Wedding Budget Busters You Don’t Want to Ignore

Planning and sticking to a budget, especially for a wedding, can be very challenging. But did you know there are several factors that can end up busting your wedding budget altogether?  Since we know you work so hard to create and maintain it (for the most part anyway!), Delvaux Wedding & Event Planning decided to give you a few hints to keep your budget in check. Here are wedding budget busters you do not want to ignore. 

The Ever-Growing Guest List
The topic of the wedding guest list can be a very sensitive subject. We’re not saying not to invite everyone you feel should be there for your special day. But often times, parents and/or in-laws have a tendency to gradually add people to the list the closer the time comes to send out the invites. This situation can get even stickier depending on who is paying for some or all of the wedding.
What we suggest: As soon as wedding planning begins, set a limit to the number of guests you want. This will obviously depend on the capacity of the venue you choose, so that’s a good starting point. Both the bride and groom should start making his/her guest list. We also like to suggest going to the parents and future parents-in-law at this point and letting them know that the guest limit you have set, share with them your list and if there is room available, ask them to make their own list. However, you must explain that their list is a tentative list and you will try to accommodate their requests as best as possible.

Extra Wedding-Related Events
Most of the time, a wedding doesn’t just include the ceremony and reception. It is not uncommon to hold a rehearsal dinner the night before. Depending on what is decided ahead of time, this could end up being a cost of about $1,000 to the bride and groom. Often times, this is also where the bride and groom present gifts to their bridal party and parents, so don’t forget to factor in those costs. To wrap up the whole weekend celebration, there may also be a morning after brunch planned to see off the family and friends that will be traveling back home. 
What we suggest: Obviously now that you’ve been warned about these extra events and their costs, you can factor them into your budget. If you’re feeling a little more strapped for cash now, consider a more simple rehearsal dinner. An indoor or outdoor picnic-type dinner would definitely save you some dough. If a brunch just isn’t in your budget, don’t sweat it. We think most people will understand if the new Mr. and Mrs. want to enjoy each other and prepare for their honeymoon!

Vendor Incidentals and Tips
At first glance, these small charges seems like no big deal, but they can really add up fast! A venue may look like they are a more cost-efficient route, but once you really look into their contract and charges you will quickly see that may not be the case. Some items you will want to look out for are charges for: linens, cookie plating, cake cutting, corkage and security. We’ve even seen a place charge extra to have water-filled glasses on the tables as opposed to pitchers.
Often times, the venue itself will automatically charge about an 18% gratuity and you may want to give the servers a little extra if they have done a phenomenal job. To be honest, tipping can be SUPER confusing, so if you’re looking for more guidelines, we found this great article from the one and only Martha Stewart. Delivery charges can also be unforeseen expenses that may not be included in the price you’re given, so be sure to ask your vendors, especially your florist and cake maker. 
What we suggest: To avoid being blindsided by vendor incidentals, be sure to always ask specific questions about what is included in the price they are giving you. (ie: Ask the reception venue, does this price include all table linens and tableware that we will need? Ask your photographer, does this price include any prints?) Knowing all of the information necessary will also ensure that you are comparing apples to apples when making a decision about your vendors. Setting an amount aside for tipping can be a little tricky since it will depend on the quality of service you received. The best thing to do is budget a little on the high side and then distribute accordingly the day of the wedding.

The moral of the story is that you will always want to have a cushion in your budget. Set a percentage of your budget and label it miscellaneous, extra or emergency. This way nothing, will catch you off guard. We hope this article was helpful, but if you want the budget experts at Delvaux Wedding & Event Planning to help you with your next event, contact us today! You can reach us by phone (330) 770-7667, email Kristen@DelvauxWeddings or visit our website http://www.DelvauxWeddings.com.

How to be the Best Bridesmaid Possible

Maybe you are a professional bridesmaid at this point or perhaps you have your first bridesmaid duty coming up. Either way, we could all use some tips on how to help make the bride the happiest she can be leading up to and on her big day.

Photo Credit: Photography by Dave and Chrissy

Only accept if you are financially willing and able to participate.
Even if you haven’t been a bridesmaid before, you know that there are expenses involved. Consider all costs possible: engagement party, shower(s), bachelorette party, dress, makeup, hair, nails, travel and then gifts for all of the events as well. Once you hit a certain age, you can expect to be in at least a few weddings. I suggest that once you have a steady job, you create a special account just for weddings. Each month, setup an automatic transfer from your main account into this account so wedding events never take you by surprise.

Always agree with the bride.
Whether it’s about your bridesmaid dress, how she wants you to wear your hair or the groomsmen she has partnered you with, just go with the flow. I KNOW this is easier said than done. But trust me, all the bride wants is for you to be as excited about every aspect of her wedding as she is, so really make an effort to do so.

Be prompt for everything.
There is nothing worst for a bride than feeling like she can’t rely on the women she chose to stand with her on her wedding day. If the bride or maid of honor has requested a deadline (ie: dress ordering) or payment for something (ie: shower/bachelorette party), do it as soon as possible. The same goes for returned wedding RSVPs–just because you are in the wedding, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be courteous and mail in your response for you and your guest. Being prompt also goes for the wedding events. Being late just adds unnecessary stress for the bride and groom.

Be self-sufficient.
As a wedding planner, one of my jobs is to not let the bride know that anything has gone unexpectedly. As a bridesmaid, that is also part of your role. You pick up your dress and it is totally the wrong size? No need to bother the bride–take it for alterations and make it look the best you can. The makeup artist or hair stylist the bride chose botched your look? Sneak away with another bridesmaid and touch it up the best you can but don’t make a big deal about it to the bride.

I hope these tips have helped you to be the best bridesmaid you can be! Did we forget something? Post your suggestions in the comments below. As always, Delvaux Wedding & Event Planning would love to help you on your big day! Contact us for more information: Kristen@DelvauxWeddings.com or (330) 770-7667.

Welcome Bags for Out of Town Wedding Guests

Everything is in place for your big day–flowers, cake, music, favors, etc. One last detail that could really make the weekend special for your guests are welcome bags to greet them at the hotel check-in desk. Most hotels will gladly keep these bags behind the desk and present them to any guest that is checking in under your block of rooms. (I suggest calling the hotel ahead of time to confirm this before you go through any trouble.) But, what should make up these out of town (or OOT) guest bags? Keep reading to find out!

1. Presentation
Let’s start with the packaging. You could easily find some craft paper gift bags for a reasonable price either online or at a craft store. If you have a certain theme for your wedding, think about stamping the bags with either a shape, object or even you new last name monogram to really personalize it. I was able to find recycled canvas bags for not much more than a gift bag, so I stenciled the bride and groom’s love bird theme in their wedding colors on each bag. Also, just because I’m calling it a “welcome bag”, don’t feel like you have to use a bag at all. There are always other options, like a cute, small hat box or a basket.

2. Snacks
Be sure to include a variety of snacks–both salty and sweet. I also like to include breakfast or granola bars that the guests can easily tote along with them in their purse or car. Don’t forget a couple bottles of water, convenient (and high quality) instant coffee (think Starbucks Via), a couple teabags and gum and/or mints. Whenever possible, include snacks that are native to the geographical area. Maybe there is a local candy shop that makes amazing individually wrapped truffles. Or perhaps there’s a nut shop down the road that has the freshest roasted almonds.

3. Important Information
Although the welcome bags are meant to be fun, they can also be very useful! Don’t forget to include a schedule of events for the weekend including the times and locations of the rehearsal, rehearsal dinner, ceremony and reception (just in case someone forgot the invite back home.) If there will be transportation from the hotel, also include when that will be available and whether it is necessary for the guests to call and request a pickup. 

Of course if you really wanted to go all out with the welcome bags you could. Other fun things to include would be a nice bottle of wine and extra amenities such as sunscreen and aloe vera (for example, for a destination wedding). The options really are endless–it just depends on how many guests you have and your budget. 

Comment below with your suggestions on what to include in welcome bags for out of town wedding guests. And as always, don’t hesitate to contact Delvaux Wedding & Event Planning for all your wedding and event needs!

Easy Fourth of July Bash

With Fourth of July this weekend, I am sure we’ll all be either hosting a picnic or heading over to one. I thought I would include a few ideas that you can do last minute to make the guests feel extra patriotic and festive.

Do you remember those Rocket Pops from childhood? You know the ones that are layered in red, white and blue? What if I told you could recreate those, but in drink form? All it takes are a few ingredients and a little science. When you’re shopping for the ingredients, keep an eye on the colors and sugar content of the pops and juices because it’s the sugar content that will keep the colors separated in your glass. The drink with the highest sugar content needs to go into your glass first, followed by the remaining two drinks in descending order.

Of course there is always the adult version of the drink using Grenadine, Blue Curacao and vodka (or cream). Personally, I would try using a lemon vodka, but you probably could use just about anything here and it would be yummy.

The perfect garnish for either of these drinks is a firework straw. You can either pick these up at a party store or online if you have enough time. OR you can have the kids make them! All you need are straws, some metallic tinsel in the color of your choice and some hot glue. (Just be sure not to melt your straw!) There is a great tutorial for making these that you can find here.

Tables for the Fourth of July celebration can easily be incorporated into the theme by purchasing red, white and blue cutlery, plates and napkins. (Keep your cups clear so you can show off those pretty layered drinks!) Use stars and stripes scrapbooking or wrapping paper to wrap up old coffee cans or containers to hold your supplies and condiments. Red, white or blue bandanas washed several times are a great way to incorporate a rustic feel to your get-together. Simple vases or jars with floating star candles are another easy, great idea.

The main thing to keep in mind is to look around at what you already have. You may have most of what you need!

Stressing out about your next event? Don’t! For personalized ideas and more, contact Delvaux Wedding & Event Planning.

Retro 1969 Surprise Wedding Anniversary Party

This past weekend, my siblings and I threw a surprise 45th wedding anniversary for our parents. And since they were married in 1969, we just had to go with a retro theme. The invitations were a play on the original Woodstock poster and guests were asked to dress in 1969 attire. Somehow, we are able to keep everything a surprise and our parents were truly shocked. (Our dad thought he walked into someone else’s party and almost turned around and left!) Since our parents never had an actual wedding, we wanted to give them everything they missed out on–the food, the music (first dance included), the cake and of course, the fun. We took a lot of family photos, but here are some of my favorite detail shots from the evening.

This banner was something we put together last-minute. It was a little time-consuming, but super easy and inexpensive. The brown fringe is actually just a disposable tablecloth folded in quarters. Then we took scissors to it leaving about an inch and a half border at the top. Cute, right?

The centerpieces were made up of an eclectic mix of glass jars and bottles from Pat Catans. We picked these up anywhere from $1-$3/piece. My hubby was also sweet and patient enough to do some work ahead of time to make setup the day of much easier. Since the mason jars had wider mouths, they were more difficult to arrange flowers in without using a couple dozen flowers in each…unless you put a little piece of 1/2″ galvanized steel hardware cloth inside each one. It’s an instant grid so that your flowers stand upright! We also included framed Bible verses that focus on peace and love. Everything sat on a piece of suede fabric we fringed and picked up on clearance for less than $7 for several yards.

Little Miss Jess did an AMAZING job on the cake. Not only did she bring our creative vision to life, we were told the white and banana cake were the best our guests ever had!

We also ordered a wedding cake cutting set and had it engraved to say, “Jim and Gloria, Celebrating 45 Years”. Our parents really enjoyed cutting their cake and tasting it together. So sweet!

Our cousin, Brian, and my wonderful hubby, Chris, enjoying the party. Don’t they look great?

Here is an aerial view of the sweetheart table just for our parents. Since everything was a surprise for them, we took it upon ourselves to do a little shopping so they could fit in with the theme after a quick wardrobe change.

Each guest received either a nude shade of lipstick or a stick-on mustache…both must-have accessories for our 1969 party.

I know my niece, Lena, really enjoyed the lipstick favors…a girl after my own heart! Doesn’t she make such a cute flower child?

Even the Miller Lite beer cans were throwback edition!

And finally a shot of our parents with all five of their children. We’re so blessed!

Well, the party was a huge success! And both A La Cart Catering and Little Miss Jess did an AMAZING job! It was so nice to spend time with the entire family and I know they are memories we will treasure forever. I hope you enjoyed reading all about it. Contact Delvaux Wedding & Event Planning to plan your next event!

Do’s and Don’ts of Creating Your Wedding Registry

It turned out that registering for our wedding was a lot less fun than we thought it would be. In the end, we made it work and accomplished the mission, but I’ve decided to share some do’s and don’ts of registering so you can hopefully avoid our misery.

1. Do discuss a plan before you go.
The stores that are well-known for wedding registries will supply you with a suggestion list. But let’s be honest, do you really need ALL your table settings AND a full set of crystal and china? Discussing your expectations ahead of time with your soon-to-be spouse can prevent some uncomfortable bickering once you’re in the store. You’ll also want to discuss a healthy balance of fun and function. (Maybe an iced tea maker really isn’t all that important to you, but your mate would love it and use it daily.)

2. Don’t register on an empty stomach.
If you’re anything like me, a hungry Kristen is a grumpy Kristen. (Luckily my hubby has learned this very early on.) Why not make registering more like a date rather than a chore? Grab some brunch beforehand, head to your shopping destination and then celebrate afterwards with a couple of beers!

3. Do break down registering into several, smaller trips.
I think this ended up being the key to our success, but it was something we had to learn as we went. Between my husband’s short attention span and my ABSOLUTE HATRED of shopping, we were going a little bonkers after about an hour and a half of browsing. We were lucky enough to register all at one store and the staff was actually really good about letting us return one or two more times to finish everything up. If you are registering at more than one store, limit your registering to one store per day.

I hope our learning experience while registering for our own wedding can help you in some way. Happy scanning!

A Few of My Favorite {Wedding} Things

Most of the weddings I am hired to coordinate already involve the bride and groom’s creativity and personalities. Sometimes, the ideas I love aren’t always needed or even a good fit for the couple. SO, I thought I would share a couple of my current favorite things when it comes to everything weddings!

If I could fall in love with a drink cart, it would be this one.

Drink Carts
My love for drink carts started a couple of years ago at an event for my husband’s work. I cannot tell you what we ate, but I do remember the beautiful carts with the evening’s wine choices in tote. I was (kind of) embarrassed to take pictures during the sit-down dinner, but was able to snap this one as a neighboring table was being served. This cart  was obviously for a very classy event, but drink carts can be tailored to fit any theme. If you’re having a more rustic, outdoor or casual event, a wooden cart holding glass dispensers filled with flavored waters, lemonade and sweat tea would be perfect.

Outdoor Chandeliers and Other Lighting
When it comes to outdoor, evening weddings, there’s nothing I like more than beautiful chandeliers and other romantic lighting. (Heck, the only reason I want a deck in our backyard is so we can string lights from it!) Chandeliers look great up at the ceremony altar, hanging over the guests and over the dance floor. The only detail I remember from the most recent televised Bachelor wedding is the chandeliers everywhere. If the wedding is taking place where there are trees around, clear lights, small or large, can be strung and create quite an effect as well.

Mr. and Mrs. The Bachelor had chandeliers everywhere at their wedding.

Food or Drink Bars of Any Kind
There’s just something I love about having lots of options! (Maybe it’s a girl thing?) For my wedding in 2008, candy buffets were just starting to become popular and with my sweet tooth, I HAD to have one. It seems like today, the possibilities for food and drink bars are absolutely endless and again, can be fully customized to the bride and groom’s personalities and likes. I have mentioned in the past doing a bubbly bar with champagne (or club soda for the non-drinkers), fruit juices and fruit and herb garnishes. I also LOVE the idea of a frozen yogurt bar–the possibilities for that alone are endless! What about an idea for a winter wedding? A hot cocoa bar would be so much fun! Don’t forget all the options…whipped cream, marshmallows, caramel sauce, peppermint candies, cinnamon, cayenne pepper, Bailey’s. A hot cider bar is another great option.

A hot beverage station can be for guests to enjoy during the reception or to prep and take with them for their ride home.  (Photo by R. Fritz Photography)

These are a few of my favorite things. 🙂 I hope you’ve enjoyed and feel free to add your ideas to my favorites or share your own in the comments below!

 

Brittany and Logan’s Rustic Country Wedding

This past weekend, my husband and I were invited to celebrate Brittany and Logan’s wedding near Somerset, Pennsylvania. Both the ceremony and reception were at a place called The Hayloft. The rustic country theme was done so well by the couple that I couldn’t tell which creative details were done by the venue and which were provided by the bride and groom. I just had to share a few of the photos I snapped while enjoying their beautiful day!

 

The ceremony area included a beautiful rustic altar as well as wooden benches.

This was the gorgeous view behind us during the ceremony.

Here is their adorable wooden card box.

I LOVED the shelving area for guests to leave their gifts on instead of the usual boring table.

I wish I could take credit for the thought and creativity put into this wedding, including using an old window pane for the seating guide. So cute!

Even the guest book area was unique and made a statement.

Here is the cookie and cake area. (Although cookies were beautifully displayed all throughout the venue on old pianos and bureaus.) The far end where you see the ladder actually led UP to where the DJ played from. There was also a galvanized bucket hanging to submit your requests. 🙂

Here is a closeup shot of Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton’s cake.

Their s’more favors were such a great idea!

They even had a fire going once the sun went down.

Speaking of the sun going down, here is a candid I captured of Brittany and Logan enjoying their time as husband and wife.

 

They couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day in a more beautiful setting. Brittany and Logan, thank you for letting us celebrate with you and for allowing me to share a little of your wonderful wedding with everyone! Congratulations!

 

 

Wedding Invite Etiquette 101

Among all the moving parts of a wedding, sending the invites should be one of the easiest tasks, right? Sometimes the wedding etiquette rules can become blurred, ESPECIALLY when sending the invitations. Let’s clear some of the confusion by reviewing three of my wedding invite etiquette guidelines.

(Photo by Scarpaci Photography)

1. Anyone invited to a pre-wedding party, must be invited to the wedding.
This rule includes engagement and bachelor(ette) parties, as well as any wedding showers (unless it’s an office shower). I recommend you keep this rule in mind while planning your pre-wedding celebrations. After all, these get-togethers are supposed to be more intimate in nature anyway. While planning these pre-wedding parties, you may not have your wedding guest list complete, but you probably at least of have an idea of how big or small you want your wedding to be depending on your budget and venue capacity.

2. When having an adults-only reception, do not put “adult reception” on the invitation.
I know we have all seen it on wedding invitations we’ve received, but wording the invitation that way is a little harsh. The correct way of making it known that children are not invited to the wedding is to properly address the invitation envelopes and by using word-of-mouth. Hopefully, guests will realize that the envelope is only addressed to the Mr. and Mrs. of the house and does not include “and Family” but what if they don’t? If you receive an RSVP response for three guests when only two guests were invited, it’s time to start making some phone calls. I can almost guarantee you that this will happen, but if you worried about following proper wedding invite etiquette, it’s something that has to be done. Your guests may be upset, but try to explain the situation to them in the nicest way possible and do not make any exceptions because it will only make it harder to explain it away to other guests–and this time it will be done on your wedding day!

3. Significant others of invited guests must be included if they are married, engaged or living together.
If a couple is engaged but not living together, be sure to send out separate invitations to each individual. What about your single friends and family members? While it is a VERY nice and probably appreciated gesture, it is not mandatory to offer them a plus-one for your wedding. When it comes to this dicey area, use common sense. In other words, if you have a guest that has been dating someone for years but they are not engaged or living together, it would be wise to include them both as your wedding guests.

I hope these rules have cleared up some things for all of you beautiful brides out there! If you have other etiquette questions, feel free to contact Delvaux Wedding & Event Planning directly, or leave your question on our Facebook page. You can also tweet your question to @DelvauxWeddings.

Kims Forever Sparkle

Today I am excited to introduce to all of you Kim Nanosky of Kims Forever Sparkle. Kim has recently started offering beautiful crystal jewelry using authentic Swarovski crystals. You can custom design your very own bracelets, necklaces, ring, earrings and pendants, perfect for everyday wear or for wedding wear and gifts. I know Kim personally and she is uber creative and has great style! So read on to learn a little bit more about Kim and Kims Forever Sparkle. And don’t forget to visit and like her Facebook page!

1. How did Kims Forever Sparkle begin?
I started Kims Forever Sparkle because I absolutely love jewelry! But I hated the fact of spending a crazy amount of money on one single piece. I’m a layer type of girl, whether it’s necklaces or bracelets, I have to have more than one on. And, I can’t wear the same thing day-in and day-out. I was at a jewelry party where one necklaces cost over $150!! That is crazy! So, I decided to do my research and come up with my spin on Swarovski jewelry.

2. Tell us about what you offer and describe the overall style of Kims Forever Sparkle.
I offer bracelets, necklaces, pendants, earrings and even rings. And the choice of settings and crystals in each category is enough to make you go crazy!! So many color combination! I can offer settings in Antique Silver, Shiny Silver, Nickel, Gold, Antique Gold, Matte Gold, Rose Gold, Matte Rose Gold, Copper, and Hematite…and don’t even get me started on the crystal color choices! I am hoping to get a catalog together soon, so it is a little easier for my clients to choice their perfect piece of jewelry. The style of my jewelry is sparkly…you can’t be afraid of a little sparkle.

3. How do you go about creating a new piece? What is your design process?
If I am creating something from scratch I will take an empty setting and just start putting crystals randomly in the setting until I get a color combination I like. A lot of times it is trial and error, but you really can never go wrong. For example, say you wanted to do a birthstone bracelet and the birthstones don’t look mesh that well together, I will work with pearls and other crystal to make the perfect combination.

4. What type of women did you have in mind when starting Kims Forever Sparkle?
I really didn’t have any certain type of woman, just those that enjoy pretty jewelry at an affordable price.

5. What inspires you?
Color – I am a very visual person, and of course I like anything that sparkles! If my husband and I are shopping and I see something shiny and sparkly, you can bet I’ll be checking it out.

6. What is your favorite part of what you do?
My favorite part is seeing a piece come together. It starts out as just a setting and some crystals, but when I’m done it is so much more than that, I like to think of it as a work of art…each piece I create is unique as my clients.

7. What are your tips on choosing and wearing jewelry?
Start simple. If you’re not a big jewelry wearer, then start with your neutrals – whites, grays, blacks or even beige. You’ll see that you can wear Kims Forever Sparkle with everything from a cocktail dress to a graphic tee and jeans. I once wore one of my necklaces with a Walking Dead tee shirt – and I got so many compliments!

8. What is your favorite piece that you have created?
So far my favorite piece is a bracelet with a crystal called Cathedral. It has oranges, fuchsia, greens, gold tones all incorporated in the crystal. It is stunning.

9. Who is a style icon you admire and why?
I really don’t have a certain style icon I follow, but I love to read style magazines, and Pinterest is one of my favorite sites for style and design creation. I like to browse Pinterest for outfit ideas too.

10. What is your favorite quote?
As my mom would say, “Never say never,” because as soon as you say you will never do something, it turns around to bite you in the butt!! Trust me, I’ve been bitten one too many times.

11. What do you like to do in your spare time?
LOL!! Spare time…that’s funny 😉 With 2 dogs, 2 cats and a husband there isn’t much room for “me time” I’m a clean freak, so my “me time” or as I like to call my ‘therapy’ is cleaning the house. It gives me a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction after my cleaning sessions.

Kim, thank you so much for sharing all about you and Kims Forever Sparkle. If you are interested in some custom designed sparkle, be sure to reach out to Kim.

Phone: 330-565-9993
Email: kimnanosky@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kimsforeversparkle
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/specialk3661/kimsforeversparkle/