Cost of Bouquets

When planning weddings, one of the biggest shocks for the wedding couple seems to be the cost of the wedding flowers and more to the point the cost of the typical wedding bouquet. This is something I really understand. A few years ago, when I was planning my own wedding, I burst into tears when given the flowers quote. I couldn’t believe flowers could possibly cost that much and I wasn’t even having what I really wanted. So I do understand. I’m always hearing “that’s just too much” for a bouquet, so I decided to do some checking and see what bouquets were running across the country. I did a very informal poll using other wedding planner friends. The results are interesting. The costs are all very close. I also asked about portrait bouquets and as you can see from the numbers, portrait bouquets are not something done in other parts of the country. So the next time you are shocked over the cost of flowers at least you will know you are not alone.

Location	Bridal Bouquet	Portrait Bouquet
Maryland	$160 - $175	N/A
Houston, Tx	$175	N/A
Phoenix Az	$200 - $325	N/A
Memphis TN	$150	$50
Pittsburgh PA	$175	N/A
Franklin, NC	$150 - $200	$75- $100

Important Questions to Ask Your Ceremony Site

Ok, I know you already know the usual questions to ask your site before signing on the dotted line. What is the cost, how many people will it hold, what time will it be available for setup, etc. But let’s talk about those questions, that might not be so obvious, or that you might just take for granted.

First off, did you know that there are several churches in the Greenville area that do not allow photography or videography inside at all? Now what bride pictures her wedding day not including photos? Very, very few I would imagine. Seems obvious that photos would be allowed doesn’t it, but that’s not always the case. Know the rules before you sign.

Have you dreamed of walking down the aisle to your groom's favorite song? Probably not going to happen in a church ceremony. Churches have very strict rules about what can be played during a ceremony.

I bet you can just picture that precious little flower girl tossing pink petals as she walks down the aisle. Again, it is not allowed in most churches. Same goes for having that long white runner down the aisle or the aisle lined with rose petals. It’s just not allowed in most area churches.

Dreamed of a candlelight service, well check the fine print, there’s a good possibility it is not allowed. Picturing banks of roses to stand before as you say your vows, well guess what, depending on the church, flowers can be very restricted. And don’t even think about having a service that is a little out of the ordinary, it’s just not allowed in a lot of churches.

So before you decide on your ceremony venue, make sure that your dream wedding and the site’s dream weddings are one and the same.

Willrich Bridal's Newest Member

Ok, this is totally non wedding related, but I wanted to introduce the newest member of Willrich Bridal. Meet Spanky, our brand new puppy. I had wanted a puppy for so long and finally Richard agreed (Flipflop (the cat) was out voted) and we adopted Spanky. He is a Shih Tzu and Jack Russell mix. Apparently he is Shih Tzu on the outside and Jack Russell on the inside. He so far hasn’t met anything that is not a chew toy. He is totally adorable and totally a new baby. I had forgotten what it is like to have a new baby, all that crying at night. I haven’t slept in two days. So, just ignore the dark circles under my eyes please. Anybody know how long the puppy stage lasts?

Improving on the Usual Wedding Votive

source

Using fruit in your centerpieces? Why not go one step further and use the fruit as your votive holders too. Carve a hole in the center of your lemon, apple or pear, whatever fruit you are using in your wedding and place a votive inside. This is so clever, a definite way to turn up the wow factor at your wedding.

How to Have An Affordable Cocktail Hour

Bizbash Magazine April 2009

Looking for ways to have an affordable cocktail hour? Why not skip the expensive hors d’oeuvres and chilled shrimp and instead go with an idea I found in the latest BizBash Magazine. Have gourmet popcorn or popcorn with lime and other flavored salts served along with the standard vegetables and cheeses. How about chips, regular, sweet potato, vegetables and herbs served with all kinds of exciting dips. Who wouldn't love that?

Another idea I’m seeing popping up everywhere is the egg. Serve them hard boiled with all kinds of salts, peppers and chilies to dip in or deviled for a comfort food feel.

Don’t give up on the cocktail hour. It can be done affordably and with flair.

I So Love Barbie, Even When She's Cake

source

Ok, this is totally non wedding related, but it's just so cool that I had to post it. Yes, that is Barbie and yes it is made out of cake. It is actually a chocolate mud cake made for the celebration of Barbie's 50th birthday. The 2,645 lb cake was covered in gold icing, gold silk, and 2,000 Swarovski crystals valued at $50,000, and was based on the design for the limited edition 50th Anniversary Barbie Doll. For more click here. All I can say is wow!

Projecting the Perfect Image for Your Wedding

Source

Ok, you’ve found the perfect wedding venue and there’s only one problem, no candles are allowed. You’ve dreamed your whole life of standing before a beautiful arrangement of flickering candlelight to say your vows, what’s a bride to do? Well, why not go a little out of the box and project the candles on the wall. What a great idea, not only is your venue happy, but so is your pocketbook. Think of all the things that could be projected on the wall to give your venue the feel you want, without the cost of having to have the actual object.

We’ve even used this idea in churches that had giant screens that could not be raised. We took pictures of the fountains in front of the reception site with the bride’s flowers placed next to them and projected it on the screen in the church. Not only did it look beautiful, but it tied the ceremony and the reception together, making one cohesive event. What a cool idea.

Wedding Favor Idea

Looking for a cute, useful and affordable idea for a wedding favor. Check out these personalized lip balms. They would be great to give at the wedding or put in your welcome bags. Who doesn't love lip balm?

An Interview with Jennifer Davis, Catering Manager of the Westin Poinsett in Greenville

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to sit down and chat with the very sweet Jennifer Davis, the newest Catering Manager at the Westin Poinsett Hotel, here in Greenville, SC. Since so many brides in this area choose the Poinsett Hotel to hold their wedding events, I thought you might like a chance to get to know a little more about Jennifer and the hotel. Jennifer graciously agreed to take time out to sit down and do a little interview for my readers.

So Jennifer, tell me what makes your company special:
The historic charm of the Poinsett Hotel is something that just can’t be found in a newer property. We don’t want to simply provide event space, food, beverage and sleeping rooms, we want to go above and beyond to exceed your expectations every step of the way. We strive to create an atmosphere that is like the “good ole days” when service was everything, while also trying to stay within a price range that everyone can afford for their special day, especially if you are flexible. Our wedding packages are inclusive of all fees such as room rental, taxes, gratuity, cake cutting, dancefloor, bartenders, etc. so that you know exactly what you are spending from the beginning. We offer a range of prices that vary based on the time of year, time of day and day of the week.

How did you get your current position at the Westin Poinsett?
I’ve always enjoyed working with people and volunteering for special events. I wanted a job that could be challenging, creative and different every single day. I’ve been working in luxury hotels for the last 9 years and focused exclusively on wedding for the last 6 years. Having the opportunity to be involved in a bride’s special day and through this very happy time in a couple’s life has a contagious happy effect that I love being a part of.

Tell us about your favorite wedding or memory:
This is a really hard question. There are so many things that come to mind and so many pieces of so many different weddings that stand out to me. Some thoughts include the bride whose wedding dress zipper broke and was wide open on her side from her knee all the way to under her arm. She was unable to get out of it because the zipper stayed together at the top and we ended up cutting her out of it as we poured more champagne and dried her tears. As a hotel, we opened the bar to the guests to accommodate the delay and brought in an employee who was a seamstress who was able to replace the zipper and save the day in only thirty minutes. A crisis situation was saved and the wedding went on as planned and she looked as beautiful as ever. There are some brides and some mothers that I will never forget and continue to stay in touch with over the years. The hugs at the end of those special days will always be treasured, not just because I helped them create a beautiful, fun, and delicious event, but because of the memory that was made.

What are the questions a bride should ask when choosing a vendor in your field?
1. Ask over and over about what fees are not included. Things such as bartenders, cake cutting, setup, dance floor, butlers, room rental, taxes, gratuity.. All of these fees can really add up and create surprises at a time when your budget cannot handle it. Make sure you know up front and before you sign the contract exactly what you are paying.
2. Know your timing restrictions. If you plan to rent things such as linens, chairs, dancefloors, staging, etc, you may want to consider blocking out the whole day to make sure you have enough time for deliveries and setup. Most venues won’t let you deliver until the day of which can create challenges if you don’t plan for it in advance.
3. Before you purchase things for your wedding such as sparklers, ask your venue if they allow them. You hate to waste money on things that you can’t use.

What’s the hardest thing about your job?
I think that the hardest thing is finding a good personal/work life balance. It’s very hard for me to say no when people ask for late and weekend appointments as I have to be here from 8:30am – 5:30pm on weekdays as well as for the events that I work on the weekends. Luckily, my husband understands how much I love my brides and their families, as well as my job. He is very kind about my schedule as I know many spouses wouldn’t be.

Anything else we should know?
I think that to survive in this industry, you have to be a person who is patient, calm when things are crazy or don’t turn out as planned, and dependable. If a cake falls, a dress rips, a heel breaks, a groomsman has too much to drink, or any number of other things that often happen, I’ll be the person that is there with a smile to help you fix it, and I’ll love every minute of it!

Thanks so much Jennifer for taking the time to sit and talk with us. I'm sure we will be working together soon.

What Color Tux and Accessories Should The Groom Wear

When I’m asked my opinion on just what the groom and his men should wear, I always cast my vote for black tux, with white tie and vest for the groom and black tie and vest for the his groomsmen. To me, this is just your most elegant choice. Your groom stands apart but still elegant and sophisticated.

Followed closely behind this choice is the white dinner jacket (I’m a little partial to this one; it’s what my husband wore at our wedding). I’m just not into the pinks, greens, blues and most every other color of the rainbow vests and ties. I’m sorry but it’s just a little too prom date for me. If you’re old enough to get married, you are old enough to leave your prom days behind you.

What To Do With Your Mother's Wedding Dress

Does Mom still have her wedding dress, but you don’t plan on wearing it? What can you do with it? Well I know there are a lot of suggestions out there for cutting it up to make veils, or ring pillows, hankie, etc. Personally I just can't stand the thought of cutting up these beautiful old dresses. Why not display your Mom’s dress at your wedding reception. Find out if your groom’s mother still has her dress, maybe your grandmother has her’s? Take each dress and display them along with pictures from their wedding. What a unique way to make your reception personal to both you and your family.

Price of Stamps and Your Wedding Invitations

Did you know that the price of stamps is going up again? That's right on May 11, 2009 the price of a first class stamp will rise from $.42 to $.44. So when mailing your invitations be careful to use either a $.44 stamp or a Forever Stamp on any RSVP's that could be returning after May 11. The last thing you want is for your RSVP's to go unreturned because of insufficient postage.

And yes, I know the Forever Stamp is not very pretty, but really, how many people are going to pay any attention at all to the stamp on your RSVP? So save some money by going out and buying more of the Forever Stamps before the price goes up.