How “Real” is Reality TV When it Comes to Planning Your Wedding

I love watching “Say Yes to the Dress” & ‘Four Weddings” as much as the next girl. WE TV can distract me for a few hours at a time as I watch couples navigate all of the decisions that go into wedding planning. However, as someone who works in the wedding industry I am watching from a different point of view than a bride-to-be or single girl daydreaming about her big day.

 

Reality TV does a great job of inspiring brides. The best, brightest and most cutting edge trends are highlighted for all to enjoy. Wedding related television shows have guided brides in their gown style, inspired décor and bridal party attire color selections and no doubt helped to create some fantastic celebrations.

However, I fear that reality TV has also given brides some unrealistic expectations when it comes to their big day. Many of these shows do not disclose costs, or at least the full cost of their wedding. For example, it is common to see a bride with a $3,000 budget for a wedding gown on television. Given that the gown is often budgeted at 5% of the total wedding cost, we can guess that this gown is part of a $60,000 wedding. The average wedding cost in the United States is $24,000, which creates an average gown budget of $1,200, quite a difference.

 

 

There are also costs that are unseen to the untrained eye. In addition to the base cost of any wedding related item you need to leave room in your budget to account for tax (often close to 10%), labor, shipping and/or delivery and service charges (most commonly found with your caterer or venue). These fees can range anywhere from 18% to 24% of your total bill. This will grow proportionally with your overall wedding budget.

 

Finally, for better or worse, there needs to be accommodation for the cost of living in different locations. The price of labor will likely be higher in a large metropolitan city (i.e. Chicago, New York) than it is in a smaller city. If you have your heart set on a product only available in a larger city you may end up paying more in shipping fees to get it to you. This information is not meant to scare you, rather provide you information to set realistic expectations.

 

 

Floral designers, bridal gown consultants, and wedding planners truly do love when an inspired bride comes in. It is lovely to work with a couple who know what they are looking for on their wedding day. So, watch all the reality TV you would like to, and keep notes on your favorite ideas. When it comes time to start your planning, be up front and realistic with your budget. Hire professionals you trust, and work with them to create the day that you have been dreaming of.

BBFN (Bridal Bliss for now),

Olivia

Why an Event Coordinator is Worth the Investment

They are pushy, overbearing, want to work with only certain vendors and spend extra money. These are some of the fears of hiring a Wedding Planner.  Are they overrated??  Absolutely NOT.  These days, with a busy lifestyle and overwhelming resources on how to plan your wedding, you need the savvy planner, that can guide you through the production of planning a stunning wedding.  Does it take a rocket scientist to plan a wedding? No. But it does require skills and knowledge, and most importantly, resources to bring your wedding vision to a fairytale ending.  A bride that has a wedding budget of at least $20,000 must invest in, at the minimum, a Day of Coordinator, so that she, her groom and their families can enjoy their celebration of marriage.  For those brides that need a branded event, with each detail reflecting the couple’s personality, a complete planning package is worth its weight in gold.

Ladies, wedding planners are no longer a luxury, but a much needed investment into your wedding celebration.  Still curious about those things you have heard about planners? I am going to tackle some of the urban legends about “The Wedding Planner”:

Are planners overbearing and pushy?

Planners keep themselves on the cutting edge of the wedding trends.  They want to amaze you with their talent and wow your guests.  Not all trends can fit into a couple’s budget.  So clearly define your expectation and your budget.  Sit back, relax and let your planner showcase all that can fit into your budget.  But keep in mind, not all ideas may reflect your wedding vision.  For some couples this is the time to express this to the planner, and as necessary reevaluate their wants and needs within the realistic parameters of their budget.

This one I hear all the time, my venue has a wedding coordinator so there really is no need for me to spend additional money hiring a planner.

Catering/Venue Managers are wonderful people and do an excellent job.  They know their particular venue inside out.  However, they do work for the venue, and work within the job responsibility of the venue.  They are a great resource for preferred vendors but are not able to analyze your vision and budget to match you with the right vendors.  Depending on the size of the venue, they may be working with multiple brides on the same day.  Just as you hired a photographer that is working for you and only taking your perfect wedding pictures, a planner works in your best interest to deliver perfect wedding memories.

It is not possible for just one person to organize and coordinate multiple event team partners for your event.  It requires organization and leadership skills to direct and produce a wedding.  A good wedding planning company will provide you with event support, skilled assistants and a back up planner for your peace of mind.  So make sure to do your research and ask the right questions.  Your planner will be your best friend and will cry as she queues you to walk down the aisle.

Until next week!

BBFN (Bridal Bliss for Now)

 Olivia