Since 1924
Bride Guide & Vendor Directory
Tips for spending your wedding budget wisely
Major Sponsors Sauganash Golf Club
Indoor/outdoor weddings, banquets, parties, golf outings, charity outings, and 18 hole golf course. 61270 Lutz Rd., Three Rivers, MI 49093 269-278-7825 web: www.sauganashgc.com email: bob@sauganashgc.com
How much is too much to pay for a wedding? Couples who married in 2012 spent about $28,000 on average on their weddings -- but that doesn’t mean you have to do the same. In this guide you will find tried and true money saving tips from the experts. •
A checklist of common wedding items starting on page 7 will help you compare prices on the items you most want, to see what is within your price range.
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You can have a perfectly wonderful wedding for a lot less. It’s a matter of priorities…your priorities. Is it more important to have the bridesmaids wear perfectly dyed shoes…or to invite three more people to your wedding?
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Are you kidding yourself that your bridesmaids “can wear that dress again.” Renting their dresses, could mean you receive an especially grateful wedding gift in return.
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There are, literally, thousands of dollars worth of saving tips here, and with a little creativity, you may come up with some of your own:
Weddings
Island Catering Patrick Rafferty 269-271-5512
The Venue
Grand Rental StationThree Rivers
Loni Lewis 58904 U.S. 131, Three Rivers MI 49093 269-279-6041 web: grandrentalstationmi.com email: grandrentalstation1@frontier.com
All About Travel
All About Travel Destination Wedding and Honeymoon Specialists Jean Vaughn and Tricia Meyer 232 Enterprise Drive, Three Rivers, MI 49093 269-273-1088 web: www.allabouttraveltr.com email: tricia@allabouttraveltr.com
All About Travel www.AllAboutTravelTR.com
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Hold your ceremony and reception at the same venue. Two locations equals double the venue charges. Stick with one location and your guests will thank you.
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Consider a weekday, Friday, or Sunday wedding. Peak times for weddings are Saturdays between 11 a.m. and 11 p.m.
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If you’re brave (or spontaneous) wait until 60-90 days to book your venue. Unbooked dates often net you a discount of up to 10%.
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A luncheon reception can save you up to 25% over a formal dinner reception.
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Ask the venue what decorations are already available and supplement those with special purchases of must-have bells, streamers or balloons.
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Use the venue’s own tables, chairs, and china. Renting tables, chairs, china, glassware, and silverware can add between $7-$10 per person to your costs.
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Use the venue’s own linens or paper table coverings to save money. Paper napkins are fine with most people.
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Purchase alcohol from the venue whenever possible. Only pay for what you use.
Desserts
Mandy’s Candies Candy Buffets Candy buffet tables, parties, and gift baskets Mandy Kokales 122 S. Main Street Vicksburg, MI 49097 269-744-2069 web: http://mandycandyshop.com email: mkokales@comcast.net facebook: Mandy’s Candies Shop
Catering/Cake/Champagne •
Instead of a full meal, provide high-end hors d’oeuvres and desserts only. Plan the timing accordingly so guests don’t show up expecting a full meal. Start with hors d’oeuvres, and then open up to small food stations. Keep the food changing every hour. It’s like an extended cocktail hour, but you save because you don’t need a full bar—just beer, wine, and one specialty drink.
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A sheet cake to feed all the guests may cost $1.50
per serving (slice) while a layer cake, with fondant, could run as much as $6 per serving (slice). Filling Floral & Gifts is extra. Spend less money on a small decorated Central Florist Floral, wedding rentals, set up/tear down, bridal party gifts, jewelry, “Honey Love” products Christine Boring 155 W. Chicago Rd., Sturgis, MI 49091 269-651-9348 web: www.centralforistmi.com email: centralflorist158@yahoo.com Cassandra’s Artisan Soaps Artisan soaps, cards, and other goodies. Cassandra Murphy 1214 8th St., Three Rivers, MI 49093 web: www.etsy.com/shop/CassandrasSoaps email: CCMurphy1214@gmail.com facebook: Cassandra’s Artisans Soaps Thirty-One Gifts We offer everyday organization. Can be personalized! Andrea Opalewski: 248-425-4173 Amanda Courtney: 269-830-2202 web: mythirtyone.com/357363 email: a5opalewski@gmail.com facebook: Thirty-one Gifts
layered bridal cake for just the wedding party. If the idea bothers you, have the caterer plate the cake in the kitchen…guests will never know they’re not getting the real deal.
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Instead of white-glove plated meals, opt for a much more economical buffet line. Ask your caterer to provide servers to your guests instead of asking them to serve themselves for a nice touch. This also helps to control portions so you won’t run out of food!
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Limit the beverages you provide for free. Draft beer and inexpensive wine add up quickly at an open bar. Consider purchasing a half-barrel or limited amounts of wine and calling it good when that runs out. Lemonade, iced tea, and coffee/tea are usually included in your meal costs. Opt for cupcakes or other desserts instead of a traditional wedding cake.
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If you don’t like champagne, don’t have a champagne toast. Not that many people will appreciate expensive champagne, either, so opt for bubbling juices ($3.99 a bottle) instead of $12 Asti.
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A brunch wedding may be easier to book and less expensive with only one alcohol–champagne for Mimosas.
Bridal Party •
Buy a used dress. If you’re tempted to spend $4000 or more on a dress, consider using that money as a down-payment on a house or car, and spend more realistically. Yes, it’s your special day, but if you try, you can get the look you want for a lot less money.
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Allow bridesmaids to rent gowns. Renttherunway.com can provide multiple sizes of the same dress and many are less than $300. Ditto jewelry. Or ask them to wear jewelry of a common theme, like a cross or flower and allow them to show their individuality.
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Buy a simply styled wedding dress to reduce the costs of alterations. A tealength hemline adjustment is different from a full skirt and train alteration.
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Rent all your men’s wear from one location for a lower group rate. Groomsmen can visit any tux shop for measurements and then forward them to you to order all at once.
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Borrow wedding accessories from recently married friends. What else are they going to do with them?
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Give bridesmaids a single stem flower for simplicity and a sophisticated look. Much cheaper than flower bouquets.
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If you are paying for makeup, ask the artist to leave behind a touch-up kit. Once makeup is applied, they can then leave and reduce the number of hours they charge you for.
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Borrow something. Anything you can borrow will save you money. 4
Formal Wear
Savvy Bridal and Formal Exchange Gently used new bridal and formal gowns; chair covers and sashes; tuxedo rentals 669 Romence Rd., Portage, MI 49024 269-329-2802 web: www.savvykzoo.com email: store@savvykzoo.com facebook: Savvy Bridal & Formal Exchange
Jewelry
Parker Jewelers Personalized bridal or wedding party gifts and jewelry. Julie Tomlinson 43 N Main, Three Rivers MI 49093 269-273-8200 web: www.facebook.com/ParkerJewelers2012 email: parkerjewelryrepair@hotmail.com email: julie.l.tomlinson@gmail.com facebook: Parker Jewelers
Premier Designs Jewelry More than 500 beautiful and affordable fashion jewelry items Caroline DeRidder 269-362-4774 web: deridder.mypremierdesigns.com email: jewelry@deridder.org facebook: Caroline’s Premier Designs
Decorations, Flowers & Invitations •
Consider smaller table centerpieces and decorations. Large decorations make it hard for people to see you or to converse, and can cost as much as $10-$15 each.
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Choose bigger flowers for fewer stems.
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Grow your own flowers. If you plan far enough ahead, you can grow lovely bulbs or African violets for table centerpieces. Silk flowers are often a lower cost option to fresh cut bouquets or centerpieces.
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If you prefer cut flowers, use lots of greenery to reduce the number of flowers needed and the cost of the arrangement.
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Recruit friends with special skills to help. You probably know an artist, an organizer, an aspiring photographer.
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Make your own invitations.
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Use inexpensive postcards for “Save-the-date” and save money by using an online printing source and designing your own invitations. Email “save-the-date” notices to friends and family where possible.
Once Upon a Time Weddings Wedding officiant and wedding cakes Officiant: Vickie Stewart 517-256-1533 vickie@voyager.net facebook: Once Upon a Time Weddings
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Reduce paper by having one card for the invitation (with directions, location, etc. printed on it) and one card for RSVP. Provide RSVP cards and stamped envelopes only to those you expect to attend. Avoiding extra paper for notes, directions, etc. saves trees and postage.
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Print invitations in black ink on thick colored paper and avoid fancy folding, embossing, attachments or cuts. Stick with standard sizes for the printer’s best price.
Personal Care
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Eliminate table favors. Lots of money. Short lived. Instead, put paper and pens on tables and ask guests to write messages to the happy couple. Put messages in a scrapbook with a photo of the contributor for happy memories.
Pure Romance Bath and beauty; massage and bedroom and relationship enhancement products Mindy Coon 269-273-9409 web: www.mindycoon.pureromance.com email: mindy.bartlett@gmail.com facebook: Marketing by Design It Works Body wraps and nutritional supplements Caroline Buentello 269-377-6890 web: https://cbuentello.myitworks.com email: c1331b@yahoo.com
Service Savings
Twisted Salon Hair, nails and bridal updos Mindy Cooper 222 Enterprise Dr. Three Rivers, MI 49093 269-506-5600 facebook: Twisted Salon Three Rivers email: pamperme@twistedsalon.com
Lodging
The Mendon Manor Bed and breakfast and event center Julia Tucker-Terry 440 W. Main, Mendon, MI 49072 269-251-3308 email: info@themendonmanor.com facebook: Mendon Manor
Officiant
Mary Kay Cosmetics Kortnie Thomas 269-832-0066 email: kortniethomas@marykay.com
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81 percent of guests say the entertainment is the most memorable part of a wedding.
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Work with your venue’s preferred providers. Ask them to refer you to a photographer, rental company, florist, officiant. It could be their partnership can save you money.
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Ditch the tabletop disposable cameras. They’re expensive to develop and you usually get a lot of really bad photos. Instead, ask friends to snap phone pics and upload them to a private group or Snapfish for you to see and share.
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Ask friends and family to contribute their talents to your special day in lieu of a gift. Decorators, flower arrangers, videographers, musicians and more could be as close as your fingertips; just ask!
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Avoid a printed program, or place one or two per table instead of printing one for everyone. Print a couple extras for parents/ grandparents and scrapbooks.
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Arrange the photographer’s time so that you get the most for your money and pay for the fewest hours possible. Ask friends with photography skills to cover the reception after the important dances are over and let the photographer go home. 5
Photography
HNT Design and Photography Photography and editing; graphic design Hayley Taylor 269-535-2101 facebook: HNT Designs and Photography email: hnt.designs.photography@gmail.com Malyn Sneed Photography Wedding, family, portraits Malyn Sneed web: www.malynsneedphotography.com email: malyn.sneed@gmail.com facebook: Malyn Sneed Photography
Travel
Matt’s Firehouse Family Vacations Specializing in cruises, all-inclusive vacations, and Orlando-area theme parks Matt Dunfield 2828 Romence Rd., Portage, MI 49024 269-365-0034 web: www.firehousefamilyvacations.com email: matt@firehousefamilyvacations.com facebook: Matt’s Firehouse Family Vacations
Important Phone Numbers Venue:___________________________
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Use your own iPod and playlist with a rented sound system to play your favorite music at your event. A handy high-schooler can run your playlist for you to save hundreds of dollars on a DJ or band. Ask a friend who is a good public speaker to do the announcing.
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Hire a combined photographer/videographer or a team to avoid paying two separate providers.
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Ask a relative or friend with a classic or luxury car to drive you and your bridesmaids to the venue for a grand entrance.
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Shop around. Different vendors will charge you different prices for the same thing. Shop around a little to get the best deal.
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Arrange for minimal services from the photographer; add options like photobooks, prints, enlargements, etc. after you see the final photos.
Choosing Priorities
(or what do you really need?) • Choose priorities. Is it more important to have crystal wine goblets or family at your wedding. Set a baseline of minimum wants/needs for your special day with your partner before you begin so you both get what you really need, and can then progress to adding some things you want. •
What were your favorite things about the last wedding (or weddings) you went to? Discuss it with your partner and agree on things that you both liked as a starting point.
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Spend less on some things to allow you to spend more on other more important things. Are you willing to sacrifice those cute little party bubbles to be able to invite two more couples to your wedding? Do you need a $700 cake, or can you spend $400 and have $300 left to spend on your gown?
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Trim your guest list. Guests who aren’t relatives, and who live more than 100 miles away may not: a) be able to make the trip; or b) care that much. Only invite people you think will come and don’t invite more people than you can spend time with (one minute for each guest is a good rule of thumb.)
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Let your guests know gift cards are appreciated, especially prepaid Visa or gas cards. It’s the way of the world.
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Omit children and when it comes to couples, invite spouses, fiances, and live-ins only. A unilateral decision will avoid hurt feelings.
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Use the venue’s experts. Onsite wedding planners: 1) can often get you a better deal on items and services, 2) can draw from years of experience working with brides on budgets, and 3) have working relationships with vendors, saving you time, headaches, and money.
Caterer:__________________________ Maid of Honor:_____________________ Bridesmaids:______________________ Best Man:_________________________ Florist:___________________________ Bakery:__________________________ Bridal Shop:_______________________ Limo:____________________________ Emergency Contact:__________________ Bartender:________________________ Officiant:_________________________ DJ:_____________________________
A collection of ideas from Better Homes & Gardens, theknot.com, CNN Money, pinterest, www.learnvest.com, herecomestheguide.com,
Photographer:_____________________ 6
STEP 1: Planning Ahead Date:_____________ Time:____________Location(s):__________________ Who, What, Where, When, Why, How? Use this section to take notes on important meetings for bridal goods and services.
Who?
What?
When? Notes
Venue Catering Liquor Officiant Wedding Apparel Cake Invitations/Thank you Seating Chart Music/Photo/Video Rentals Delivery/Pick up Decorations/Flowers Special additions Set up Tear down Transportation Lodging Wedding Planner Speakers Honeymoon
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Step 2: Site selection and catering Venue
Contact your venue as far in advance as possible. Some places book a year or more out. Call even if it’s last minute. Some venues can run two weddings on one day, and you might be one of them. Who?
What?
When?
Notes
When?
Notes
Set event date with venue Review venue service agreement Submit guest count Agree on equipment rentals or special equipment Agree on alcohol/drink payment Sign contract and pay deposit Preview room set up with caterer Confirm guest count Set decorating date Decorate/undecorate Clean up Pay invoice
Catering
Most caterers will offer you a tasting appointment. Who?
What? Set event date with caterer Choose serving method Review menu and service agreement Submit menu selections Agree on final menu and price Agree on equipment rentals Agree on method of payment Sign catering contract and pay deposit Preview event site with caterer for setup and serving schedules Submit final meal count Pay invoice
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STEP 3: What you’ll need Venue
Tables, chairs and flatware are often included in the venue price. Some decorations may be provided by the venue; others may be rented. *Designates items included in Sauganash wedding packages. Item
How many
#1 Price Each $
*Standard 8-foot guest tables and 8 chairs Registration table(s) and 2 chairs 6-foot round tables Folding chairs Chair covers Tablecloths-linen *Tablecloths-flannel backed plastic Napkins-linen or paper Table skirting-linen or paper *Dinner Plate *Salad Plate Dessert Plate *3-piece utensils-spoon, fork, knife 5-piece utensils-spoon, 2 fork, 2 knife 7-piece utensils-2 spoon, 3 fork, 2 knife *Water glass *Wine glass *Coffee cup and saucer Champagne flutes Ice buckets Champagne fountain *Gazebo (2014) Table decorations Centerpieces Stage flowers Bridal party flowers Canopy Tent with sides Portable dance floor Transportation *Handicap transport *Portable sound system Photographer Vidographer Invitations Hair Services Nail Services *Dressing Room
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#2 Price Each $
Total $
Vendor
*Sound system (large or portable) *Microphone (regular or lavaliere) Microphone stands Follow spotlight Projector Screen Easels Extension cords Aisle runner Table decorations Podium Unity candle
Invitations and Seating
Invitations can be as informal as an email, or as formal as a four-part printed, embossed invite. Assigned seating is traditional and guests are seated based on common interests, friendship, relationships. Seating for the bridal party, immediate families, and honored guests are assigned first, then remaining guests. How many?
Item
Invitations
Select design
Price each?
High $
Low $
Number
Who?
When?
Write wording Submit to printer Completed by Mailed RSVP Deadline Thank You Cards Seating Seating diagram Guest list Assign bridal party Assign family/honorees Assign guests
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STEP 4: The Big Day Wedding Day Assignments
You should name one key person to communicate with catering, photo, video, etc. This person should not be the MC. These tasks are commonly handled by family members who are not in the wedding party. Who?
What?
How?
*Main contact person (besides bride) Emergency contact person *Coordinate deliveries Coordinate volunteers *Coordinate dressing room *Coordinate catering/serving *Coordinator musicians *Coordinate parking and transport Coordinate receiving/welcoming line Coordinate special dances Coordinate speakers/toasts Coordinate wedding party Host/Hostess Toast 1 Toast 2 Master of ceremonies/DJ Cake cutter/server Bartender Guest book attendant Coordinate decorations Pay caterer and venue Return rented items Transport gifts
Call Sauganash Golf Club for all your event needs. We do indoor or outdoor weddings/receptions, parties, graduations, reunions, showers, dances, fundraisers, and golf outings. Locker rooms, bar, patio, sun porch and banquet room. Rent our entire clubhouse for your event. Cheri Bales, M.A. Director of Marketing and Events Sauganash Golf Club 269-278-7825 11
Sauganash Golf Club 61270 Lutz Rd. Three Rivers, MI 49093 (269) 278-7825 sauganashgc.com bob@sauganashgc.com