How in the World Do You Afford a Wedding?

The most popular questions asked on every wedding planning forum is “how can I possibly afford a wedding?” It seems like every woman (and man) dreams about having that $100,000 wedding shown on TLC’s A Wedding Story. And who could blame them? You’ve probably been dreaming about this day ever since you were little, so of course you want to go all out. But how much can you realistically afford? And how do you even begin to pay for a wedding? Because at the end of the day, do you honestly have over $30,000 to spend? From someone who’s helped direct and plan a lot of weddings, I’ve got some tips that can help you save up and afford your dream day.

Using Simple Math

So before we get into breaking down the budget, lets first figure out how much you can actually afford compared to your wedding time frame. Say you have a budget of $15,000 and you have a year to save for it. Now divide 15,000 by 12 (number of months in the year). That brings your total saving per month to about $1,250. Think you can save that much a month? If not, it’s time to cut that budget down a few thousand.

By thinking of your budget in smaller chunks of money, it’s easier to rationalize what an appropriate budget will be. Now you’re thinking, well how do I possibly do that? Don’t worry; keep reading!

Cut Back on Your Expenses

You have a quite bit of money you’ll need to save so you can afford your wedding, guess you’re going to have to cut back on a few things, right? Take a look at your expendable income (the gym, movies, subscription services, etc.) and total how much all of that comes to. You’ll probably be surprised that it totals a couple hundred dollars. Well, cancel those subscriptions and throw that extra money into a savings account for your wedding.

Another thing to watch out for is your spending habits! Maybe you and your significant other love taking date nights every other night of the week. Why not scale that back to just one or two nights a week? Or maybe you spend money on that coffee after lunch, or a quick breakfast sandwich in the morning. You’d be surprised just how much that adds up after a while. Cutting back on those extra expenses and putting it all in a savings account will definitely help when it comes to saving for a wedding.

Be Creative on Additional Ways to Make Money

It’s time to get creative with earning extra money. Maybe you love dogs, so why not pick up a second job as a dog walker or pet sitter on the weekends? Hey it’s a couple hundred bucks you could add to your bank account. Or you might be able to pick up a couple freelancing jobs in and around your area. There are great sites out there helping connect companies to freelancers. Or maybe you have a few items lying around your house? Try selling them on eBay or start your own store on Etsy. Anything you can think of to help you raise a little bit extra cash is great.

Vendor Options

Now that you’ve done everything you can to save for a wedding, let’s talk about your budget.

-Find Family/Friend Talent 

Know someone who is really skilled with a camera? Or how about someone who knows calligraphy? Instead of shelling out money, ask your friends and family for help. Use as much talent as you can find, helping you save big money. 

-Pick In-Season Flowers

Did you know that peonies are three times more expensive than roses? Or that choosing a flower that is out of season can be pretty costly? Well if you didn’t, we’re here to set the record straight! Flowers can run you a lot of money, so choose wisely. 

-Seek out Discounts

Don’t be afraid to ask vendors for discounts. You’ll be surprised on how much of a discount you might be able to get by simply asking for one. Vendors won’t be upfront about possible discounts, which is why it’s always important to ask.

Ask for Help

There’s nothing wrong with asking for a little bit of help from your family members. And times have certainly changed where a wedding is not just a bride’s dog and pony show. Husbands-to-be can step up and ask their family to chip into the wedding fund. But be aware, there are few things to know before approaching your family to have the money talk.

1. Ask politely if your parents are willing to contribute
2. Be prepared to discuss budgets and plans
3. Be open to what they have to say
4. Understand that your feelings might get hurt if a parent declines to help

We know setting aside money for your wedding is tough and it takes lots of planning. But we hope these few tips have helped you and your significant other start planning for the event of your dreams.

Recently married? How did you save money for your wedding? Let us know in the comment section below or share it with us on our Facebook page.

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The Shocking Truth Behind Wedding Favors

Let’s honestly ask ourselves, are wedding favors necessary? Do we really have to set aside money out of the wedding budget to buy some? Tricky questions, followed by even trickier answers.

These little goody bags, sweet treats, and keepsakes make for a great way to thank your guests for being a part of your big day. And though it might be an old tradition, couples are becoming more creative with their wedding favors. Shockingly, you might have some questions when it comes to wedding favors. So let’s dive right in, shall we?

Why are favors even necessary?

Now you’re free to form your own opinions, thoughts, stances, and platforms when it comes to this issue—but hear me out! Wedding favors are the last memory guests will have of your wedding. So you’ll want to leave them with something they can hold onto and think back to how much fun they had celebrating your big day with you.

But favors don’t have to mean expensive. When you choose to give your guests wedding favors, you can keep them as simple as you’d like—only thing that matters is the thought. Remember, it’s always the thought that counts. Personalized favors, whether it’s a carton of bubbles or a packet of forget-me-not flower seeds, go a long way in thanking your guests.

So, how much do I really have to spend?

Like all aspects of your wedding, the price really depends on you and your significant other’s budget. Now, you don’t want to spend a significant portion of your budget on wedding favors—so sit down and plan out what you can spend. But remember, the key is creativity and thoughtfulness. And keep in mind that you’ll want to keep extra favors on hand just in case a guest (or two) wants to take extra.

Should I give children wedding favors?

Another great question, and another one you’ll have to decide for yourself. You can certainly give children the same favor as you give an adult, or you can make something special for them. You could always give children a bag full of candy or cookies with a sweet message written on the outside. Or wrap up some bubblegum and bubbles to give them a special little thanks for attending your big day.

OK, I want wedding favors, but how do I give them out?

One of the best parts about wedding favors is seeing the appreciation for them on your guests’ faces. But you’re probably wondering, what’s the best way to give them out? A simple way to make sure that every guest has the opportunity to pick up a favor is by designating a table for them. You can decorate the table to match the overall theme of the wedding, and then set the favors on there. Or, if you’re wanting to make sure everyone gets one favor, you can place them at people’s seats so they can have them during the reception.

What’s the main takeaway from this shocking wedding favor truth?

The main point you should take away from this blog is that wedding favors don’t have to be extravagant. Each can be unique and special to the couple and their big day. Find something that speaks about your relationship, creativity, and thoughtfulness—and truly thank your guests for being apart of your day. 

How do you feel about wedding favors? What type of wedding favors are your favorite? Let us know in the comment section below or share with us on our Facebook page. We’d love to hear what you have to say!

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You're Engaged, Now What? First 6 Wedding Planning To-Dos

Hooray and congratulations! You’re engaged to the man of your dreams with the ring of your dreams, and I know you couldn’t be happier. But as the shock of the whole idea wears off, a lot of events are about to start happening, and you’ll have a lot to plan for. So without any further delay, here are the first six must-dos to start the wedding planning process.

1. Know the Budget

Before the talk of wedding dates or venues, you first need to set a budget. Without a budget, you’ll have no basis for which season or day you can get married in, or the location of all the festivities. Think about it, do you want to get married in a $10,000 venue in the mountains but only have enough money left to cover a $500 photographer and a $750 DJ? We didn’t think so! So before anything, sit down with your fiancé and decide on a budget.

Afraid you’ll miss something in the budget? Check out these 15 wedding expenses almost everybody forgets about.  

2. Research the Date

So after setting the budget, the next thing you’ll have to do is pick the date! Before you can contact the venue or any other vendors, you have to be able to tell them the date you’re wanting to book. Now, be sure to research the date you pick to make sure no other big event is occurring during that time. Remember when the Pope visited this September? Everywhere in DC or Philadelphia was shut completely down. There were no hotels, no transportation options, no anything! So for people wanting to get married that day, well, it was a complete blackout. Although you can’t always plan your big day around papal visits, be sure to do some research so you’re not sharing your big moment with someone else.

3. Draft Your Guest List

You just have to know (and so do the venue and vendors) how many people are coming to your wedding. Before selecting the site, you need to make sure you have a general idea of how many people you’ll be inviting. Keep in mind as you plan out your list, the higher the number of guests, the higher your budget will need to be.

4. High Priority Vendors

After you have the guest list and budget figured out, it’s now time to book the vendors. Oftentimes, great venues and photographers book up at least a year in advance, so you’ll want to get to that as soon as possible. When we say high priority, we mean vendors who you absolutely love and have to have on your big day.

5. Choose Your Bridal Party

So your honey popped the question to you, now it’s your turn. Think to ask your bridesmaids and groomsmen to join your bridal party. Keep in mind though, you’ll want to ask them sooner rather than later. They are agreeing to help you on your big day, as well as fork over a good chunk of change to be a part of it. So make sure you show them a good time and how much you appreciate them by asking them to be a part of your bridal party in a cute way.

6. Dress Shopping

A lot of women want to wait a few months, slim down, tone their arms, grow their hair, etc. before they start shopping for their dress. Unfortunately, as wedding dresses are beginning to get more and more elaborate, you need to say yes to the dress as soon as possible. And before you walk into a dress salon, we advise that you read up on the dress lingo, know your estimated size, and be willing to try on various styles and designs.

Congrats again, newly engaged! We hope you have fun planning, designing, and dreaming about your wedding day. But remember, the big day is all about you and your significant other so whatever you decide and plan will be perfect. Cheers to the start of a new life and planning adventures!

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Survival 101: 5 Tips for Planning a Successful Bachelor(ette) Party

Chances are at some point in your life you’ll be asked to be an attendee, a host, or a planner of a bachelor(ette) party. Cue “The Hangover” and “Bridesmaids” movies—it’s about to get wild! Ha, just kidding! If we’ve learned anything from those movies, it’s best to avoid the extremes and keep the party simple—that’s right, no tigers.

The New York Times recently released a news article suggesting that “The Hangover” bachelor(ette) party mentality is decreasing due to age, social media, and a newfound respect for responsibility and maturity. Although the wild times might have calmed down, a bachelor(ette) party should still be fun and exciting for the bride and groom-to-be. In the words of Officer Nathan Rhodes from “Bridesmaids” don’t be “the maid of dishonor;” follow our survival tips to plan the ultimate bachelor(ette) party.

Ditch the Hangover

A rule of thumb to pass along to your group/clients is the one-to-one rule! For every alcoholic beverage you consume, drink one glass of water. Water is the miracle elixir that helps you recover from a hangover or a headache. Trust us, the morning after look is not a good look, especially on the rehearsal or wedding day. Keep yourself (and your group) hydrated to guarantee a refreshed look the next day!

We also suggest ditching “The Hangover” theme! Don’t get us wrong, we’re big fans of Las Vegas and think it would make an awesome place to party, but do everyone a favor: avoid losing a friend, getting married, and stealing Mike Tyson’s tiger. What we actually mean is that  bachelor(ette) parties don’t have to fit to a certain model in order to be fun. Interestingly-shaped decor or wild, rendezvous nights aren’t mandatory for the party to be considered successful either.

Venue Matters

When planning a bachelor(ette) party, remember that although your ideas might be great, is it what the bride or groom would enjoy? As a planner, it’s OK to ask the party honorees what they would like to happen or not happen during the event. Our biggest suggestion is to listen and stick to what the bride and groom-to-be say. You’re celebrating with your friend/client, so don’t embarrass them just for the sake of the party. Which is why selecting the perfect venue is highly important.

You wouldn’t drink the night away at a spa or go crazy at a resort would you? Of course not! It’s bachelor(ette) survival 101. Kristen Stanton, an Inspherio user and a successful party planner in North Carolina, suggests that bachelor(ette) planners book venues that offer a mixture of both relaxation and fun. A resort spa makes the obvious choice because the party-goers can enjoy massages and facials, as well as drinks and delicious food options.

Picking the Right Date

Between cake tastings, florist appointments, and last minute dress alterations, penciling in a weekend to party can be tricky. No one wants to celebrate a party too far in advance; it feels too anticlimactic. And hosting a party the day before the big event isn’t the best idea either. Our suggestion is to find the perfect bachelor(ette) party sweet spot, which we think is six weeks to a month before the big day. This timeframe builds excitement for the upcoming nuptials, but it is far enough in advance that nerves aren’t in attendance.

Sensitive to the Budget

Just like a wedding, a budget is one of the most important items to keep in mind when planning a party. Although bachelor(ette) party traditions emphasize the responsibility of the host to pay and cover the party expenses, times are changing. The attendees of the party are now helping and contributing to the event, making sure that everything is equally paid for so the bride/groom can enjoy their night expense free. Of course, with this comes respect and sensitivity to the contribution each person can afford.

As the planner, be mindful of the budget. This is not the only expense that the bridal party is paying, so plan your events and location accordingly. It’s also important to keep in mind that each party is different. An event you host for recent graduates will differ from one you plan for a group with careers and mortgages.

Overscheduling

Let’s face it, months before the event we’re pumped and ready to have the wildest weekend bachelor(ette) party. You plan and schedule activities throughout the entire weekend to keep the party moving. Although we’re supportive of your eager spirit, we want to remind you to schedule down time.

Create buffer zones and times between activities to let the party relax and unwind. Planning a wedding is stressful enough for the bride, the last thing she needs is to be constantly pulled from place to place. Our survival tip is to plan one night that you go all out, and then leave the rest of the weekend open for spontaneity or relaxation. A bachelor(ette) party is a time to celebrate the closing of one chapter and the beginning of a new one, so keep it fun, and keep it classy.

*Side tip: To keep everyone on schedule, we suggest telling people the times for reservations an hour earlier than they actually are.  

A bachelor(ette) party doesn’t have to be wild and crazy, but it has to be fun! What tips do you have to help others survive planning a bachelor(ette) party? Share with us in the comment section below! And if you haven’t tried it yet, sign up for Inspherio free for 30 days. It’s the only event business management solution you’ll ever need—we swear by it.

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Event Guide: Staying on Budget

Budgets are tough! No matter if it’s an event budget, a personal budget, or a business budget, restricting your spending always seems to limit the fun factor. As an event professional, keeping to a budget and calculating all the expenses is an absolute must. Your clients trust you to take their budget, provide services, and ultimately create the event of their dreams. Going over the allotted amount only leads to hurt feelings and unhappy customers.

We’ll give you an example:

Without naming names, there is a reality TV show that redesigns a person’s home to make them fall in love with it again. However, the show also takes the homeowner to view other home options if they decide to list their current house on the market. Per usual, the couple provides the designers with their budget. But it never fails, the budget is repeatedly adjusted to accommodate for extra expenses. The homeowners become discouraged, there’s usually a disagreement, and the only way to get what they want is to increase their spending.

Want to know why this happens? Although the clients have big dreams and a certain vision of what they want their house to look like, the designers never fully prepare the homeowners for the hidden fees and realistic costs of their wants.

Your clients hired you to help them stay within their event budget. Don’t give them a vision of their event you know will not work, or force them to spend more than originally planned. But that’s what we’re here for—to prevent hurt feelings and crushed dreams before they happen. Without further ado, we’re proud to present this week’s event guide—staying on budget.

Quick Percentage Rundown

Based on percentages provided by our friends at theknot, here’s a quick rundown on how much of the budget is typically dedicated to each part of the event.

We find this approach to be super helpful and a great tool! However, there’s more you can do to make budgeting easier. Borrowing from our previous blog, we suggest dividing the budget up into different sections and categories. For a wedding, you have three events to plan for: the rehearsal dinner, the ceremony, and the reception. Allot a certain budget for each of these events, before delving into figuring out the flower budget, food budget, etc.

An Example:

	Rehearsal Dinner	Ceremony	Reception
Flowers	$500	$4,500	$4,000
Food	$1,500	N/A	$5,000
Music	N/A	$500	$1,000
Total	$2,000	$5,000	$10,000

Grand Budget Total: $17,000

*budget isn’t based on actual wedding.

Now that you’ve helped your clients get a budget in mind, here’s a few tips on how to get them to stick to it. 

Record, Record, Record

Recording every payment and IOU is a great way to keep on track of the budget. Luckily, if you’re an Inspherio user, you have an accounting feature built into your membership to help you monitor all payments and spending activity.

Learn all the Hidden Costs and Fees

Forgetting to factor in tips or overtime for vendors is the surest way to stumble upon bills at the end of the event. Remember there is usually someone who cleans up after the event, service charges for venues, florist’s demo costs, license fees, etc. Also, be sure to include enough money in the budget to provide gratuity for the extra help. 

Pad the Budget

The best way to avoid overages is to build in a budget safety net. We suggest earmarking at least 5% of your budget for the unknown. You might need to purchase umbrellas if it’s raining, more flowers, or cleaning supplies. You never know what could happen, so it’s best to be prepared!

3 Ways to Save the Budget

Sometimes you are given a budget that doesn’t match your client’s dream event plans. Well, we have some tips on how to work with that, too. 

What’s Important

What are the top priorities at the event? If you are helping your clients plan a wedding, their top priorities might be the venue, the catering, and a DJ. The items they can probably use less of the budget on is flowers, invitations, and the cake. Deciding on what’s most important early on can be a big money saver.

The Guestlist

The more people they invite, the more money spent. It might be tough for your clients to draw a red line through guests’ names, but it’s the fastest way to save money. We suggest having your clients sit down with the guest list over a span of several days to really think about who they want to invite. 

Simplifying

Instead of going for filet mignon, why not choose the sirloin? If it’s winter, choose a flower like a rose or a Star of Bethlehem instead of a sunflower. By simplifying the menu or choosing decor that’s in season, your clients will save more money.

Never let a budget scare you away from planning your client’s dream event. Give us some tips in the comment section below on how you stay under budget!

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Listen Up, Wedding Planners: 5 Challenges Facing You Today

Every planner deals with a variety of issues when organizing an event. From the vendors not showing up, to clients changing their minds at the last second, complications do happen. However, as a wedding planner, you have your own set of challenges that differentiates you from any other event planner.

So listen up, wedding planners—here are five of the biggest wedding roadblocks, and how you can overcome them.

Challenge #1: Do It Yourself (DIY) Brides and Grooms

Oh, Pinterest! As the world’s greatest site for wedding planning ideas, do it yourself (DIY) projects, and photo sessions—Pinterest can be your worst nightmare (no hate, Pinterest; you know everyone loves you). Some brides & grooms swear by DIY, and believe it to be the best money-saving option for their wedding. However, doing it yourself doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to be cheaper.

An example: A client buys twenty-five floral vases for the reception tables. She realizes the vases will not work with the flowers, but now she can’t return them, and it takes away a significant sum from the reception budget. Instead of doing it herself, the client could have rented vases from the florist, who knows what sizes will work best with the floral arrangement.

Our Advice: To limit the DIY bride from taking over, meet with your client regularly, listen to their ideas, and offer your advice on vendors who can replicate their vision. And just between you and me, it’s usually better to leave the DIY alone and hire professionals.

Challenge #2: The ‘zillas Have Arrived

We have all heard of the term Bridezilla—there is even a show on HGTV about them. (You know, the ones who want to control every aspect of their wedding, and throw huge temper tantrums over the smallest details.) Thankfully, it seems bridezillas are slowly fading away, but their replacement doesn’t look good. Prepare to meet Groomzilla!

Today, men are helping pick the flower arrangements, food and drinks, wedding date, and even the venue. Because most couples share the wedding expenses, men are becoming more involved than ever before.

Our Advice: To prevent a Groomzilla from making an appearance, be sure to include the groom in decisions and meetings. We also suggest giving the bride and groom individual tasks to work on. And remember, this is his day too; make him feel included.

Challenge #3: Small Budgets, Big Dreams

Laughter and love=priceless

Hugs and Kisses=priceless

Growing family= priceless

Planning a wedding= $25,000

Weddings, with an average price-tag of about $26,444, do not cost what they used to. As a wedding planner, clients hire you to plan their dream event without breaking the bank. However, creating and adhering to a budget is difficult, which is why we consider it perfect for challenge #3.

Our Advice: Divide the budget up into different sections and categories. For a wedding, you have three events to plan for: the rehearsal dinner, the ceremony, and the reception. Allot a certain budget for each of these events, before delving into figuring out the flower budget, food budget, etc.

An Example:

	Rehearsal Dinner	Ceremony	Reception
Flowers	$500	$4,500	$4,000
Food	$1,500	N/A	$5,000
Music	N/A	$500	$1,000
Total	$2,000	$5,000	$10,000

Grand Budget Total: $17,000

*budget isn’t based on actual wedding.

Challenge #4: Unrealistic Expectations

One of your toughest challenges is fighting the unrealistic, reality TV expectation clients have for their wedding day. Unlike what they see on TV, appointments are needed, you have to decorate, and yes, it all costs money.

Our Advice: It’s OK to say no. If you notice your clients are trying to get more than what they paid for, or becoming a ‘zilla, it’s alright to walk away and not accept the job. Take control of the situation before it takes control of you.

Challenge #5: Weekend Warriors

In the wedding industry, there is not a uniform standard of service or quality, which makes it difficult to find reliable vendors. Anyone with a passion can become a weekend wedding planner or a wedding vendor—so knowing who to trust is quite a challenge.

Our Advice: Don’t wait for others, set a standard; partner with vendors who uphold the same standard of quality and service you provide. And show your clients that the quality of your services can’t be matched or topped. When you set a standard, others will follow.

A wedding can be an emotional and stressful affair, but it is also one of the happiest days in your client’s life. Although you may face challenges in your job, isn’t it worth it when the groom sees his bride for the first time on their wedding day? We like to think so!

Remember, Inspherio is here to make sure every day is the happiest day. With our all-in-one event and business management program, we help make creating dream events and overcoming challenges that much easier. What are you waiting for? Try our free 30-day trial today!

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