Should I rent or buy my decorations? This is a great question....it depends on a few things.
1. Your budget
2. Your location
3. How much do you want to do yourself?
Take a look over your budget and see what you have set aside for your decorations. Try to figure out what you want for centerpieces, ceiling decor, backdrop (if you are having one), head table, ceremony flowers, etc. Decide what you will have time for, if you are making your own, shopping for and finding what you would like (you could go through many stores/websites to do this).
After you have all of this in line, compare pricing, buying vs renting.
Sometimes people do not want to deal with the decorations afterward, or it could be a destination wedding and they do not want to haul the decorations to and from. At times it is so worth renting, especially for hard to find items, or items that are very expensive to buy.
If you buy, you can always resell them, granted you may not get everything back that you paid for them, but you will get a portion. When and if you are planning on buying your decorations, check out craigslist or ebay, you would be so surprised in what you can find that may be the perfect fit for your style and your budget.
Also keep in mind you can do a little of both. Buy some decorations, and rent some decorations. It does work great for larger items, or if you are limited in choices for purchasing. They are great rental businesses to use out there!
Good luck and have fun :)
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Day of Coordinator...Do I really need one? Jan 19, 2010
I am sure the question has crossed a lot of minds...especially for the do-it-yourselfers. There is a lot that goes into planning a wedding, and if you have the time, energy, and the organization you will do great! But, having a professional for the "Day of" maybe a great fit for you.
Talking with a lot of my friends who have recently tied the knot, tell me so many times, they wish the would have had help to relieve the stress on their Wedding Day.
Some points they have told me they would have loved to have help on:
1. Remembering and gathering special items for the ceremony and reception, rings, marriage certificate, unity candle/sand, heirlooms
2. Making sure the everything was set and ready to go for both the ceremony and reception
3. Double checking that everyone was ready and on time
4. Helping with the decorating and coming up with ideas to make it "unique"
5. Helping with invites, thank you's, RSVP, final counts
6. To have someone run for that last minute item
7. Transition from ceremony to reception
8. Most of all that the venue for the reception...the meal is on time, lights on, candles lit, the DJ is ready, etc.
The best aspect of having a Day of Coordinator, is that yourselves, family and friends can sit back and enjoy the day.
There is a common assumption that it will cost too much, but the reality is, it is not as much as you may think, and to make your day 100% enjoyable with very little stress, is priceless :)
Talking with a lot of my friends who have recently tied the knot, tell me so many times, they wish the would have had help to relieve the stress on their Wedding Day.
Some points they have told me they would have loved to have help on:
1. Remembering and gathering special items for the ceremony and reception, rings, marriage certificate, unity candle/sand, heirlooms
2. Making sure the everything was set and ready to go for both the ceremony and reception
3. Double checking that everyone was ready and on time
4. Helping with the decorating and coming up with ideas to make it "unique"
5. Helping with invites, thank you's, RSVP, final counts
6. To have someone run for that last minute item
7. Transition from ceremony to reception
8. Most of all that the venue for the reception...the meal is on time, lights on, candles lit, the DJ is ready, etc.
The best aspect of having a Day of Coordinator, is that yourselves, family and friends can sit back and enjoy the day.
There is a common assumption that it will cost too much, but the reality is, it is not as much as you may think, and to make your day 100% enjoyable with very little stress, is priceless :)
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Seasons - Picking a Date
Picking a date can be very challenging, considering their are 365 to choose from! Every season of the year has its ups and downs for a wedding, but choose the season you love the most!
A Winter Wedding - They are beautiful (well I am very partial to winter weddings, since mine was in Feb 3 years ago). The upside, venues are usually pretty open. The snow, especially if it is sparkling, like this morning's snowfall, you can't beat it! You can use a variety of themes for your wedding, especially a winter wonderland. Colors you can do just about anything, and especially if you are adding in a lot of sparkle and lights...hit the after Christmas sales for decorations! My mom and I went and cut tree branches, and tied them together like trees, and ran white lights on the branches. They were very simple, low cost, yet they were so beautiful! And if it snows, GREAT, you won't get wet like the rain!
The downside of winter weddings, especially in the northland, is snow storms may keep away out of town guests, but it sure is pretty when it is snowing.
A Spring Wedding: They are also very pretty, a new beginning, all the flowers are new after a long winter, leaves are budding, grass is starting to get green, etc. You can also go with a variety of themes and colors. When I think spring, I think of pastel colors, elegant, and lots of tulips!
The only downside of a spring wedding, you can still have snow, or rain, and if it is a wet spring lots of mud, so make sure you are able to get from place to place without getting too dirty!
A Summer Wedding - Gorgeous, especially outside in a park, on the lake, you name it! You have so many options of outdoor activities that can be included with your recpetion or ceremony. When I think of summer weddings, I think of bright exciting colors, the summer in full bloom!
The downside of summer weddings, plan early! Check around to see what is available first before you set your date, so you can coordinate your ceremony and reception sites on the same day and times that will work best for you. The summer is a very busy wedding season, so plan early for summer wedding!
A Fall Wedding: My favorite season of all! The cool crisp air, the beautiful fall colors, and once in a while, you get a slendid weather day (warm during the day and cool at night). The fall can be a very busy time too, so plan early, just as the summer weddings!
Picking a date and a season of the year to get married in, can be stressful at times, but enjoy it the best you can.
A Winter Wedding - They are beautiful (well I am very partial to winter weddings, since mine was in Feb 3 years ago). The upside, venues are usually pretty open. The snow, especially if it is sparkling, like this morning's snowfall, you can't beat it! You can use a variety of themes for your wedding, especially a winter wonderland. Colors you can do just about anything, and especially if you are adding in a lot of sparkle and lights...hit the after Christmas sales for decorations! My mom and I went and cut tree branches, and tied them together like trees, and ran white lights on the branches. They were very simple, low cost, yet they were so beautiful! And if it snows, GREAT, you won't get wet like the rain!
The downside of winter weddings, especially in the northland, is snow storms may keep away out of town guests, but it sure is pretty when it is snowing.
A Spring Wedding: They are also very pretty, a new beginning, all the flowers are new after a long winter, leaves are budding, grass is starting to get green, etc. You can also go with a variety of themes and colors. When I think spring, I think of pastel colors, elegant, and lots of tulips!
The only downside of a spring wedding, you can still have snow, or rain, and if it is a wet spring lots of mud, so make sure you are able to get from place to place without getting too dirty!
A Summer Wedding - Gorgeous, especially outside in a park, on the lake, you name it! You have so many options of outdoor activities that can be included with your recpetion or ceremony. When I think of summer weddings, I think of bright exciting colors, the summer in full bloom!
The downside of summer weddings, plan early! Check around to see what is available first before you set your date, so you can coordinate your ceremony and reception sites on the same day and times that will work best for you. The summer is a very busy wedding season, so plan early for summer wedding!
A Fall Wedding: My favorite season of all! The cool crisp air, the beautiful fall colors, and once in a while, you get a slendid weather day (warm during the day and cool at night). The fall can be a very busy time too, so plan early, just as the summer weddings!
Picking a date and a season of the year to get married in, can be stressful at times, but enjoy it the best you can.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Bridal Show Season is Here!
The season of Bridal Shows and Expos is under way. If you have not had a chance to attend one, now is the time to do so. There are valuable resources, vendors, contacts, the list could go on and on. Even if you are looking for the last minute detail, or you are undecided, go get some great ideas!
This is a great way to kickoff your Wedding Planning, and the excitement from everything will really get you motivated. There are a lot of shows, big and small through out Northern WI and MN.
Have fun, make it a girls day out, or a nice day for the future Mr. and Mrs.
This is a great way to kickoff your Wedding Planning, and the excitement from everything will really get you motivated. There are a lot of shows, big and small through out Northern WI and MN.
Have fun, make it a girls day out, or a nice day for the future Mr. and Mrs.
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