Wedding Day Transportation

One of the last-ish details that any couple should be thinking about is transportation. If you are all in one place {getting ready, ceremony, reception etc} that this detail isn't for you, but if you have to travel from place to place on the wedding day, you need some mode of transportation.

Firstly, write down everyone that is going to need a lift {I've included ALL possibilities, some may not be applicable to all}:

Bride
Groom
Parents
Grandparents
Bridesmaids
Groomsmen
Guests
Photographer / Videographer

Once you've compiled your list, be sure to add everyone up to determine numbers.

Then decide your pick up and drop off locations for everyone on the list. By doing this, you are figuring out exactly who needs transportation and where they are coming and going. Think of where you can re-use limos/cars so save money. Also, think about your guests: are they at a central hotel or staying all over the place? If they are all over the place you may actually be better off letting them drive or providing telephone numbers to taxi's rather than trying to get numerous shuttles/buses organized. Know your group of guests: are they the type to want to drive themselves, or take a group bus?

Once you've got the details down, contact local transportation companies to get pricing. Keep in mind that most have a set minimum of hours and that anything beyond those hours is considered over time. Also, find out how you communicate with the drivers {is there a central dispatch, or do you get a drivers cell #?}. Are you allowed to celebrate in the car with a little bubbly or not? When would you need to supply directions? When you've found the appropriate service: GET EVERYTHING IN WRITING! Pick Up / Drop Off locations, pricing + overtime, times and what the waiting policy is.



{courtesy of christopherlimousine.com}

This post was originally published on June 22nd, 2009

Monday Musings: Columbus Day

Happy Columbus Day y'all!

happy friday

this week I have been on a search for interesting and cute ways to stay organized. I found this wedding organizer that makes me want to be a bride all over again!

You know you see a bride when you see a woman waking with a huge binder or notebook stuffed with checklists, calendars, photos, and magazine clippings! For all you super organized brides here is a trendy binder I found on Russel + Hazel's website to keep you organized. It's a little high priced but a stylish alternative to plain rubber and plastic.

http://www.russellandhazel.com/content/wedding-organizer

Have you heard of any of these seriously untrue "wedding rules"? A fabulous article found on TheKnot explaining the top ten wedding planning myths that you can ignore.

http://weddings.theknot.com/ODB/themes/realweddings/view.aspx?STOPREDIRECTING=TRUE&id=67947&type=1&&ODBTHEMENAME=Real-Weddings&MsdVisit=1


Money can be a sensitive subject to some people and everyone deals with spending and saving differently. Some of us, like myself are spenders, and others would rather have a large savings at all times. As an almost newlywed couple it is important to talk about this really boring but really necessary topic. Here's a great article I found that had been published in Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine about some of the money mistakes newlyweds make, read this so you don't do the same!

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/CollegeAndFamily/LoveAndMoney/6-money-mistakes-newlyweds-make.aspx

enjoy your weekend everyone
warmly,
Michelle

Choosing Your Wedding Invitations

When compiling your wedding budget, please do keep all your printed items in mind! Printing Save the Dates, Invitations, Direction cards, Reception cards, RSVP cards, Menus, Programs, Escort Cards / Place cards, Thank You Notes does add up, so make sure you've left some room in the budget for them all.

Keep in mind that the first bit of insight into the wedding that your guests will encounter is your Save the Date or Invitation. It sets the tone for the actual wedding and gives your guests a glimpse into the style/theme of the wedding. Whatever you've thought up for the printed items that get mailed, remember to keep the same style/tone in the printed items to be used on the wedding day.

Whether you prefer custom or pre-designed items, there are literally 1000s of choices to choose from! Cruise around the web looking at different stationers sites and save images (or clip from mag's) of materials, styles, wording, ideas that you love. Bring all of these with you when you meet with a stationer ~ it gives them great insight into what you are looking to create. Once you've picked a stationer or stationery company to work with, be honest with your feedback.

Lastly, keep in mind that you'll need to put postage on your Save the Dates and Invitation Suites + postage on your RSVP cards (this is a non negotiable {sorry} it must be done!) ~ these costs certainly do add up, so keep in mind when you are designing the size and weight of your suites.







{courtesy of the fantastically amazing ABCD Designs}

This post was originally published on June 19th, 2009

HIring a Wedding Videographer

It seems that brides and grooms have very firm opinions when it comes to hiring a wedding videographer ~ some are adamant that they want the video {"for their kids"} and some are adamant that they don't want any video. Personally, I fall into a different camp: while I don't necessarily want the whole wedding on DVD, I would love to be able to relive the vows, toasts and speeches. That said, hiring a wedding videographer is much the same as hiring a wedding photographer: do your research, meet in person and view lots and lots of past clients work. You want a videographer that isn't going to be too intrusive, but someone who gets the best 'scenes' and does fantastic editing.

When it comes to pricing, similarly to photog's, videographer's price is normally dependent on the final products that you receive from them plus how much editing goes into creating those final products. Decide on what you actual want / need and then discuss this with your videographer. Be sure that you are getting what you want and most importantly, will watch in the future!



{courtesy of bridalbuds.com}

This post was originally published on June 19th, 2009

Thoughts on Choosing a Wedding Photographer

The wedding day will fly by in a blur (seriously, I felt like my day was 5 minutes long!) but you'll have all these amazing images that will last a lifetime, so please, choose wisely. Photographs, video's and memories are all that you will physically walk away from the wedding with, so make sure you do plenty of research on your photographer and *try* to not skimp on the budget here. You want to look back at your images years later and fall in love with the whole day over and over again.

Luckily, with the Internet most photographers have a wealth of images for you to check out online. But, don't hire site unseen (this is applicable to all your vendors, meet in person first, if circumstance allows), since this person will be following your every move on the day of, you want to make sure that you are comfortable not only with their images, but with them as well. Decide what elements of photographs you want: more candid, more details, more 'artsy' angles/poses etc. Do you want 1,2, or 3 shooters? How long do you want your photog on the wedding day? Standard packages are 8 hours which would include getting ready through the reception (either end or close to ... I suggest close to, pictures of drunk guests are not pretty). Do you care more about the actual images or albums? Do you want an online gallery that friends and family can purchase images through? Or, would you prefer to get all the proofs? What kind of album do you prefer? Make sure that the package you decide on holds everything in it that you want. Some photographers will negotiate, and some will not. Keep in mind that you want QUALITY over QUANTITY in this case. These are images you get to look at for years and years.



This post was originally published on June 16th, 2009

Monday Musings: Mini - Vacation

I left NYC this weekend to spend some time with Mr.G whom out of September and October I will only see for a total of 10 days since he's a traveling machine for work! As always, I am on email if need be!


{via Shutterstock Images}