Let's Address Stress and Weddings -- Finding the Right Venue

In my previous posts, I have discussed two of the five elements that I consider the most stressful when planning your wedding -- your budget and selecting your bridesmaids. Today I will cover number three - finding the right venue -- and how to get it booked without stressing.

To find the perfect venue, you must start thinking early; a year out is not too early. This is the first and foremost item on your list of purchases; especially if you are wanting a church AND a separate reception venue. This can get pretty tricky. Always have an alternate date in mind. Try for your first choice, but always have a second, third and even fourth in mind if you have your heart set on one particular place. Getting the dates coordinated may require several phone calls, but persistence and planning will make it happen.

Keep in mind the size of your guest list, whether you want to have a sit-down meal or buffet, if you want a dance floor and band or dj. You and your guests must be able to move around freely, and you want to be able to speak to everyone who has come.

Also, remember logistics: keep the reception venue as close as possible to the ceremony location. If traveling from ceremony to reception is a long distance, you may lost some of your guests in the process. If your budget allows, providing transportation is one solution.

Do your research or contact someone who is well informed about the venues in your area and how each one will fit into your plans. A wedding planner is always the best source; as he/she will provide you with unbiased information and consider all your needs. Once you have your list of priorities regarding your venue in place, you'll find that the list is pretty limited. Timing is everything.

We are well on our way to making your wedding planning as stress free as possible. My next post will cover the fourth stressful element -- finding your perfect dress.

Let's Address Stress and Weddings - Selecting Your Bridesmaids

My first installment in this series about stress and your wedding was directed toward your budget and how to prevent the related stress. My guess is another element of your wedding planning that is causing some anxiety is selecting your attendants. There are several things you can consider as you go through this process.

If you are just out of college, you probably have two dozen or more pledge sisters, a big sister, a little sister, plus any high school friends you have stayed in touch with, plus cousins and in-laws. You know that you don't have to pay for those dressses or shoes, but keep in mind that bridesmaids' bouquets can take up a big chunk of your flower budget. Granted, the cost of a boutonniere is pretty insignificant, but if your fiance has selected 10 or 12 groomsmen, at $15-$25 a pop, they can grab a strong hold on that budget also. Gifts for all these attendants must also be included in the budget, plus accommodations if they have to travel. So be budget savvy when selecting your attendants.

Just remember, most of those sorority sisters and in-laws will be at your wedding anyway; you'll be spending the whole evening with them. If you have a problem narrowing down the list, talk to each one you are considering individually. Be honest and ask her, friend to friend, how she feels about being an attendant without putting any pressure on her. It could put a strain on her budget to do it, even though she sincerely wants to be on your list. If you are sincere and understanding in your approach, you will be assured of an honest answer.

Remember, it still goes back to your budget -- your number one stressor.

Let's Address Stress and Weddings

If you are a bride (or the mother of a bride) in the process of planning your wedding, stressful situations have probably become normal occurrences for you. Because of my experience planning and coordinating weddings and events, I will venture to say that I can probably name four of the top five elements that are causing stress as your wedding day gets closer.

In the next few blog posts, I am going to cover these top five stressors and ways to eliminate, or at least reduce the stress involved with each one. The first of these top five is BUDGET.

I would venture to say that you have already encountered the stress related to your budget. Don't feel that this is a unique problem. Very rare is the bride who has an unlimited budget. Whether your budget is $5,000 or $50,000, believe me, you will not have any money left over after all is said and done. The best way to avoid stressing over your budget is to stay within it.

The first thing you should do is determine what that budget is. One way to do this is to make a list; a list that is divided into three categories of elements that you have in mind for your wedding: the "must haves," the want-to-haves," and finally the "nice-to-haves." * These will vary, depending upon the type of wedding you are planning.

Example: must haves - church and/or reception venue, minister, bride's attire and groom's attire, flowers, photographer, videographer, caterer, invitations, etc. Want-to-haves (these are negotiable): champagne, beer, wine, dance band or dj, custom linens, etc. Nice-to-haves: antique get-away car, those precious Monolo Blanik's, a second dress for the reception, guest favors, etc.

Put a value on each item in each category. You can get information from many of the internet wedding sites, Perfect Wedding Guide, Get Married, etc., as to what to expect to pay for these elements. Pretty soon you will have an overall budget range to work with.

Be sure and follow my posts in the coming days to see what I think the number two stressor is when planning your wedding.

* Thanks to Rick Brewer, consultant to wedding industry professionals, for providing information for parts of this post.

Weddings On The Go

Weddings On The Go

Your week is full of work, perhaps traveling, client meetings or just putting in those extra hours. You and your fiance are able to find only a few hours here and there to be together. How in the world will you find the time to plan that wedding you've been talking about?

If these thoughts are creating some anxiety and stress when you try to pin down a date or talk about a venue for your wedding, I have the stress-relieving solution for you. A group of creative vendors in town have come up with a solution called "Weddings On The Go." We can put everything at your fingertips and take care of all the arrangements for you.

We sit down with you, listen to the descriptions of your vision for your wedding, go over all the magazine photos you have collected to get an idea of what you are expecting, and come up with the package that best fits your needs. You can be involved as much or as little as you like. Just remember that every vendor we have on board is licensed and experienced in his or her profession. You will get as much as, if not more than, you would get if you hurriedly tried to put it together yourself. You will be pleasantly surprised at how much you will get and stay within your budget. LET THE PROFESSIONALS DO IT FOR YOU.

We offer one-stop, hassle-free wedding planning where you can decide the look you want and how much you want to spend, then leave the rest to us. Our goal with this venture is to offer the bride and groom on a budget, with little time to find the best deals, a way to get the most for their money.

For details, go to www.yourpbj.com and click "weddings." You will find all the information at the end of the wedding page.