(a) Accounted for from primarily by the bride’s parents
(b) Accounted for from primarily the groom’s parents
(c) Shared amongst both sets of parents
(d) Shared amongst the families and the bride and groom
(e) Accounted for entirely by the bride and groom

Worksheet for Budgeting your Wedding

The key to the budgeting is compromise. The bride will usually prefer all the best accessories and dresses where as the groom will be more financially conscious of the whole process. So, they need to meet somewhere in between to accomplish what they both want. A good rule of thumb is to comprise on quantity not quality. The quality of the wedding is what will be remembered by all. It is very possible to have a beautiful classy wedding on a tight budget, just be careful of how many guests are inviting. Having a budgeting sheet is helpful, so you may want to divide the sheet in categories such as the ones below.

Bridesmaid’s gifts, Transportation, Stationary – 2% each
Rentals, Miscellaneous – 3% each
Flowers – 10%
Photography – 11%
DJ entertainment and Lighting Design – 10%
Bridal Attire – 12%
Reception – 45%

These figures can be a good starting point for budgeting your wedding. Obviously, nothing is set in stone but if you follow a budget, you should be around the figure you would like to keep the total cost at. The percentage is based on the total cost. So, if you would like to spend $20,000 total on a wedding, $9,000 ($20,000 x 45%) shall be allocated for the reception.
The responsibility of cost for a wedding is stated by tradition. There is no right or wrong way to figure costs. It is a matter of choice and it’s something that you should discuss with both sets of parents. More than likely they will incur some of the financial burden. They will also want to be involved in your decision making process.

By now, the concept of a wedding budget sample is a little clearer to you. Let’s walk through an example. We will assume that the total budget is $20,000 (which is below the national average for a wedding budget). The percentages above can be changed accordingly to what you would prefer to focus on during the wedding. If the DJ and lighting design are more important, then you can allocate 11% towards the DJ and lighting instead of 10%. This would translate to $2200 ($20,000 x 12%) budget instead of a $2000 ($20,000 x 10%) budget for the DJ. Prioritize the list below as to what is most important to you and then adjust your percentages accordingly.

Number of guests to be invited will influence the type of wedding site (church, synagogue, hotel, club, home) Location of reception venue – church hall, hotel, club, home, banquet hall
Bridal attire – what will the bride wear
Food and beverages – what kind of food and beverage will be served and how will they be served
Flowers – how many flowers and what kinds of flowers
Photographs – which professional company are you going to choose
Music – DJ Entertainment or live music, what about lighting design
Rentals – Would you like a photo booth rental at your reception
Transportation – a limousine, a luxury rental car, friend’s new car, or family car

The cost breakdown should be flexible enough to allow for minor changes. It is better to account for changes than wait until the last minute. However, some budgets have the freedom to move around for last minute budgeting. Most vendors understand this, and will give you the option to upgrade or add on a service a month before the wedding. Reputable services require a 50% non-refundable retainer payment in order to reserve your date. Typically, any outstanding balances will be due 2 weeks prior to your big day.

Wedding Budget Planning

Together you and your fiancé can use the ideas and formulas mentioned in this article for a healthy wedding budget. You should keep a close tab on the budgeted amounts, total costs, payments made, and the balance due in each category. Congratulations, and feel free to leave your thoughts and comments with us below!

Light Up My Event now provides LED Eco-friendly table pin spotting for centerpieces. These fixtures are placed on the top of a stand out of sight near the corners of your room. They are then adjusted to have a narrow beam shine directly on your center pieces making them seem larger than life. We recommend 1 fixture per table. With LED table pin spots, guests will really take notice of all the hard work that you put into your decor. Our Michigan wedding lighting will make your guests say, “WOW”. Find out how we can help create a beautiful backdrop in your photos, by calling Light Up My Event toll free @ 877.643.8368.

Modern DJs, Lighting Design, Photobooths, & Destinations in Michigan & Mackinac

Want remarkable – Get unique
Entertainment Director
Robert Reno
Encore Event Group
877.MI.EVENT

Encore Party DJs provides Michigan DJs for informal events making them the BEST ever. We host over 200 weddings annually, we have provided entertainment inside Comerica Park, even worked along side Disney. No matter how many guests, we will customize a package to fit your budget and goals. You can even bundle a Michigan photo booth and lighting design with your package. Find out what the other guys are leaving out, by calling us toll free @ 877.643.8368… you’re guests will thank you for hiring Encore Party DJs.

Modern DJs, Lighting Design, Photobooths, & Destinations in Michigan & Mackinac

Want remarkable – Get unique
Entertainment Director
Robert Reno
Encore Event Group
877.MI.EVENT

No bride or groom wants to be stressed during the planning process or even on what is supposed to be the beginning of their lives, their wed-ding day. This is where the wedding planner/coordinator steps in.

Most wedding planners have a great sense of respect and vow to keep the wedding that they are working on with the bride and groom exactly the way the couple envisions it to be. They prefer for any and all the stress of planning and the day of activities to be held on them. After all that is what they are hired to do. Why should the bride and groom or their friends and family have to deal with all the stresses of a wedding day? They are there to enjoy the festivities!

Now you may ask, “Why hire a wedding planner?” Is it going to cost me more to hire them than my budget? What do I need to look for when hiring a planner? How do I know they are qualified? What are they really going to do for me that I can’t handle myself? These are all valid questions and deserve honest answers.

Why hire a wedding planner?

They can make your wedding planning life easier. They can do all the leg work for you if they haven’t done so already, they can be the mediator between families and the bride and groom, they can bring a creative air from an outsiders perspective. A good planner should be able to save you countless hours of vendor shopping along with saving you money (ex: helping you find a wedding DJ in Michigan). There are so many other valuable reasons to hire a planner, but I cannot fit them in this little article.

Is it going to cost me more to hire them than my budget?

No. Aside from the myths that wedding planners are unaffordable, wedding planners are actually a portion of your budget and usually cost anywhere between $500-$4,000.00 for a quality planner. Their goal is to save you money elsewhere without losing quality to offset their fees.

What do I need to look for when hiring a planner?

Make sure they are qualified. They should be a member of an accredited association such as Association of Bridal Consultants or even a local association such as West Michigan Wedding Association. They should be trained appropriately buy a school or other professional program which most associations will provide. Ask them questions to see if their personality matches yours. It would be hard to work with someone so closely for 6 months to a year if you can’t stand them. Think of them as your new best friend. Also, you should ask the following questions to make sure they are not out for just the money:

How long have you been a planner? Is this your full time job? How many weddings do you plan a year? Do you have formal training? If I were to hire you, is all your devotion on me that week-end or do you book more than one wedding in a weekend? (This is obvious, if they are working with you, they are your personal planner and should be at the rehearsal and wedding and not someone else’s day). Do you have a backup plan if you are ill and not able to coordinate my wedding? What is the average budget that you work with? Are you willing to work with any budge? What are your fees?

Your wedding planner is there for you. They are looking out for your best interests and making sure your day is perfect and stress free! Please keep in mind that wedding planners book just as fast as any other vendor and you should hire one at least 9 months out if not longer.

I must say I purchased a book that I thought would be good but not very informative, I was wrong. It is a must read for any bride. Donnie Brown Weddings from the couture to the cake is the best book a bride could ever get to help with choosing vendors. If you have ever watched ‘Whose Wedding is it Anyway?” , you have seen Donnie Brown. He is a fabulous planner that will not lie to you to make thinks sugar coated. That is what you need in any planner. With his book, you will find answers to questions that are so vital to hiring a wedding vendor. You can find his book at any bookstore or online.

Let a wedding planner be your saving grace and peace of mind that you need to make your day perfect, elegant, and stress free. Congratulations on your engagement and live happy, love long, and cherish always!

This article was provided courtesy of Jennifer Goss owner of Bella Joy Weddings. She plans elegant weddings for any budget, contact her today by calling 616-780-9251.

You planned the big day with your wedding planner. Together you have tasted the food, hired a Michigan DJ company, and visited the location. Perfect, what’s next? Did you know that lighting design is one of the most cost effect ways to accent your important elements? Picture a room that matches with your favorite color, or even the color of your bridesmaid’s dresses. Lighting can match with over 1,000,000 colors. You can dance inside a personalized name monogram, have dramatic color washes on your ceiling, or pin spot your center pieces. Most couples do not know about the benefits of lightning design when structuring their reception budget. This service can only be provided at a reasonable price by a handful of reputable vendors in Michigan.

You might not prefer a light show at your wedding, which is perfectly normal. It wouldn’t be appropriate for your room to change color every two seconds. That is why most professionals recommend a choice of static colors and patterns. For example, you can even choose break up patterns. These are images like tree branches or wispy designs that make for an elegant backdrop in your photos. You have the choice of a primary and secondary color to highlight. Your guests will remember your wedding day. Most importantly, you will say “wow” when you see your room for the first time.

ARCHITECTURAL FEATURE ANY COLORS

Lighting companies need a sample color swatch to match. When deciding on which color scheme to choose, your options will depend on which company you select. A capable lighting designer will be able to accommodate any colors at any moment during your reception. Reputable event groups use light emitting diode (LED) technology which allows for computerized control. These fixtures are more expensive than traditional gel pars, but they are worth it. Your lighting can change colors as the mood of your evening progresses. Since LED fixtures utilize low power consumption, they are also great for the environment.

KNOW YOUR LIMITATIONS

You should be able to openly discuss how your want to light up your event. It is important to take the vendor’s recommendations seriously. When you communicate your expectations, they can deliver based on their limitations. Not every venue has the same architectural layout. Some halls have vaulted ceilings, while other have dark wood paneling. These and many other factors will greatly impact the approach your lighting designer takes. There are several kinds of fixtures that accomplish different things. PARs are used for longer concentrated throws, pallets have a wider beam angel, and strips fit somewhere in the middle. If your walls are a darker wood, then pipe and drape with strips might be your only option. Pallets and soft edge intelligent lights help with evenly distributing color saturation across vaulted ceilings. If you are lighting up trees and buildings outside, then IP65 rated PARs will be used to handle the elements. Depending on your budget, you should be provided with a personalized quote. Since lighting quotes are flexible, it is really easy to go up or down from there.

CUSTOM NAME LIGHT

These lights are made specifically for the guests of honor. You choose several designs and pick the one that you like the best. A custom gobo will then be made to display your name during the reception. You have the choice of having your name monogram projected on the wall or dance floor. How cool would it be to dance inside your name? Name lights give a very personalized feel to your event and they are also very affordable. Since the gobo is custom fabricated out of steel, you can even take it home at the end of the night as a personal memento.

TABLE PIN SPOTTING

Your spent time and money on your center pieces, how will you ensure guests really take notice of your hard work? Make your center pieces seem larger than life with table pin spotting. These fixtures are small and hidden along the edges of walls. A circular beam is aimed at the center of your tables from above, making your centerpieces come alive. Just like a custom name light, table pin spotting can easily be worked into any room lighting package.

Personalize your grand entrance with a high intensity follow spot. This light has a computerized focused iris that can follow your bridal party all the way back to the head table. Spot lighting during your grand entrance really kicks up the wow factor. How will you put emphasis on your first dance? This formal dance has deep significance and it deserves special attention. Do you want that beautiful cake to shine in bright white? Light it up with a spotlight. If you have reflective crystals or flower petals on the cake, then guests will really take notice.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Lighting design will have a huge impact on the outcome to your wedding reception. Your guests will give you tons of compliments and you will be happy with your decision. Lighting solutions give you the biggest bang for your buck, so it is money well spent. There are only a few reputable vendors that offer lighting service. So you should view sample work from previous events before signing a contract with a company. When talking to a lighting artist realize that their price is based off of two main factors a technician fee and fixture fee. You need to ask what is included in the final price, since it might not reflect travel expenses or design costs. If you’ve seen lighting at a wedding reception, you will realize it is a no-brainer.

As remarkable as outdoor wedding sounds, there are many factors to consider. The key to outdoor weddings is back up plans. In case of rain, wind, or thunder, the wedding planner needs to have an alternate location. This includes a way to moving your wedding to an indoor location or just simply making sure there are tents available to protect guests from the elements. Ideally, the back up plan is just that, a back up. Make sure you carefully scope out your ceremony site. This will give you a great idea of what else is possible. Below are a couple of questions to keep in mind when choosing the ideal outdoor location.

1.) In case of a cold front, are there outdoor heaters available?

2.) If the rain starts pouring or if the sun is too bright, is there a tent to protect the guests?

3.) Where is the closest indoor location? Can your event be moved there rather quickly?

4.) What is the time frame for “making the call”? Who will make such a decision? (Most of the facilities in the Metro Detroit area allow for a few hours on the day of the event.)

Most outdoor Michigan wedding receptions and ceremony sites are able to provide appropriate back up facilities. This is offered to better serve their clients. One example is the Garden Park in Holly Michigan. They are a popular location for outdoor wedding ceremonies because events can easily be transferred indoors under their tent. Not, all facilities are as convenient as Garden Park. Some locations require a back up strategy but unfortunately do not have the room to accommodate one. In this situation, the wedding planner would allocate some of your budget towards the backup plan. Another consideration would be to reserve space at a nearby facility in case of inclement weather.

Not every couple plans an outside wedding ceremony. It’s obvious that reserving space at a secondary location requires more capital. In this case, addressing the issue of a frowning mother nature in advance is a good idea. Also, having an alternate plan beforehand allows for better communication between guests that attend your big day.

In essence, the ideal outdoor wedding is one that is planned well in advance. Panicking at the last minute for an indoor venue and having guests running around is not a pretty sight on your special day. Allowing the guests to familiarize themselves with the indoor option is a much better idea. This accommodates for civil behavior and a smooth transition between the indoor and outdoor locations.

How many times have you been to a wedding reception, only to have to deal with the children running around ruining your good time? Wedding receptions symbolize the unity of two souls in an adult environment. How do you create your invites to let guests know that children are not invited to your reception? Read the article below to get insight from Michigan wedding planner Tracie Morris about how to imply children are not invited to the reception.

While meeting with brides for their invitation consultation a common question is, “how do I keep children and extra guests from attending my wedding reception?” Avoid this by addressing the invitation envelopes without the phrases “and family” or the children’s names on the inside or outside envelope. On the outside envelope just write the guest names, for example Mr. and Mrs. James Smith. Then on the inner envelope you would list the same thing again or if you know them well enough to call them by their first names then list their first names. It is acceptable to list just first names on the inside envelope or however you would speak to them. If your Grandmother is Mrs. Katherine Goodman then on her inside envelope you can write Grandma. To recap, only write the person’s names you are inviting and the recipient should get the message. This way they know who is and isn’t invited.

Now unfortunately, some guests still don’t get this and they will go ahead and R.S.V.P. for more than you are expecting. In this case when you see a larger number on the R.S.V.P. card than planned for you will need to politely call them and tell them that you can’t accommodate the extra guests because of the cost and you don’t have the space. I would appoint your Mother or Bridesmaid to handle this awkward task. This will avoid any embarrassment for you having to tell guests. You may have hired the services of a wedding planner then you can ask them to make that call for you.  R.S.V.P services are usually included in wedding planner packages. If this is the case, then they may already be handling these issues. So relax as we do the worrying for you!

This article was provided courtesy of Certified Wedding Planner Tracie Morris of You’re The Bride. Don’t come untied before tying the knot, contact her today by calling 248-408-4602.

Modern DJs, Lighting Design, Photobooths, & Destinations in Michigan & Mackinac

Want remarkable – Get unique
Entertainment Director
Robert Reno
Encore Event Group
877.MI.EVENT

We all know planning a wedding requires an excruciating amount of work. One of the most difficult tasks is how to book the right Michigan Wedding DJ. Choosing the right wedding DJ requires doing a lot of searching and looking around. Narrowing your selection can become time consuming, but doing this ensures that your DJ provides a one of a kind experience on your special day.

Like all professional fields there are services that over promise and under deliver. This leads to unhappy clients and ruined memories. One way you can avoid an empty dance floor from occurring is by conducting thorough research. When talking with the various companies, you will realize all the options you have available as a client. After narrowing your choices, it is time to grill your disc jockey with the following questions.

1.) Meeting the actual DJ is of the utmost importance. Most companies might send a sales representative to meet with clients the first time around. Majority of the wedding DJ companies in Michigan subcontract the work. If you Google search the DJs name from “Company A”, you will find out that same DJ owns “Company B” and will charge you $200 less. A meeting with your entertainer will determine if they have the personality needed to fulfill your unique and special event. If you are having doubts after the first meeting then should look around a little more.

You should never get double dipped as a client

2.) As a client, you need to get a feel for how your DJ vocalizes wedding announcements. This can be done either in person, or by watching a video highlight. This is crucial since that entertainer will act as your spokesperson in front of your family and friends. Their vocals will reflect the tone of your wedding, as well as you and your fiancés implied directions.

3.) When booking wedding DJs it is perfectly normal to ask your entertainer how they will interact with your guests. They should be able to involve your family and friends in the party. When meeting with vendors, you should ask the entertainer about specific events in the past where they involved the family of the married couple. This includes instances of how they have handled an uncooperative wedding, since an unresponsive crowd is a worst case scenario. Learn about their past actions, this will give you insight on how they will problem solve a common concern.

4.) While talking to your DJ, a good topic to discuss is how they will handle dedications, requests, and special announcements in their program. Is their time line very strict or flexible? Ask them about how they will keep your guests entertained. Give the entertainer you are meeting different scenarios and ensure they understand what kind of vibe you are looking to create. Some couples want high energy while others are looking for low key. You and your DJ company should both be on the same page.

5.) A good DJ will understand when to play jazz and when to play your favorite songs. Part of having smooth transitions from between music sets means the DJ understands the appropriate music selection. An experienced DJ will never take breaks or allow dead air. This makes guests lose focus as they become confused about what is happening. Once this occurs, it will be harder for the DJ to regain their attention and respect. The DJ should also communicate with all professional present such as the photographer, caterer, wedding planner, photo booth company, videographer, so that they do an excellent job for you.

Remember to keep the points above in mind when meeting with your DJ. This will give you some guidance on determining if company you are interviewing is a good match. The more questions you ask the better! Your disc jockey needs to understand what you are looking for in order to fulfill all the needs your special day requires. When meeting with DJs you should feel at ease when speaking. If you’re hesitant while talking to your entertainer you are not at ease. This is never a good sign. You are discussing your wedding and they should be as excited as you are about it. Your company should give you helpful recommendations on how to make your reception the BEST EVER! Feel free to leave your thoughts and comments about wedding DJs in Michigan below.

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