Recently Engaged! Need Help!

Re: Recently Engaged! Need Help!

• DFWIndian

  

  December 2010 edited December 2011

  1.) I recommend a planner even if it just for the day of the event. What are you asking for when you ask for a quote? It depends on how much of their time you are asking for. If you want someone to plan the whole wedding it's going to cost a lot more then if you wanted someone who is just the day of the events.
  I don't know the costs for NY so I can't comment there.
  
  2.) They have all kinds now. If you tell them what you are looking for I'm sure they can work with you.
  
  3.) 5 days is a really short time. You would have to get everything ready made. You would have to come back and do alterations, but it will give you very limited time to shop and browse. It's do able though. I don't have recommendations. I'm going to South India in Jan too, but I'll be there for 3 weeks.
  
  4.) there are a million variations on how much it should costs. I think our budgets on here vary from $10,000 (or less) - $60,000 (or more).... It's all on how many people, what you want, if you bargain, and so on. It will be best to just look around as much as you can and see what deals you can get.

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• trueleo818

  

  December 2010 edited December 2011

  Congratulations!

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• raangoli

  

  December 2010 edited December 2011

  First, congratulations! I am sure you and your fiance are beyond excited, enjoy the planning as much as you can!  My husband and I planned our wedding within 6 months so I know it can be done, you have time but you also should start booking your vendors ASAP!
  
  1) What are you looking for the planner to do for you? $25k seems REALLY high if that doesn't even include any of your vendor fees. I think it also depends on the type of wedding you're trying to plan. Is it big, small, elaborate, traditional, etc.
  
  2) You can bring or send your ideas for mandaps to your decorator and they should be able to help you create the vision you're gong for. The flowy fabric and flora type mandaps are totally possible, just let the decorator know you have a specific idea in mind. If they can't work with you or try to steer you towards something else, find a different decorator.
  
  3) I think it is possible to get your shopping done in a short amount of time as long as you know exactly what it is you want. If you're looking to browse and see what's out there then you might be cutting it close. A SA knottie, BellsNRings has done her wedding shopping in Mumbai and can recommend shops for you.
  
  4) Your decor budget is all dependent on what look you're going for. If you want a drastic look that completely overhauls your reception location, you can obviously expect to spend more. If you're looking for something simple then you're looking on the lower end of the budget. Do you want a lot of flowers or non-floral decor? That makes a huge difference, too.
  
  Hope that helps. I know it's not a lot, but if you have a better idea of what your overall look and feel for your wedding is, we can probably start to give you a better idea of what things might cost.
  
  Also keep in mind that this is an internaltional board, and we're from all over the country and globe, so prices will vary greatly depending on where you are.

  

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• temurlang member

  

  December 2010 edited December 2011

  Congratulations!
  
  1) I did not have a planner.  For the day-of, I had two friends act as coordinators and split tasks between them, and both venue had coordinators.  I highly recommend a day-of coordinator, and if you have a super-reliable friend or relative they could do it.  Planners in my area run really high like 10K, but 25K seems outrageous.  It usually depends what you ask them to do and how big the wedding is.  I got laid off, so I had more time than money, so I did it myself.  If I'd been working I would have needed a planner for at least part of it.  Also, if you have really helpful friends, or a mom or sister, they might be able to do part of that work too.
  
  2) Don't know about mandaps, but in my area any florist will do them, so I see no reason why you can't find someone who does your style.
  
  3)  I don't think that's enough time, and here is my cautionary tale... we had a wedding in India, and I actually bought one outfit in the US  before we went.  My MIL got the saris and had blouses made.  So when we got to India, DH had to get a sherwani and jodhpuri.  We had a couple of days before the first function.  He never found a sherwani he liked and ended up having to wear a kurta pajama.  It kind of fit, but not that well,  He was able to get a jodhpuri made only because it was for the last function.  None of the blouses MIL had made fit me.  AT ALL.  We were at the tailor the day of the first event having them fixed.  The lehnga I bought from the US fit in October when I bought it.  When I put it on the day of the ceremony in November the blouse was too big.  Luckily it was lace-up, but I was so panicked when I put it on and it was huge.
  
  We didn't shop in Delhi, but my friends there like Meena Bazaar.
  
  4)  Decor can be hugely expensive or not.  It all depends what you want.  One thing I learned while planning is that a cheap venue (like a rec center) will end up costing way more to decorate because if you don't put lots of flowers and lighting and rent furniture it will look like a high school gym.  If the room is already pretty nice and the lighting is good you can get away with very little.  We didn't have a lot and our florist quotes were between 1100 and 2500.  My friend had orchids everywhere and they paid 6000.  I would recommend collecting some photos of what you like and then getting quotes on it.  Then you can re-adjust your ideas based on the prices and what you want to spend.

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• FullCircleEventi

  

  December 2010 edited December 2011

  HI RC127
  
  Congrats on your engagement.  You have a lot of stuff ahead of you, but as you can see from the ladies above, it can be done.
  
  As a wedding designer, I will chime in quickly.  The ultimate fees to depend on what you are having the designer/coordinator do. Normally the amount that you pay the designer is more than covered in the savings you get from vendors due to their working relationship.  15% of the budget is a good estimate for you're designers fees, if they are working with you from start to finish.
  
  If you want to do a little more yourself, and have the time, you can also hire a designer to be there "part time" and you can bounce ideas off them, have them design portions of your event, and manage to day of activities.
  
  Having a planner/designer can alleviate a lot of stress from your life, since you don't have to sweat the small stuff...you give that to them to do.  You can then do only the things you want to do and love to do without the headache of managing all the details.
  
  Good Luck!  Feel free to reach out with questions, advice is always free!
  
  Lia

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• FullCircleEventi

  

  December 2010 edited December 2011

  Sorry, I forgot about the mandap.  You can look for a simple Jewish Chuppah structure to start with, since they are much more simplistic and add decor from there.  Depending on whether you are indoors or out, you could also consider fabric draping to create the idea of pillars, without the physical structure for a more modern appearance.
  
  
  Lia
  

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