A
bride’s ‘must have’ companion while planning
her dream
wedding on a realistic budget.
By
Jo Anna Zaffree
Wedding Planner
Copyright
2007 Jo Anna Zaffree
Smashwords Edition
Smashwords Edition License Notes:
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author
No part of this work may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, microfilm and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Printed in the United States of America
This book is
available in print at most online retailers
Published in 2007 by
A SOLID IMAGE, P.O. Box 464, Golden, CO 80042
ISBN
978-0-9797246-0-2
Your Personal Wedding Planner will help guide you down the path to Your Dream Wedding while saving you thousands of dollars. Whether your budget is $15,000 or $150,000, Your Personal Wedding Planner will save you money and time!
Filled with OVER 275 MONEY SAVING TIPS usually known only to wedding industry insiders, Your Personal Wedding Planner covers everything from creating a budget (and sticking to it), to negotiating with vendors to ensure that you get the absolute most for your money.
Use just one tip and this book more than pays for itself !
Your Personal Wedding Planner is invaluable to today’s busy and budget-minded brides. It is like having a Professional Wedding Consultant at your side.
Not all brides can afford a Professional Wedding Consultant. No bride can afford to be without Your Personal Wedding Planner!
Being organized keeps you in control and saves you from making costly mistakes. Everything you need to keep you organized and armed with Money Saving Tips is included in Your Personal Wedding Planner. Print it and create a planning binder.
Take Your Personal Wedding Planner with you to all meetings with vendors. Keep good notes so you can refer back to them as needed. Keep it with you to remind you of Money Saving Tips while interviewing and choosing your vendors.
Remember to take Your Personal Wedding Planner to the wedding. If there are any questions or disputes with a vendor, you will have your contract promises and receipts on hand. As well as contact numbers for your vendors.
Thank you for choosing Your Personal Wedding Planner, and again,
Congratulations!
My Dream Wedding
When you picture your big day, what comes to mind? Use this sheet to help determine the wedding you want to have. It is helpful to have a pre-determined notion of what you really desire before you start shopping or interviewing vendors. Share this with your vendors when interviewing. Only then can you be sure that this vendor can accommodate your needs.
• Where is your ceremony? A castle in Ireland? Your family Church or Synagogue? Lakeside in the mountains? Under water in the Caribbean? Your parents’ backyard?
• Who do you see as your most cherished, ‘must have’ guests?
• What does your dress look like? Simple, dressed up with Mom’s jewelry? Ornate with lot’s of beading? Long train? Tiara?
• What music do you hear? Latin band? Orchestra? String Quartet? DJ with music to span the ages?
• How does your cake look? Three tiered with fondant and flowers made of sugar? Or individual cakes? A cupcake tower?
• How do your flowers smell? Are they roses, lilies, daisies, or a seasonal blend? Are they large bouquets or understated and elegant? Various colors or monochromatic?
• What is the reception atmosphere? Candlelit, jazzy and elegant? Festive with balloons? Full out party atmosphere?
• What are you doing on your honeymoon? Are you relaxing or playing the tourist? Cruising? Scuba diving? Lying on the beach? Rafting in Costa Rica? Visiting museums in Italy?
• How does your food taste? Old family recipes? Seafood? Themed? Steak & potatoes? BBQ? Buffet? Plated? Food stations?
Table of Contents
1. Budget
Money Saving Planning Tips, Tips on setting and sticking to your budget, Wedding budget worksheet, Who pays for what, traditionally?
2. Planner
Wedding countdown checklist, One year calendar, Appointment memos, Wedding day contact list
3. Attire
Money Saving Attire Tips for the whole wedding party, Attire information sheets
4. Catering
Money Saving Catering Tips, Caterer interview questions, Caterer comparison sheet, Money Saving Liquor Tips, Money Saving Cake Tips
Money Saving Setting Your Date Tips, Money Saving Ceremony Tips, Ceremony venue interview questions, Officiant interview questions, Money Saving Transportation Tips, Wedding day itinerary
Money Saving Floral Tips, Most common wedding floral needs, Money Saving Stationery Tips
7. Music
Money Saving Music Tips, DJ / Band interview questions
8. Photographer * Videographer
Money Saving Photography/Videography Tips, Interview questions, Wedding photography checklist
9. Reception
Money Saving Reception Tips, Reception venue interview questions, Reception site survey sheets
10. Vendors
How to negotiate with vendors, Questions to ask when calling references, My vendor sheets
11. Guest List
Money Saving Guest List Tips, Guest list planner, Guest seating planner
Money Saving Honeymoon Tips, Honeymoon destination review sheet, Honeymoon planning list, Wedding day emergency kit list, Name change information , Wedding show & gift registry information, Wedding show drawing labels
Money Saving Tips That Will Apply Throughout Your Planning
• Do not lose sight of the real reason for your wedding.
• Decide what is really important to you and your Fiancé and put your money there.
• Do not get caught up in the mindset of spending as much money as you can to keep up with or impress your friends.
• Remember this, and convey to your vendors; we are not looking for a “Budget Wedding”. We want our “Dream Wedding” on our budget!
• Blowing your budget as well as your parent’s budget can cause stress. You do not want to start your married life in overwhelming debt.
• Do not make any purchases unless you know for sure that you will use the item, no matter how little the cost. This is where hidden costs can creep up.
• Be clear about return policies wherever you shop.
• Be creative- many non-wedding vendors will have the item or service you need at non- wedding prices. These items include shoes, favors, stationary, décor, etc.
• Search the web. There are many websites that cater to brides, from dresses, to letting vendors bid to win your catering, photography or music needs. Be aware of return policies, shipping costs, etc.
• Watch the papers for coupons and sales on the items you need.
• Purchase wholesale and in bulk when you can. Many big box stores will give discounts for bulk items.
• It is your wedding, paid for by your money, as you see fit. Take charge!
• Apply for and use a credit card that offers incentives such as; free miles, money back, free hotel, etc. Use this card for wedding expenses only and pay the total amount due every month.
• Skip the extravagant extras- you know what they are.
• Network, network, network. Use your contacts. Do you know someone….who knows someone?
• Do you have a profession whereby you are in a position to barter? Trading your services for a vendor’s service may add up to BIG savings.
• Consider hiring a wedding planner. He or she can help you save time, money and your sanity by acting as a vendor liaison / coordinator on your wedding day.
• Hire professionals. Let friends and family comes as guests. This will save more than money- this will save your friendship.
• Do you or your fiancé travel for work? Be sure to sign up for frequent flier miles. You may earn enough miles to take you on your honeymoon or earn free hotel stays.
• Have I mentioned stick to your budget? Stick to your budget!
• Don’t feel pressured to buy a wedding gift for each other. You each are the greatest gift to one another.
• Ask a friend or family member to perform the ceremony.
Setting and sticking to your budget
Your budget is your friend. Keeping your budget in mind throughout the planning, will keep you from making costly mistakes that could be with you, long after your wedding day. Being in financial stress over your wedding is no way to start your new life together.
• Bring together all of the paying participants in your wedding. Determine an exact dollar amount you have to work with.
• What are your priorities? Food, Décor, location, that dress?
• Develop a realistic picture of what you want your wedding to look like. Be realistic, what can you really afford? Where can you afford cuts?
• Interview recently married friends, co-workers and vendors to determine realistic costs.
• Fill in the wedding budget form. Allocate your funds in the estimated costs column. Refer to this page often and add actual numbers when available.
• When you over spend in one line item, you must pull from other categories.
• Just because you spend less in one category doesn’t mean spend more elsewhere. The little “extras” can add up to at least 10% of your budget!
• Prepare the guest list AFTER the budget is set.
• Stick to your budget.
• Open an interest bearing, wedding/savings account at your bank. Determine an amount to set aside from every paycheck to have automatically transferred each month. Keep this up even after the wedding and you will be surprised at how much you have in the bank.
• Consider a longer engagement. This will allow you more time to save more money. Also, contracting vendors a year or more out will allow you to get the vendors you want and you may avoid future price increases.
• Do not go into major debt over this one-day. That is not a great way to start your new life together.
• Start minimizing your spending now. Entertaining at home, brown bag lunches, less time at the mall, etc. will all add up to big savings. That latte you buy every morning that costs $2.75, adds up to $660 in one year! That would be nice addition to your wedding budget!
• Cut your guest list. The easiest way to control your budget is to limit the size of your event. The largest expense of your event will be the reception food and alcohol (not to mention tables, linens, flatware, etc.). The quickest way to pare down your cost is by paring down the number of guests.
• Invite only your closest friends and family.
• You do not need to invite everyone you know, even if you attended his or her wedding.
• Get organized. Planning ahead keeps you in control and saves you from making expensive compromises with your vendors.
• Consider wedding insurance. Protect your wedding investment against such things as: attire damage, illness, inclement weather, loss, theft or damage, and vendor no-shows.
Wedding Budget Worksheet
