Change Budget

How do I change the budget amount in EZWeddingPlanner?

In the budget section, enter the amount in each box you want to change. Be sure to click update before you leave the screen. Then the totals will be updated. Or, you can click on the item name on the left and get a new screen that you can edit.

The budget section is a powerful tool that lets you keep track of your total wedding expenses, who pays for which expense, how much has already been paid (deposit) and what is left to be paid. This helps keep you on track and on budget.

Ceremony Sample Lutheran

Sample - Christian Worship, A Lutheran Hymnal - WELS

Marriage Ceremony: Christian Worship, A Lutheran Hymnal - Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod

This order of worship celebrates God's gracious gift of marriage. The congregation shares the joy of the bride and groom as they publicly promise lifelong love and faithfulness to each other.

Call to Worship

M: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Our Lord Jesus Christ came as an invited guest to the wedding at Cana, and with his gracious presence, he brought joy and gladness to those who were there. Jesus is also with us who have gathered in his name to celebrate the Word of God and prayer the marriage of Name and Name. We are assured of God's gracious help and guidance in these words from the Psalms:

M: Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.

C: His love endures forever.

M: The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, and rich in love;

C: He is good to all.

M: God is our refuge and strength,

C: An ever-present help in trouble.

M: He is our God forever and ever;

C: He will be our guide even to the end.

M: May God be gracious to us and bless us

C: and make his face shine on us.

M: Loving Father, we are grateful for your goodness in permitting us to gather as the family and friends of Name and Name to share their joy on this special day. Look on them with favor, strengthen their confidence in your firm promises, and assure them of your abiding love. As your Son Jesus graced the wedding at Cana with his presence, so may he be with us who pray in his name.

C: Amen.

Congregational hymns or other music appropriate for worship may be sung here or at other places in the service.

Word of God

LESSONS

SERMON

Marriage Rite

M: Dear friends: When God in love created the world, he made man and woman in his own image and bonded them together in marriage. Through this blessed union of husband and wife, God established the family, provided for the physical and spiritual welfare of children, and fostered the peace and stability of society.

God intended marriage to bring loving companionship to the people of his world. But because of sin, the joy of marriage was soon overcast with sorrow, and the harmony of family life was shattered by strife. Out of love God sent his Son Jesus to die on the cross to take away the sins of all people. Everyone who believes in Jesus receives forgiveness and is enabled by the Holy Spirit to live in peace and joy.

God's love for you is boundless. He commands you, in response to his love, to love each other. Love is forgiving and enduring. Love shows itself in truth and faithfulness, in thoughtfulness and understanding, in patience and kindness. Marriage furnishes a unique opportunity to put this love into practice.

The pattern for Christian marriage is the intimate union of Christ and his church, which the apostle Paul depicts in Ephesians 5. After urging believers to "submit to one another out of reverence for Christ," he makes this application for Christian spouses: "Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. for the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church...Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her." It is reverence for Christ on the part of husband and wife that lays the foundation for Christian marriage.

You have come here to be united in marriage, which consists in your mutual consent, sincerely and freely given. You are now invited to declare this intent in the presence of God and these witnesses.

Marriage Promises

M: (to the groom): Name, will you take Name to be your wife? Will you be guided by the counsel and direction God has given in his Word and love your wife as Christ loved the Church? Will you be faithful to her, cherish her, support her, and help her in sickness and in health as long as you both shall live? If so, answer, "I will."

G: I will.

M: (to the bride): Name, will you take Name to be your husband? Will you be guided by the counsel and direction God has given in his Word and submit to your husband as the Church submits to Christ? Will you be faithful to him, cherish him, support him, and help him in sickness and in health as long as you both shall live? If so, answer, "I will."

B: I will.

M: Join your right hands, and make your promises to each other:

The groom and bride will say in turn:

I, Name, in the presence of God and these witnesses, take you, Name, to be my wife/husband. I promise to be faithful to you as long as we both shall live.

Exchange of Rings

M: Exchange rings as a symbol of the lifelong commitment and abiding love which you as husband and wife have promised each other.

The groom and bride will say in turn:

Name, receive this ring as a symbol of my love and faithfulness.

Declaration of Marriage

M: By their promises, Name and Name have bound themselves together in marriage before God and these witnesses. Therefore, I declare that they are husband and wife, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Those whom God has joined together, let no one separate.

Marriage Blessing

M: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit preserve you in faithfulness, strengthen you in love, and guide you to life's end.

HYMN

The following hymn or another hymn may be sung.

Now thank we all our God With hearts and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things has done, In whom his world rejoices,
Who from our mother's arms Has blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love And still is ours today.

Oh, may this bounteous God Through all our life be near us,
With ever-joyful hearts And blessed peace to cheer us
And keep us in his grace And guide us when perplexed
And free us from all ills In this world and the next!

Prayers

other prayers may be said

M: Let us pray:

Eternal God, source of love, help Name and Name to fulfill the promises they have made here today and to reflect your steadfast love in their love for each other. Give them kindness and patience, affection and understanding, happiness and contentment. Use their family and friends to support them in difficult days, that their love for each other may continue to grow as long as they live.

Gracious Father, in your goodness you bring people together into families and enrich their lives with abundant blessings. Renew the love of husbands and wives, parents and children, that they may strengthen and support each other on the way that leads to our heavenly home, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

C: Amen.

Lord's Prayer

Our Father in heaven,	����Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be your name,	����hallowed be thy name,
your kingdom come,	����thy kingdom come,
your will be done,	����thy will be done,
on earth as in heaven.	����on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.	����Give us this day our daily bread;
Forgive us our sins	����and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those	����as we forgive those
who sin against us.	����who trespass against us;
Lead us not into temptation,	����and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.	����but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,	����For thine is the kingdom,
and the glory are yours,	����and the power, and the glory,
now and forever. Amen	����forever and ever. Amen

Blessing

M: The Lord bless you and keep you
The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look on you with favor and give you peace.

C. Amen

Ceremony Readings

CEREMONY READINGS

Readings can add special meaning and personality to your wedding. First check with your officiant to see if there are restrictions on the types of readings that can be used. The officiant may also have suggestions or resources for sample readings. If using Bible verses, you may want to read several versions to find one with a translation you like. Or, you may want to write your own to expess your feelings for each other. Here are some verses that are often read at weddings:

The Bible (Revised Standard Version) - 1 Corinthians 13

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends; as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For our knowledge is imperfect and our prophecy is imperfect; but when the perfect comes, the imperfect will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall understand fully, even as I have been fully understood. So faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

The Bible - Ruth 1:16-17

But Ruth said, "Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. "Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may the LORD do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me."

RECOMMENDED BOOKS ABOUT CEREMONY READINGS �Wedding Readings: Centuries of Writing and Rituals on Love and Marriage� �A World of Ways to Say "I Do": Unique Vows, Readings, and Poems to Make Your Wedding Day Your Own� �Perfect Readings for Weddings: All You Need to Make Your Special Day Perfect� �Wedding Readings, Poems and Vows� �Poems and Readings for Weddings and Civil Partnerships�

The Prophet, Kahlil Gibran

Love one another, but make not a bond of love:
Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.
Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup.
Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf.
Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone,
Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.
Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping.
For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.
And stand together yet not too near together:
For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow.

Robert Lewis Stevenson

Lord, behold our family here assembled.
We thank you for this place in which we dwell,
for the love that unites us,
for the peace accorded us this day,
for the hope with which we expect the morrow,
for the health, the work, the food,
and the bright skies that make our lives delightful;
for our friends in all parts of the earth.
Amen

Elizabeth Barrett Browning How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight For the ends of Being and ideal Grace I love thee to the level of everyday's Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light. I love thee freely, as men strive for Right; I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise. I love thee with the passion put to use In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith. I love thee with a love I seemed to lose With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath, smiles, tears, of all my life! And, if God choose, I shall love thee better after death.

�

Anne Bradstreet

If ever two were one, then surely we.
If ever man were loved by wife, then thee:
If ever wife was happy in a man,
Compare with me ye women if you can.
I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold,
Or all the riches that the Earth dost hold.

My love is such that rivers cannot quench,
Nor ought but love from thee, give recompense.
Thy love is such I can no way repay,
The heavens reward thee manifold I pray.
Then while we live, in love let?s so persever,
That when we live no more, we may live ever.

Voltaire

Sensual pleasure passes and vanishes in the twinkling of an eye,
but the friendship between us, the mutual confidence, the delights of the heart,
the enchantment of the soul, these things do not perish and can never be destroyed.
I shall love you until I die.

T. S. Eliot

To whom I owe the leaping delight
That quickens my senses in our wakingtime
And the rhythm that governs the repose of our sleepingtime,
The breathing in unison
Of lovers whose bodies smell of each other
Who think the same thoughts without need of speech
And babble the same speech without need of meaning.
No peevish winter wind shall chill
No sullen tropic sun shall wither
The roses in the rose-garden which is ours and ours only
But this dedication is for others to read:
These are private words addressed to you in public.

An Apache Blessing By Anonymous

Now you will feel no nun,
for each of you will be a shelter to the other.
Now you will feel no cold,
for each of you will be warmth to the other.
Now there will be no loneliness,
for each of you will be a comfort to the other.
Now you are two persons,
but there is only one life before you.
Go now to your dwelling place,
to enter into the days of your togetherness.
And may your days be good and long upon the earth.

From The I Ching

When two people are at one in their inmost hearts
They shatter even the strength of iron or of bronze;
And when two people understand each other in their inmost hearts
Their words are sweet and strong like the fragrance of orchids.

George Eliot

What greater thing is there for two human souls,
than to feel they are joined for life
to strengthen each other in all labour,
to rest on each other in all sorrow,
to minister to each other in all pain,
to be one with each other in silent unspeakable memories.

Edwin Muir

Yes, yours, my love, is the right human face,
I in my mind had waited for this long,
Seeing the false and searching for the true,
Then found you as a traveller finds a place
Of welcome suddenly amid the wrong
Valleys and rocks and twisting roads. But you,
What shall I call you? A fountain in a waste,
A well of water in a country dry,
Or anything that?s honest and good, an eye
That makes the whole world bright. Your open heart,
Simple with giving, gives the primal deed,
The first good world, the blossom, the blowing seed, T
he hearth, the steadfast land, the wandering sea.
Not beautiful or rare in every part.
But like yourself, as they were meant to be.

JB O?Reilly

The red rose whispers of passion,
And the white rose breathes of love;
O, the red rose is a falcon,
And the white rose is a dove.
But I send you a cream-white rosebud
With a flush on its petal tips;
For the love that is purest and sweetest
Has a kiss of desire on the lips

An Irish Wedding Blessing

You are the star of each night,
You are the brightness of every morning,
You are the story of each guest,
You are the report of every land.
No evil shall befall you, on hill nor bank,
In field or valley, on mountain or in glen.
Neither above, nor below, neither in sea,
Nor on shore, in skies above,
Nor in the depths.
You are the kernel of my heart,
You are the face of my sun,
You are the harp of my music,
You are the crown of my company

Scottish Wedding Prayer

Lord help us to remember when we first met and the strong love that grew between us.
To work that love into practical things so that nothing can divide us.
We ask for words both kind and loving and hearts always ready to ask forgiveness as well as to forgive.
Dear Lord, we put our marriage into your hands. Amen

"Gift From The Sea" by Anne Morrow Lindbergh

When you love someone, you do not love them all the time, in exactly the same way, from moment to moment. It is an impossibility. It is even a lie to pretend to. And yet this is exactly what most of us demand. We have so little faith in the ebb and flow of life, of love, of relationships. We leap at the flow of the tide and resist in terror its ebb. We are afraid it will never return. We insist on permanency, on duration, on continuity; when the only continuity possible, in life as in love, is in growth, in fluidity - in freedom, in the sense that the dancers are free, barely touching as they pass, but partners in the same pattern.

The only real security is not in owning or possessing, not in demanding or expecting, not in hoping, even. Security in a relationship lies neither in looking back to what was in nostalgia, nor forward to what it might be in dread or anticipation, but living in the present relationship and accepting it as it is now. Relationships must be like islands, one must accept them for what they are here and now, within their limits - islands, surrounded and interrupted by the sea, and continually visited and abandoned by the tides.

Ceremony Planning

CEREMONY PLANNING

First of all, you will have to decide on what type of wedding you want to have. This will depend on the amount of money you want to spend, the number of guests you want to invite, where and when your ceremony and reception will be held, and the degree of formality you want your wedding to express.

A Formal wedding means that you basically want to conform to strict traditional rites both of the church and of secular society. Generally, a formal wedding is larger both in size of wedding party and number of guests invited, and features more elaborate decorations, attire, invitations, and reception arrangements, than a semi-formal or informal wedding.

Semi-formal weddings basically stay with tradition, but everything is slightly less elaborate and more flexible than a formal wedding. Semi-formal weddings may take place in a church, a club, or a hotel.

An Informal wedding can be either a simple ceremony or you can let your imagination go to work. Informal weddings normally have a smaller wedding party and fewer guests than formal or semi-formal weddings.

If you plan on a church wedding, you should make an appointment to meet with your clergy-person as soon as possible after you set your wedding date. He/she will be able to advise you on any premarital requirements, such as counseling, that the church may require. He/she can also answer any questions you may have concerning the ceremony itself (see below). He/she can guide you in the selection of music, any church wedding customs, and help you with special vows or other liturgical elements you would like to have in your wedding service. He will also be able to tell you if there are any restrictions concerning church flowers, photography, fire laws, church capacity, availability of kneelers and other equipment, and dressing facilities for attendants.

If you are planning to have a civil ceremony, you should talk to the justice of the peace or judge who will marry you to set a date, time, and place for the ceremony. Usually, only the immediate family and a few guests attend.

You may decide to have your wedding ceremony in a hotel or club, with either a civil or religious person officiating. Keep in mind that many of the items you will need may not be supplied, so you will have to rent them. Check with the hotel to see which items are available.

A home wedding can be formal or informal. Keep in mind the number of guests that your home can comfortably accommodate. Don?t move all the furniture out just to make more room or you will lose the "homey" atmosphere you wanted in the first place.

If you plan an outdoor ceremony, keep in mind that the weather may not always cooperate and have an alternate location readily available. Try to pick a quiet spot without much traffic, general outdoor noise, etc.

If you plan to have your wedding ceremony take place in a location other than a church, keep in mind the preparations you will have to make. Things to consider are how accessible the site is, what facilities exist for guest parking and seating, and what equipment is available.

When determining the date and time of your wedding, your work/school schedule, convenience for families, and your honeymoon plans should be taken into consideration. Saturday is usually the day chosen for weddings, but any day is acceptable. In fact, many weddings are being held on Friday evenings because of the better availability of reception halls.

Everything must be rehearsed. The only way to be sure all goes well is to rehearse the ceremony. Everyone must attend. It is helpful for all of the attendants to hear the processional and recessional music so the pace of their steps can be timed. The ushers should also be briefed on their duties. The entire wedding party should become familiar with the church/synagogue/temple. This includes the interior, exits, vestry, waiting room, and dressing room if necessary.

The wedding rehearsal should be scheduled for the evening before the ceremony. Allow at least two hours. The rehearsal should be pleasant and fun. This will allow you to relax, and be assured that everyone is well-informed.

A rehearsal dinner generally follows immediately after, and is traditionally paid for by the groom or his family. Be sure to keep it an early evening, however. Tomorrow, the day of your wedding, requires you to be alert and cheerful.

Jewish Weddings
Ceremony Programs
Selecting Musicians
Ceremony Music
Ceremony Readings
Sample Lutheran Ceremonies
Receiving Line

Questions Brides Ask About Ceremony Details

Questions Brides Ask About Wedding Locations

Questions Brides Ask About Guests

Ceremony Music

CEREMONY MUSIC

Music is a very important part of your wedding ceremony. Before selecting your service music it is advisable to check with your clergy-person and organist on any special rules for music selection that your church may have. Following is a list of suggestions for selecting your wedding music:

1. Meet with the organist before you begin selecting your music. Keep in mind that some churches have very firm guidelines on what music is used in liturgical settings. The organist should be well qualified to aid you in selecting your music.

2. Music is a service rendered as are flowers and photographs. Be sure to discuss the musicians? fees. They are generally commensurate with the performance experience, number of rehearsals and amount of music to be performed. Do not assume a friend will perform for free.

3. If at all possible, bring a musician with you when you select your music. It will enable the musician to play through any music with which you may not be familiar.

4. Know your musicians? vocal ranges and musical abilities and keep these in mind when choosing your music. (For example, most popular music comes in only one range and has only piano accompaniment available.)

5. To be sure you are ordering the correct music, know the exact title, the composer and/or arranger, the voice range, and the type of accompaniment needed. If possible, know the publisher also ? which is included in the wedding music list contained in this chapter. In many cases, the musicians may want to order their own music.

6. Be sure to get enough copies of each piece. Copying music is illegal and your church could get in trouble for permitting you to use copies. Most professional church organists maintain libraries of music.

7. Select your music as soon a possible. If something needs to be back-ordered or you it can take up to six weeks to obtain. Also, you should allow time for your musicians to familiarize themselves with the music.

8. The soloists ? vocal and instrumental ? should rehearse with the organist before the wedding is to take place.

9. It is nice to take the time with your family to discuss your music selections so that they understand the Church?s music policies and ritual requirements. It is not a good idea to surprise them with something that may be disappointing. It is also quite possible that a family "favorite" may be inappropriate for what the Church believes is a sacred moment.

10. Always have alternate choices. Many times a song may only be available in a collection, or a particular arrangement may have gone out of print, or if you have not allowed yourself enough time, an item may be out of stock. And again, a song may be judged inappropriate in a sacramental celebration. Keep yourself open to new suggestions.

RECOMMENDED MUSIC ITEMS �Facing Future CD� �Live In Dresden: The Wedding at the Opera DVD� �Fiddler on the Roof Soundtrack CD� �A to Z of Classical Music CD� �The Wedding Singer: Music From The Motion Picture CD� �Canon in D - Piano Solo - Sheet Music� �The Knot Guide to Wedding Vows and Traditions: Readings, Rituals, Music, Dances, and Toasts Book�

Prelude music can begin about a half hour before the ceremony begins. In a church wedding, these pieces are usually classical organ music, though other instruments such as guitars, flutes, and pianos are sometimes used. Again, consult your musician or clergy-person for suggestions.

If you are having a soloist, the time immediately before the processional is an excellent time for a song. Other songs may be sung during the service if the church customs permit.

The processional music should be majestic and joyful.

The recessional music can have much the same "presence" as the processional, but should be a slightly faster tempo with a hint of excitement.

Processionals and Recessionals
Organ Collections
Piano-Organ Duet Books
Organ and Brass
Organ and Other Instruments
Vocal Music for Liturgical Weddings
Vocal Music for Non-Liturgical Weddings
Duets
Dance Music Lists
Reception Music

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Cater Own Wedding

I wanted to know what would be the easiest way to cater my own wedding? Do you have suggestions!

�I assume that by cater your own, you mean make the food & do all the arrangements yourself. It can be done, but it's a lot of work to add on to your final wedding preparations. Depending on where you plan to have the reception, you would need tables/cloths, chairs, dance floor (maybe), plates, silverware, etc. besides the food.

For type of food, you can consider the time of day of the wedding for some suggestions. After a morning wedding, you could serve a breakfast or brunch. After a noontime ceremony, you may want a sit down lunch. Early afternoon ceremony could have tea sandwiches, cake and beverages. Mid afternoon ceremony consider hors d'oeuvres and cake. For a late afternoon or evening wedding, probably a seated buffet or dinner-by-the-bite (hot and cold hors d'oeuvres, pastas, sushi setups, meat trays and other bite-size food) reception is best. Generally lighter foods work well in summer and heavier foods in winter. Seasonal fruits and vegetables always work well.

Some brides have planned picnics after their wedding, in parks or similar areas. Some have done pig roasts with beer and wine. One bride was doing a barbeque at the beach. It depends on what kind of atmosphere you want at your reception and what is available to you for venue.

Generally, a variety of salads, fruits/vegetables/dip, meat/cheese trays and cake would feed lots of people easily. They could be made up in advance and is pretty easy to do

For some self-catering items and quantities, see Do it Yourself for more ideas.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Caterer Worksheet

CATERER WORKSHEET

Name of Caterer__________________________________________________________

Contact Person___________________________________________________________

Address_________________________________________________________________

Phone #_________________________________________________________________

Email address____________________________________________________________

Web site URL____________________________________________________________

Location, Location, Location!

Location of Event_________________________________ � ____Indoors� ____Outdoors

Address of the Location____________________________________________________

Phone # of the Location____________________________________________________

Directions_______________________________________________________________

Is there a kitchen facility with refrigerators, ovens, and barbecues on site?

____Yes� ____No

Comments ______________________________________________________________

__________Date of the Event

__________Scheduled Time to Serve the Hors d'oeuvres/Cocktails

__________Scheduled Time to Serve the Meal

__________Scheduled Departure Time

Type of Wedding Reception or Event

Type of Event/Theme

___Wedding Reception

___Rehearsal Dinner

___Private Party

___Other________________________________________________________________

_____Formal Sit-down Dinner�Styles:� ___ American� ____Russian� ____French

• American or standard is when the food is plated and portioned in the kitchen and
  the guest is served the plate of food while sitting down at the table.
• Russian is where the food is plattered and the server portions and serves each
  guest a portion of the entr�e, starch, and vegetable, served with a fork and spoon.
• French is carted and prepared tableside. The platters are presented to the guest
  and the guests pass and serve themselves.

_____Buffet� (American style: people stand in a food line)

_____Does your caterer provide the servers or is the buffet self-serve? _____________

_____Family Style� (Guests help themselves to food in the middle of their own table).

_____Hors d?oeuvres� _____Passed� _____ Stationary

_____Bar/Beverage Service� (Type: buffet bar service or bar service)________________

_____Alcohol --- Do you have a liquor license? ________________________________

_____Will they provide bartender(s)? Is there an extra charge? ____________________

_____Who is supplying the liquor, water, ice, etc? _______________________________

_____Wedding Cake Cutting/Service

Is this service included? Does the caterer provide the wedding cake or do I need

to hire an outside baker/cake designer? ____________________________________

_____Is the champagne toasting service included � ___Yes� ___No

Menus

_____Prior to meeting with your caterer, go over the menus. Select a menu from their

sample menus or request a custom menu.

_____Discuss the style of food preparation. Are their ingredients/produce fresh?

Do they sub-contact with other chefs/bakeries?

_____Discuss the size and portions with your caterer

Comments__________________________________________________________

Menu Selected (Beverages, Hors d?oeuvres, Main Course, Salads, Side Dishes, Breads, Dessert)

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

Budget

Total Catering Budget $____________________________________________________

$______Reception/Event Site

_______Initial Head Count/Number of Guests

_______Final Head Count (Ask your caterer when the final head count is due.

Generally, most caterers want a final count 1-2 weeks prior to the event).

$______Cost per guest

(Don?t forget to ask if there are different prices for children.

Ask about the cost per serving your DJ, Band, Photographer, or Wedding

Professionals)_____________________________________________________

_______Gratuity/Service Charge Included?� _____Yes� ____No

_______% If no, what is the percentage of the service charge?

_______% Taxes?

_______Deposit required � ___Yes� ___No

$______How much and when is the deposit due? ________________________________

_______May I make payments? �___Yes� ___No� When is the final payment due?_______

_______Is the set-up and clean up included in the basic price?� ___Yes� ___No

$______Overtime Charge___________________________________________________

$______Alcohol/Beverage costs (Ask about corkage/bartender(s) fees)______________

_______Rentals: Do you provide linens, tables, chairs, china, glassware, silverware,

serving accessories, etc.

Are rentals included in the overall cost?� __Yes� __No

Do they provide the rentals or are they from a rental company?� ___Yes�___No

If no, write the name, address, and phone number of rental company or ask

your caterer to handle the rental details_________________________________

$______Total Rental Cost

Comments_______________________________________________________

_______ Select colors for your event for the table clothes, napkins, etc. The caterer

needs to know what your colors/themes are to reflect your style on the buffet or

other tables. Some people have their florists or their caterers decorate the

tables with flowers, centerpieces, or decorations.

________________________________________________________________

$______Wedding cake cost. Is it baked by the caterer or an outside baker?___________

Details, Details, Details!

_______Hours of Service___________________________________________________

_______Staff to Guest Ratio_________________________________________________

_______Staff Dress Code (Formal or casual)____________________________________

_______Contract� ___ Yes� ___No (Read the fine print)

_______Refunds/cancellation terms___________________________________________

_______?Leftover? policy__________________________________________________

_______Ask your caterer about his/her experience, background, culinary education.

________________________________________________________________

_______Has your caterer handled your type of event before?� ___Yes� ___No

_______Has your caterer handled the same number of guests that your event has?

_______Licenses/Insurance/Health Permits� ____Yes� ___No

_______References (Ask for letters of recommendations or for phone numbers of

previous catering clients).____________________________________________

_______Customer Service (Do you feel comfortable with your caterer, is he/she available

to answer your questions)? ___________________________________________

_______Ask for a tasting/consultation_________________________________________

Is there a fee for a ?tasting? and can I bring the bride/groom, friend, or family

member? _________________________________________________________

_______Look at pictures of past events your caterer has designed.

_______FINALLY! Once you have interviewed, met your caterer, and perhaps sampled

the food -- Book your favorite caterer!

Bon Appetit!

Copyright 2000 � Frances King, Moosetta?s Creative Caterers

Monday, January 24, 2011

Low Cost Catering Ideas

LOW-COST CATERING IDEAS by Frances King

Many people cannot afford a lavish four-course sit down dinner or a full buffet feast for their wedding or event. In most cases, the food and beverages are the largest expenses of a wedding or party. You need to consider the time of the day of your reception or party. The time of your event plays an important role in the type of menu that you are planning. Your guests will expect different types and amounts of food depending on the time of the day of your affair.

General Meal Times:
Breakfast 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Brunch 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Lunch 12:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
High Tea/Snacks 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Dinner/Cocktails 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Passed or Stationary Hors d'oeuvres 8 p.m. and later
Dessert 9:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

If you cannot afford a fully catered event here are some low-cost party ideas. Do not forget to serve beverages and wedding cake if you are getting married. Even the simplest of foods can appear special when presented with flair. In addition, time of year and the corresponding temperatures should be a large factor in menu planning. Generally buffets are cheaper than sit-down meals because the caterer has to provide less waitstaff.

A Tea Reception

A tea reception is inexpensive and it should be held between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Tea and coffee is served with a variety of "tea sandwiches" also known as "dainties." The crusts are cut off of these small sandwiches. Tarts, scones, and pastries may be served, as well. Make sure that you add "Tea Reception Following Ceremony" on your wedding invitations.

A Salad Luncheon/Reception

A salad luncheon reception is wonderful if your wedding is late morning. In addition, this type of meal is cheaper than a sit-down meal or buffet. Offer a wide selection of salads such various pasta salads, potato, rice salads, Chinese salads, coleslaw, fruit salads, gelatins with fruit, and green salads. Provide a few salad dressings, fruits, and breads. Include ?Salad Reception Following Ceremony" in your invitation.

Hors d'oeuvres Reception or Deli/Party Trays Reception

This type of reception/event is appropriate between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. or after an evening wedding. Provide light finger foods such as chips and dips, fruit and vegetable platters, cheeses, and crackers. Write "Light Hors d'oeuvres Reception Following Ceremony" on the invitations. If you would like to include more substantial foods that are more filling include meat and cheese trays, shrimp cocktails, oysters, egg rolls, sausages, chicken wings, and tea sandwiches. Include "Hors d'oeuvres Reception Following Ceremony" if you are serving appetizers with meats.

Hors d'oeuvres and Cocktail Reception

This type of reception or party is similar to the one above in regards to time and menus. However, you are serving hors d'oeuvres, cocktails, and non-alcoholic beverages. Include "Hors d'oeuvres and Cocktail Reception Following Ceremony" on your invitations. Request your caterer to include bartending staff.

Decadent Dessert Reception or Dessert Party

This type of reception is suitable between 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. or after an evening wedding. Serve an extensive assortment of rich desserts such as cheese cakes, tarts, tortes, cookies, pies, cakes, pastries, cobblers, biscotti, ice cream, sundaes, and candies. Serve coffee, tea, and other beverages. Add "Dessert Reception Following Ceremony" to your invitations.

A Simple Cake and Punch Reception

You can "Let them eat cake" as long as your event is not during a normal mealtime. Have a simple but elegant cake and punch reception. It must be planned for the mid morning, for the mid afternoon, or for after an evening wedding. In addition, you may include some candies, cookies, and nuts to the menu. Be certain to include "Cake and Punch Reception Following Ceremony." This will inform the guests ahead of time not to expect a full meal.

Other Cost Considerations Location/Rental Equipment

Does the site include tables or chairs or do you have to rent them? Do not forget that you many need to rent tents, linens, and kitchen facilities. You many cut costs by using paper and plastic goods instead of glassware, china plates, cloth napkins, and silverware.

Waitstaff/Duration of the Event

How long is the event? If the event runs over you may have to pay overtime charges. How long do you have the reception site/facilities for? Does the time of the rental of the site and the waitstaff include the time of the set-up and clean up? Ask you caterer to start cleaning up while your guests are still there. If you cannot afford waitstaff consider ordering drop-off food or self-serve buffet food. Or you can have your friends pick up some deli trays or take out food and set up the food with their assistance.

Bon Appetit!

Copyright 2000 � Frances King, Moosetta?s Creative Caterers

Sunday, January 23, 2011

How to Interview a Caterer

HOW TO INTERVIEW A CATERER by Frances King

A Complete Guide To Helping You Select A Caterer for Your Wedding or Special Event

Here are a Number of Great Tips and Some Sample Questions to Ask Your Prospective Caterer.

Many people discover that their catered event is the biggest expense of their wedding or party. The cost of your wedding reception or party includes the food, beverages, kitchen staff, waitstaff, rentals, the decorations, and the cost of the reception site itself. About 50% of a couple?s wedding costs are the reception. It is very important to know how to interview and to choose a caterer.

Site/Availability

• When you are selecting a facility such as a winery, hotel, country club, park, resort, reception hall, or restaurant you need to know whether the site includes the caterer. Some reception/facility sites have their own in-house caterer and they do not allow outside caterers to provide the food on their site. The site that your choose should match the formality of the event, the theme of your wedding/event, the type of food that you want to provide, and your budget. You may want to reserve a site where you have the freedom to choose your own caterer.

• Is your event/wedding reception indoors or outdoors?

• This is important to know what facilities are available at your site. Some facilities do not have sinks, kitchens, ovens, stoves, or barbecues for the caterers to work out of. In terms of the weather and the menu, the food may need to be kept hot or cold.

• Pick a date! Once you have figured out if you need to hire an off-premise caterer, then you need to find out if they are available on the day of your event or wedding. The caterer you want could already be booked for an event on the same day of your affair.

• You should try to book your caterer at least 6-12 months in advance of your event.

Budget

• Now you need to decide if they can work within your budget!

• What is your budget for your catered event?

• Most caterers require an initial deposit to hold the date of your event. Is there a deposit required? What is the initial deposit and when is it due?

• Are installments or payment plans available?

• When is the final payment due for the catering?

• Is there a gratuity or service charge? How much are the taxes?

• How many hours of service does the caterer include in their overall cost?

• How much extra will it be if my event runs overtime?

• What does the caterer include in the price (e.g., set-up, clean up, staff, food, rentals, etc.)?

Experience

• How long has the caterer been in business? Ask them about their experience, background, and culinary education.

• Have they catered weddings or your type of event previously? Have they handled the amount of guests that you have invited?

• Can they handle small or large events? What is the number of guests of the largest event that they have managed?

License/Liability/Health

• Are they licensed?

• Are they insured?

• Do they have health permits?

Alcohol

• Do they have a liquor license to purchase alcohol? If no, are they willing to serve your alcohol? Does your caterer provide bartender(s) to serve your beverages? How much extra is this service?

• Is there a corkage fee for serving my own wine?

• Is champagne service included for my wedding toast?

• Are the beverages served at the bar, buffet style, and do the waitstaff refill drinks at the tables?

• Ice; don?t forget that you may need ice for the keg, bar, carafes of water. A good rule of thumb is � of pound of ice per guest. You may need extra ice in really hot weather.

Rentals/Equipment

• What rentals are needed for your event?

• Is the rental equipment provided through the catering company or through a rental company?

• There are many details to consider such as tables, and chairs, plates, napkins, table linens, chaffers, glassware, sternos, silverware, serving pieces, tents, etc. Some people choose to use plastic flatware and paper plates in order to save money.

• Rental costs add up quickly if you rent extra silverware such as salad and dessert forks, bread/butter knives, dessert spoons, along with the basic table setting of forks, knives, and spoons.

• There are many different grades of silverware, tableware, glassware, etc, and different colors of linens to choose from. You need to make some choices and find out the price differences for your rentals.

• Your caterer can help you figure out what items that you need to rent.

• Request to see samples of equipment to make sure it is what you want, that?s it?s not old, chipped, or in poor condition.

• Most caterers charge you for rental equipment. Some caterers include the cost of rentals along with their food prices per guest.

Head Count

• Prices are usually based on the number of guests that you plan to invite to your wedding or event. The caterer will need an initial head count or a rough idea of the amount of your guests.

• When does the caterer need to know the final head count? When you send out your invitations, keep in mind that the most caterers want a final count 1-2 weeks before your event.

• Does the head count include other wedding/party vendors, such as the DJ, Band, Wedding Consultant, and Photographer?

• Is there a price difference for the children and the wedding/party professionals?

• Is there some place else for the vendors to eat, out of site from your guests.

Menus

• Do they have set menus or can they customize menus according to the theme or style of your event?

• Can they provide special menus such as vegetarian cuisine, kosher cuisine, or are they able to accommodate guests with food allergies.

Service

• What methods do you want your food/beverages served?

• Are the hors d?oeuvres passed around to the guests by the wait staff or are the hors d?oeuvres stationary (sitting on a table)?

• What style do you want your main meal served? Types to consider are buffet, seated or sit-down, French, Russian, and family styles. Ask your caterer about different styles of service that they provide. Specify what services are included and what details that they do not handle.

• Serving Styles:

• 1. Seated or standard sit-down service is when the food is plated and portioned in the kitchen and the guest is served the plate of food while sitting down at the table.

• 2. Russian Style is where the food is plattered and the server portions and serves each guest a portion of the entr�e, starch, and vegetable, served with a fork and spoon.

• 3. French Style is when the food is plattered tableside. The platters are presented to the guests and the guests pass and serve themselves. This requires more space and service can be slow.

• 4. Family Style is when the food is in bowls and on platters in the middle of the table and the quests help themselves.

• 5. Buffet style is when the people stand in a food line.

• Does your caterer provide servers or is the buffet self serve?

• Does the catering include wedding cake service or do you have to hire someone to cut and serve the cake?

• Dress code for the waitstaff. Is it formal or casual? The attire should reflect the formality/theme of your event. The staff may wear tuxedo shirts with bow ties and blank pants or skirts. Butler style is when the waitpersons where white gloves. If you are having a Hawaiian theme party, ask your caterer to have the waitstaff where Hawaiian shirts.

Ratio

• What is the staff to guest ratio? Generally, there should be at least one server per 30 guests for a buffet and one server per 20 guests for a sit-down dinner. However, it depends on how formal or complicated the event is. The ratio may be reduced, depending on these factors. A lavish six-course, sit-down dinner may require one server per 10-12 guests. Discuss the staff to guest ratio with your caterer.

Food

• Does the caterer use fresh ingredients/produce or does he/she use canned or frozen ingredients?

• Who are their food/produce suppliers?

• Do they bake their own breads/desserts or do they contract out to bakeries/chefs?

• Generally speaking, the price of food includes all of the ingredients, preparation, and transportation of the food to your site.

• Discuss portion sizes and the amount of food that needs to be prepared.

Contract/Refunds/Cancellations

• Request a contract or proposal.

• What are the general terms of the contract?

• What is their cancellation policy?

• Is your deposit refundable if your wedding/event is cancelled?

• Read all of the fine print including their cancellation policy, price per person, service charges, and taxes.

• After you read the contract make sure all parties that are involved sign it. Be ready to put down an initial deposit.

• The contract should include:

• 1. The date, time, location of the event, and hours of service provided by the caterer.

• 2. The date that you need to provide the final head count.

• 3. The list of services provided (e.g. buffet, sit-down meal, bar service, wedding cake service, etc.)

• 4. The menu that you have selected.

• 5. The fees, including an extra expenses, a payment schedule, and when the final balance is due.

• 6. The name of the caterer handling the event.

• 7. Finally, your contract should include the caterer?s cancellation policy.

Customer Service

• Talk to your caterer on the phone. Request the menus ahead of time. Then, schedule an appointment and meet with your prospective caterer in person.

• How does your caterer deal with you?

• Do you feel comfortable with your caterer?

• Does your caterer communicate with you effectively and is he/she helpful?

• Your caterer should be available by appointment and by phone to answer any questions that you may have.

Tasting

• Will your caterer provide an initial tasting/consultation? Some caterers will ask you to come in for a free tasting. Others will charge a fee. Some caterers will ask you to come into their restaurant if you want to try the food. However, some caterers do not provide tastings at all. They will give you references and show you pictures of their presentations of food. Be aware that preparing a meal for a few people and a few hundred is very different in the quantity, holding, and the transportation of the food.

• Judging the food at the caterer?s kitchen is not always a true example of the food that is served at an event.

• If you do go in for a tasting, ask your caterer is the tasting for free or does he/she charge a fee for the sampling?

• How many people can I bring to the tasting?

• Don?t assume that you can bring 5 or 6 people to a tasting. Tastings are expensive and complicated to provide for the caterer. Ask if you can bring someone along, such as the bride or groom.

• Request to look at pictures of events that they have done in the past.

References

• Request references from your caterer. Ask your friends, family, or colleagues for recommendations of caterers that they have employed for their events.

• Some caterers will provide you with letters of references or phone numbers of clients that are willing to share their past experience with your caterer.

• Ask the client questions about the quality of the food, if they were satisfied with the waitstaff/service, and ask about the overall presentation of the event.

Leftovers

• What is your caterer?s leftover policy? Do not assume that all of the leftovers are automatically yours. Most caterers make extra food for unexpected guests and to feed their staff. You are paying per person, much like a restaurant. However, some brides/grooms/hosts do not have time to eat during their reception/event. Therefore, some caterers will provide a leftover basket of their food. The couple can have a romantic picnic for two on their honeymoon and enjoy themselves when all of the commotion is over with.

Good Luck And Bon Appetit!

Copyright 2000 � Frances King, Moosetta?s Creative Caterers

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Cash Bar

The wedding is at a hotel, so of course everything is over priced. We are considering not having an open bar, but a cash bar. Some say a cash bar is tacky. What do you say? And if a cash bar is tacky, do you have any suggestions? Also, what other beverages would be okay to toast with?

You could opt for an open bar for a short period of time (1/2 hr-1 hr) and then cash, or only have beer/wine on the open bar and other drinks are cash (again limit the time). You and the site rep can agree up front to a specific amount of alcohol and when that's reached, you are notified and can decide to switch to cash only or serve more free. And, generally paying by the drink is less expensive also. If you have exhausted the reception budget before drinks, then have a cash bar, but provide the toasting drinks free. Also, you could consider having a bottle or so of wine at each table with dinner and then cash bar for everything else.

Champagne or a quality sparkling wine are the traditional drink for toasts. You can offer non-alcoholic beverages such as a non-alcoholic champagne, ginger ale, club soda, punch, or white grape juice for toasting as well.

Friday, January 21, 2011

Make your spouse and yourself happy

How To Quit Smoking...And Quit For Keeps. If this is something you have been wanting to do but haven't yet, then quitting before your wedding is a gift you can give your spouse and yourself! Don't let the excuse, but I'm too stressed out now creep into your resolve. http://bit.ly/4GUmhC

Weight Loss

If you are looking at shedding a few pounds before your wedding, here's a few ideas that may help.

Lose Weight Safely: http://bit.ly/4NBFTQ

Getting Fit Your Way - A Self-Paced Fitness Guide: http://bit.ly/5ojHfR

Calories & Weight - The USDA Pocket Guide: http://bit.ly/7iM4zP

Whipped Cream Frosting

I was told by a baker that "whipped cream icing" would not stand up in July here in Virginia. My reception is going to be in an indoor location that has AC. Is there any validity to what we where told. I don't like really rich (sweet) frosting.

We are in MN and in July it is very hot and humid (can be 90's to 100 degrees). I checked with a number of bakers that do wedding cakes and they all said whipped cream icing would be fine in an air conditioned reception site. They said they all would use whipped cream in July with no problem, including transporting it. I guess the only issue could be how far your cake would have to travel between the baker and the site. It may be a problem if the cake is outside in the heat for a long period of time.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

The Wedding Cake

THE WEDDING CAKE

The wedding cake is as important as the bridal veil, gown, rings, etc. It may be as artistic ? and sometimes as fantastic ? as a designer?s dream. It is usually decorated with intricate designs. The cake is sometimes placed as a centerpiece on the bridal table if there is one; if not, the cake sits on its own table so that it may be admired by everyone; or it may also form the centerpiece for a buffet table.

Wedding cakes may be square, oblong, or heart-shaped, but are usually a series of round tiers, sometimes separated by columns. The icing is usually white, but the cake can be frosted with a pastel icing to match the color scheme of your wedding. Usually an ornament, or fresh flowers, finishes off the top layer; or what is known as a "cake top." Many couples top their cake with a fun bride/groom, heart, or other topper, which becomes a keepsake remembrance of the wedding. The cake itself is made of a white pound cake or a yellow sponge cake ? or you may want to be creative and have each layer be a different flavor. But try to stick to the basics.

UNIQUE CAKE TOPS �Family Stylized Heart Cake Topper� �Bride "Reaching for Her Star" Figurine� �Beach Bride and Groom Cake Topper� �Rhinestone Letter Cake Topper� �"Super Sexy Spy" Wedding Bride and Groom Figurine� �Porcelain Interracial Bride and Groom Cake Top Wedding�

The less familiar groom?s cake is a dark, rich fruitcake, frequently iced to match and used as the top layer of the bride?s cake. Traditionally, this cake is saved for the first anniversary of the couple. Because tradition has it that a piece of the bride?s cake under a single woman?s pillow will lead her to dream of her future husband, it?s customary to cut the cake and serve it at the reception, with extra slices provided for guests to take home. Napkins or tiny boxes are supplied to those who wish to take pieces of cake home with them. If you won?t be having a groom?s cake, freeze the top layer of the bride?s cake to share on your first anniversary.

In some traditions, the dark fruitcake is the main wedding cake (English). The pieces are all pre-cut with perhaps an almond on top, wrapped in cellophane and topped with a bow for guests to take home if they choose. An artificial cake is then sometimes used for the photographs.

Ordering the Cake

If you need ideas of what kind of cake you would like, why not ask some of your friends who were recently married, or look through photo albums at your local bakeries or caterers. Before you order, it is wise to taste a sample of their baking. Keep in mind that, generally speaking, not much cake is actually eaten. You don?t want to have a lot left over and wasted. It is suggested that you order a cake that ?looks? big, but really isn?t

It is also a good idea to make a check list of points to go over:

• Discuss number of guests.
• Shape and size of cake
• Batter (flavor)
• Filling
• Icing (colors)
• Designs
• Ornaments (cake top)
• Total price
• Deposit
• Time and date of delivery (if they deliver)

If you are thinking of making your own cake, keep in mind that the time right before your big day is the most hectic. Before you go ahead, check the cost of ingredients against the price of a professionally prepared cake. Then experiment with your recipe way ahead of time, and make the real thing at least two days before you decorate it; it?s easier to ice when it?s not too fresh.

Cutting the Cake

The wedding cake should be cut just before dessert at a luncheon or dinner reception, just after the guests have been received at a tea or cocktail reception. Your groom places his right hand over yours and together you cut into the bottom layer with a ribbon-tied silver knife. The bride and groom traditionally share the first slice as a symbol of their willingness to share each other?s household from then on.

It is a loving gesture for the bride to give her new in-laws their pieces after that, then the groom to service his. The rest of the cake is then cut by a friend, designated in advance, or by a member of the caterer?s staff, and served to the guests.

Use a thin, sharp or serrated knife. Insert knife into cake, keeping point down, and handle up. Slice, pulling knife toward you. If frosting sticks, dip knife in hot water or wipe with damp paper towel after cutting each slice.

Round Tiered Cake

� Cut vertically through bottom layer at edge of second layer as indicated by dotted line 1; then cut into wedges as indicated by dotted line 2.

� Follow same procedure with middle layer by cutting vertically through second layer at edge of top layer as indicated by dotted line 3; then cut into wedges as indicated by dotted line 4.

� Return to bottom layer and cut along dotted line 5; cut into wedges as indicated by dotted line 6.

Separate remaining layers (traditionally, the top layer is frozen for the couple?s first anniversary); cut into desired sizes.

5. Round layers can be cut into wedges, diamonds or slices.

�

Square Tiered Cake

The cutting procedure for square tiered cake is essentially the same as for a round tiered cake.

� Cut bottom layer all around; then cut middle layer. Return to bottom layer and continue as directed (above).

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

When to Buy Dress?

When should I start looking/purchasing a dress?

It will probably take you a month or so to find the dress you want and then it can take 4-6 months once you order it for it to be delivered. Then it will take time to alter it (they all need alterations) and you want to allow some slack in here just in case... So, I would suggest starting to look for a dress as soon as possible. Think about the size of the dress and if you are going to lose/gain weight before the wedding. Buy the closest size to what you will be at the time of your wedding. Look in the Advice section in EZWeddingPlanner (top menu bar) and check out Bridal Attire for lots of good info about dresses.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Weddings on a Small Budget

WEDDINGS ON A SMALL BUDGET

You do not have to spend an exorbitant amount of money to have a lovely wedding. Know in advance what you intend to spend on your wedding and stick to it. There is no reason to go into huge debt to have a nice wedding. Remember that you will be just as married if you spend $1,000 than if you spend $30,000. Here are a few tips on cost-cutting.

The Elopement

The ultimate in simplicity. Just go get married and forget the elaborate planning and disagreements that can occur in larger weddings. You could simply do it locally, or consider combining it with your honeymoon and have a destination wedding, like a tropical beach or a cruise. If you like, you can invite immediate family, maid of honor and best man (and their spouse/guest) to go along for the wedding. Make it a long weekend or stay for weeks and enjoy! There are many travel agents who specialize in weddings and can give you great advice as to the details. You will save lots of money if you do this off-season (Summer is off-season in the Caribbean or Hawaii and Winter is off-season in Europe). Many hotels offer honeymoon packages, so check with a number of travel agents and compare. This can be a cost-effective and very romantic and memorable wedding experience. Then you can decide later if you want a reception for other friends and relatives after the fact (which isn't a necessity).

The Bride's Attire

One way to save tons of money is to find a nice, off-the-shelf dress in a department store. If you aren't going for the big white wedding, this is a reasonable alternative. Nothing says you must have a traditional wedding. Or if you have access to one, wear an heirloom dress of your mother or grandmother's. With a bit of alteration, this can be a memorable, sentimental wedding dress.

But, if you want the story-book, white gown, you still do not have to spend a fortune. Start at the sale racks in a bridal shop. Discontinued styles or overstocks can save bundles. Also consider buying a sample dress (if you are the right size). You would probably want to dry-clean it before the wedding. Consider less expensive fabrics (like polyester blend vs. 100% silk), and generally the less ornate and beaded the dress, the less the cost. If you order a dress, order it with plenty of time for delivery and alterations, so you don't need to pay rush charges. See Bridal Attire for lots of details on wedding dresses, etc.

Another option is to have your dress sewn for you. Be sure you have a seamstress who you trust and has done wedding dresses before. Check references with other brides and see if they were happy with the work. Consignment stores are an option, but carefully check the dress and compare the prices to new dresses, as sometimes they can even be more costly. Check ads from brides who have called off their weddings. Bargains can be had for the wise consumer.

A great option to save money is to make your own headpiece and veil. Look through bridal magazines and check out the bridal store veils and then go to your local fabric store. You can buy inexpensive, ready made bridal headpieces and lots of veil material. With very little work, you can easily save $100 or more on the veil. Make your own headpiece from scratch and save even more. Consider your hair style first and then choose a headpiece. Match it to your dress and overall look desired.

When it comes to shoes, you can wear a pair of white shoes you already have. It will probably be hidden by the dress and it will certainly be more comfortable than trying to break in new shoes on this important day. Or, ballet slippers are inexpensive and would look and feel fine.

The Groom's Attire

Talk about money-saving. Wow! There is nothing wrong with simply wearing a dark suit you already own. The same goes for the groomsmen. There is no law that says you must rent a tux. Add a boutonniere and your outfit is complete. But if you want to go the tux route, some tips include sticking with the standard black rental tuxedo, which is inexpensive and classic looking. Avoid wedding dates close to prom time, as tuxedos are in high demand then. See Grooms Guide for lots of details on renting groom and groomsmen formalwear.

The Bridal Party

The larger the bridal party, the greater the cost. Consider that you will also invite the spouse or guest of each bridal party member, so if you have five each bridesmaids and groomsmen, you are now up to 20 people to seat and feed at your reception. This requires tables and centerpieces and maybe extra decorations for the bridal table(s). You also pay for bouquets and boutonnieres for each, thank you presents for 10 people, perhaps more transportation (limo) from wedding to reception site, and maybe extra money to help cash-strapped bridesmaids pay for their expensive clothing. In addition, the more bridesmaids you have, the greater the stress and hassle you will have. For every bridesmaid you add, the disagreement factor rises dramatically. One or two attendants will save you money and stress. One cost saver for dresses is to check out good department stores. They have a wide variety of dresses off-the-shelf that might make you and your bridesmaids happy. Or, order then through a catalog for great savings. For information on who does what, see Wedding Party and Their Duties.

The Wedding Date

Schedule your date at least three weeks before or after any holiday. These are the busiest times of the year for most vendors, including churches, hotels, restaurants, florists, bands, DJs, etc. Not only will you pay a premium, but service and quality may suffer during holidays. It's also a good idea to schedule around sports events or other major events in your town. Besides saving you money, it will be easier for your guests to travel to your sites when the traffic is calmer. Saturdays almost always command a higher price than other weekend days and certainly more than weekdays. Also busy wedding months will cost you more than if you get married in an off-month. The biggest wedding months are September/October and June/July. You can save big bucks if you get married in, for example, April or November. But, consider the weather in your area. Spring or Fall usually works better than Winter. Negotiate with your vendors for better pricing for your date.

The Guest List

The more people you invite to your wedding and reception, the greater the cost. The smaller the guest list, the more you save on invitations, food, liquor, centerpieces, musicians, wedding favors , thank you cards, room/site rental and perhaps parking vouchers, coat check fees, and a host of other little extras. With less people, an outdoor wedding/reception will also save on rental fees for tables, chairs, tents, etc. The less people you have, the more you can spend on each guests. Upgraded the food and liquor and perhaps other extras you might forgo with lots of guests, like ice sculptures and other decorations, due to budget constraints. And the less people, the less time it takes to feed them. You can cut down on the time needed to rent the room and musicians, etc. Four hour receptions can be much cheaper than five or more hours. Plus, a more intimate crowd allows the bride and groom to more easily mingle with their guests. One hundred or less guests makes for an intimate and cost-effective wedding. If you have a very small guest list, consider a reception in your home after the ceremony. You can track all your guests in the EZWeddingPlanner People section.

The Site

If your home or that of a friend or relative is large enough to accommodate the number of guests you plan to invite, you can save a ton of money. Do any home renovations and major landscaping far in advance of the wedding. You can rent trellises, archways, gazebos, etc. if you don't already have them and decorate them with flowers, or have the ceremony inside by a fireplace, or other pretty location with lots of room for guests. Consider inviting the neighbors, since there will be increased noise and congestion. Send a map with the invitations if you think guests will have a hard time finding the site. Mark the outside with balloons or signs. See below for more outdoor suggestions and catering/food ideas.

If you have a small wedding, a backyard barbecue or picnic in the park or beach is great. It is intimate and relaxed and is easy for the bride and groom to mingle with their guests. For larger guest lists, consider hiring a caterer who can also deal with tents, tables, etc. But check out their prices vs. those of a hotel or other facility to be sure you are indeed saving money here. You can also consider a public park or beach, but make contingency plans for bad weather. Check out places like Elks, American Legion and other clubs. They can be decorated wonderfully and you can have both the ceremony and reception in one place which will also save money. Unfortunately, some churches have instituted very high fees for their facilities/services, so you may want to check out several before choosing. On the other hand, some are very reasonable and if they have a large basement or fellowship room, you can save lots of money by having your reception there. Officiants also come in different price ranges, so shop around. You also do not need excessive decorations. If you book a banquet room from a hotel, often times this includes the draped tables and centerpieces and many other extras. You can probably negotiate many extras too. See reception for lots of details. Remember, off peak dates and days of the week and times of day will save you a bundle.

There are many locations that specifically cater to outdoor weddings and will be able to coordinate all the details. If you are planning it yourself, here's some things to think about. Back up tents or other cover are a good idea, in case of rain or blazing sun that will melt not only your cake, but also your guests. Tents should be set up several days prior to the event to ensure dry ground underneath. Have an adequate number of chairs for both the wedding and reception. If the reception will go into the evening, you will want lights and perhaps heaters, depending on weather. If insects are a problem in your area, consider pre-spraying with insecticide or lighting punk sticks or citronella candles. If you want dancing, you may want to rent a portable dance floor. Also remember to consider the needs of any of your guests who may have special handicap or accessibility needs. Parking and rest room facilities should also be adequate for the number of guests you are planning.

The Food and Drink

Simple appetizers set on a table will cost less than passed hors d'oeuvres, because you don't need extra people to walk around serving them. Or, do away with the appetizers altogether and shorten the cocktail hour to one-half hour. This will not only save on food bills but also liquor bills. Look into buffet vs. sit down meals. They may be less expensive. Also selecting chicken instead of beef, etc. can considerably reduce the meal bill. One great way to cut down on food costs is to time the wedding (like early afternoon) so that you can just serve drinks and appetizers or cake and champagne or finger sandwiches, etc. after the service. People will drink less and not expect a large meal. If you serve wine, beer, and soft drinks, your bar bill will be considerably less than including other liquors. And if you stop serving alcohol an hour before closing and serve coffee and water, you will not only save money but have less inebriated guests. See Low Cost Ideas for catering info. Also Do It Yourself catering ideas.

The Cake

First off, don't let your caterer talk you into serving other desserts also. The wedding cake is the dessert, so save your money on the others. Negotiate to get rid of cake-cutting fees (get this in writing). Consider a small decorated cake for you to cut at the reception and then a sheet cake of the same flavor cut in the kitchen to serve the guests. If you have a talented friend or relative who makes wedding cakes, this would be a great wedding gift from them to you. Many home-made cakes are better tasting and as beautifully decorated as cakes from a bakery. See Cake Ordering and Cutting for lots of cake details.

There are some books that say don't buy a supermarket wedding cake. However, when one of our daughters was married, three people taste-tested numerous specialty wedding cake bakeries against the supermarket cake and were much happier with the later. It tasted better, looked beautiful, was less expensive, and they made a new first anniversary cake for free as part of the package. And as a bonus, the guests loved it and some still talk about the great cake. So, check out your local supermarket bakery as a viable source and do your own taste-test.

The Flowers

Using in-season flowers and/or those locally grown instead of exotic flowers will save you money. As mentioned earlier, the smaller the bridal party, the less bouquets you need to buy. Talk with your florist on budget cutting methods that will still be beautiful, but less expensive. For instance, there are many varieties of roses, some very expensive while others are very reasonable. Using a few, larger flowers even though they may be expensive, may be an overall economical choice - like Calla lilies. See the in-depth discussion on flowers for more details. As far as the reception site is concerned, you can decorate it without using flowers. Mirrors and candles are great and many reception sites will provide decorations as part of the room rental. One trick you could also use is to use the bridal bouquets as table decorations for the bridal table(s). They could be placed in vases or simply laid on the tables. Also, if you have purchased flower arrangements to decorate the ceremony, take those along and use them again at the reception site. You could also use flowering plants on the tables as centerpieces or a single flower in a bud vase.

The Transportation

If you are budget-challenged, simply skip the limo. A nice car will do just as well. Full-size cars are desirable (to fit the large dresses) and if you don't have one or know someone who does, you can inexpensively rent one or more for the wedding day. This will be less expensive than renting a limo for a few hours. But if you do go with a limo, generally black is less expensive than white. If you have a large bridal party, consider one larger limo versus several smaller ones. Many companies offer wedding packages that add goodies like signs, decorations and champagne. Ask for the car without the extras and save your money.

The Printed Materials

If you have less than 50 guests, skip the formal invitations and send hand-written notes or telephone (if local). If you go the printing route, be sure they are light enough to be sent with the least amount of postage. Going over 1 ounce will increase your costs. Tips on lightening the mailing and saving money include: skip the tissue paper, use small postcards as the reply cards (also saving you return postage), print reception info at the bottom of the invitation avoiding separate reception cards. You could also print RSVP info at the bottom of the invitation and skip the return cards altogether. If you have a computer, you could design and print your own invitations. There are some very nice paper stock and envelopes to be found in stores or on-line. One helpful Internet site is InvitationsEtc. which has lot of information on doing your own inviations/programs etc. You can also do your own wedding programs. They can be easily designed and printed at home. See ceremony programs for more detail. If ordering invitations, programs and other printed materials, consider ordering on-line or through catalogs for bargains. Thermography is less expensive than engraving on printed matter. The paper stock also varies in price and you could save money here.

The Decorations and Favors

Decorations can be simple, yet look nice. Depending on your locations and number of guests, you can make your own, rent them, or often they are included in reception site packages. First, ask the reception site what decorations they can provide for free. This also goes for the ceremony site - often Churches have candelabras and candles, etc. that they will let you use (or rent for a small fee). They may also have pew bows or at least pew bow holders. Go to your local craft store and buy ribbon in bulk to make your own bows. Ribbon with a wire edge will hold the bow look and stand up better. If you have a dull looking reception room, consider renting inexpensive trees and decorating them with twinkle lights - particularly for late afternoon or evening affairs. You can decorate with plants bought at a local nursery, garden store, outlet or retail store. Small potted plants make nice table decorations and guests can take them home as souvenirs/favors. If you have a southwestern theme, consider small cacti. Christmas time weddings could give ornaments engraved with the year. Easter time you could use jelly beans or decorated eggs. Mirrors and candles also make great table decorations. You can use tall candles or votive. Check out local craft stores (like Michaels) for ideas on decorating supplies (ribbons, baskets, tulle, candle holders - 3 to 4 per table, wedding supplies, etc.) You may also see some great ideas there for making your own favors. They can be as simple as nuts and/or candy on each table to something more elegant like personalized mints or chocolates. Small picture frames (with their place cards or a picture of the two of you) make nice favors. Fabric or silk flowers tied with ribbons inscribed with your name and wedding date make colorful favors as well as table decorations. Seedling packets or tree saplings for planting are unique and represent the growth of your marriage. For very inexpensive favors, consider poetry or a thank you note printed on paper and folded into fan shapes (accordion-pleated) which can also be decorated with ribbon. Or rolled scroll-like and tied with a ribbon. For the gamblers at heart, how about lottery tickets. Small, heart shaped refrigerator magnets make nice favors (again, check out craft stores). And, there are many vendors online who sell fun favors inexpensively. See the Sponsors section for some favor ideas.

Other Cost Savers

Make your own tapes for reception music and/or use a multi-disc CD player with your favorite CDs. A DJ will cost less than a live band. Have a friend or relative sing a solo at your ceremony as their gift to you. If you are cash strapped, skip the favors at each table. Post seating arrangements on an easel instead of individual placecards, or have open seating. Skip the goodies like ice sculptures, personalized napkins and matches, balloon hearts, chair covers, ceiling decorations, bubble blowers and rice or bird seed packets, bird releases, etc.

Monday, January 17, 2011

Budget Average Costs

What is an average budget on weddings?

It's hard to say an average cost, because some of our brides have $1000 weddings and some have $35,000 weddings or more and everything in between. One of our brides spent over $150,000 on her wedding. It depends on the number of guests you have, the location, and how elaborate you want it. Some brides spend 3 to 4 thousand on their dress alone, while others spend $500 or less. Also different parts of the country cost more or less for the same size function. With 100 to 150 guests you can probably figure somewhere in the $10,000 to $20,000 range for a sit-down meal reception. We recommend that you first figure out how much you have to spend and then fit the wedding around the budget. We do not recommend going into debt or your parents going into debt to host a party that will last one day. You can have a beautiful wedding on a small, realistic budget.

Sunday, January 16, 2011

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