Using Budgets Wisely

Big budget or little, I'm often asked what makes the biggest impact, in other words, where should a couple spend their money to have the best experience? 

My first suggestion is prioritize (individually, then compare).  Do you know that before my children were born, their father and I each made separate lists of names, then compared?  I'll be darned if the two names we chose weren't on both lists - and they immediately stuck out as the right choices.  Hearing the names "Hayden" and "Sydney" still makes me smile, and I am 100% we made the perfect decisions.

You need to do the same thing with your wedding.  List all of the possible places to spend money, then go to your corners and put them in order from most important to least.

The ones that come up among my clients most often are "Food", "Flowers", "Music" or "Feeling like a princess" - even the grooms (eerie, huh)?  Kidding on the pricess-grooms.

If Food is your number one choice, pick the very, very best caterer and the one that understands you the best.  Find out how they would suggest telling your love story interpreted without words and rather with the selections and presentations of your menu.  This planner will tell you that in Williamsburg you need to call Creative Cuisines, Catering Co. of Williamsburg, Green Leafe Catering or Sweet Madeleines (maybe all four). (Wok photo courtesy Brad Howe Photography and set-up was by Catering Co. of Williamsburg).

If Music hits the top of your list, decide if it's a "great party" you really want, rather than a formal (stuffy) reception.   If it's a great party, then think long and hard before you commit to $7/person favors or those fancy ballroom chairs at $8 - $14 per person, and plan a reception conducive to "dancing until dawn".  Get on the phone to Daley DJs please.  Or, if live bands are your thing, call the ever amazing Rhondels in Virginia Beach for everything from beach music to the BEST live rendition of "I Will Survive" that you'll hear, hands down.  Want radio contemporary?  Stretch the budget a little and call DC-area (but W&M-rooted) Gonzo's Nose - then call me, 'cause I want to be at that party.  LOL.  Intimidated by the big-band budget?  You can't go wrong calling "Me & JO".  Best combo of "pretty" and "talented" and a voice that won't quit that the area can boast. (Rhondels photo courtesy of Brad Howe Photography).

Are flowers or decor your thing?  Then consider carrying your visual them through your entire event, and hiring the right pros to give your guests a little (or a lot) of "eye candy" throughout your day - from their entrance to your ceremony, to a classy and contemporary cocktail hour, straight through your last dance".  Make sure you choose the right personality to turn your "simple and elegant" (yes, we hear it every day - sadly, you didn't make it up!) into a true reflection of you.  The Flower Cupboard, My Favorite Things or Williamsburg Floral are your Williamsburg best bets. (Flowers in photo by The Flower Cupboard).

(Photo - me "coordinating") Finally, do you fall into the "I want to feel like a princess" category?  You can combine elements of all of the above, but what you really need is a professional to listen carefully to those elements that are most important to you, take your "management instructions" as I call them, and suggest to you some of their own, then take really , really good care of you and your loved ones on the wedding day.  An experienced (and I'd underline, bold and color the word "experienced" in neon if I felt it would make a big difference in your decision making process), professional wedding coordinator providing you with the services you need - from "day of" or "wedding day management" as I prefer to call it, straight through to full-service wedding planning, is the way to make sure that no matter what happens on your big day, you are given the best chance at capturing that "royal" feeling.  Yep, you guessed it, I suggest you start at www.weddingsbyshayna.com.  Specifically, start on the testimonials page - find out if the sentiments there describe what you're feeling now, and what you want to feel later!

I never set out to write articles - just little blog entries, but it is more than my pleasure to make the job easier for all of the couples who I hope are reading this.  I sincerely love the "Oh my gosh, YOU'RE Shayna!" reaction that I get once in a long while.  I wish you all Happy Planning!  (You'll find most of the vendors above on the side bar of this blog - if they are not there, contact me and I will put you in touch asap).