Details, Dollars and the Truth

   So you are thinking about all of the great ideas you are seeing in the wedding mags and at the variety of shows you've attended. You can't wait to make sure everyone gets a personalized favor with your special date engraved on it! Let's be honest, how often do you use or keep the personalized favor from a friend's wedding?  Keep that in mind when you are planning your own event. If you would like to give something to your parents as a reminder of the day, they will love it! As far as family and friends, they don't really need one more favor to store away. The average bride I meet spends somewhere between three and six hundred dollars when she decides on a personalized favor. Nothing makes me sadder than to see hundreds of dollars of personalized candles left on the reception tables at the end of the night. I say skip it but if you must do it, go for something that is cost effective that everyone can use up quickly. The ones pictured above were done by a very frugal and creative bride, they were a hit and inexpensive.
    Now let's move on to the champagne toast. It's beautiful isn't it? Well, it's a beautiful and expensive idea depending on the crowd. If you aren't sure about it and still want to toast, try another approach. I suggest having a beautiful pitcher on the table with a special drink (with or without alcohol is up to you) that can be served in the wine glass at their tables. If you are going to do an open bar, let them lift whatever drink they have and toast. Myself and a lot of other planners will tell you that we see lot's of sad flattening bubbly in the glasses after everyone has left the gig. Take a bottle on the honeymoon and toast the extra day you can spend on the trip thanks to skipping the cost of bubbly and corkage at the reception.
   When I work with a couple trying to decide where they want to spend their money I ask a lot of questions about their lifestyle and the people in their lives. I ask them about what vibe they are looking for from their guests as they walk in. That starts to get their focus on what they really want to have on their day and not what the magazines and books are telling them. Ask yourself all of these questions. Look at your budget and try as hard as you can to make sure it does not include credit cards. If you are tempted to use them, set that amount aside for some of those things that you'd just like to do if you can. You may decide that the long pay off of that card is not worth some of those things. The big question is, what details will make the day for you?
    Remember that you are two people hurdling into a lifelong journey together into the crazy of life. It is an expensive and sometimes challenging road but one that is worth more than any money they can print. Fill your day with activities, food and a setting that fits you and not others expectations. It is after all one of the most joyous days of your life, make it a day they will never forget because of the couple of the day. It will beat the personalized votive as a reminder every time. Trust me, I have thousands of them crying in wedding decor storage and I can only burn so many that my wonderful brides send me home with!

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