How To Put On A Wedding For Under $5000: Guest Accommodations

There are many important facets to a wedding, and for the most part each can be very expensive.

• Bride’s Dress
• Groom’s Tuxedo
• Venue
• Photographer
• Flowers
• Catering
• Cake
• Wedding Reception
• Guest accommodations
• Honeymoon

Ninth of 10 Posting series.

Guest Accommodations

The important thing to remember is that guests pay for their own rooms, but some planning on your part can get them affordable prices. It’s never too early to start shopping for suitable wedding guest accommodations for your out-of-town guests especially if it falls on or near a major holiday. You have an obligation to make your out-of-town guests as comfortable as possible. They’re coming a long way to share your celebration with you. By taking a little time and effort to get them the best possible wedding guest accommodations, you assure that their memories of your wedding will be as wonderful as yours.

Your priorities should be location, cost and services. Most guests prefer lodging that’s close to the airport and the wedding sites. Booking wedding guest accommodations in the same hotel where you’ll hold your reception is especially convenient for guests without access to their own transportation. Plus you have the leverage of contract that you are entering into to get the best price possible. There are several factors that affect room rates, including season or time of year, where and when your wedding takes place, and the number of competing area hotels. Many hotels offer special packages and discount blocks of rooms. Pre-booking rooms should guarantee availability and prices.

Many hotels find that July, August and November, are less popular and, as a result, make better offers. But lodging is in such demand during June and December that discounts often are smaller. Keep your guests’ financial situations in mind when making your wedding guest accommodations. The arrangements you make are an option, not a requirement, for your guests. If you can’t find a site that’s ideal for all of them, reserve rooms at two different sites and allow them to choose.

Welcome your out-of-town guests, even if you can’t do it in person. Have a welcoming gesture – floral arrangement, fruit basket or other treat – placed in their rooms. Provide brochures and information about local sights and attractions, as well as details about wedding events and their locations. Attach a list of other wedding guests staying at the same site. This encourages get-togethers, can help break the ice and can transform an unfamiliar setting into something more pleasurable.

Check out the following links for quality dependable service and affordable prices.

www.hiexpress.com Holiday Inn Express

www.ComfortInn.com Comfort Inns and Suites

info@redlion.com Red Lion Hotels

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How To Put On A Wedding For Under $5000: Wedding Reception

There are many important facets to a wedding, and for the most part each can be very expensive.

• Bride’s Dress
• Groom’s Tuxedo
• Venue
• Photographer
• Flowers
• Catering
• Cake
• Wedding Reception
• Guest accommodations
• Honeymoon

Eighth of 10 Posting series.

Wedding Reception

There are a lot of creative solutions to saving money at your wedding reception. The most obvious is to limit the number of guests you invite. Consider having your wedding reception at someone's home, your home, a club, park or museum or even a fire hall. If you've discovered the perfect reception site but it's not quite big enough to hold all of your guests, increase its size with a tent.

Your outdoor ceremony’s contingency plan should be one that you love, not one you will grudgingly accept after hoping the rain will stop. In the case of bad weather, set yourself a time by which you will definitely select “inside” or “out.” It will take a while to swap the ceremony spot, and you don’t want guests arriving during the setup.

Wedding reception ideas: Mainly the wedding reception is the party, a time for all to celebrate your new life together.

Allow yourself enough time the morning of your ceremony. Build extra hours into your agenda in case your hair appointment runs late or you get stuck in traffic. Remember that your wedding day is a long one for everyone. Start on time and keep toasts to a minimum. Avoid getting trapped by a long-winded talker at your reception by assigning an attentive bridesmaid who will know to rescue you. For a special touch that everyone remembers and costs nothing, make a final toast before the cake-cutting—it's a way for you and the groom to give your personal thanks. Ask your DJ to play your parents' and grandparents' wedding songs at the reception, and make a special announcement.

The goal is to enjoy your day, and create fond memories that will last a lifetime.

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How To Put On A Wedding For Under $5000: Catering

There are many important facets to a wedding, and for the most part each can be very expensive.

• Bride’s Dress
• Groom’s Tuxedo
• Venue
• Photographer
• Flowers
• Catering
• Cake
• Wedding Reception
• Guest accommodations
• Honeymoon

Sixth of 10 posting series.

Catering

As with any wedding vendor, getting good references is a good way to determine who you should select to cater your rehearsal dinner and/or wedding reception. Look beyond the caterer’s food and menu, and even affordability. Make sure they don’t have a reputation for arriving late or hiring poorly groomed employees (things you won’t discover until it’s too late), the damage has been done. Avoid wedding day horrors like these by asking for 10 or more references, the standard in the catering industry. Any professional caterer should be delighted to provide you with a list of their most recent weddings along with the bride and groom’s contact information. According to Teamwedding.com the following is a list of questions to ask of your prospective catering vendor:

• May I have a list of references?
• Does your company cater more than one event at a time?
• Will you be present at my wedding?
• How much of a deposit do you require?
• Is the deposit refundable?
• How soon before the wedding do you need the final count?
• When is the final payment due?
• What are your preferred forms of payment?
• Do you provide the wedding cake? Groom’s cake?
• What does the price-per-person include? Tables & chairs? Linens? Real china and glassware? Cutting the cake(s)? Punch Service?
• Are we required to pay full price for small children?
• Would you be willing to meet me at my reception site to draw up a floor plan?
• Are we expected to tip your staff?
• Can we get a discount if we use all nice disposable wares?
• How much time do you need to set up?
• Do you take away all the trash when you leave?
• How will your staff be dressed? Will they have nametags?
• How many staff members would be working my wedding?
• What are your bartending rates?
• Will you announce to our guests to go ahead and enjoy the refreshments while we’re having last-minute pictures made?
• Do you have a business license?
• Do you have liability insurance? How much coverage?
• Do you have a health department permit?
• If we provide the alcohol, can you provide us with a bartender?
• Will you pack us a small box of food before we leave?

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How To Put On A Wedding For Under $5000: Flowers

There are many important facets to a wedding, and for the most part each can be very expensive.

• Bride’s Dress
• Groom’s Tuxedo
• Venue
• Photographer
• Flowers
• Catering
• Cake
• Wedding Reception
• Guest accommodations
• Honeymoon

Fifth of 10 posting series.

Flowers

Begin by looking at the advertisements in the area, hopefully your church and reception location aren’t far apart from each other. This will come in handy when choosing a florist. Your best option is to go with one that is local to the wedding and reception areas to cut down on costly delivery fees. Prior to selecting the wedding florist several decisions should have been made. You should already know the type of wedding and reception you have planned and their locations should already be booked.

Remember that venue, and catering sometimes are part of a package deal and either one could possibly include flowers. So it’s probably a good idea to first check with your vendors to see if flowers for the reception are included in your catering or venue package. If they are, and this is acceptable to you, you’ll only need to discuss ceremonial flowers and bouquets. Other items to coordinate are the table linens, and the color of the Bridal Party dresses. This information is important when comparison shopping since you want to choose flowers to match the décor.

The sizes will vary, but you will want to find packages that include the following: Brides bouquet, Bridesmaid’s bouquets, Corsages for Moms, grandmothers and other special women, Boutonnieres for the groom, groomsmen and fathers of the bride and groom, Floral arrangements for the church, Centerpieces for the Reception. Will you need a flower girl basket? Will a small bridal bouquet for “tossing” be required? If you’re ceremony includes a gazebo, trellis or canopy, will these be adorned with flowers? Extras such as these are sure to add to the cost.

Consider the following advise to stay in budget:

1-Use only in season and in stock flowers. Be honest with your florist about your budget, and have them recommend the most inexpensive flowers.

2- Give your florist a general style and color scheme, and any “banned” flowers that you hate, but generally allow them flexibility so they can use what is in season and cheapest.

3- Hold your wedding during the holiday season when a church will already be decorated.

4- Avoid February weddings when flower prices are at an annual high due to Valentine's Day.

5- Large arrangements on an altar will only be seen from far away. Use inexpensive flowers such as carnations, or large filling flowers such as snowball mums.

6- Find a venue such as a park or garden that is already lush and beautiful.

Here is a good link to look into for Olympia Weddings, Tumwater Weddings, Lacey Weddings, and Yelm Weddings:

www.olympicflowermarket.com

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How To Put On A Wedding For Under $5000: Photographer

There are many important facets to a wedding, and for the most part each can be very expensive.

• Bride’s Dress
• Groom’s Tuxedo
• Venue
• Photographer
• Flowers
• Catering
• Cake
• Wedding Reception
• Guest accommodations
• Honeymoon

Fourth of 10 posting series.

Photographer

Begin by shopping around. Look at the advertisements in the area; narrow the prospects to 3 initially, and ask to see entire portfolios from an entire wedding. Make sure the photographer is consistent. Ask for at least 2 references from prior customers. If your first 3 prospects leave you with doubts pick another 3. You will spend a sizeable amount of money, and the outcome will stay with you forever. As an added safety, contact the Better Business Bureau in your region, and ask for a review of the vendor you selected. He or she don't have to be members but if they have had problems with service delivery you will most likely find a record there. Next you have to decide what you are looking for: Do you want traditional photos with formal poses? Or are you looking for someone with an artistic leaning? Take a look at each photographer’s portfolio to see his/her range of ability.

In keeping with the main objective of this posting (small budget). You need to address the following: Do you want just the ceremony photographed? Or do you want pictures of the reception, too? Ask the photographer how long he/she will stay with you and what the rates are. Make sure you totally understand what you are paying for and what the finished product will look like. Since your photographer is being hired for his/her expertise, be sure to give your input, but let the vendor perform the task. after all you don't want to be told that the end product is unsatisfactory because you controlled it all the way. By all means make sure that your well meaning friends and relatives don't interfere with their amateur picture taking while the photographer is performing.

Gauge experience. See if your photographer is familiar with the location. Does he/she know of some good spots to get good angles? Also, if you are working with a studio, get a portfolio and information on the specific photographer you are getting. Some studios like to show the work of their best person and then send over a less experienced photographer once you buy a package. Understand packages. Some photographers do a lot (upload pictures to the Internet, touch up photos, give advice on presentation, etc.) where others snap the pictures, hand you the undeveloped film and take off. Find out what is included in your package and what costs extra. Ask what their backup plan is if your photographer can't attend.

A very good practice is to never pay the full amount before the complete service is rendered. You should always have a balance of at least 20% to pay upon completion. If your vendor insists on full payment up-front keep looking. I remind you once again that the Wedding Industry is being adversely affected by the economic downturn, and many vendors are happy to negotiate their prices. One way to control costs is to limit the amount of time a vendor will be at your event. Your timeline should be tight, and include the ceremony, and the ceremonial functions of the reception (dinner, toast, cake, special dances, bouquet, and garter) within a two to two and a half hour span.

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