Saturday, June 28, 2008

My Wedding Day!

This will be our last post until the middle of July as my own wedding day is just a week away! As my current brides are aware, I will be unreachable from July 1st - 14th.

If you are inquiring about our services, please feel free to send us an email or leave us a message and I will get back to you as soon as I return.

Happy planning and happy 4th of July! :)

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Celebrity "I Do" Secrets

Yesterday, I found this video clip on CNN.com from In Style's Katrina Szish and had to share it with all of you (I have to admit, CNN has had some pretty good articles this wedding season)! The clip is a little over 6 minutes long and Katrina dishes about this season's celebrities that are walking down the isle and shares some of their secrets on how to personalize your own wedding. This month's In Style wedding addition (which I just picked up myself) features several celebrity weddings and lots and lots of tips of how to follow in the foot steps of your favorite celebrities. Check out the video clip here.

Monday, June 23, 2008

Your Deam Wedding on a Budget

I came across this article on CNN the other day and wanted to share it with my readers. This article offers lots of cost saving tips on how to have your dream wedding on a budget.


'She Had a Fabolous Wedding On a Budget'

By Jen Haley -- (CNN) -- Michelle Cottle, 38, of Westchester, New York, always dreamed of an elegant wedding.

Michelle Cottle and Jason Cohen held their wedding on a Saturday afternoon at a local mansion.
"I envisioned a large wedding, 200 guests... a big band sound, with the trumpets and a singer...the Frank Sinatra thing," she says.

But then Michelle pauses and laughs. "And then I started to find out how much that would cost."

Michelle and her fiancé, Jason Cohen, quickly realized that they had to make a choice: a down payment on a house or a dream wedding. For them, it was a no-brainer. The couple decided to keep their wedding budget to around $20,000.

That's no easy feat, especially considering the cost of a wedding in the New York City area is about $46,000 according to a survey by The Knot Wedding Network. More broadly, the cost of an average wedding -- not including the honeymoon -- is about $28,000.

But you can walk down the aisle without declaring bankruptcy. To rein in your bridal budget, consider your timing.

Instead of having a Saturday night wedding, Michelle and Jason opted for a Saturday afternoon barbeque at a local mansion.

There were red bandana napkins and burlap tablecloths. Guests ate pulled duck, barbeque chicken, hot dogs, crab cakes, baked beans and corn bread. The highlight of the evening: the ice cream sundae bar.

"I didn't want the wedding factory," says Michelle. "We wanted personal feelings and elegance without it costing too much."

Target where to save, where to splurge

You can save around 20 percent a person if you choose a Friday night, a Saturday afternoon or a Sunday wedding according to Divine Events Catering in Atlanta.

The most expensive part of a wedding is the reception. It's at least a third of your budget according to Michelle Preli, editor in chief of Brides.com, a bridal resource Web site. It's all about your priorities.

One of the biggest mistakes couples make in planning a wedding is not having a clear vision of their budget. That's the best way to prioritize what you'll spend money on, and where you can trim costs. There are options in every category, whether its invitations or flowers, says Preli. Spend less money and attention on things that aren't very important to you.

Michelle and Jason knew exactly where they would loosen the purse strings: photography. "That was one area we didn't want to scrimp on," says Michelle.

To make sure you're staying within your budget, check out the budget advisor at www.brides.com. You'll get an itemized breakdown of expenses for your wedding. And that will help you prioritize what's most important.

If you want the wedding to be more about dancing and energy, and not so much about sitting down and having a great meal, put more money toward the cocktail reception says Daniel Briones, president of the National Association of Catering Executives, a catering association. You don't need a four-course meal he says. You can get rid of the appetizer or just have a salad.

Alcohol is another wallet-drainer. But you can keep costs under control by offering a limited bar with beer and wine says Christa Vagnozzi, senior editor of theWeddingchannel.com. In addition to beer and wine, you can also serve a signature cocktail she says.

And skip the champagne toast says Briones.

"Most of your guests will already have a glass of wine in front of them," he says. If you have a wedding with 200 guests and you're serving a $50 bottle of champagne, you would save $2,000 right off the bat.

Rent the showy cake

A wedding cake can also cause sticker shock. On average, a cake costs about $700 according to The Knot survey. But you can cut this price in half without your guests even knowing.

Rent-a-Cake in Atlanta will rent you a tiered Styrofoam cake with icing on the outside, so it looks like the real thing. It'll cost you about $145 to rent the cake including set-up. There's a secret compartment in the back of the cake where you can hide a slice of angel food cake so guests think you're cutting into the real thing. Then you serve your guests a less expensive sheet cake that's hidden in the kitchen.

Check out other online cake rentals like cake.rental.com. But if staying local is what you want to do, ask your baker to create a fake layer or two in your cake.

And while it may seem insignificant, flowers alone can eat up 8 percent of your budget according to The Knot. To stay within your budget, stick with flowers that are in season and make sure you tell your florist what you can spend. It's not like you're going into a store and picking something off a shelf, says Preli. You're creating a relationship with a vendor.

That strategy worked for Michelle, who settled on Gerber Daisies for her wedding.

"When I went to the florist I said, 'look we're not mansion dwellers, we're apartment dwellers,'" says Michelle. "The florist really worked with me and steered me to less expensive flowers that were still elegant."

You may also consider getting your flowers from the wholesale market. Ask for recommendations from other brides on virtual message boards at www.brides.com or www.theweddingchannel.com. And do your homework. Check out the company with the Better Business Bureau and ask a lot of questions. You don't want to be unhappy when these flowers show up at your door says Vagnozzi.

On sale or for rent

Most brides dream about that perfect wedding gown. In fact, one in five brides say finding the perfect dress is the top priority, according to a survey by Conde Nast Bridal Media.

And you can find bargains if you know where to look. Save money at sample sales. Most sales take place in April/May for fall and winter dresses and October/November for spring and summer dresses, according to The Knot. Even department stores have discounted wedding dresses. Michelle got her dress at a 70 percent off sale at Filene's Basement.

"I had to commit to the dress early and it needed about $200 worth of work and $150 cleaning, but it was beautiful," she says.

And make sure you look at Web sites like eBay, www.PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com or www.WoreItOnce.com for gently used wedding dresses. If you want a designer handbag or jewelry for your big day, consider renting them at www.bagborroworsteal.com.

Even getting the word out about your wedding can be expensive. Cut costs on your invitations by leaving out all the extras like engraving or decorative linings. Decrease the number of enclosures you have. You can ask guests to e-mail you their replies. Check out online invitation outlets or create your own invites. Your local arts and crafts store will likely have a selection to choose from.

And although it took Michelle an entire year of planning, negotiating and tailoring her wedding dream, she says it was worth it. Despite the fact the couple came in at their budget, Michelle realized that all her work was worth something even more valuable.

"It helped me mature as a woman to come from the idea I had as a girl and as a young woman...to grow that idea up and accept certain limitations and embrace what WAS possible," she says.

The guests at her wedding said it was the best wedding they had ever been to. "They said it had a lot of us in it," Michelle says.

"At the end of the day, the thing that matters the most is that 'I do moment,'" says Preli. "That's what your guests will remember. That's what you can't pay for."

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Researching Wedding Vendors

Whether you are hiring a wedding planner or not, it is extremely important to conduct a thorough research on the vendors you will hire for your wedding day. Simply relying on the 'thank you' messages from past clients posted on their websites is not a full proof way of confirming his or her credibility and satisfactory service from previous clients. There are several things I recommend you research before booking any wedding vendor or signing any contact of theirs:

  • Ask for references - names/phone #'s/email addresses of past clients. Sometimes this may be tricky as many vendors do protect their client's confidentiality; however, most vendors do have references available if you request them.
  • Check out the company with the Better Business Bureau. If a vendor has previous negative complaints that they have not yet responded to or resolved, this is a bad sign. If the vendor has 2 or more negative complaints that he/she will not respond to or offer to correct, then the BBB will rate this company as 'unsatisfactory'. It's also important to check with the BBB throughout the time leading up to your wedding as well, as a negative complaint can be reported at any time by anyone.
  • If possible, always try to meet the vendor in person. This is sometimes hard to do for destination weddings or couples that live out of town and are having their wedding elsewhere; however, if at all possible try to meet them in person or at least have several phone conversations beforehand. Beware of any vendor that will only communicate through email.

Lastly, always go with your gut feeling. If you have an uneasy feeling about a vendor, it's probably for a reason. Of course there is no 100% full proof way of guaranteeing that each vendor will perform exactly to your liking; however, if you do your homework beforehand you will save yourself a lot of stress in the end!

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Simply Perfect Weddings New Price List!

Effective, July 1st 2008 our package prices will be as follows:

Full Planning Package: Starting at $1,600

Day of Coordination Package: Starting at $650

Consulting Only Package: Remains the same at $250


We are now booked for the majority of 2008 and are currently booking into the summer of 2009. We do still have limited availability in October, November, and December of this year. Contact us today for a complimentary consultation!

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Details, Details, Details!

Almost every bride is looking for unique, yet simple ways to add that all important 'attention to detail' factor at her wedding. As the saying goes, 'it's the little things that mean the most' and are often times the most memorable to wedding guests. Here is a list of some of my favorite ways to add a little extra something to your wedding design:

  • Use chair covers or ribbon sashes! Too often I see beautiful table arrangements with gorgeous linens and then look down and see plain looking banquet chairs. One of the easiest ways to add character to a room is to use chair covers with a colored ribbon sash that brings your wedding color scheme together. Or, if you are opting for Chivari chairs as opposed to regular banquet chairs, using a simple ribbon sash around the back of the chair really adds to the overall look of the room! Chair covers with a sash are available from $3.50 - $5.00 per chair here in the Pittsburgh area.
  • Personalize your ceremony programs - bind them together using a bright colored ribbon. This is a relatively inexpensive way (especially if you make them yourself at home) to add your own personal touch to your ceremony. For more information about making your own ceremony programs, check out our 'DIY Ceremony Programs' blog from last month!
  • Get creative with your guest book! Throw out that traditional guest book where everyone just signs their name in a book - I mean c'mon, when are you ever going to sit down and read that?! My advice is to opt for something a little less traditional - there are a number of guest book options out there. Use a matted signature photo frame, a wishing tree, or Polaroid photo guest book!
  • Personalize and design your own wedding stationary - you can design everything from your programs to seating cards to menu cards! Add a monogram to your stationary and get creative with your color scheme.
  • Create your own table #'s for the reception. Don't get stuck using those boring plastic black and white table cards - make them yourself at home using a heavy card stock in a color that matches your wedding!
  • Decorate your place card table - a light scattering of rose petals or even a simple floral arrangement on this table can really add something extra to your reception.
  • Add crystals or pearls to your bridal bouquets. This has become very popular in recent years and definitely gives an added pop to your bouquets! Ask your florist what they offer...most florists will have a variety of options to choose from.
  • Instead of favors or as an addition to favors, create guest or 'welcome' bags especially for your out of town guests. You can be as creative as you want in this area! Infact, I have so many ideas for gift bags that it warrants it's own blog - so stay tuned for that in the next few days! :)

I could literally go on for hours on ways to add a personal, yet simple and inexpensive touch to your wedding! Whatever you choose for your wedding, take the time to think through how you envision your wedding day and plan ahead. The little 'extras' should all tie into your wedding theme and can be a fun project for your bridesmaids and you to work together on!

Sunday, June 8, 2008

Hydrangeas - My new fav flower!

One of my brides getting married this summer is using hydrangeas as the focal point for her wedding and I must say I absolutely fell in love with the centerpieces we created with the help of her florist and wanted to share our inspiration with everyone. We using a combination of ivory and blue hydrangeas throughout her ceremony and reception. Here are a few pictures we used for inspiration. Stay tuned for actual pictures from her wedding later this summer!



*Images courtesy of The Knot.

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Naming your Reception Tables

A great way to personalize your reception and add a touch of character is to name your reception tables instead of just numbering them. Most people still choose to number them (for order & direction of course), but are also creating unique names to go along with the numbers! Here are some examples that I've seen:

  • Using travel destinations that the couple has traveled to together (Ex: Table 1 - Cape Cod, Table 2 - The Hampton's, etc...)
  • Using words that describe love/marriage (Ex: Table 1 - Devotion, Table 2 - Laughter)
  • Using your European honeymoon as inspiration (Ex: Table 1 - The Eiffel Tower, etc...)
  • Using various flower names (Ex: Table 1 - Lilly, etc...)
  • Using a favorite love poem or lyrics from a song and then choosing meaningful words from those to name your tables

The possibilities are really endless! If you want to add an extra attention to detail factor in your overall wedding design, naming your tables is a great way to do this!

Sunday, June 1, 2008

"Should I have a head table at my reception?"

A very common question I am asked by my brides lately, is if they should have a head table or not. My answer is it's completely up to you and your fiance; however, I personally like the idea of not having a head table. I have several reasons why...First, at a head table you limit your contact time with your guests and often times are only able to talk with the people sitting on either side of you during dinner. Second, there are actually some brides (and especially grooms) that don't really like being the center of attention and having everyone stare at them during dinner makes them feel slightly uncomfortable. Lastly, if your bridal party attendants are married or are bringing a date with them (which is the case the majority of the time), having a head table distances them from that other person and can be quite uncomfortable if their date doesn't know many guests at the wedding.

My advice is to either sit amongst your guests or have a 'sweetheart' table where just the two of you sit together. If you choose to sit amongst your guests, you can do this in a number of different ways...some brides and grooms choose to sit with just their maid of honor and her date and the best man and his date. Or, they choose to sit with their parents/grandparents and close relatives only. Whichever seating arrangement you opt for at your reception, I recommend that the seating chart be done at least 2 weeks prior to the wedding date so you have time to think about the best options for your situation.