April Showers, SPRING FLOWERS!

Although it seems like a far-fetched idea, Spring is right around the corner! With a new season comes a new wave of flowers ready to bloom. A way to keep flowers costs down is to use flowers that are in season. This limits the exportation of flowers which raises your decor price easily. It is good to remember that some flowers stay in bloom longer than others, stretching into a second season of flowers. Here are some of the favorites for the spring season:

Available in multiple colors, this flower is perfect for a day-time wedding.
Late March

Some think that viburnum is an accent for bouquets and arrangements, but the beauty of viburnum can hold its own in a bouquet, accented with green leaves and flowers.
Mid-April

The flower associated with romance, roses have a long blooming period.
Early-May

My favorite flower, a peony, is available in shades of pink, white, purple and more. They can be used as tight buds or open and full (even fuller than in the photo!)
Mid-May

Asiatic Lily's are commonly used in white or orange.
Mid-June

                                                             

Tipping Cheat Sheet!

Tips are not an obligation for the Bride and Groom, so do not consider it mandatory to provide one. A tip is a token of gratitude for wonderful service, beyond what is contracted of the vendor. Make sure you read your contract thoroughly; Some vendors and caterers include gratuity in their final cost. Most company owners do not expect a tip, they are normally reserved for employees. A personal note, glowing online review or a professional wedding day photo is a wonderful gesture of gratitude instead.

Plan to budget for gratuity when creating your list of expenses. Plan to distribute the tips at the conclusion of the event. Prior to the wedding, ideally the night before, allocate the funds into individual labeled envelopes and trusted to a bridal attendant, trusted family member or the wedding coordinator.

Here is a Tipping "Cheat Sheet" to help you with any tipping confusion:

Wedding Planner: Tipping your wedding planner is optional, based on service. Situations in which you may want to tip as a "thank you" include the planner going above and beyond their obligations, or a large discount you may have received. 10-20% of their contracted price is a great number.

Caterer: 15-20% is an appropriate range if gratuity is not included in the contract. You can also offer $50-100 to the chef and $20-50 per server.

Photographer and Videographer: Tips are not expected if they are the owner(s) of the company. $50-200 is a nice gesture if they do not own the company. $50-100 per shooter if there are more than one. The amount of shooters will be stated in your contract.

Officiant: Officiants normally do not accept tips, but a $100 donation to their church is a wonderful way to say thank you. If the Officiant is non-denominational, consider giving them $100 as a tip.

DJ: Most DJs carry their own equipment, transporting it to the location of the event. 10-15% is a great way to show appreciation for bringing the energy to your reception.

Band: $25-50 per musician/band member

Hair and Makeup: Like any professional salon visit, a tip of 15-20% of the total bill is expected but not mandatory.

Transportation: 15% if not included in the contract.

Floral and Decor: Florists do not expect a tip, but if they do an exceptional job, you can consider giving a 10-15% tip

Open-Bar versus Consumption Bar

Bride and Grooms are faced with a lot of decisions during their planning, but an unexpected decision couples encounter is deciding between a Consumption Bar or Package Bar. 

Choosing a Consumption Bar, you are charged a confirmed price per each drink that is consumed during your event.  You only pay for what you and your guests actually drink.

Choosing a Package Bar, you are commonly given a price based on the amount of guests for your event and the total amount of hours your event will be. This price is charged regardless of the amount consumed during the night.

Here are a few questions to ask yourself when contemplating which bar suits you:

1. How comfortable are you with not knowing your bill until the end of the night? Consumption bars are not totaled until the end of the event. 
2. What is your guest list like? Are there more young adults? Children? Does your family like to party? If you have a group that like to drink, a flat rate would be best to avoid any surprise costs at the end of the night.
3. How long is your event? Guests will typically consume on average 1-2 drinks an hour. You can consider closing the bar at a certain time of the night (i.e for dinner, instead serving wine and/or champagne for toasts).

Another option for controlling costs, is to request a limited selection for the bar. You can choose beer, wine and a signature cocktail for the night, instead of a full bar of top shelf liquor. 

Budget Survival Tip: Florals - Hydrangea

Flowers are a major part of most wedding décor. It is in every room, in every ceremony, and in every guests eyesight. You don't have to spend thousands of dollars on large centerpieces completely covered in roses, or orchids. A great way to save some money without skimping on beauty is using hydrangea. Hydrangea not only gives fullness to a centerpiece, bouquet or any décor, but it is less expensive and comes in a variety of colors. You can always find hydrangea year-round. Adding roses, orchids, succulents, or ranunculus to a bouquet of hydrangea creates a stunning composition that will look like a thousand bucks to all of your guests. Here are some hydrangea décor ideas: