Cake Time,

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A wedding cake is important to the traditional wedding for its looks and its great taste. But, when it comes down to picking the perfect cake, does a bride and groom know everything there is to know? The cost of cakes can easily be a few hundreds of dollars if they are not careful. The question is, how can a couple save money for a cake? What options are out there?

I did my own research. First I wanted to know how much the typical wedding cake averages. According to The Bridal Association of America from an article Wedding Cake Cost- How much does a wedding cake cost, “the average cost of a wedding cake is $543”. In my opinion, this is pricey. My wedding is around the corner and I do not think I would be spending this much for a cake at my wedding. However, every cake ranges depending on different factors a couple will decide on. For example, the more complicated or fancy the cake is, the more expensive it will be because the labor. I believe creating a wedding cake is a work of art and bakers want it to be perfect for the bride and groom.

When choosing a wedding cake, a bride and groom should first start with preferred bakers their wedding planner, coordinator, or venue offers. This gives great ideas of where to begin looking. Once a few places are chosen begin to researching online. Look at reviews other costumers have written. Also most bakers will have a photo gallery on their website for cakes they have done for special events. This will give an idea of what quality of work that certain company provides. Once decided on a place, the next step is to actually go visit in person or set an appointment. At the appointment, the staff should give a couple ideas of what they have done with past events, and a cake testing to try the different flavors.  It is a great idea to provide photos or ideas to show the staff what you are looking for in your wedding cake. Most importantly, before leaving, a bride and groom should have discussed enough with their baker of what to expect, so there are no surprises.

What to keep in mind?

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From an article “The Wedding Cake Prices Guide”, broke down of what to keep in mind when determining what cake a couple is looking for in 7 categories.

“1. The icing or frosting.  There are many choices such as rolled fondant, marzipan, white chocolate, milk or dark chocolate frosting, royal icing, chocolate ganache, flavored buttercream, and the list can go on and on! According to this article rolled fondant and marzipan are the most expensive. Rolled fondant and marzipan are quite delicate and can tear easily during the process if not applied with experienced hands, also a fair bit of labor goes into rolling a perfectly smooth and even canvas for the decorations. 

 2. Cake Decorating. The decorations will vary depending on what icing is chosen and also the theme of the wedding. It can be limitless! If a couple prefers a cake covered in either buttercream or ganach, then the best choice for decorations are swirls, patterns, fresh flowers, or a satin ribbon. Looking at wedding cakes online can give ideas for inspiration. 

3. Layer Structure. The more cake layers or tiers the cake has, the more costly it becomes. Also the size of the tiers also increase the overall cake price. 

4. Cake Shape. A simple round shaped cake is the least expensive as far as shape is concerned. Most wedding cake bakeries will have all the round baking tray sizes. The square shape is also quite common but a little less than the round. However, if you are wanting an oval shaped cake, a heart shaped cake or something less common. These cake pans may need to be especially ordered to make your cake. 

5. Cake Size.  The size of your wedding cake is a direct reflection of your guest list. The larger the wedding cake, or the more complex in design. 

6. How Many Servings.  This of course depends on your guest list – and whether or not you're keeping the top tier to celebrate your first wedding anniversary – if so, then you'll need to order an extra layer or tier to feed your guests. 

7. Wedding Cake Toppers.  The wedding cake topper can be as simple as a small bouquet of fresh flowers or silk flowers – to a crystal monogrammed topper, photo frame topper, heart shaped topper, blown glass topper, themed topper or costumed made caricature topper of the bride and groom” (The Wedding Cake Prices Guide).

 TO BE CONTINUED...

But I Really Want That Dress

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Purchasing a wedding dress can be either the best or the worst parts of planning a wedding. It can be the best because of course every bride wants to look her absolute best on her big day, but also the worst because it can break the wedding budget! Why do brides spend so much on a dress? How much should a bride spend? What are ways to save?

The wedding gown is probably one of the most emotional purchases a bride will decide on. TLC’s reality series “Say Yes to the Dress” is a show where a bride brings family or friends to find that perfect dress. Sale associates work with the bride by giving advice, help with body image concerns, her budget, or other challenges. This show is a great example to see how a financial plan can be broken so easily. Sometimes we see a bride with a strict budget. The bride will try on a few dresses and wanted more than what the sales associate was pulling for her. Finally she tried on a dress with everyone “owwhing and awhhing” and said yes before looking at the price tag. In this case, parents or other family give a little more cash to get the bride exactly what she wants just because she tried on a dress out of her “strict budget”. Brides-to-be do not make this mistake, stay on budget!  Other brides on this show have some ridiculous budget for example 10,000 dollars for a dress she will only wear once then leave in a box. Also that is 10,000 of the wedding budget going to one cost.  On average “a bride will try on four to seven gowns” (Klein) before saying yes to a dress.

I believe brides spend so much money on a dress because women are more likely to make a fashion statement on special occasions. Also they have not done enough research. I encourage a bride-to-be to try on dresses from a variety of bridal shops, not only one. There are plenty of dresses on sale, for rent, pre-owned,  or under a few hundred dollars that will look just as beautiful as that 10,000 dollar dress. Also a bride can put use some creativity and make her own accessories for the gown. The most important thing to keep in mind is the budget! A bride should spend “about 5% of the wedding budget on the dress” (Strauss).

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Renee Strauss also gives some great idea of what to keep in mind when searching for the wedding gown. “Keep an open mind there are some elements that come into play when buying a dress and how much it will cost. The fabrication, is the dress made of silk organza, satin duchese, silk faille- the style and quality of material can affect the cost. Secondly, point of origin. Renee expresses how a gown from a European atelier incorporating silk faille from Italy and Alencon lace from France is going to cost more than a mass- marketed item. Lastly, the designer label. A signature gown from a renowned designer will always cost more than a standard brand” (Strauss).

--Here is a link to a video on how to money on wedding gowns

--I also wanted to share a video on a do-it-yourself wedding Tulle

References

Ennesser, J. (2013, February 14). Wedding DIY: Tulle Headpiece [Video File]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0R9PQmTt1Gw&list=UUE5BmTOSgRj_G88bFnQ5TEQ&index=1

Jennings, B., & Brooks, E. (2011, April 13). Save Money on Wedding Gowns and Formal Dresses (The Frugalicious Show) [Video File]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Sz9Y-SRezU

Klein, K. O. (n.d.). Shopping for Wedding Dress - Wedding Dress Shopping Tips | Wedding Planning, Ideas & Etiquette. Bridal Guide Magazine. Retrieved February 19, 2013, from http://www.bridalguide.com/fashion/wedding-dress-shopping-guide/wedding-dress-shopping-tips?page=0%2C1

Strauss, R. (2012, January 13). How Much Should You Spend on a Wedding Dress?Discovery Networks: Blogs. Retrieved February 19, 2013, from http://blogs.discovery.com/brides-of-beverly-hills/2012/01/how-much-should-you-spend-on-a-wedding-dress.html

Wedding Planner vs. Wedding Coordinator

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As we all heard before planning a wedding is stressful. It takes time, money, organization, and creativity. This is why it is important to think about hiring a wedding planner or a wedding coordinator. The question is which one should a couple use? Is there really a difference between the two? Some would say that a wedding planner is needed, and others would say a wedding coordinator is best. Some tasks are some for both positions; however I wanted to find more information for myself.

A wedding planner is a “seasoned professional who can confidently guide you through the entire wedding planning process” (Swanson). This is beneficial because having another person to help plan the special day would reduce stress by managing and organizing all the details. Also a wedding planner can help save money for brides and grooms. “Wedding planners can help save money because of their established relationships with vendors” (Gazza). Therefore, brides and grooms can get suggestions for food, a well-known photographer in town, DJ’s, and the list goes on. Having these recommendations for vendors decreases the time for a couple to search for a vendor on their own.  A planner would first listen to the couples ideas of what is expected or envisioned for the wedding then the planner would “pursue options, seek the best deals, and present their ideas and suggestions” (Gazza).  Wedding planners are supposed to be there for the couple and they help with answering any questions along the way. Essentially Dena Gazza describes the role of a wedding planner is to “help create a budget, save money, save time, negotiate with vendors, have a strong base of knowledge, creativity, and experience on current trends in the industry, provide advice on issues such as etiquette, and lastly serve as an advocate, counselor, and friend” (Gazza). My opinion is that if a couple is planning on having a big wedding then a wedding planner can play an essential role for literally everything building up to the big day by fitting a brides and grooms needs, style, and personality. On the other hand if it was a small wedding, close family and a few friends, than maybe a wedding planner is not needed as much.

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A wedding coordinator “is not necessarily deeply involved with the wedding plans” (Swanson).  Wedding coordinators will show on the day of the rehearsal to make sure that the wedding will run smooth. They would gather all of the vendor’s information and create a timeline for the day of the wedding. “The coordinator’s role is to decrease stress and ensure a smooth, seamless process for the bride and the families on this special day. Gazza also refers to a wedding coordinators role is to review the timeline of events and activities for the ceremony and/or reception, maintain open communication between the bride, families, and officiates, serve as the “go-to” person for any issues that may arise, and work with florist, musicians, and officiate, providing details and making sure no detail is forgotten” (Gazza).  

For myself, I have a wedding planner. However I did not know that a wedding planner and a wedding coordinator were two different professions. Through my research I came to the conclusion that both can be valuable to the wedding planning process and importantly, couples should understand what they are getting into. So far my wedding planner Elizabeth is the most helpful, sweetest woman that is helping me avoid hardship, frustration or disappointment. She helps me weigh my options accordingly and considers my needs and concerns mostly because she is very experienced with her profession. 

Works Cited

Gazza, Dena. "Wedding Planners versus Wedding Coordinators: Is There A Difference?"Nittany Weddings. N.p., 2 Feb. 2013. Web. 12 Feb. 2013. <http://www.nittanyweddings.com/wedding-planning-articles/wedding-planners-versus-wedding-coordinators-is-there-a-difference/>.

Swanson, Angel. "Wedding Coordinator vs. Wedding Planner." Weddingbee PRO. N.p., 17 Dec. 2008. Web. 12 Feb. 2013. <http://www.weddingbeepro.com/2008/12/17/wedding-coordinator-vs-wedding-planner/>.

Finding the Perfect Venue

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When couples start on their search for a wedding venue there are a few things to keep in mind. The couple might want to consider if they want the ceremony and reception in the same place, how much of the budget should be spent, how many guest are attending, or what theme/style the couple is looking for. But, do not get too worried. I narrowed some helpful hints to keep in mind.

First, once it is decided of how many guests plan on attending, couples need to look for “a venue that will have enough space to accommodate your entire party” (The Knot). The first hint to keep in mind for a wedding venue is how much space the venue provides for everything. Another thing to think about is the wedding program. If couples plan on having a reception at the same place, then it would be smart to also accommodate the space for the dance floor, band/DJ, and seating. Having space will help the flow on the day of the wedding.

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Secondly, think carefully about typical weather during the season and month on the date picked to be married. Weather will play a big factor on this big day. We never know if it is going to be raining, too hot, or extremely windy. For example if it is an outdoor wedding, plan on getting married during a dry season. Also I would provide a tent or some form of shading for my guest. If it during the winter plan on picking a venue that is sure to have heating all indoors.

Thirdly, "when searching for a venue, keep in mind the style and theme” (TLC). These are key factors in selecting a venue. Choose a location that is consistent with the style. For example, I knew I wanted a country wedding. Therefore I looked and kept looking until I found this place called the Stevenson Ridge. It has a country touch to the entire destination, with barns and acres of grass etc. This venue would be able to match my style and theme for my wedding I had envisioned.

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Fourthly, if a couple is getting married at a separate location from the reception site,  they want to make sure that your guest do not drive more than about 30 minutes between both locations. With this couples may need to consider the traffic on that day of the week. It is all about proximity. Proximity to lodging as well. If out of town guest are attending, be sure to pick a venue that have a variety of hotels nearby.

Finally, couples must keep in mind about their budget! Select a venue that is up-front about their fees, deposits, service charges, and other charges. Some venues have a price that only covers certain features, however to make it easier upon couples, find a venue that includes or provides a setup, cleanup, tables, chairs, linens etc. Ideally the “venue should be about half of your budget” (The Nest).

Do not feel rushed when it comes to looking at venues. The first place you find may be ideal or it could take looking at another 5, 6 other venues to suit you perfectly. 

Works Cited

Kemp, S., & Media, D. (n.d.). What Percentage of a Wedding Budget Goes to the Venue? - Budgeting Money. Budgeting Money - The Nest. Retrieved February 3, 2013, from http://budgeting.thenest.com/percentage-wedding-budget-goes-venue-25635.html

Obenschain, C. (n.d.). "How to Choose the Best Wedding Reception Site for Your Personality".TLC. Retrieved February 3, 2013, from http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/weddings/how-to-choose-best-wedding-reception-site.htm

Wedding Reception Planning: Finding a Wedding Reception Location. (n.d.). TheKnot.com. Retrieved February 3, 2013, from http://wedding.theknot.com/live-tv.aspx?bf=http%3a%2f%2fwedding.theknot.com%2fwedding-planning%2fwedding-reception-planning%2farticles%2ffinding-a-wedding-reception-location.aspx