Cost of a Wedding

Here is another interesting chart on the costs of a wedding. This is from 2010 so it's a little outdated, but prices have stayed the same pretty much.

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Scrumptious Delight!

One of the best perks about being a Wedding Planner is getting to sample all the delicious foods and desserts. One of the best desserts I have ever had at a wedding were Cake Truffles. The basic concept of these truffles: bake a cake, crumble the cake, mix frosting with cake, roll into balls, then coat in chocolate! The best ones I had were white cake with raspberry filling covered in white chocolate. The white chocolate was even sparkly! How could I not love it!  I could not stuff my face quick enough. Those wonderful treats came from a Wedding cake baker in Gainesville called KB Kakes.  If you are ever in Gainesville, Florida, call these ladies up and have them make you some cake truffles.

These are a great substitute for a wedding cake. Cake truffles offer a creative alternative to traditional wedding cake. They taste amazing and they are so rich and flavorful, that after two or three of them, you feel satisfied! 

All of these photos are from KB Kakes blog. 

                                                                                       
                                                                          This pink cake below was one that I had the
                                                                              pleasure of tasting at a wedding I helped plan. 

Pictured is Kathy the owner of KB Kakes! 

Squishy and gooey part 2

As promised, I am continuing Tuesday's post. The second gelatinous filling for a vase is orbs or beads. These are so much fun to work with. They come in a variety of colors. The only bad part about these beads is if you spill a jar of hydrated orbs, they bounce all over the place. These orbs also hold water which will keep the flowers hydrated.

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Green beads with calla lilies  

Green beads

So beautiful! - Source

Squishy and gooey part 1

While working my full time internship with Keith Watson Productions, I got to work with some really fun substances that go in vases. The first one I worked with was gel. The gel comes in a bottle and is a clear crystal form. Once water is added to it, it gets a jelly feel. Dye can be added to the gel to make it match your event colors. Also, items can be floated in the gel. At my internship, we floated mini disco balls, silly bands, roses, and heart shaped rose petals. The best part about the gel is that it is non toxic to flowers and it holds water to keep the flowers hydrated! As far as I know, the best way to get mass quantities of this gel is to go through a florist or floral wholesaler.

The gel can be made less thick by adding water!

Floating Rose Heads in the Huge Vase

Party with a water theme. We layered clear gel and blue gel to create this effect. 

To be continued......

Invitation or Program Ideas!

While surfing the internet for blog ideas, I ran across this cute, creative, and integrative idea.  This could be used for either your invitation or wedding program.

This couple burned songs from their wedding: first dance, recessional song, mother/son and father/daughter dance, bouquet song... etc.  It makes a great keepsake for guests!

Decorating your aisle

One of the most exciting moments of the whole wedding day is the moment you get to walk down the aisle. Why not make your runway beautiful! Here are a few ideas:

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DIY project

While working for MasterPiece Weddings, I was in charge of helping out with the owner's blog. Well I have kept up with her blog and she posted the cutest DIY project, so I just had to share it with you guys!

The original post is from the Hostess with the Mostess. 

Follow the picture guide!

Wacky Wednesday: Grand Canyon

This Wednesday's wacky location to have a wedding is the Grand Canyon. If you want to elope or have a destination wedding, God's most wonderful creation is a great choice as a backdrop for the wedding.

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Three great planning websites!

These three websites are fabulous planning tools for your wedding. They allow you to create wedding websites, check prices, and they give a whole bunch of DIY projects!

Wedding Wire

The Knot

Project Wedding 

Here is a table that I found online that offers other websites:

Event Insurance

With Hurricane Irene hitting the East Coast, a lot of plans, events, and vacations have to be changed. Life is unpredictable. For those unpredictable occurrences, companies offer event insurance. Insurance can reimburse you if mishaps occur such as:

• Liability insurance should cover damage to the wedding venue or injury to guests, protecting the wedding couple from a costly lawsuit.
• Cancellation insurance should cover the buyer's costs if the wedding must be postponed due to severe weather (like a hurricane or tornado), parent's death, or sudden illness or military duty of the bride or groom. It also covers replacement costs if key people don't show up, such as the officiant.
• In addition, cancellation insurance addresses service providers. For example, if deposits have been placed and a vendor goes out of business or doesn't show up on the wedding day, cancellation insurance should cover the fees to find a last-minute replacement.
• Additional coverage may often be added to protect the wedding couple if photography, videography, formalwear, jewelry, wedding gifts or rented property (tents, tables or chairs) are damaged or lost. All policies differ on what they do or do not include, so always read the fine print.

There are many websites that offer information on wedding/event insurance. This one I found most helpful: Click Here. It's up to you whether you feel that insurance is completely necessary, but it would be better to pay $500 for insurance and be safe rather than incurring thousands of dollars of costs if there are event disasters! 

Lord of the Rings Inspiration Board

My twin sister Katie asked me to make a Lord of the Rings inspiration board for her. A Lord of the Rings wedding theme in my mind is magical, mystical, and enchanted. Enjoy!

Tree, Picnic table, head piece, basket, bridal party, Invitation, girl, bouquet 

Wacky Wednesday make up!

I figured I would do this Wacky Wednesday on Thursday! Every one needs a little wackiness.

This week's featured venue/location is under water.  Cue the music "under the sea.... under the sea".... 

Diving enthusiasts can get married under water! There are many businesses offering this option to get married. Just google them up if you want to get married under water! 

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Mothers

Today I am going to take a break from Wacky Wednesdays, because today is my Mom's birthday! My mom is so special to me that I wanted to dedicate this post to her. I recently got engaged and I decided that because both my parents had such a profound effect on the woman that I am today, not only should my dad be the one giving me away, but so should my mom. So to honor her, I am having her walk me down the aisle as well as my dad.

What do you all think?

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Saving Money on a Cake

According to the Bridal Association of America, the average cost of a wedding cake is $543! I am going to give you some ideas on how to cut that cost down significantly. A great idea is to have two layers of your cake be real and have the rest be made of frosting covered Styrofoam. The top layer will obviously be saved for the one year anniversary tradition, and the second layer is to cut into for wedding pictures! After the small piece of cake is cut, then the cake is moved back into the kitchen where the one real layer of cake is cut along with cheaper sheet cake. Your guests will never be the wiser!

In the picture below, the $250 cake has 4 layers, the bottom one is the only real one! The $2500 cake is all real cake.

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Another way to cut costs is to get buttercream frosting instead of fondant. Your guests and wallet will thank you. Fondant is, in my opinion, repulsive. It should not be considered a frosting. At all the weddings I have planned, almost every guest leaves the fondant untouched on the cake plate. So why don't you save some money and go with the tastier and still beautiful cake.

Buttercream frosted cake

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Fondant covered Cake

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This is a price sheet from a local grocery store here in the Northwoods.


Decorative Cakes
Serves                  Styrofoam                Edible                   Styrofoam                    Edible
                           Butter Cream            Butter Cream         Rolled Fondant            Rolled Fondant
                           $1/serving                  $2/serving             $3/serving                    $6/serving
14                          $14                            $28                      $42                               $84
25                          $25                            $50                      $75                              $150
39                          $39                            $78                     $117                             $234
56                          $56                            $112                   $168                             $336
77                          $77                            $154                   $231                             $462
100                        $100                          $200                   $300                             $600
122                        $122                          $244                   $366                             $732

Sheet Cake

Serves          Size                 Price
24                 1/4 sheet          $20
48                 1/2 sheet          $35
96                 Full sheet         $60




As you can tell, having a fake buttercream frosted cake will save you a lot of money!

Lastly, instead of having extravagant decorations on your cake, you can put fresh flowers on your cake for an elegant touch. It is a lot cheaper than having delicate sugar flowers made or other intricate designs.

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10 Hidden Costs of Weddings

TLC posted a great article of hidden costs for a wedding. All of these are fees and costs to be aware of. Talk to your vendors and make sure everything you discussed and agreed upon is put down into a contract. This includes but is not limited to arrival and departure time, fees, overtime fees, travel expenses.. etc.

1) Venue Fees
It's important to read the fine print of any venue contract before setting your heart on that location. There are many additional fees associated with almost any venue, from overtime to cleaning charges, and some of these may make or break the deal. For example, that reception hall may require dripless candles that you have to purchase from them -- at $5 a pop. Or their lovely white chairs -- at $10 apiece. Some even have contracts with caterers that lock you into their menu and service options. So be sure to ask before mentally committing.


2) Cake Cutting Fee
One of the last things you think you'll get charged for is the cutting of your cake. After all, you bought it from a separate bakery, and the cake already cost you a small fortune. The fee is really a provision for the plates and forks, and then the subsequent washing of those plates and forks. Everything costs something, right? Fees can range from 50 cents to three bucks a slice. Cupcakes might be a cheaper alternative. 


3) Guest List
When your aunt's BFF comes with a husband and three children, these additions to the headcount mean more mouths to feed, more chairs to sit in, more wine to sip, more cars to park, more silverware to eat with and more glasses to drink out of. Because you don't want to hurt any feelings, the body count can add up quickly. And because many of these expenses are on a per-head basis, the tab is going to reflect that. Get a number in your head, and work backward from there. If that second cousin twice removed needs to go, then so be it.


4)  Bar Set Up Fee
Even when you decide to take cost-cutting measures, there are still hidden fees you can incur. For example, if your venue allows you to supply your own booze for the bar to avoid their costly markup, you'll probably still end up paying a bar set-up fee or a corkage fee that can quickly eat up all your savings. But the good news is they'll probably throw in the glasses free of charge.


5) Overtime
Most fees for wedding services and venues are based on a set amount of time. Your venue, band, DJ, photographer and videographer are all likely to be on the clock, so make sure you understand exactly how long you have and plan accordingly before chicken dancing till the wee hours.


6) Postage
f you're hoarding your Forever stamps, a regular envelope will cost you 44 cents to mail. But special envelopes -- the kind you'll probably use to complement your fancy invitations -- get an extra surcharge. Tack on stamp costs for the RSVP envelope, and you're well over $1.00 per invitation, which doesn't even include the cost of the design and printing of the actual invite. If you want to be really thorough, remember to budget yet another stamp for thank you notes.


Note: Sometimes people forget to write their name on the RSVP card before returning it to you, so spend a few extra minutes numbering the backs and keeping a corresponding list. This is a big time saver in the long run


7) Delivery Charge
The great part about the wedding industry is its full-service feature. You can have your fairy tale setting delivered right to the doorstep of your reception hall. Sure, we'll deliver your dress from the tailor - just sign here. Tables and chairs, food and flowers, linens and glassware -- anything your heart desires will land in the right place at the right time. But you're gonna have to pay the people who make it happen.


8) Gifts for the Wedding Party
The people that accompany you down the aisle are the most special ones in your life. You've got your childhood best friend, your closest friend from college, two sisters and a sister-like cousin, and of course, your two favorite work compadres. And don't forget their escorts, the seven accompanying groomsmen in your husband-to-be's lineup. They've all dedicated a lot of time and probably a good deal of coin to stand up with you on your big day, so all 14 are candidates for a lovely remembrance from you. With the average attendant gift expenditure hovering around $50 a person, you do the math.


9) Tips
Just like tax, gratuities and tips are often left out of the initial wedding budget. Your caterer may tack a whopping 25 percent gratuity onto your bill for the privilege of serving their chicken skewers and manning the beef carving station. It's in the fine print, so be sure you read over your contracts and estimates carefully. According to some industry insiders, it's customary to also have tips ready for the band, DJ, photographer, florist, cake delivery, hairdresser, coatroom attendants, limo driver, bartenders and servers.


10) Sales Tax
When quoting your budget to a vendor, it's easy to forget Uncle Sam's piece of the pie. An extra 6 to 10 percent adds up quickly -- especially on bigger purchases -- and can create a cost overrun that leaves your benefactors feeling less than joyous. Make sure to check all vendors' estimates to make sure tax is included in the total.


Smartmoney.com reports the average wedding cost in the United States is $23,657, not including the engagement ring or honeymoon!!  


Smartmoney.com reports the average wedding cost in the United States is $23,657, not including the engagement ring or honeymoon!! Just remember that there are many ways to cut down costs. Keep checking my blog for helpful hints to keep costs down!

Four Weddings

I don't watch much TV, but whenever I see that Four Weddings is on I tune in to that channel. TLC plays other wedding programs like Say Yes to the Dress and My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding, but those shows have a lot of drama and tears and not enough wedding. Four Weddings is actually worth watching. The basic premise is that four brides go to each others weddings and judge them based on food, dress, venue, and over all experience. The bride with the most points wins a fabulous honeymoon. The budgets have been anywhere from $3,000 - $75,000 of the shows I have seen. Now you would think that the highest budget wedding would win, but that doesn't happen as often as you would think!! This show is a great way to learn about ways to cut cost or things that you can do yourself! Best of all it shows you what not do to and how your guests perceive the wedding.

Cute Event Knick knacks!

Whenever I am searching for pictures for an inspiration board, I run across cute items for weddings and events from Etsy. Etsy.com offers so many cute and personalized items for you to buy for your wedding. Not only does Etsy has wedding items, but also the website offers items for holidays and special occasions! Etsy can be a little pricey, but just browse to get ideas for DIY (do it yourself) projects!

These are my favorites from the website:

These signs can be personalized!

Dog Tie and Cuffs - Read my earlier post for info with dogs at weddings! 

Etsy has a wide variety of jewelry including headpieces

These personalized hangers make for a great dress photograph! 

I could spend all day posting items that I love on Etsy. I believe there is something for everyone!

Rustic Wedding

As summer winds down for me in the Northwoods, I felt like sharing with you an inspiration board I made while I was an intern with a wedding planner. I modeled this board after how I would like my wedding to look. I believe it really captures the Up North charm.

Cake, Sign, Bride and Groom, Barn, Flowers, Placecards, Fireflies, Boutonniere, Invite, Jam

Marriage Proposal!

Take a look, this is great: 

He's definitely head over heels for her!! 

Wacky Wednesday: Hot Air Balloon Weddings!

Featured on today's Wacky Wednesday blog post is Hot Air Balloon Weddings! I myself could never do this as I am terrified of heights, but for adventurous couples, this is a great and memorable way to get hitched. Some hot air balloon companies offer a pilot who is also an ordained minister. Check out this Texas hot air balloon company's FAQ page.

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The sky's the limit!!