Seeking random info

Re: Seeking random info

• JBs_Bride

  

  March 2011 edited December 2011

  Read all your contracts and negotiate, negotiate, negotiate. The economy is still not 100%, so a lot of vendors will give you deals if you ask.
  
  Take into account the taxes and fees applicable. Sometimes something that may seem like a good deal really isn't when you account for taxes and fees.
  
  Don't pay full price for your BM dresses. If you use a company like Netbride.com or Pearl's Place you can save a good amount on those dresses that only get worn once.
  
  And of course, we're always here to help!   The ladies here are a fabulous resource. Even for those random weird things, the girls here can help out.

  
  Planning Bio - Woefully out of date

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• snorri10

  

  March 2011 edited December 2011

  I think it's good to put a "contingency" line item in your budget of about 10% beyond what you think you will spend.   There are lots of "little" things that come up last minute.  For instance, our venue included most things in the package, but then a few weeks before the wedding I got pinged with cost for coat check (only $100 but super annoying). Parking that weekend was about 100+.   The 2 weeks before the wedding lots of little last minute things added up - paper and ribbon, a new dress for the rehearsal dinner, etc.If you have lots of out of towners staying at a hotel that you are at, it's customary to pick up breakfast the next day, etc.

  If you are having hair and makeup done - I'd factor in costs for multiple trials in case you don't like the first one (that happened to me - I spent a small fortune on hair and makeup though I have to say, it was worth it!!)

  
  

    Hope that helps a little - if I think of anything else I'll chime in.  I planned our entire wedding myself!!!

  http://bostonwedding.weebly.com/

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• ~Tuck~

  

  March 2011 edited December 2011

  You will most likely spend more money then budgeted for.  So far, I am $700 over budget and still spending.  Little things like guestbooks, programs, bathroom baskets, Out-of-town gift bags sure are adding up quick financially.  Other things like plane tickets for the honeymoon were more expensive than I anticipated.  We are paying and planning everything for the wedding ourselves, and it has been a little stressful.

  
  

  Look over the knot checklist.  Also, search for checklists on the internet.  I have found them to be most helpful, since I, like you, did a majority of this myself.

  
  

  Do your research.  Don't settle for the first thing that comes along.  I looked at 8 different halls before deciding on one.  Also, our hall includes a lot for not a lot of money, which took away a lot of the stress.

  
  

  If you have any friends who have gotten married recently, ask them to review their vendors for you.  If you are looking for a videographer, find a friend who used one who got married and look at the video.  That is how we found ours!

  
  

  Don't be afraid to ask questions, especially before you sign anything.  If someone tries to rush you into signing something, don't do it.  And don't be afraid to say, I need to think it over.

  
  

  Any help you need, just ask here!  I have gotten loads of great advice from the ladies here.

  
  

  Good Luck!

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• Jamps728 member

  

  March 2011 edited December 2011

  One extra thing that I didn't know until I saw it in a magazine was regarding tipping.  Although I realize everyone is providing a service, I didn't realize we'd have to tip the DJ, ceremony musicians, etc.  So I would add that into your budget as well.  There's a few articles online if you google the topic that should give you a guide as to how much to tip people.
  
  Hope this helps!
  
  

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• smarscher

  

  March 2011 edited December 2011

  don't let the planning run your life!! as fun and exciting as it is to plan it can be like having a second job, SO take nights off from wedding talk. conversely, ask FI to pick one night a week where wedding talk is on... get all your questions out and give him a task or two. he may not want to be "bugged" about wedding stuff, but that doesn't mean he is not interested in being involved.
  
  good luck!
  

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• goldnvintage

  

  March 2011 edited December 2011

  It might make sense to look up on google: wedding etiquette
  if you are concerned with doing things "right" or "wrong," such as what your expectations are. How close you follow said etiquette is up to you. Things like tipping garner a lot of varied opinion such as tipping only those who don't own the business, but someone the makeup artists always get tipped (not sure why!). Taxes and fees add up too like the above poster said, so being realistic about budgets is important.
  

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