vendors with you: your wedding consultant and your photographer. As mentioned earlier, destination weddings can be very complicated to coordinate. Hiring a planner and having him/her accompany you to your chosen destination can be a serious stress-saver (and a major disaster-averter).

I recommend you bring your photographer because he or she will be with you your entire day and capture those memories you'll cherish throughout your whole life. I always stress how important it is to meet with him/her several times prior to your event to ensure that you share the same stylistic visions. This can be very difficult to do from across the world, which is why I recommend finding one in your local area and asking them to travel with you.

Q: Should I have a reception back home?

A: If possible, absolutely. This gives friends and family the opportunity to celebrate with you even if they were not able to travel with you. Tip: Share photo slides and video from your ceremony at this reception... Everyone will love to see what they missed!

Q: How can I avoid hidden costs associated with a destination wedding?

A: The best way is to ask a lot(!) of questions to uncover all of the hidden costs, and then to make final decisions after incorporating these into your overall budget. Resorts often present wedding packages as if everything is included in the price, but often, this is not the case. Inquire about extras such as deposits, hidden clauses in hotel contracts, setup fees, clean-up fees, and cake-cutting costs before signing on any dotted lines.

Q: Should I risk bad weather and plan my wedding during 'low-season' in order to save money?

A: No! There are many other ways to save money. My advice is to not risk bad weather if you can help it. Working with a wedding planner and a travel consultant who have negotiating power will help you save without forcing you to risk much at all. It's just not worth it.

Q: How do I look up the marriage legalities for my destination of interest?

A: Your wedding consultant is the best resource for this. There are many websites with info guides pertaining to various destinations, but I would not swear by them. Contacting actual officials and/or researching on official government websites is better than referring to these online sources. Avoid last minute mishaps and know all of the requirements before you travel to your destination spot. {Did you know England requires a seven-day residency before a marriage certificate can be issued? Were you aware that some areas in Mexico require x-rays and blood work before you can be wed?}

Hopefully this helped provide some clarity and direction for those planning a destination wedding. Part II will follow with more information and planning tips sometime in the near future (but for now, I need to get back to my research on Puebla, Mexico!). Always feel free to e-mail or call with your wedding-related questions or concerns. Happy planning!