Wedding Planner, Part 2, February 2023

SmallBigCeremony, Crowd

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The small wedding ceremony is all the rage across the United States as couples look to get back to more intimate celebrations with those closest to them.

There are many benefits to a smaller ceremony, including reduced cost, stress and logistics if you pull it off correctly. You can also get more value for your dollar when it comes to paying for vendors, food and drink. Your wedding planner and decorator may also thank you for a smaller ceremony because there will be less hassle than having to decorate a larger space.

When weighing the options of hosting a smaller wedding,

be sure to talk it over with your future spouse. A smaller, more intimate setting means you’ll likely have to limit the number of invitations you send out, which can be a stressful experience on its own because you’ll need to deal with the potential of leaving important people off your guest list.

More Connection With Your Guests

One of the main benefits of a smaller wedding is a more manageable crowd size. You may feel like you are able to spend more time with your guests by limiting the invite list. Many brides and grooms will tell you their wedding day was a blur and they regret not spending more time with specific friends or members of their families. A smaller

ceremony can help lessen the amount of people you feel obligated to entertain on your special day.

Deciding on the Guest List

Typically, a small wedding lends itself to about 50 people. That’s 25 people on each side. If the thought of limiting your list to these numbers makes you cringe, then maybe a smaller wedding isn’t for you.

Consider if you want to extend guests to the reception

following the ceremony, or if you prefer to keep your wedding party small and exclusive. Finally, be sure to have a plan to address those who don’t make the invite list.

Be open and honest with them about your thoughts behind a smaller ceremony and let them know this doesn’t make them any less special to you. As a special gesture, you can send post-wedding photographs or videos to make them feel like they were part of your day.

Courtesy Lodge at River’s Edge

Weddings by the Numbers

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Weddings and honeymoons are big business. People are willing to spend handsomely on these events to ensure the experience of a lifetime.

Consider the following research statistics, facts and figures, reported by the awardwinning travel information website, TripSavvy. Some of the numbers may surprise you or even inspire you when it comes to planning your special day.

Engagement Statistics

• 99% of grooms do the proposing.

• 16% of proposals occur in December.

• The average American engagement lasts 15 months.

• The average diamond

engagement ring is $6,163.

Wedding Statistics

• Every year, an average of 2.4 million weddings are performed in the U.S.

• Today’s median age for brides is 29 years. For grooms, it’s 31 years.

• The median age for remarriage is 34 for brides and 37 for grooms.

• Each weekend an average of 44,230 weddings takes place.

• The most popular months for weddings are September and October.

Cost Statistics

• $35,329 is the average amount spent on a traditional American wedding.

• Per-guest cost is $268.

• Bachelor party attendees spend on average $738. Bachelorette party spending averages $472.

• The average amount each guest spends to attend the wedding is $703.

• The average amount spent on a wedding gift is in the $70$100 range.

• In 19% of cases, the brides’ parents pay for the wedding.

• 32% of brides and grooms pay for the wedding themselves.

Destination

Wedding Statistics

• 25% of marriages are destination weddings.

• 340,000 destination weddings take place each year.

• The destination wedding market accounts for $16 billion in annual spending.

• The average budget for

a destination wedding is $28,000.

• The average number of guests at a destination wedding: 48.

• 9 out of 10 couples say the weather is a key factor in selecting a destination.

• 60% of destination weddings take place in a domestic location and 40% international.

Destination Wedding Locations

The leading destinations for out-of-town weddings are:

• Las Vegas (80,000)

• Hawaii (20,000)

• U.S. Virgin Islands (5,100)

• Jamaica (5,000)

• Bahamas (4,000)

Courtesy Lindsey Creek Vineyards

Communicating with Vendors

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During the planning phase of your wedding, you’re going to get to know your vendors very well. They will come to understand the most intricate plans of your special day and will be committed to making them all happen for you.

When it comes to communicating with them, your main goal should be staying on the same page all the way up to your wedding day. The last thing you want to happen is a mix-up about how many people your caterer will be serving or how many chairs you need for the ceremony.

Communication is key when it comes to wedding vendor management. Ask your vendors what their preferred method of communication is to minimize delays on important decisions and details. Make yourself available as much as possible in case a time-sensitive question comes up during the planning phase.

Organization is Critical

You will accrue multiple documents and emails from your vendors throughout the planning process. If you are sent digital files, be sure to print them out and keep all important documentation, including contracts, inside a labeled

binder, drawer or box. You’ll probably need to refer back to these documents as you continue through the planning process, so it’s imperative you have quick, easy access to them. When it comes to email, make sure you’re checking your inbox and even your spam folder frequently to make sure you’re not missing important messages. Create a wedding folder for an easy, convenient way to keep your emails organized.

Short on Time?

Assign a Point of Contact

Dealing with multiple people

can confuse the process in a hurry. If you’re not the one who will be managing interactions with your vendors, make sure to appoint someone as that key point of contact.

If you decide to hire a wedding planner, this is their role. If you are going with a smaller, more intimate wedding ceremony that doesn’t require a planner, ask someone on your bridal party or in your family if they can take on the task of helping bridge the gap between you and your vendors.

A single point of contact will help streamline the process and keep everyone on the same page.

What Next For Your Dress?

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There are many options to consider on the day after your wedding.

You shopped for the gown, been fitted and refitted, then gotten married in it. But there’s still one big decision to make.

Some brides choose to carefully store their gown in order to preserve it as something to hand down to future generations, or even simply as a heartfelt memento. Others choose to resell or donate the dress so that someone else can enjoy it on their own big day.

Which is right for you? Consider these crucial questions.

Long-Term Storage

Storage is an option for those with an intent to one day pass along the dress to a daughter or other family member. You may also be the sentimental type who’d like to have it as a keepsake. If so, you can’t simply tuck the gown away in the back of the closet, much less in your damp and musty attic or a basement. You’ll need to first get a garment professional to properly clean and store the

Dress

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Courtesy Jessie Frost Photography

Courtesy Twin Creeks Farm

Courtesy Lodge at River’s Edge

Courtesy Twin Creeks Farm

Embrace Technology

Technology is one of the greatest tools at our disposal today. That goes for everything from working online to educating your kids with videos and lesson plans. If used correctly, it can also elevate the wedding planning experience.

There are a slew of online companies offering digital solutions that can bring your wedding planning to the next level, while also making things easier and more convenient for you and your soon-to-be spouse.

Book a Venue Tour

Many venues will let you

book a tour ahead of time, giving you a peak into their environment and atmosphere from the comfort of your own living room. This type of digital tour can even get your parents, grandparents or friends into the mix.

Ask any venue you are considering if they offer a virtual tour and start getting to know your options through the internet. Once you whittle down your list of favorites to a select few venue options, you can devote your time and energy to actually visit them for your final decision-making process.

Try-On Services

Take advantage of at-home

try-on services for attire. This is a great way to sample the latest trends in wedding dresses, veils, tuxedos, vests, shoes and other options. Search online to find cost-effective companies offering free trials and flexible policies.

Renting wedding attire is always the cheapest option, unless you plan on passing down the clothing to future generations.

Many companies offer rental solutions that let you return items when you’re finished trying them out with convenient packaging and free shipping.

Digital Invitations

One way to save money on

your wedding planning is to think digital. Paper printing is expensive, especially if you’re inviting a smaller number of guests and can’t take advantage of bulk pricing.

You can find online invitation solutions that send digital invites to your guests in classy, sophisticated designs. You can add animations and design the invite in your wedding colors for a completely custom look.

Technology companies have improved their offerings, which may make it easier to announce your engagement and invite faraway guests to experience your ceremony.

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Photos Courtesy Jessie Frost Photography

Thank You Cards

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This post-wedding responsibility doesn’t have to be so overwhelming.

The challenge is getting started, in particular with a large number of gifts.

It’s best to approach it all in a step-by-step manner, so that the task feels like something more easily achieved. If needed, create a schedule with appointed times to work on your stack of thank you notes, so that it becomes part of your every-day routine.

If they received an invite, that means your guest was already a big part of your life. Here’s how to thank them for being part of your next adventure.

Cards

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Courtesy Lodge at River’s Edge

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How to Get Registered

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What’s Most Needed? How Much? And From Where?

Settling on the answer for these basic questions isn’t easy, but they’ll guide you through the process.

Your completed wedding registry will then provide everything required to begin married life, while perhaps even adding a few personal indulgences.

If you’re unsure how to get started, or want to double check that you haven’t forgotten anything, check out this handy list of “do’s and don’ts.”

Do

Create the registry together. This should be a shared moment where you and your future spouse mesh your own personal styles. Discuss color

and pattern preferences so that these foundational gifts build toward a look and feel that you both find comfortable and enjoyable. Many vendors have created programs which allow any registry items that are left unselected to be purchased at a discount after the wedding — and that’s another opportunity to bond.

Do

Set up your registries early and check in on them regularly. If you haven’t registered when you announce the date, or haven’t completed your registry, eager friends and family may purchase something from somewhere else that may not fit into your shared vision. As gifts are purchased, consider adding other things into the registry so that there are always gifts representing a variety of price points for other guests who may log on later.

Don’t

Overlook needed everyday items. You have you own space, and so does your future spouse. In some cases, you may already be living together. That can lull couples into thinking that they already have these common household purchases covered. But what about the pot with the bad handle, or those old bath towels that need upgrading? Now is the time to think about small luxuries like the thread count on your bed sheets.

Do

Register at multiple outlets. This is important because

some of your guests may have a personal preference for a specific retail store. They also may live nearer to one store location, and prefer not to shop online.

Don’t

Request cash. Instead opt for a cash registry website like Honeyfund or Zola. They have the same look and feel as a traditional online registry, but offer you an opportunity to raise needed funds.

Do

Write personal thank you notes as promptly as possible.

Courtesy Jessie Frost Photography

Courtesy Big Canyon Acres

Courtesy Jessie Frost Photography

Courtesy Jessie Frost Photography

Courtesy Lodge at River’s Edge

Courtesy Lodge at River’s Edge

The Lewis Clark Hotel

Event Venue & Home of Crystal and Twigs

The Lewis Clark Hotel

Event Decor, Design & Rentals.

The Lewis Clark Hotel is a very eleg ant and romantic venue that will make any bride happy! And there’s even more… Cryst al and Twigs is now located inside the Hotel to help you create the perfect setting..

Event Venue & Home of Crystal and Twigs

Event Decor, Design & Rentals.

The Hotel offers two very eleg ant and cozy bridal and groom suites that are included in your wedding package! No need to get ready off site! This beautiful venue will have your guests in awe!

The Lewis Clark Hotel is a very elegant and romantic venue that will make any bride happy! And there’s even more… Cryst al and Twigs is now located inside the Hotel to help you create the perfect setting..

The Hotel offers two very elegant and bridal and groom suites your No need beautiful ur guests

Courtesy Red Barn Farm Courtesy Crystal & Twigs

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Who To Thank

Everyone. Simple, right? Anyone who gave you a gift should receive a special note of thanks. But thank you notes are also recommended for the team of folks who helped make sure your special event ran like clockwork. That includes planners, organizers, decorators, and even those who simply handled an unexpected errand for you somewhere along the way. Your wedding might not have happened if it wasn’t for all of these sometimes unseen helpers.

Sending The Notes

Some presents begin arriving before your nuptials, in particular from those who may not be able to attend for whatever reason. The clock starts when received, with a note generally due within a couple of weeks. Tradition allows for a longer timeline for gifts given on the wedding day, when you’re assumed to have a few months in order to respond. It’s important not to wait until you get too close to this deadline, since that will make the task feel more and more insurmountable. Begin sending them out as soon as possible, ideally within weeks of your wedding date.

What To Write

These replies are meant to be a personal gesture, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be formatted at all. If you have a long list of thank you notes, consider tucking a bit of the unique into a simple formula to help ease things along. Start with the traditional greeting, then express gratitude for the specific item. Next add details about how you plan to display or use this particular gift. Finally, add a personal note such as how much they mean to you, or when you hope to see them again. Sign it with kindest regards from both you and your spouse.

Courtesy Lindsey Creey Vineyards

Dress

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dress for future use. They also recommend special storage bags or compartments. This will extend the life of the gown, while making sure it doesn’t become faded, infested or frayed — mishaps that can happen even during a short amount of time in storage.

Make A Donation

Those without a concrete plan to hand down a dress may consider donating it. Local charitable organizations and some consignment shops can connect you with those in need. There are also larger national efforts like Brides Against Breast Cancer, which collects and sells donated dresses for the Nationwide Tour of Gowns. Proceeds help fund programs for patients and their families.

Selling Your Dress

If you’d like to recoup some of the cost of your dress, there are a variety of options available for those who’d like to sell. This is particularly attractive if the dress is valuable because of its designer or its one-of-a-kind features. Some companies have buy-back programs that make this process a breeze. A quick search will reveal a number of online options, as well as local in-person marketplaces. There are also companies devoted to buying and selling pre-owned gowns like yours, but they don’t typically pay as much as individual buyers.

Courtesy Jessie Frost Photography

Courtesy Twin Creeks River

Courtesy Mader Farm

Caterer

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much you’ll be charged. Some companies publicize their pricing structures, but more often you will have to meet to discuss your personal plans. They should draw up a fee schedule based on this conversation, and provide a written quote. This eliminates the possibility of a postwedding issue with payment.

Service Questions

Discuss whether they will provide additional needed items like linens, silverware and chairs. That will impact cost and, if not provided, will lead to the complication of arranging all of this with a separate vendor. Some companies also handle wedding cakes, which could

streamline that process, as well. Look for vendors who will only be catering your event on the scheduled day. If the wedding ends up as nothing more than a layover on their way to another job, you might not get the service you expected. Make sure you have multiple contact points, so that discussions can continue as the ceremony draws closer.

Money-Saving Options

To save money, limit bar service to only wine and beer. Morning and early afternoon weddings feature less-expensive menus items. You can also focus on stationary appetizers, rather than passed hors d’oeuvres. Limit the entree choices as much as possible.

Courtesy Lodge at River’s Edge

a florist or someone with the local extension service office more about area plants and when they’re in bloom.

Go Big (Once)

If your budget doesn’t allow for multiple showy arrangements, focus your florist’s attention on one show-stopper. Put it in a prominent place where it will receive the most notice, then down shift into lessexpensive settings elsewhere. You can also pair flowers that have bigger blooms with a

mix of structural items like branches that will fill out the arrangements without breaking the bank.

Make A Deal

Look for sales at local florists, or consider buying from a wholesaler. A word of caution: Buying in bulk means you can save a little, but you’ll also need to find someone with a florist’s expertise to arrange everything into something worthy of your big day.

Get Personal

A great way to stretch your

flower budget is to pair fewer blooms with more personal items. Take some time when still in the planning stages of your wedding to dig out beloved keepsakes or small pictures to give the space a more intimate, one-of-a-kind feel. Images from younger days are always a big hit. Look for photographs of departed family members, since that’s a great way to share the occasion with them.

Get Creative

Many venues offer their own

beauty, and that’s something money can’t buy. Be aware of the backdrop when setting up outside. Consider incorporating elements found on the grounds into your arrangements, settings and even your hair. If you’re getting married inside, open the windows or doors to showcase more of nature’s wonder. Take advantage of lighting options, or bring your own lamps, candles or other illumination. They’ll add just the right touch of ambiance, at no cost.

Courtesy I Do Wedding Coordinating

Courtesy Crystal & Twigs

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are transformed into place settings at the reception. Upcycle glass jars, wine bottles or tin cans for creative decorative elements. Use chalkboards or acrylic pieces that can be customized with erasable markers, rather than printing hundreds of programs, menus and name cards. Look for second-hand wedding items at local thrift shops, online marketplaces or garage sales.

Stay Local

Destination weddings have been a growing trend, but staying closer to home reduces pollution and greenhouse gases. It may feel like a small step, but consider how much more stress those long plane trips and taxi rides are putting on the world around us. A couple of hundred invited guests means 50 or more ride-share fares, each way — and that’s leaving aside the flight to your faraway exotic locale. Stay local, and encourage carpooling. Consider hiring a shuttle to bring large groups of people.

Post-Wedding Recycling

Place someone in the wedding party in charge of recycling everything that can used again after your big day. Consider composting flowers so that these materials can fortify gardens or other beddings. Private companies can also be hired to take care of certain eco-friendly chores. They’ll collect flowers, for instance, and repurpose them as gifts at area nursing homes, hospitals or shelters. In this way, the joy of your wedding spreads even further into the community.

Courtesy Big Canyon Acres

Space

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Consider the Guest Experience

Before landing on a specific venue, think about how the day will unfold. Will you want the ceremony and reception in the same location? Will you be allowed to design and decorate the space the way that you want? Is the cost of the venue within your budget? These are all critical questions that can help you narrow down your choices to a select few.

Talk to a Planner First

If organization is not typically your thing, you may consider talking to a wedding planner about getting these key details ironed out. Planners are likely more familiar with the capabilities of a space, the layout and the requirements needed to decorate it according to your needs. Planners likely have information on the decision-makers within each space, as well, and are more likely to have a history with negotiating costs with them.

Emergency

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Consider Your Goals

If you’re planning a modern wedding, look at venues that fit your vision. Places like art galleries or warehouses can be transformed to fit your design specifications. If you’re planning a more natural or rustic wedding, outdoor venues such as parks or a stylish backyard may be a better fit. Never settle and always research every option to make sure you can secure the best venue for your budget and goals.

Your Accommodations

There is no need in securing a giant venue if you’re planning on keeping your guest list small. Alternatively, if you choose a venue that is too small for your guest list and more guests attend than you were originally expecting, you may be caught in an awkward situation.

The number of expected guests should be a key factor in researching the size and layout of your venue.

Outdoor settings are increasingly popular for weddings, and they provide a variety of challenges — not least of which are smudges and running mascara, lipstick and foundation. Double check before taking pictures, and before saying “I do.” These critical extras from home may prove to be a lifesaver.

Re-Styling Items

Outdoor weddings are also a huge potential challenge to your carefully crafted hairstyle. Be prepared for a potentially

windy situation by tucking away a brush, additional bobby pinks and hairspray in your dressing area. Depending on the season, you may need to freshen up with perfume and deodorant, in particular after taking your pictures. Bring any additional needed toiletries.

Sewing Kit

Wardrobe malfunctions happen, so pack an assortment of threads, needles, scissors and safety pins just in case. You’ll either need to master the skill of emergency sewing, or ensure that a trusted bridesmaid, matron or family friend is on hand in case of accidental tears, stepped on hems or other mishaps.

Just knowing all of these things are available can significantly lower stress during what always promises to be a very busy schedule.

A Little Snack

With everything else that’s going on, you may not make time to eat and hydrate enough along the way. Nourishing yourself is critical to carrying everything off without a hitch. At the same time, however, you don’t want to overindulge. So don’t forget a few small, healthy snacks like nuts, granola or protein bars — and a few bottles of water, too. They’ll help you be at your best when it’s time to join together in matrimony before family and friends.

Courtesy Crystal & Twigs