8 minute read
The Eastern Jackson County Wedding Guide
Wedding budget hacks
Advertisement
By Melissa Erickson More Content Now A wedding is usually the big- gest and costliest party of a couple’s life. Plan accord- ingly and set a solid budget. “Setting a wedding budget is quite a challenge. While there are a lot of costs you can predict, like how much the venue will cost, there are other factors not so easy to predict, like how many guests will show up,” said certified financial planner Shannah Compton Game, host of Millennial Money Podcast. “Most wedding bud- gets turn out to be a loose guideline of how much the wedding will cost, which is why I always suggest adding a 20% to 30% pad in your budget.” No matter how well-planned and well-intentioned a budget is, things change, so it’s important to stay on top of expenses, Game said. “Set a goal number that you don’t want to cross. If you are inching close to that number there are always ways to be resource- ful and save money,” she said.
Finding funds
While parents are often the No. 1 source of financing, cou- ples also dip into personal savings, use credit cards and even turn to crowdfunding, Game said.
“Credit cards offer so many amaz- ing perks these days that it’s hard to pass up. If you plan on using a credit card to bank points for your wedding expenses, always make sure you can pay off the balance in full within 30 days so you never incur interest expenses,” she said. Plan wisely, and you might be able to bank enough points to use for your honeymoon costs or a one-year anniversary celebration, she said.
Break it down
Start with a spreadsheet and break it down into three sections: expenses prior to the wedding, day-of expenses and after-thewedding expenses, Game said. When budgeting be sure to add in honeymoon costs.
“Most people do neglect includ- ing the honeymoon on their budget, which can be a sizeable expense,” she said. “If you are paying out of pocket for the trip, you want to make sure and include not only your airfare but the hotel, food, activities and any transportation on your budget.”
Where to cut
If costs are adding up, cuts need to be made.
“The most expensive costs for any wedding are the location, food, flowers and photography. Anytime a vendor hears the word ‘wed- ding’ they immediately add a sur- charge to the price,” Game said. There are hacks to cut costs. “My suggestion is to pick one or two that really matter to you and then find ways to be resourceful in the other areas. For instance, you could go to a flower mart and get your flowers on the day of the wed- ding for a fraction of the price, or have guests use a wedding photog- raphy mobile app to snap pictures and then utilize your photographer for a half-day or select pictures,” Game said. “You could also turn to Airbnb or other vacation rental sites to book an alternative wed- ding venue or reception location.”
Take the long view
“I definitely discourage couples from going into debt for their wed- ding. It simply isn’t worth it at the end of the day,” Game said. “Figure
out how much money you can realistically spend and create an amazing wedding within that dollar amount. ... Be real- istic and remember marriage is about the lifelong commitment and not just the wedding day.”
FROM A fairy tale
By Melissa Erickson More Content Now F rom big, ruffled wedding gowns to sophisticated bridal blazers, boho-chic to floral fantasies, today’s designers offer brides the opportunity to express their individuality when they step up and say, “I do.”
For inspiration, the vast majority of brides turn to Pinterest and Instagram because it’s easy to search by hashtags or designers, while others still like to flip through magazines to see what’s in style, said Laura Calderone, owner of Laura & Leigh Bridal in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.
Blurring the line
“The main trend for 2020, which really has been consistently building for the last five years or so, is the blurring of the line between ready-to-wear and bridal,” said Kpoene’ Kofi-Nicklin, creative director of Mignonette Bridal in Chicago. “For some companies, like BHLDN, this means offering separates (tops, bottoms and overlays that can be mixed and matched) so that brides can personalize a look, and for other companies like Cecilie Bahnsen that can mean offering pieces that blur the line between bridal and ready-to-wear completely and really can be worn again.”
Affordability is important to the modern bride, Kofi-Nicklin said. This concept offers a bride new ways to make her wedding outfit unique and looks that can be worn multiple ways and on multiple occasions.
Return to romance
“If there was a prize for a bridal trend that is truly timeless and classical, it would definitely go to off-the-shoulder wedding dresses,” said Valeria Istomnia, content manager at Wedding Forward, an online
guide for wedding planning, ideas and inspiration. “Their romantic image is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a fairy-tale princess attire.”
Fun florals
“I love that florals, especially in bold colors, are having a moment, and the best part is that anyone can look beautiful in this trend,” Kofi-Nicklin said. Want to make a floral splash? “Choosing a gown with a large floral print or even just a single large floral pattern on the skirt is a great way to show off your personality. Oscar de la Renta and Carolina Herrera have shown some truly amazing floral wedding gowns in the last few years,” Kofi-Nicklin said. Want to embrace florals in a delicate way? “Picking a gown in shades of blush or champagne with floral embroidery is a great way to look like you just stepped out of a romantic garden,” Kofi-Nicklin said. A gown with a subtle floral lace detail is a great way to nod to the trend while keeping the overall look very classic, she said.
Mix it up
“2020 has a great mix of trends” like “fun necklines, low plunges, crescent necklines or off-the-shoulder, Calderone said. “There is also a lot of sparkle and fun laces with layers of shimmery tulle and bold modern laces. You’re going to probably see some keyhole backs and clean/classic A-lines have a little comeback, too.” “Bohemian style has been on top for more than one year, and it remains one of the hottest weddings dresses for 2020,” Istomnia said.
Trending floral ideas
Circular floral table arrangements designed by Ed Libby and photographed by Brett Matthews Photography. [PHOTOS COURTESY LLG EVENTS]
This archway created by Tantawan Bloom and captured by Greg Finck was donated after the wedding.
By Melissa Erickson More Content Now F rom the bouquet to the boutonniere, table centerpieces to photo opportunities, flowers are a defining part of a wedding and a classic way to set the tone of the day. They may be always in style, but as trends change designers add new floral techniques to keep things fresh. “Floral designers have been bringing the outdoors in for a while now, creating trees and floral installations for luxury weddings,” said Lauren Grech, CEO and co-founder of LLG Events and adjunct professor in event production and design at New York University. “However, in 2020, we’re going to see this expand beyond the table arrangements to include more flower walls for photo booth backdrops, overhead installations either with flowers dangling from the ceiling or bridging over the tops of tables, and trails of flowers such as along the entire length of an aisled mirror.” Uniquely shaped low table arrangements, such as crescent-shaped structures and floral rings, are another emerging trend, Grech said.
Reuse, recycle
One of the hottest wedding floral trends is sustainability. In addition to choosing locally sourced flowers, more couples are opting to donate their flowers and extend the life of their blooms through companies like Repeat Roses or BloomAgainBklyn, organizations that recover floral arrangements that otherwise would have ended up in the trash, Grech said. It’s a service Grech offers all her clients “because some may not realize the legacy they can leave with their love by having their wedding flowers recreated into arrangements for people in need or nursing homes or hospitals,” she said.
“Another way to do this is to have someone gift wrap your florals for guests to take home as a favor at the end of the night. It’s a beautiful remembrance from your special day,” Grech said.
No bouquets
Brides are also getting more creative with their bouquets, with some ditching the nosegay altogether. Some brides opt for elaborate floral crowns so they don’t have to worry about handing it off to their maid or man of honor, Grech said. “This is perfect for outdoor ceremonies Some brides are opting for a floral crown instead of a bouquet so they don’t have to worry about handing it off to a maid or man of honor.
or couples who want a bohemian feel. Others are opting for smaller bouquets so that they can spend on bigger decor statements like a ceremony arch or chuppah with canopies of single, hanging flowers,” Grech said.
Instagram-worthy backdrops are all the rage, but a full floral wall can be expensive. Budget-conscious couples can opt for a flower frame instead of a full flower backdrop, Grech said. Customize it with tiny fairy lighting throughout or LED lights with wording mixed in, Grech said.
Natural look
Popular wedding flowers like calla lilies, peonies and roses are mainstays of many weddings, but are now being passed over or accompanied by ornamental grasses and dried flowers.
“Last year, pampas grass spread like wildfire. It was the floral trend for sure,” Grech said. “Elaborating on that, in 2020 you’ll continue to see a lot of mixed floral elements like feathers, berries, branches, eucalyptus, dried elements and vines.” Color makes an impact, and many couples are opting for more bold pops of color rather than muted neutral tones, Grech said.
