Get the Most out of Your Wedding Tradeshow Experience!

By Stephanie Miller

1.WEAR COMFORTABLE SHOES

From boutique bridal shows to large wedding convention expos, you will be on your feet for most of the time and generally covering a lot of ground, so wear comfortable shoes to keep your feet happy.

2.TAKE A BACKPACK FOR ALL FLYERS AND INFORMATION YOU GET FROM THE VENDERS.  

A backpack will much easier than any other bag because it will not break and it will not get in way and it will be lighter than any other bag.

3.CREATE A WEDDING EMAIL ADDRESS
A wedding email address will help you keep all your wedding planning information together in one account.

4.   GROOMS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND
Most of these names contain the word “bride” and none say “Groom.”  For that reason, many grooms feel that it is not an event for them, but indeed it is.  The groom can help the bride make decisions about wedding services such as invitations and flowers as well as check out "manly" wedding services such as tuxedos, DJs, honeymoon destinations and photography.

5. BRING LABELS
Most exhibiting companies have enter to win contests or show specials at their booths.  By having pre-printed labels with your name, wedding date and contact info you can enter quickly.  Printed labels also help you to provide your information to companies that you are interested in.

 6.   TAKE NOTES AND PICTURES
Bridal shows can be overwhelming, especially when you are just starting out.  You want to remember who you spoke with and whose services impressed you even if you are not ready to book right away.  Most exhibitors are happy for you to take photos of their service, but it is always nice to ask. Remember, if your notes or photos aren't clear, you can always follow up with the bridal show company to ask about their exhibitors.  The more information you have, the easier it is to put you in contact with that company

  7.  ENTER TO WIN!
Wedding professionals provide real prizes which are generally geared around weddings (perfect for you) so definitely enter to win!  At bridal shows the saying is "few will enter, many will win!"
  
8. KEEP AN OPEN MIND
Have a budget in mind as well as the types of services that you are looking for.  Be prepared, however, to see ideas, services and wedding day inspirations that you had not thought of (the wedding industry is an ever-creative bunch always coming up with something exciting and new).  Take the time to check out these services to see if they would be something to incorporate in your special day.

9.FOLLOW UP WITH COMPANIES YOU LIKE
Wedding professionals at bridal shows are actively out there exhibiting their service and style to personally meet brides and ultimately book weddings.  They are confident in their customer service and product so rather than just relying on a website or stylized photos, they are there to speak with brides in person. They want to help you achieve your dream wedding by providing a quality service.  Because of this, their calendars book up quickly, so if you speak with someone that you are interested in, be sure to follow up with them after the show to schedule an appointment for more information or to secure your date.

10.  CHECK THE EVENT YOU WANT TO ATTEND
Not all bridal shows are created equal so take the time to research where the show is being held Check out the bridal show producer's website, videos and social networking sites to see photos from past events. Feel free to email or call the company producing the show to ask questions.  Experienced bridal show producers value the brides attending their events, and are happy to speak with you.

Wedding Dance Tip: Smile and the World Smiles With You

by Deborah Joy Block, Certified Event Planner and Social Protocol Consultant

The idea of performing publicly can be intimidating. Whether or not you have taken the time to take dance lessons, your first dance is the first thing you will do as a couple. The First Dance is the primary intimate moment during the reception. Try not to think about the fact that everyone is watching you. Surrender to wedded bliss as you gaze lovingly at one another, smile and think about the honeymoon!

Sometimes, when we are on display we may feel nervous or judged, therefore, pretend the two of you are alone and whisper sweet nothings, kiss or say you love each other. Not only will you enjoy the dance more, but you will also transport your guests into a lulled reverie as they watch a fairytale unfold! After the initial adrenaline rush and nerves wear off, you will probably be so blissfully happy during your wedding dance that you might even be giggling or laughing. The downside to laughing is that our natural tendency is to hunch our shoulders and bend our back forward. To maintain a firm frame and keep your toes safe keep your chin up when laughing. When laughing the bride should remember to keep her shoulder blades squeezed together and press outward away from her partner. The groom must keep his shoulders rolled back and down in their sockets.

Capture the Moment You'll Treasure Forever: Wedding Photography

By Deborah Block, Certified Event Planner and Social Protocol Consultant

Weddings are one of the most significant moments in a person’s life – it’s a time when two people decide to make a commitment or change into to next phase of life with one another. You’ll want to capture the moment that you’ll treasure and in the years to come as you and your significant other spend the rest or your lives together.

Here are our top tricks and tips of the trade to keep in mind when working your wedding photographer for fantastic memories to be remembered!

• Posture—you’d be surprised how the smallest things make a huge difference in big picture and in this case, your wedding photos. Here are some things to keep in mind.
• Always keep your head up and slightly outward (looking down your nose)
• Turn your body 45 degrees from the camera
• Keep your back straight and shoulders rolled back into your sockets
• Chest elevated
• Stomach tucked in
• Weight over your toes
• Knees soft
• Don’t let the weather get you down! There is just so much one can control in a wedding, but weather isn’t one of them. Yet never fear, your special day may not be sunshine and butterflies but gray or misty days allow for color to pop out in photos! They add a dramatic look for fantastic photos.
• Be sure to know and meet your photographer – after all, he or she will be with you the whole time during the special day and you’ll want to know that he or she understands what kind of pictures you want.
• The shooting list – be sure to have an idea of what kind of images you want taken during the celebration and go through it with your photographer. It would be best to go to the locations of where pictures will be taken so that the photographer can have an idea of the best angles and such.
• The best photos are usually unplanned! Relax, show your emotions and have a great time!

Multicultural Wedding Traditions

Written by Diamond Jones
Edited by Deborah Joy Block

This article is about wedding cultures and traditions in the United States that originate from 5 different religions: Judaism,  Catholicism, Hinduism, Islam and Budhism.

 Judaism was born in the Middle East. Originally there was just Orthodox but recently Reconstructionist, Reform, Conservative and Modern Orthodox evolved. Today, I will be talking about Orthodox Judaism. A bride has a mikvah which is known as a traditional bath, five days before her wedding. An important rule for the bride and groom, is to fast on their wedding day. However they are not allowed to socialize before their wedding day. The ketubah is a wedding contract that is signed by the groom, rabbi (the ordained teacher of Judaism), and the male attendants.

Then, the bride is escorted into the ceremony by her parents, and while the bride waits under the chuppah (a beautifully decorated canopy), the groom arrives at the chuppah. Once the groom arrives at the chuppah he walks around his bride seven times, and immediately stands to his right side. The ceremony proceeds, with the rabbi beginning the invocation, blessing a glass of wine, and the couple drinking from the glass of wine. However, the groom lifts the bride’s veil and then the rings are exchanged. The bride’s ring band is plain gold without engravings.

 Her ring symbolizes eternal, unchanging love and is usually placed on her right index finger. The bride usually uses her right index finger to read the Torah (the full Jewish Bible or all the Jewish teachings). Furthermore, the ketubah is read aloud and the designated guests read the Seven Blessings. The Seven Blessings are “the wedding blessings” that are read aloud, for the couple as a part of the wedding ceremony. At the end of the wedding ceremony, the groom steps on a wine glass, symbolizing the destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem.

Thereafter, the couple is separated from each other in separate rooms to gain privacy, this short period of seclusion, is known as yichud. The reception is celebrated, with men and women dancing separately. While the bride and groom dance, while holding onto the ends of a handkerchief. During the celebration, everybody does a line dance together, known as a Hora. Lastly, the wedding guests lifts the couple up onto two different chairs.

Catholic weddings are full of spirituality and rich symbolism and rituals. The weddings usually start with the first ritual which is Introductory Rites (opening prayers by the priests, announcing the couple and asking for God’s blessings among the couple). Then, the second ritual is Liturgy of the Word (when the family members read Biblical passages that are usually selected by the couple and pre-approved by the priest. After that, a short-sermon is recited about marriage by the priest.

The third ritual is the Rite of Marriage where the entire congregation stands as the couple takes their vows, so they may declare their commitment to each other. The fourth ritual is the Exchange of Rings (the best man gives the bride’s ring to the priest and the maid of honor gives the groom’s ring to the priest) and the rings are both blessed by the priest and handed over to the bride and groom to place on each other finger. The fifth ritual is the Mass (the priest asks for the “sign of peace” which means everybody must shake hands with whomever they are standing beside). The Mass is followed by a Holy Communion and ends with a prayer and nuptial blessing from the priest to ask for strength and protection for the couple. However, if there is no Mass included in the ceremony, then the “sign of peace” and the Holy Communion will not be performed. The last ritual is the Offertory (the placing of flowers on the shrine of the Blessed Virgin Mary by the bride) during the song “Ave Maria” at the end of the wedding ceremony.

Hindu traditional weddings consist of the Milai, (bringing the in-laws together), the Vivaha (the actual wedding ceremony), and the tamo (gold charm on a necklace gift for the bride). The bride’s hands and feet are painted with decorations in henna before the wedding. The Indian goddess Lakshmi is what the bride is personified as and the bride wears her best clothes and most attractive jewelry. Lakshmi is a goddess of wealth and prosperity, who is usually worshipped by her followers. Most Indian brides wear necklaces, bangles, anklets, toe-rings, nose-rings, and rings. Grooms wear a traditional Veshit, which is a three-piece suit and the bride wears a Sari.

Muslim weddingsinvolve three pre-wedding rituals, one of the rituals is the Salatul Ishtikara. The Salatul Ishtikara is an arranged marriage where the parents seek out the couple and make sure that they are matched within the same religious sect and communities. Once the couples have been chosen as compatible, the Imam (the worship leader) is chosen to perform a special prayer, so he may receive Allah’s permission to wed the couple and to ask Allah to bless the couple. After the prayer, the marriage is announced to the community.

After the Salatul Ishtikara, the Imam Zamin ritual is performed. This ritual signifies the formal acceptance of the bride into the groom’s family. The groom’s mother visits the bride’s home with a bag of gifts and sweets. She also carries a gold or silver coin, which is wrapped in a scarf that she ties around her future daughter-in-law’s wrists.

The last ritual is the Mangni, which is the engagement ceremony that is between the bride, groom, and their families. However, friends and relatives of the bride and groom gather together one day to witness the exchanging of the rings, of the bride and groom. During this ritual, the families shower each other with clothes, fruits, etc. This ceremony officially confirms the intention of marriage between the families. The bride and groom are now considered engaged in the community they are in.

Muslim wedding day rituals are performed, the first ritual is the Baraat. The bride’s family sends out a beautifully decorated car to bring the groom. They escort him on the way to the wedding venue. Then, the relatives and wedding party follows the car while the entire wedding party go to the wedding venue.

The wedding attire consists of the groom wearing churidaar pajamas combined with Sherwanis, with sandals. The color black is the only color restriction which represents the color of mourning to the Muslims. The grooms usually wear jewelry with the attire, these jewelries are gold neck chains, rings, and bracelets. Sometimes the groom wears a tuxedo with formal shoes to the wedding.

The bride’s wedding attire consists of the bride having only her face and hands visible to the public, while being fully covered. Salwar Kaweez, saree and Sharara are all popular choices for the bride’s attire. Green is the most popular color for the Muslim brides to wear. Necklaces, earrings, and bangles, are the most common jewelry worn by the brides. The bride must wear a nose ring on her right nostril, and it must be replaced with a nose pin after her wedding. A Tasa is usually attached to the left side of the bride’s hair for the wedding.

The second ritual is the Welcome, when the groom is met at the entrance when he arrives at the wedding venue by the bride’s family. He is offered a drink of sweet Sherbet, by his brother-in-law, while being welcomed into the venue. The relatives of the groom, receives a grand welcome also, while being sprayed with rose-water as they enter the venue.

The third ritual is the Nikah, which is the official wedding ceremony that is performed by a Maulvi (religious priest). In the ceremony, the men and women are seated in separate groups. The bride is presented by the groom’s family with Mehr, which is a certain amount of cash to receive permission to marry the bride. The Maulvi starts the Nikah proceeding by reciting a prayer. Then he asks the bride, permission to marry the groom by accepting the Mehr.

The Nikahnama (marriage contract) is signed, it outlines the duties and rites of the couple. The witnesses of the signing of the Nikahnama must include two observers from the bride and groom side of the family. This is followed by, the recital of the Khutba (religious discourse). Then, the Maulvi recites paragraphs from the Holy Quran, which are similar to the marriage vows. These vows, doesn’t have to be recited by the couple, but after the recital of the vows, duruds is performed, where the elderly people in the family, shower their blessings on the couple.

After the wedding, the Walimah (grand reception party) is held, where the bride and groom are held on a throne, where they meet and greet both families. It includes a grand feast with delicacies like Biryani, Meat Korma, etc. On the last day of the wedding, the newlywed couple visits the bride’s parents home, where the couple are treated with a nice lunch and given gifts, this is called a Chauthi In Buddhist weddings, the ceremonies are usually simple. 

A Buddhist wedding is more of a social event than a religious ceremony because marriage is not considered sacred in Buddhism. They also don’t have any rituals involved in them and the ceremonies are meant to signify the the companionship between the couple. The Buddhist marriages are based on spiritual faith and belief and it doesn’t focus on religion. At the weddings, the couples vow to keep their relationship spiritually sound and harmonious.

The couples do not have a particular religion or rules to follow for their wedding. A tradition that some Buddhist include in their wedding is to visit a lama (Buddhist priest) to choose if the couple is a match for each other to get married. The wedding ceremony, includes two parts, a Buddhist ceremony and a non-Buddhist ceremony. Non-Buddhist ceremonies consists of a feast or a gift exchange between the families. Prayers are also offered between the gods and monks of the Buddhist beliefs. This is followed by the couples taking a vow of faithfulness for each other and then the couple chooses the scriptures they will like to read and traditions that they will like to include in their ceremony.

During, one tradition, the bride and groom each walks down the aisle with a o juju (strand of 21 beads).. The o juju represents Buddha, the couple and their families. One night before the wedding, a traditional Buddhist wedding ceremony is held, in which the newlyweds pay their respect and tribute to the bride’s ancestors. Only nine monks are invited to the ceremony while the newlywed couple sits in front of the altar with a thread wrapped around their heads.

The monks usually unroll the thread into their hands, and the first monk sits beside a bowl of water with a candle lit inside of the bowl. The bowl of water, will be used as holy water for the next day for the wedding guests. Another monk, will hold a fan in one hand while holding a microphone in the other hand. The entire village may arrive outside at the ceremony to listen to the prayers that are being said in honor of the couple. After the prayers are said, the couple heads back inside of the temple to recite their vows.

In the morning, on the wedding day, the monks arrive at the temple to recite prayers and throw the holy water on the wedding guests. The couple arrives with a string circled around their head again and the monks have nine trays with dishes placed on them, sat immediately in front of them on the table. The couple eats after reciting the prayers. Once the prayers are recited, the newlyweds provide an envelope of money to all the monks, because the monks are forbidden from touching money.

The wedding attire comes with no rules, the bride must choose a gown that doesn’t reveal too much and the groom may wear a suit. The guests must remember to remove their shoes before walking in the shrine room to recite their blessings or prayers. The reception ceremony has plenty of music and dancing involved. The main dish that is served is pork and beef with a side of rice.

Launching Your Own Event Planning Business

by Diamond Jones

Running your own business is very rewarding and it provides anybody with self-motivation. Being your own boss means that you are in control of your own business aspects, and you can control your own way of doing things, with flexible hours. If you are confident and can own up to your own decisions, work independently, have strong decision-making skills, have the time-commitment to see things through from the beginning to the end, can remain focused on setting and achieving goals, can establish networks and business relationships, can work swiftly under pressure and stay focused while still having the passion for your career, you will be very successful in running your own business.

Launching your own business starts with an business plan which includes your business license, business name, location, type of facility required, business credentials, predicted staffing requirements and scope of service. Your business name should identify the types of services that are being offered. The type of facility required doesn’t have to be an office, boutique or studio, it could be as simple as having a room in a house or meeting at a coffee shop. Some planners may even go to the client's house to make the meeting more comfortable and convenient for the client. Your business credentials could be as simple as showing your membership status of a wedding organization that you have joined. Your business license is a fee paid to the local city jurisdiction. Certification is used to confirm that your business is safe with industry practices. Business liability insurance protects you if you are sued. Incorporating or forming an LLC protects you personally in the event you are sued. Your status as a sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC , Corporation, non profit needs legal consideration. The scope of service is determined by how specialized or generalized your services or product are.

It is common for many businesses to have a client care policy and service contract. The service contract summarizes the fee structure, product or services provided, the cancellation policy, the warranty and limitations of liability.  Some wedding and event planners choose to charge clients a flat fee while others charge 10%-25% of the total wedding budget. Either way  all expenses must be fully covered to utilize their services. It is helpful to get a pulse on the competition by knowing how many wedding and event planners are in your city and how many weddings are held in your city per year to provide an estimate of how many brides will be available for your wedding or event business. However, there are countless special events that have no statistics and there are countless opportunities so your challenge is to stand out from the crowd and market yourself effectively and think outside the box.

Some wedding seasons are slower than others due to seasonal changes and the location of the wedding. However, it doesn’t mean stop working, plenty of wedding and event planners use the off-seasons to prepare their business for the busy seasons. Special event tradeshowsl  are  a great way of launching your business, it is beneficial by helping the planners meet potential clients and network with vendors.  At a tradeshow, planners rent a booth and decorate the booth so that it will attract clients, vendors and occasionally the mediaHowever, some bridal shows are more expensive than others. If you attend and participate in a bridal show in a rustic area, it will be more affordable than attending and participating in a bridal show in a large metropolitan area.

When it comes to finding clients, it is great to have a preliminary marketing plan. Whether it’s signing up on social media (Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube, etc.) to market your new business, joining local charity events or creating a portfolio of pictures of your wedding or event. 

Marketing materials  are a must for  launching your own business. These marketing materials include business cards, brochures, envelopes, postcards, a website and more. It is great to have a wedding planning software to stay organized, keep your bridal timelines and to stay  on track of all your  clients. With vendor information stored, the wedding planning software may also be used as a reference for other clients who may also need to use the same vendors. Building a reputation is a way of showing that you are serious about your business, this is done by joining professional local business organizations which can be found by researching online. The quicker you start up your marketing and networking, the faster your business will be ready to launch.

Having insurance is also great when considering starting up a business. A lot of wedding and event planners also have a business plan for management, and planning. Contracts are also used in the wedding and event planning business to ensure the safety of the planner, vendors and clients. Many wedding and event planners are hired because they help the clients save money when it comes to negotiating with vendors. As an entrepreneur your goal is to get well known and inspire people to recommend you.

You also must know how to communicate with others, to successfully sell yourself. While communicating with someone, giving your full attention is critical.  Always remember to make a conversation memorable when trying to convince someone to hire you. As a planner it is best to stand out from your competitors by offeringservices, that others are not offering. You have to offer a service that a bride and groom want and need, based off your knowledge and your imagination.

 It is also important to give your wedding or event packages unique names that stand out, and itemize the services that are provided to your clients. Some wedding and event planners, may also have packages created for clients who already have their wedding planned, but need some guidance, these packages are mainly called “Day Of” services. The package that the wedding and event planner utilize to plan the wedding from start to finish, is known as a “Full Service” package. An emergency kit is also great to have for any special event, The emergency kit includes all items necessary to prepare for unexpected problems. This includes a first aid kit , sewing kit, bottles of water , snacks, pain medications, sunscreen and more. Your clients will be appreciative that you had the forethought to be prepared.  

While in the process of gaining relationships with vendors, it is valuable to first do research, once you finish researching and have a list of chosen vendors, it is important to call your top chosen vendors and decide which vendor is the best for your client and your services. Secondly, it is valuable to foster teamwork, by relaying information from your vendor to the clients. Your relationship with vendors need to be fostered. Thirdly, establishing a mutually beneficial relationship with vendors are useful so they will refer business to you.

Lastly, you want to follow up with your vendors to maintain a good relationship with them, after a wedding or event and show them appreciation for working with you and be sure to thank them and  add them to your preferred vendors list to work with you again in the future.

Being a planner, comes with a lot of responsibilities but it is a rewarding career especially if you are  prepared... Helping others by creating the event of their lifetime makes this career very fulfilling. Now it’s time to fulfill your client’s dreams of their big day! 

Wedding Planning Survival Guide

Wedding Planning Survival Guide

            You have the man and the ring. Life is great…until you realize there is now a ton of planning to do for your big day. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by thinking about every little detail you will have to be on top of. Don’t worry though, here is a list of tips to help avoid the overwhelming stress of planning a wedding.

            Hire a pro: Once you get engaged, you should begin to look for and contact a wedding planner. Beginning your process with a wedding planner can help tremendously with your experience as they are the professional help that you need. Experienced wedding planners can help you find the most valued vendors for your money.  Wedding planners are there for you to help you create your dream wedding. They will be there with you for every step of the planning process to answer any questions you might have. Wedding planners are also very helpful on the actual wedding day as they are there to ensure everything is under control while you remain focused on your part in the ceremony. With a wedding planner to back you up, your job as the bride is a lot less stressful, so book a start-up consultation.

            Communicate with your team: Another thing you should do as part of the beginning process is to meet with the people who will be contributing to the cost of the wedding. Have a time where everyone can sit down and discuss what everyone believes the priorities of the event are. Prioritizing up front from the get-go will give you focus and an idea of where to start in the planning process.

            Stay flexible: While it is important to have a plan, we all know that sometimes things just don’t work out the way we want them to. This is why flexibility is key. This is going to be an important learning and growing experience for you as the bride so being open to alternative ideas and options will help your stress levels should a plan fall through or if your fiancé decides to take a different approach to something about the wedding. Also, being flexible and learning to compromise alongside your fiancé will strengthen your relationship.

            Define your signature style: Most importantly, make sure your wedding reflects who you are! You are unique and special so don’t hesitate to let your personality show in your wedding. Whether it is small touches like baby pictures with the centerpieces or dancing down the aisle, make sure it is something that you want! This will also make your guests remember your wedding because it will showcase your style. Of course, just be sure to run everything past your fiancé.

           Prioritize: While planning your wedding, remember the number one goal: to get married to the love of your life. Make sure you don’t lose sight of the whole reason you’re planning in the first place. Make sure to spend time with the love of your life throughout the whole planning process. All the stress can easily create tension and strain on your communication with your partner. Remember that you are there for each other! You are marrying the love of your life, don’t forget that and you’ll be sure to have the perfect wedding!

Wedding Planning on a tight budget: Planning a $5000 wedding!

Making a Dream a Reality: Planning a $5000 wedding.

By: Samantha Stichberry

            A wedding is well-known as one of the most expensive occasions in a couple’s life. I will be planning a wedding for 100 people, the goal being to keep it under $5,000. Tips on how to cut costs while still having a magical day will also be included, so, read on!

Because we are operating on a budget, there will be some things that we will not be able to have at this wedding. The most important rule about doing an inexpensive wedding is knowing your must haves. Some of the must-haves for the wedding I’ll be creating today will be:

-        A photographer

-        A DJ

-        Place cards

-        Gifts for the wedding party and parents

Venue: $900

            Tips:

-        Try to book your ceremony and reception at the same place. Quite often you can get a deal for booking both in the same area.

-        Keep the wedding small. Inviting only a few people allows you to look at smaller and cheaper wedding venues.

-        If you book at a hotel, ask for a lowered price in exchange for filling up some of the rooms.

-        If you’re fine with not having your wedding in a church, look for places that don’t normally host weddings.

-         Such as: a zoo, parks, stables, movie theatres, a neighbor’s barn or backyard, an ice skating or roller rink, a bowling alley, a car/history/art museum, or anything else your town has to offer.

-        If you take the time to apply for a permit, you can have a free reception at a national park. Beautiful scenery for free? What can beat that!

-        When planning your wedding, try to avoid prime wedding times, such as, Saturday evening. Opt for an afternoon wedding or a Sunday brunch wedding.

For our fictional wedding, we are going to budget $900 for an afternoon ceremony and reception venue.

Stationary: $75

-        Order your own stationary from Amazon or Staples and design and print them at home.

-        Cut costs by only sending out invitations. RSVP cards, save the dates, information cards, and paper menus add up quickly and are often unnecessary.

-        Don’t think you have the skill or time to make them yourself? Pay someone else to do it. Fivver is a freelance services marketplace where you could easily find someone else to design your invitations for as low as $5.

            Staples sells stacks of 8 1/2" x 11" Ivory 250/Pack card stock for $15. I can use the paper for invitations and place cards. By designing and printing everything at home, I save a lot of money. I don’t think I will need to cut my invitations but in case my design changes, my local Staples gave me an estimate of $10 to get them all cut. It costs $50 for the stamps to get them mailed out. Using a wedding website for RSVPs will cut down on extra costs. Final total is $75 for stationary.

Attire: $725

-        Dress: Ebay, Etsy, and large stores like Macy’s have great options for cheap prices. Try to stay away from things labeled “wedding,” because it often comes with a heftier price tag. Renting your dress is also a great way to go. If you want to do some good while getting a bargain, Brides Against Breast Cancer offers massive discounts on beautiful dresses. Part of the profits from the dresses goes towards breast cancer research. Finally, buying off the rack can get you great discounts and a dress immediately.

-        Accessories can add up quickly. Some money saving options are:

o    Use flowers to decorate your hair instead of a veil

o   Try to find a used veil or check Etsy.

o   Jewelry can be borrowed or found in thrift shops, on craigslist, and on Ebay.

-        If your fiancé doesn’t have a tuxedo or a suit already, renting is a popular option that saves money.

-        If you don’t already have your rings, consider online shopping. Etsy has beautiful, handmade options that have unique deigns for cheap prices. Opting for a gemstone instead of a diamond can save you big bucks too. Again, staying away from the word “wedding” will save you even more money.

-        Have your bridesmaids, groomsmen, and children who are in the wedding, pay for their own clothing. Pick easy colors to find and let them get something they will appreciate being able to wear after the wedding is over.

I found a dress through Brides Against Breast Cancer for $300, accessories for $100, rented a suit for $175, and found two unique wedding bands on Etsy for $150. All of this leads to a total of $725.

Food and Drink: $1,700

-        Picking an afternoon or brunch wedding with reduce food costs because you can pick cheaper options.

-        Homemade! Ask you friends and family to help cook things in the week before the wedding. Freeze as much as you can beforehand and thaw it out the night before.

-        Skip the cake. Seriously. If you want a big showstopper to put on display, build one out of cardboard (except the layer you have to cut) and decorate it with frosting and flowers or whatever you want. When the time comes, take the “cake” away and cut and serve a sheet cake from the back. It’s much cheaper and people won’t even notice the difference.

-        Try other desserts instead: donuts, cookies, brownies, pies. There are hundreds of other dessert options that are just as tasty and wont break the bank.

-        Get creative with cheap foods. Popcorn, bulk candy, meat and cheese trays, and cotton candy are some options.

-        Make-it-yourself-stations are fun and often cheaper than traditional options. Tacos, potato, salad, and ice cream bars have all had great success.

-        People tend to drink less at day weddings, but if you choose to have alcohol, choose a cash bar or buy alcohol from places that allow you to return unopened bottles such as Sam’s Club or Costco.

My afternoon wedding for 100 people will include a potato and salad bar, finger foods, meat and cheese trays, fruit trays, multiple dips, and dessert buffet that we make ourselves. Champagne is the only alcohol we would serve; bought at Sam’s Club for $100. Servers will be hired to maintain everything and keep our friends from to do anything during the wedding. All of this totals out to $1,500 with a $200 tip bonus for the servers.

Music: $300

-        Local colleges are an amazing place for cheap bands and DJ’s.

-        If you don’t want to bother trying to find a band or a DJ, just create a few CD mixes or a Spotify playlist (Ad-free for $9.99/per month) and have a friend man the music booth for the special dances, then just start up the play list and don’t worry about it.

For my wedding I hired a DJ from a local college who brought his own equipment for $300.

Decorations: $700

-        Skip the florist and buy your flowers wholesale in bulk. Have a flower arranging party to get everything put together. Groupon is a great way to find floral arranging classes or a discounted florist if you don’t feel confident in your abilities. Also, find out if purchasing the flowers yourself can get you a cheaper price with a florist.

-        Look for your table linens online and in thrift stores. Buy in bulk if need be and remember that curtains can double as table runners. Look for other brides who are trying to sell their wedding linens. Tradesy.com has tons of brides trying to sell off their old wedding things.

-        For tables and chairs look to your local churches and community centers to borrow or get a reduced rental price. Estate sales and thrift stores are also a great way to get cheap and interesting seating.  

-        For dishware, ask around. Some people might have extra dishes they don’t want anymore. Thrift shopping for dishes is also an awesome way to save money and you get an interesting, eclectic look to your reception.

-        Be creative for signage. Go on Craigslist and look for free wood or other abandoned items that could work. Homemade chalk board paint can help you get cheap chalk boards for drink and food menus, seating charts, and welcome signs.

-        Do not underestimate the dollar store! Ribbon, burlap, tea lights, vases, and so much more can be found there for affordable prices.

-        DIY is your best friend.

For my wedding I need 10 tables, 100 chairs, 10 table decorations, three bouquets, three boutonnieres, 100 plates with cutlery, four signs, aisle decorations, and an arch. In the end, I ended up with $700 in costs. Here is the break down:

-        Tables: Borrowed/rented from local churches: $50.

-        Chairs: Borrowed from local church, estate sales, and thrift store finds: $50.

-        Decorations: vases and jars from thrift store and dollar store: $30. Table linens: $100. Candles, ribbon, and colored pebbles bought from the dollar store for centerpieces: $50.

-        Flowers for bouquets, boutonnieres, and aisle and reception decorations: Bought in bulk from Potomac Floral for $200. Floral arranging class for two people with a Groupon: $40.

-        Arch rental: $30.

-        Cutlery and plates: borrowed from friends and bought at thrift stores and estate sales: $130.

-        Signage: made out of abandoned wood found on Craigslist and homemade chalkboard paint for a total of $20.

Photography and Videography: $150

-        Again, local colleges are amazing for this! Photography and art majors are often looking for experience and more pictures to put in their portfolio, so they will do an event for a discounted price.

-        Try Groupon again for more good deals.

-        Ask friends and family if they know anyone. A lot of people will give you a discount because a friend referred you.

-        Try not to keep the photographer at the wedding all day.

-        Make sure to meet the photographer before the wedding to see if their style is something that you want for your pictures. A good way to find this out is by looking at their pictures or by booking them for an engagement shoot to test run.

Rehearsal Dinner: $200

-        Keep it small.

-        Homemade food reduces costs tremendously.

-        Doing it at someone’s house eliminates having to rent a venue

Spaghetti and Meatballs with sides, done at a groomsmen’s house averages out at $10 per person allows us to invite 20 guests; which includes our wedding party and some family.

            Gifts: $150

-        The dollar store and the internet will be your friends again. You can find cheap packaging at both, but the internet is the perfect place to buy the gifts. Etsy, again, has lots of unique and decently priced options.

-        Put your heart into these. Seriously. They are meant to be beautiful gifts that tell you wedding party and family how important they are to you. Handmade and handwritten can really show that off.

Gifts for both sets of parents and the bridal party totaled out to $150. Bridesmaids got bracelets and DIY’d spa kits for $15 each. Groomsmen got vintage shaving kits for $15 each. Both mothers received photo albums with each child’s favorite memories, hand written notes from both the bride and the groom, and spa kit at a cost of $15 each. Each father was gifted a personalized beer stein and handwritten letters for a total of $20 each. Both the flower girl and the ring bearer got personalized cups for $10 each.

All of this totals to $4,900; just under the target budget.  All of the prices I found were from actual websites for actual things, I didn’t just make up all the numbers. Most of the numbers are actually rounded up to account for inflation or shipping. So, as you can see, planning a wedding for $5000 isn’t as hard as it sounds. You just need to know what you want and what isn’t important to you. Research is the best tool. By looking around you can compare prices and options to get the best deals on things. Don’t stress if you can’t find something and remember to ask friends and family for help. Good luck and happy planning!