Wedding Lists – Use Checklists for Your Beach Wedding

Welcome to our video series of the top 20 questions brides ask when planning their wedding.  Juliet may have said:  “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose   By any other name would smell as sweet.”.  Well, I say:  “What’s in a list?  That which we call a list, by any other name would be as useful.”

Find the transcript of this video below:

Ah, you can tell we are getting to the end of our video series.  I’m getting whimsical and quoting Shakespeare!  Well, you may have figured out that today’s video is about LISTS.

Lists need to become your best friend during the wedding planning process.  Start with  getting a bunch of wedding planning checklists.  Take what YOU need from them, and make YOUR list.  You don’t need to do everything on every list.  For example, if you are having an informal wedding in your backyard, you don’t need to book a church—but you might need to book a tent in case it rains.  So takes those lists, and make it YOURS.

Then, you need to find lists that state what the responsibilities are for the bride, groom, MOH, bridesmaids, Bestman, Groomsmen, and parents of the bride and groom.  There are traditional responsibilities for all these people.  They need to know what they are if they are going to do them.  It will make YOUR life a lot easier because they are doing their stuff.  Feel free to add stuff from your list onto their list.  That is what the bridal party is for—to help the bride and the groom with their wedding.

Then, there are the lists that state who traditionally pays for what at the wedding.  You can then approach the parents of the bride and groom, and ask them, based on that list, what they might be willing to pay for.  If you gave them a copy of the list, it will break the ice, and give them a basis from which to start from.  They might just give you a set amount of money, or offer to pay for something from the list.  Whatever you get—be thankful.  Weddings cost a lot of money and everything helps.  It is rare these days that the old traditional list of who pays for what is strictly followed, but it is a nice place to start.

In our online wedding planning membership site, we have extensive lists, which we call SmartBride Action Plans.  Interviewing a caterer?  We have a list of questions to ask.  Need to tell your bridal party what to do?  We have a list for that.  In fact, every module on our membership site consists of an informative, fun video, and a SmartBride Action Plan to get it done.  Information and a to-do list.  No reading and researching.  It’s right there for you.  If you have a question, no problem!  Talk to one of our coaches and get your answers that day.

Wedding planning does not need to be difficult or stressful.  You just need the right tools—information to make smart decisions, and checklists to make sure it is done.

Good luck and congratulations on your upcoming wedding.

Beach Weddings on a Budget – Planning Series

Welcome to our video series of the top 20 questions brides ask when planning their wedding.  One of the questions I regularly get is “How do I have a wedding on a limited budget?”

Read along with the text published below:

The Wedding Planners Institute of Canada states that in 2009, the average cost of a urban wedding is $25,000 and a rural wedding is $20,000.   How much you spend depends upon many things, but the biggest expense is your wedding reception.  The number of people you are inviting to the wedding will have a big impact on that figure.  The average cost of a wedding reception —that includes food, alcohol, tips, rentals, and miscellaneous fees—is approximately $50 per person.  Large cities and upscale locations may cost more, and rural locations will cost less, but $50 per person is the average reception cost.

SLIDE:  Where does your money go?  Let’s take a look.  A full 37% goes to your reception & catering.  A $10,000 budget means that $3,700 goes towards your reception, which is approximately 75 pp attending your wedding.  A $15,000 budget means that $5,550 goes towards your reception and catering which means approximately 110 guests, family and bridal party members.  A $20,000 budget means that $7,400 goes towards your reception which means approximately 150 guests.

24% of your budget goes towards wedding rings; 8%  is for Miscellaneous (things like bridal party gifts, gifts for parents, gift for spouse, etc.); another 8%  for Photography,  7%  goes to Gown & Tuxedo, 4% to Videography  4%  to Flowers, 3% for Music, 2%  for Invitations, and 1%  each for Cake, Limousine, Ceremony costs.

The number one way to save money on your wedding is to educate yourself on all your options.  There are always less expensive ways to do everything, so you need the guidance of someone who knows.  You might find these less expensive ways through some research on the internet, or through the many wedding books available on the market, or you can use an online bridal coach to advise you of all your options.

At The Bridal Coach DOT Ca, our membership site has lots of great video interviews with wedding vendors who not only inform you of the things you should know when looking at their services, but they also talk about the many ways for you to cut costs.  In addition, we arrange for periodic discounts for our members when they purchase their wedding supplies.

There are many ways to save money—from choosing alternative services to choosing different ways to celebrate your wedding with your family and friends.  All you need to do is research your options or find someone who has already done the research to guide you through the wedding planning process.  The choice is yours.

Good luck, and congratulations on your upcoming wedding.

Wedding Lists, Checklist and Actionlist

Juliet may have said: “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet.”. Well, I say: “What’s in a list? That which we call a list, by any other name would be as useful.”

Ah, you can tell we are getting to the end of our video series. I’m getting whimsical and quoting Shakespeare! Well, you may have figured out that today’s video is about LISTS.

Lists need to become your best friend during the wedding planning process. Start with getting a bunch of wedding planning checklists. Take what YOU need from them, and make YOUR list. You don’t need to do everything on every list. For example, if you are having an informal wedding in your backyard, you don’t need to book a church—but you might need to book a tent in case it rains. So takes those lists, and make it YOURS.