Tickled Pink Brides - Orlando, Florida's Premier Wedding Planner

Wedzu.com ... The Online Bridal Hot Spot!

If Etsy.com was your number 1 site on your "Favorites" or "Bookmarks" then get ready to swoon like crazy over Wedzu.com!  I thank my lucky stars that I came across this gem the other night while Googling galore.  This site has every cute, crafty, creative element for your wedding!  Everything from invitations, jewelry, flower girl accessories and dresses, bridal gowns (yes! gowns! and they're so chic!), bath and beauty products and even sweet edible confections!  It really is a one stop shop for handmade beauty.  There are products for the "J.Crew-esque" bride, traditional bride, trendy bride and the indie-bride.  It's extremely easy to navigate and with prices that will make you smile, there is no reason to not check it out immediately!  It was practically impossible to pick out some of my favorite things to put below but I did manage.  After you give them a look, flee right on over to Wedzu!  It is so necessary :)

The "To Have and To Hold" Ring Bearer Bowl

This darling clutch comes in tons of color options.  What an adorable gift for your bridesmaids! Love!

 

This necklace just makes me jump for joy! Throw that bad boy on for your reception to totally change your look.  Or for the super trendy bride, you can totally wear it for the ceremony.  P.S. it's under $100.00! 

Every bride needs some pampering....what's better than creamy goat's milk and chamomile soap?

 Bridal Gowns!  Too good to be true!

  

There is no way this is a paper flower! Its amazing!

 And this is only the beginning...there are so many super fabulous items.  It's a wedding extravaganza! Happy looking!

Great Groomsmen Gifts!

If I know anything, it's how hard it is to find that "to die for" gift for any guy!  Every birthday and holiday I am forced to think and think and google and google for that perfect present.  The same applies for your groomsmen!  To make your life that much easier I've selected some meaningful keepsakes that will not only be something your groomsmen will appreciate, but also a symbol of your friendship and appreciation of them being a part of your big day!  

Check out this flask from Things Remembered.  The price is fabulous and you can get creative with their multiple styles or by engraving it with their name, initials, your wedding date or even a personalized message!

For those outdoor boys, try a monogrammed Captain's folding chair.  For those big sports fans, put a logo of their favorite sports team on the back!  The best part of this chair found on ImprintedLogo.com?  It's under $20.00!

This dart board from DartBoards.com caught my eye as a fun, unique gift that your guys would love to use with their buddies on any night!

Lastly, for those with a taste and love for wine... try one of these personalized wine accessories.  Maybe you could even throw a bottle of wine in there just for good measure :) 

Rustic Wedding Details

With so many brides adding DIY touches to their wedding day it only seems appropriate that rustic, homespun details are on the forefront!  What a fun way to add flair that is all about you and your new family.  There is no easier way to add personalized touches that are appealing and will make your guests feel comfortable and right at home.  These details are easy to do and will bring smiles to your guest and to your wallet!  If your wedding is more formal, don't be afraid to use these subtly.  Think about using them in your florals or maybe a cute photo booth option.  The best part about these items is their versatility and the ability to be crafty... Make the most of it!

    

Photos Courtesy of Style Me Pretty 

  Lead guests to your wedding with homemade wooden wedding signs!

 

            Add a rustic feel with your centerpieces and chairs, or a pop of color with bright paper lanterns.

Use carnations or mums pinned onto foam letters to greet guests at the wedding's entrance.
Photo courtesy of Wedding On The Brain 

Use mason jars and white twinkle lights for creative lighting with a lot of Southern charm!

Event Planning App for iPhone

Brides and planners alike will love this new iPhone app for event planners called Super Planner, released this past week by industry expert Howard Givner.  I've downloaded it already and am impressed by the easy-to-use format and the detailed information that will make logistics planning a breeze.  

Imagine visiting a wedding venue you're interested in and being told that the per person pricing is $150++.  The first plus (+) is for service fees, and the second is for tax.  Most venues tax the service fee.  In order to help you budget accordingly, you'll need to find out how much you are really paying per person after service fees and tax.  Plug your headcount, the $150 per person charge, your tax rate and service fee percentage into the Super Planner app, and instantly you'll find the real charge per person.  

 Wondering how much alcohol to buy or how many hors d'ouevres to plan on during cocktail hour?  The app does that, too.

 Trying to determine how many guests you can fit into the ballroom?  Choose your table size and enter the room's square footage and you'll have an answer instantly.

 What size linens should you order for the dinner reception?  You'll get those answers, too!

 Finally, set the perfect table with Super Planner's place setting diagram.

 I have a feeling that I'll be using this App so frequently, it's worth the $9.99 charge.  If you're ready to try it, download the app in the iTunes store either online or on your iPhone.  Already tried Super Planner?  We'd love to hear what you think of it!

Budgeting Your Wedding

    Last week, Gainesville, FL wedding planner extraordinaire Melissa diStefano of MasterPiece Weddings wrote a relevant and funny letter "To the Parents of the Bride" on her blog, Adventures in Wedding Planning.  In it, she breaks down your overall wedding budget into smaller percentages, and explains why each category is important.  Spend a few minutes reading-- any wedding professional or bride-to-be (who is trying to explain to her parents why the wedding costs so much) will relate.

I am so excited your daughter (or son) is getting married! This is just such a fantastic time in your family's lives! Along with this joy comes the over-whelming feeling of -ACK! We have to plan a wedding! And those things are expensive. I know that weddings seem like an astronomical expense and it’s hard to fathom spending that kind of money on a party. But let’s talk about where that money typically goes so that you can get a good feel for how much things cost and why.

Because frankly, I don’t think that the bride wants the local grocery store to do her flowers, or Cousin Marvin with a really nice camera to take her pictures. I like to say that there are 5 F’s to a wedding: Food, Flowers, Foto’s, Fashion and Fun. Those are the biggies, and after that, everything else is cake. (Pun is intended).

Food: Food costs are typically 50% of your budget, that’s what you eat and where you are eating it. So if you your budget is $30,000, that’s $15,000 for food and venue.

Are you with me so far?

Flowers: This amount absolutely depends on both the total budget and what the bride wants. Some brides want a TON of flowers, others really don’t care for them, or their venue is a garden then you really don’t need them. But typically the flowers are about 10% to 15% of the total budget. So going back to the $30,000, that’s between $3,000 and $4500. Keeping in mind that this accounts for all the bouquets, corsages, and centerpieces.

Still with me?

Foto’s: I know its spelled wrong, but it goes with the 5 F’s, so deal with it. This is a hard area to comprehend. Good photography is expensive. Professional Photography is not expensive it’s priceless! I personally didn’t have a professional photographer and look what I ended up with. But anyway, back to what I was saying. You can hire a photographer for $1500, but what you may end up getting, grainy images, out of focus, no album (and really, why would you want one with a bunch of crappy pictures of their wedding) and I am not saying that all $1500 photographers are bad, but buyer beware.

Photography, good, Professional Photography should start about $3000-$3500 (and could go up to more than $5500). And you will have amazing images. Depending on your area of the country photography could start higher or lower. Photography should be 15%-20% of your budget.

Fashion: This is for the dress, what the bride wears, since typically the grooms tux is complimentary from your Tuxedo Boutique. The Brides dress is usually 5%-10% of the budget.

Are you still there?

Fun: This would be the entertainment, and this would also typically take 2-5% of the budget. The band or DJ would come out of this percentage. Depending on your area, a DJ on average is about $100+ per hour per person attending the job, so if you have 2 DJ’s then the price would typically be $175-$200 per hour.

And really, the rest is cake, and some miscellaneous items, invitations, a wedding planner…really an extra 20%-25% of miscellaneous stuff.

Okay, so that’s more than 100% but you get the point. I hope this makes more sense to you, I know that planning a party for 200 of your closest friends and family is not something you do every day.

Trust me, I know that. And if you need help planning, a professional wedding planner is a good idea. We can at least get you started on the hard stuff, go over contracts, make sure you aren’t making any decisions you’d regret.

Let us help you. Really it’s okay.

With love! And Happy Planning!

New Wedding Cost Calculator

   

 Wondering what couples in your own state or around the country are spending on their weddings?  Try Real Simple's Wedding Cost Calculator, with statistics brought to you by Costofwedding.com.  The breakdown is very detailed, and is a good estimate for brides-to-be who are just starting their wedding planning.  You can select any of the 50 states, and compare states to see the different in wedding spending trends.  Below are the stats on my sunshine state of Florida:

Attire: $1,883 to $3,115
Bride accessories: $239 to $396
Groom accessories: $126 to $208
Groom suit/tux: $173 to $286
Hair/makeup service: $126 to $208
Headpiece/veil: $224 to $371
Wedding dress: $995 to $1,646

Ceremony: $2,170 to $3,590
Ceremony accessories: $140 to $232
Ceremony decorations: $418 to $691
Ceremony location: $488 to $808
Officiate/pastor/priest: $175 to $290
Rehearsal dinner: $949 to $1,569

Entertainment: $2,419 to $4,003
Ceremony/reception band: $1,426 to $2,359
Ceremony/reception DJ: $544 to $901
Ceremony/reception musicians: $449 to $743

Flowers: $1,520 to $2,517
Boutonnieres/corsages: $133 to $220
Bride bouquet: $113 to $188
Bridesmaid bouquets: $181 to $300
Ceremony flowers: $324 to $537
Flower girl flowers: $37 to $61
Reception flowers: $732 to $1,211

Gifts and Favors: $763 to $1,263
Gifts for attendant: $353 to $585
Gifts for each other: $285 to $471
Gifts for parents: $125 to $207

Invitations and Stationery: $721 to $1,194
Bridal shower invitations: $75 to $125
Guestbook: $37 to $61
Invitations & reply cards: $319 to $528
Personal stationery: $101 to $167
Save the date cards: $123 to $204
Thank you cards: $66 to $109

Jewelry: $4,624 to $7,651
Engagement ring: $3,441 to $5,693
Her ring: $694 to $1,149
His ring: $489 to $809

Honeymoon/Planning: $3,767 to $6,231
Honeymoon: $2,771 to $4,584
Bridal consultant/planner: $996 to $1,647

Photographer/Videographer: $2,624 to $4,341
Photographer: $1,520 to $2,514
Videographer: $1,104 to $1,827

Reception: $11,688 to $19,338
Reception beverages/bartender: $1,656 to $2,740
Bride/groom hotel: $208 to $344
Cake: $400 to $663
Cake knife set: $32 to $53
Cake topper: $31 to $51
Reception decorations/centerpieces: $800 to $1,324
Favors: $267 to $442
Reception food service: $5,639 to $9,329
Reception location: $1,834 to $3,034
Reception rentals: $821 to $1,358

Transportation: $724 to $1,198
Car rental: $226 to $374
Limo rental: $498 to $824

Average Cost of 2009 Weddings

Market research shows that this year in the United States, 2.2 million weddings will take place with an average spending of $20,398 each.  That's about 25,000 more weddings than last year, but spending $1,500 less each than we saw in 2008.  People don't stop getting married, they just need to balance their budget more carefully and spend wisely to achieve the same best-day-of-your life results.  What does this mean for you?

If you, your fiance, and family are looking to cut back on wedding spending this year, be sure to read these 5 tips to ensure the biggest bang for your buck!

1.  Consider hiring an event planner/coordinator.  When you work with a professional wedding planner, her connections with local vendors and experience in reviewing and negotiating contracts will ensure that you get better products and services at the best possible rate.  

2.  Scour the internet (good job, you've already accomplished this one!).  So many tips and tricks are available online, including DIY project how-tos that will save you money on details like favors, save-the-dates, and accessories.  

3.  Ask for help.  If your sister is a craft genius, your aunt is basically Betty Crocker, and your mom is a fabulous seamstress, don't be afraid to enlist their help.  This saves you time and money, and chances are they will be honored to contribute to your wedding celebration.  Not paying retail prices for invitations, guest favors, your cake and wedding gown can save you well over $2,000!  

4.  Open a Wedding Registry Account.  Some banks are now matching funds received into wedding registry accounts, growing the size of your cash gifts.  Meridian Trust adds $30 for every $1,000 deposited in your account, and the Bank of Utah will match up to $300 in a savings account when it's applied toward a new mortgage.  SunTrust Mortgage also allows your guests to contribute to a home-savings account, to be applied toward a mortgage.

5.  Host an atypical wedding.  Have your wedding on a Friday night, host a backyard afternoon gathering at your parents' house, or invite guests to a ceremony and Sunday brunch at a great restaurant or hotel.  All of these will save money on venue, food and beverage, and you can get away with not paying for all of the typical wedding costs.  Everything costs more on a Saturday night, so basically any other day and time can cut expenses.  Daytime weddings don't usually end up with as heavy a bar bill as night time, and the food can be simpler and less expensive than dinner.  Have fun with the limitless ideas, and spend your money on the top 3 most important things to you.

How Important Is Your Wedding Gown?

    Even in this economic downturn, many brides are unwilling to skimp on one wedding day aspect that matters so much---the gown!  Smaller budgets are causing more brides to think twice on other priorities, though it seems wedding gown sales are remaining high.  "It's OK if you have a few less flowers -- no one will notice. But you have to have your hair done, makeup done, great shoes and a great dress," says Tatiana Byron, who founded The Wedding Salon bridal expo event. 

    High-end bridal salons are finding that more brides come into the store with budgets, though they have yet to lose customers that find a gown they love--even if it is out of their initial price range.  It's a magical moment to finally be able to visualize yourself walking down the aisle or dancing your first dance, and the gown has everything to do with that vision.  Even brides who think gown prices are steep often come to realize that the wedding is your one (hopefully!) chance to get away with something elaborate, glamorous, and stylish.  Every bride wants to feel like a million dollars as she approaches her man at the altar!

    So what happens when the gown you love has a price tag you don't love?  If it's your priority, you'll have to cut back elsewhere.  To really reduce costs in other areas, have the wedding on a Friday or Sunday; serve heavy hors d'ouevres instead of a full dinner; reduce the bar to wine and beer.  Hey- a girl's got to do what a girl's got to do!

    If you've got a tight budget, what areas are you cutting back on, and what priorities are you unwilling to skimp on? 

How to Budget Wedding Costs

 

      I've spoken with countless brides about average wedding costs, estimates of their wedding spending, and how much they are allocating to different budget categories.  It seems that no two brides are the same and most do not know what to expect when trying to finance the party of their life.  How much is too much to spend on a wedding gown?  Is $5,000 excessive for flowers?  Why can't you find a DJ for under $1,000?  Don't worry...other brides are asking the same questions and most just want a general rule of thumb when trying to understand how and on what to spend their money.
    To break it down, here's a simple index of wedding spending percentages to show you what is typical no matter your total budget.  Remember, you can always spend more or less on any category--just remember that to stay within your ideal budget, you'll have to modify elsewhere!

Food/Beverage            45%
Photography/Video      15%
Flowers                        8%
Invitations                    6%
Music                           5%
Ceremony                     5%
Attire                           3%
Cake                            2%
Transportation              2%
Wedding rings               2%
Miscellaneous               7%

Wedding Total             100%

Cost of a 'Sex and the City' Wedding

    For all you Sex and the City fans out there, this one's for you! 

If you are Carrie Bradshaw's biggest fan (I love her, too), then I know you are tapping your foot and checking your watch for the big release of the Sex and the City movie.  Buy your tickets ahead online now!  Since the previews and reviews have spread the news that Carrie and Big are to be married in the movie, I thought we could examine the potential cost of their on-screen wedding.  The New York Post covered the filming and each detail that went into the wedding scene.  If after seeing the film this weekend you are inspired to throw your own Bradshaw-Big wedding, here is what you can expect:

Carrie is wearing a Vivienne Westwood gown.  Along with the veil, the price of Carrie's wedding gown starts at $18,000.  Average U.S. cost for a wedding gown: $1500

The Christian Dior "Gladiator platforms" Carrie wears for her wedding day cost $770.  Interested?  You can find them on eLuxury.com.  Want them covered in rhinestones?  Add another $100.

Bridesmaids, beware.  Think $300 is pricey to ask your girlfriends to pay for their dresses?  Try $3,000.  The Zac Posen dresses that Miranda wears as a bridesmaid costs $5,300 for floor-length, $3,200 for knee-length.

At the wedding, Carrie carries a bouquet of white roses and ranunculus, costing upward of $350 for the single bouquet.  Her bridesmaids' bouquets would cost around $200 each. 

Want to host your next big event in the same place Carrie does?  The reception is held at New York Public Library's Astor Hall and McGraw Rotunda.  The price for renting the space starts at $50,000.  Don't forget to add on the price of a ceremony space (the library does not allow ceremonies) and transportation to your reception.

Overall, Carrie and Big's Sex and the City wedding would easily cost upward of $1 Million.  Compared to the average U.S. wedding cost of $28,732, this event is definitely not one to be missed!  Have fun at the movies, and let me know how you like it!  I'm seeing it myself Friday!