Stella Event Design::Michigan Wedding & Event Planner »

I’ll be honest, I cringe at the thought of buying flowers on the internet to make your own bouquets as a way to save money. It makes me sweat just thinking about it: flowers arriving the day before the wedding, still needing to be cleaned and prepped, with the potential of being dead, half-dead, the wrong color, the wrong flower all together or just plain not showing up. Like I said, it makes me nervous.

So, as a happy compromise here are a few tips to save money on florals without going the DIY route :

• Use bigger blooms. Flowers like hydrangeas, shown above have large blooms, so you can use less of them and still have a dramatic and full effect. Other big-bloom choices: peonies, gerber daisies and lilies!
• Re-use florals: At last weekends wedding we re-used the aisle decorations (bundles of wild flowers) by adding them into the centerpieces at the reception, using them as decoration on the cocktail tables by tying them in with the sashes, and using the altar pieces to decorate the escort card table and bar.  We had the appearance of twice the flowers for 1/2 the cost by utilizing the ceremony flowers at the reception.
• Ditch the bridesmaids bouquets and have them carry a cute clutch. It can also double as a great bridesmaids gift! Swap out a $120 bouquet for a $50 clutch and you can save a chunk of cash. Yes, I know…grandma may not approve (where are their flowers?!) but it’s your wedding, so break the rules if you want to!

(photo by Marie Labbancz)

Before you jump into all of the “fun” of planning a wedding, do yourself a favor and take some time to sit down and do the grunt work. Determine how much you can spend, write out your personalized budget and list the things that are essential to making your wedding day what you’ve always dreamed of.

Whether it’s amazing centerpieces brimming with your favorite flower, live music, or a world-class photographer, determine how much you have to spend, what you want to spend it on, and what your “extras” are. “Extras” are all of those little things that you would love to have (if you can) but can live without. You’ll save yourself a lot of time, money and even more stress, by knowing what you want before vendors start telling you what you need!

(photo by Jessica Claire)

When you’re flipping through the endless bridal magazines out there, it’s easy to get sucked into all of the glossy pics and think your wedding has to be a mirror image.  To make your wedding beatutiful and unique, keep a few things in mind when looking for ideas for your big day.

Use Elements
When you find a picture you like, decide what element makes it so appealing. If it’s a beautiful bouquet you’re gazing at, what makes that bouquet stand out? Is it the structure of the arrangement? The use of a single bloom? The combination of colors? The unique handle wrapping? Even if that bouquet isn’t your exact color scheme, look for the elements that make it attractive to you, and apply those to your own design. You  don’t want your wedding to look like someone else’s photo spread—instead, choose elements that you can make your own!

Be Flexible
You don’t have to carbon copy a design concept to make it your own. Take a picture of that stunning Martha Stewart bouquet into your florist—but be prepared for sticker shock if you’re on a tight budget! If you can’t swing $400 on that bouquet of your dreams, ask your florist to substitute some blooms.  Does that silk and orchid covered chuppa make your head spin with bridal delight? If it’s not within your budget to have one professionally made, seek out a friend or family member who could construct one, and substitute more reasonable fabric and floral accents.

Using inspiration will give you lots of elements to pull into your own design concept, while imitation will make you feel restricted and cookie cutter—so go out and be inspired! (and send us pictures—we’d love to see the results!)

(photo by Ben Pancoast Photography)

Recently, I made a stop at my favorite jeweler to have my rings inspected and cleaned. I try to do this at least every 6 months, which is required to keep my insurance up to date. But, truth be told, I get it cleaned just about every time I’m in the area because I love to see that rock shine!

However, it seems that while I am incessant about cleaning it, I’m not taking the best care of it, and my jeweler gave me a good old fashioned lecture.  I was surprised by what I learned, and wanted to pass it on to all you gals sporting shiny new rings!

First, she was none too happy that I had not soldered my rings together. I’ve always intended to, but it was just something I never got around to, and I got used to them twisting and sliding around on my finger. However, I was told this is actually horrible for my ring, and not only scratches the rings finish but can also weaken the structure that holds your diamonds. In my case, I found out the bridge underneath my middle stone was cracked, and I probably would have lost my middle stone very soon!

Looking back, I would have soldered my ring before the wedding—trust me, once you tie the knot you won’t want to take that ring off! Instead, I’m stuck without my rings for a whole week while they get a shiny new finish, a fix-job on the cracked bridge, and they solder my pair together! Don’t get me wrong–it’s not all bad—those rings are going to look brand new when they get back on my hot little hand!

{Fast Forward: I got my rings back and they look AMAZING! And it’s so nice to not be twisting them around all day to re-align them! I was pretty OCD about lining up my rings, so I figure I’ve gained at least 40 minutes of extra time each day—maybe a little extra blogging with all that free time?}

(Tracy+David in South Haven, JK Photography)

Outdoor weddings and events can be absolutely wonderful. The natural light, beautiful surroundings and open air can draw a lot of people to want to host an outdoor affair. However, you don’t want to set up your ceremony or throw up a tent just anywhere! Give yourself some piece of mind by considering some important factors before choosing your ideal outdoor wedding location.

Are there any policies, ordinances or restrictions?
For example, some public beaches will not allow chairs brought in and will request all guests stand. Also, if you’re renting a public park or beach area, you’ll want to check on any restrictions with serving alcohol if you’re hosting an outdoor reception.

How public is the area?
I plan a lot of beach weddings, and in our area you can throw a stone and hit 12 beautiful beaches. When you’re looking at locations, consider how busy it will be, at the time of year you’ll be tying the knot. Will you be able to secure a private area? If you’re on a public beach, ask a designated friend or family member to watch your area during the ceremony to avoid bikini-clad onlookers from wandering into ceremony pictures. If you’ve hired a coordinator, they can also assist with this. People can be surprisingly cooperative when they’re asked not to disturb a wedding!

Is there ample parking available?
This is one area where unexpected costs can arise. When budgeting, take into consideration the cost for shuttle service to get guests to rhe location, or for many public beaches, the cost of admission/parking. This can add up to as much as $9 per car in our area, but can often be paid for ahead of time if the proper arrangements are made.

Is it easily accessible to handicap or older guests?
Secluded beaches or outdoor areas can be beautiful, but make sure to consider accessibility. Do you have older guests who will not be able to walk the distance? Is it handicap accessible?

Is there an option for inclimate weather?
If you’re tying the knot outdoors, look for areas that may also provide for shelter in the case of inclimate weather. Certain beaches will offer a covered pavilion, or areas where you could set up a tent. While I always like to stay positive, it’s best to be prepared—-always have a back up!

Now go out there and find your perfect outdoor location! There are a lot of hidden gems out there, that you’ll never find browsing from your computer so hop in the car and explore your local area—you’ll be surprised at all of the unique and beautiful areas you’ll find!

A month or two ago, I was contacted by Shore Magazine BRIDE to contribute to an article on post-wedding tasks.  Contibute? Me?! Yes, please! I love to write, and I love helping out brides, so I was very excited to lend some help! I’ve been anxiously awaiting the magazine to come out, and today I finally got a copy in my hot little hands! Sorry about the grainy image, but the pages are glossy and my scanner was not liking it at all!

(click to enlarge)

If you haven’t checked it out before, this magazine is great, and you can get it at most of the local retailers in downtown St. Joseph as well as Northwest Indiana and the Chicago area. It features everything wedding-related and fabulous along the lake shore and they always offer some beautiful pictures and inspiration for the local area!

So, to keep with the topic of post-wedding tasks, next week we’ll have a series of giveaways (yes, free stuff!) to help you with your post-wedding to-do list! We’ve got some great prizes lined up, so make sure to check in next week!

We all know that wedding costs can add up quickly. Between the catering, beverage service, linen rentals and bridal party gifts, you can charge up a big bill—and if you’re not prepared for it, the total costs could come as quite a shock!

One of the first things I do with my clients is make a detailed budget. While you may have things that arise later in planning, this will give you a blueprint to your overall spending. Sit down with your fiance and come up with a detailed list of wedding-related expenses.  Several sites, such as The Knot offer budget calculators that can help!

Tip: Make sure you don’t forget to budget in sufficient funds to cover tips, gratuity and other miscellaneous charges. If your caterer charges 20% gratuity (which isn’t out of the norm) plus state sales tax, you can be looking at several thousand dollars—so budget that amoutn in, and don’t let it come as a surprise on the final bill!

Today I thought I’d answer some frequently asked questions about invitations, etiquette and gift requests!

Q: We would like money in lieu of gifts—is it okay to indicate this on the invitation?
A: You should never mention gifts in your invitations. While it’s perfectly fine to include registry information with shower invitaitons, your wedding invitations are not the place to include registry information, or outline any specific requests for gifts. My best advice is to spread the word via family and friends that you are in the market for cash instead of presents. Also, registering for fewer items will be a huge clue to guests! So if you’re looking for cash to fix up your new house (or buy one!) pass the word to you parents so they can answer any inquiries about gifts!

Q:Do we have to list our parents on our invitations?
A:This is completely up to you—but if your parents are contributing to the cost of your wedding, my best advice is to ask them! Some parents will be fine with throwing the old-time traditions to the wind—while some may be surprisingly offended by being left out! Sit down and discuss it with your parents so that you’ll all be happy!

Q: How many stores do I need to register at?
A: There is no magic number here, but a good rule of thumb is to make sure you offer options that will appeal to all of your guests! If you’ve got guests coming from different areas of the country, make sure you’re not excluding your relatives in the South by choosing a retailer that only services the midwest! If you’ve got a favorite regional retailer, make sure you also include a national chain, or another retailer that will appeal to other regions! And, more importantly than where you register, make sure you register for a variety of items in a variety of price ranges to meet all of your guests’ shopping needs (and yours! You’ll be surprised how handy those tiny kitchen gadgets can be!)

If you’ve got wedding-related questions you’d like to see answered, feel free to email us at info {at} Stellaeventdesign {dot} com. We’d love to hear from you!

I first heard about WedFog when Monika Caban, a photographer here in St. Joseph had mentioned she was writing an article for the website.  I was intrigued and had to check it out! WedFog is an online resource where you can search for local photographers, look through pictures (categorized, which is great!) and read articles written by Photographers from around the country!

(Top L:Cindy Patrick, R:Danseni Studios, Bottom L:Happily Ever After, R:Dual Shot)

I looked through some pictures, and used the handy search option where I chose to look through only “beach” pictures—ahd here are just a few (of the hundreds) that came up!

Each picture has its photographers info, including a website link, so if you see something you like you can check them out! And, I just had to post this next picture. It’s another one that came up under my “beach” search, and I couldn’t stop looking at it! What is that deer doing on the beach—and why is she letting it eat her bouquet?! She doesn’t look too upset, so she must have gotten a great deal on her flowers! Stay tuned tomorrow for our next featured local photographer, MONIKA PHOTO!

(Bob Summers)

While every photographer does things slightly differently there is one thing we all have in common—we want our brides to love their pictures! The following tips are just a few things that I hope will help you plan for the perfect pictures!

Communication is KEY!
When planning your wedding day, talk with your photographer about expectations, time lines, and what it will take to get the images you are most excited about. Many of the best photographers get great images because their clients work with them to create opportunities to capture those images. The more you communicate with your photographer the better they’ll be able to serve you on your wedding day!

Start the photography early!
Not only are prep photos beautiful story telling images they also give you and your bridal party an opportunity to get used to having your picture taken in a low-pressure environment. By the time the portrait session rolls around you’ll be more relaxed and feel more comfortable in front of the camera!

Personalize your Must-Have photo list!
Photo lists are a hotly debated topic amongst photographers—are they helpful or harmful, useful or useless? While the majority of photographers will agree that downloading a list of 125 “must have” pictures from TheKnot.com isn’t going to be very useful, I think we’d also agree that having a short list of what are truly the most important images to your family is a good thing. I always suggest starting by asking both families to come up with their own top 5 lists. The photos should be unique to the family and not include typical shots, like the bride and groom with parents. Personalizing the list and keeping it short will help make it more manageable for both you and your photographer on the wedding day while ensuring that the most important photos are not forgotten.

Consider seeing each other before the wedding ceremony!
While this trend goes against nearly 100 years of tradition there’s a reason it’s becoming so popular! The “First Look” shoots are an incredible way to document the moment you see each other for the first time, they give you a few precious moments alone together, and getting family photos done before the ceremony not only ensures that you’ll look your best in the photos it also frees up time after the ceremony for a photo walk at a fun location.

Do a photo walk on your way to the reception!
While most brides would love to be able to do bridal portraits at the beach or a beautiful park sometimes the days’ time line just won’t allow it—but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still consider one. Talk to your photographer about the possibilities for a photo walk along the route between your ceremony and reception! Usually you’ll be able to find something you don’t have to go out of your way for and it could be as simple as an old barn, a deserted warehouse, or even an open field. Think you’ll still be pressed for time? Consider leaving the bridal party behind and doing the photo walk with just the two of you.

Add 15 minutes to all of your travel times!
One common mistake I see brides make is forgetting to account for the size of their wedding party when they plan travel times. It just takes bridal parties longer to get places! Adding 15 minutes to your travel times is an easy way to account for some of the things that will inevitably slow your bridal party down as they try to make it from one location to another and it will keep your travel time from taking away from the time you planned to spend taking pictures!