Invitation Etiquette

With technology as a common source and times changing, there are always questions that people ask about the do's and don'ts about invitations. Many believe that invitations are not important. While everyone is entitled to their opinion, the fact of the matter is that your invitation sets the mood of your wedding before your guests even attend. Here are some frequently asked questions that I get from brides and grooms.

Q: Do I need to order an invitation for every guest?
A: Absolutely not. Don't forget that many people that are on your guest list are couples or families, therefore, you will only need to order 1 invitation for 2 or more guests. I would say that you will need to order 65% of the amount on your guest list.

Q: Can I send my invitations through the internet?
A: It is improper to send an invitation through e-mail or internet, especially because it is an unreliable source of contact. People might not receive your e-mail or message. However, you may send out of town information, directions, hotel information, and other things through the internet.

Q: When should I send out our invitations?
A: 6 to 8 weeks before the wedding.

Q: Can I let my guests know I am registered in my invitations?
A: This is not proper etiquette. Registration information is never proper to enclose in your invitation. You may add it to your wedding website (if you have one), or you may tell them if they ask you. You can also use your close family members (mom, sisters, etc.) to spread the word if people ask them as well.

Q: I want to have a small wedding and I only want to invite certain people. How do I limit my guest list?
A: The proper etiquette is to send the invitations only to those who are being invited and an announcement following the wedding to those who were not. If you do not want to be approached by certain people that you see often (co-workers, acquaintances, etc.), try to discuss your wedding plans more privately and not openly.

What do event planners do?

Many people ask this question. Some do not quite understand what event planners do or how they can possibly fit into their budget. Though planning is exciting, fun, and creative, there are many other logistics and critical thinking that are the very backbone of each successful event. There are many points in the timeline when one could realize they need an event planner. No matter what the event, there are advantages that make the money well spent.

Corporate events involve a wide spectrum. There could be a premier, fashion show, gala, holiday party, wrap party...the list can go on and on. If certain clients were utilizing an event for marketing purposes and/or profit, one great advantage in hiring an event planner would be their understanding of the event marketing industry and how it can affect the business. Knowing the perfect venue, knowing the target market, budget management, design ideas, what time of the year to throw it, sponsorships, etc. are all aspects that an event planner can help with. Their information and research can be very beneficial with profits and awareness.

Event planners can also help with social events in many ways. An extra person when brainstorming for theme ideas and color scheme is always helpful. As they say, "Two brains are better than one." With social events, clients are emotionally attached to the events they throw because it is usually a momentous milestone in their lives or their families' lives. An event planner can be a wonderful source that can stay calm and collected during the event.

No matter what type of event is being planned, an event planner can be incredibly useful. When there are many budget expectations, an event planner can keep you on track to make sure that all elements that make up the budget are within reach. They can also inform you on your local average spending amounts for a particular event in your area.

All event planners should have a plethora of vendor contacts and act as a liaison between a client and a vendor. They can refer their vendors with confidence that they will be the professionals that can make an event spectacular. They can also do the research to help find out if the vendor you know and want to work with is reputable.

Event planners are not here to tell you what to do or how to think. They are simply here for guidance, advice, troubleshooting, and logistics. An average event can take over 250 hours to plan. Many don't have that kind of time, but still want their events to be amazing. It's imperative that there be someone that can dedicate that much time to an event that has tremendous value.

10 Ways to Save Money on your Wedding

According to TheWeddingReport.com, an average wedding in Los Angeles costs about $32,400 for 2007. No matter what the budget or size of your wedding, there are always ways to save money and time! Here are 10 simple ways to maximize your time and bottom line.

1. Work with a wedding consultant. Any wedding consultant that is worth working with has a wonderful database of vendors. Many times, we have relationships set up with our preferred vendors because we always bring them repeat customers. Not only do we recommend them, but we know that they are ready, capable, and professional!


2. Have your wedding during a "slow time" of the season. The busy part of the wedding season is usually May through October (depending on your location). Many vendors have discounts or lower rates for the "off season." Also, consider having your wedding on any day other than a Saturday. Sundays are beginning to be a popular day to have weddings since the cost is much less than a Saturday.


3. Be realistic. Sometimes people want to take on projects themselves because they think it will save money. While this is sometimes true, they forget about the time and dedication it takes to prepare these things. After buying supplies, they realize they didn't get around to it and end up ordering whatever it was they planned on making. We've also seen situations where people attempt a project with good intentions, but it didn't come out the way they planned. Make sure you think about whether you do have the time to do the things you commit to. There are many things that are going on at the same time, but if you can do it yourself, by all means do it! Also, you have your wedding consultant to help you!


4. Plan ahead. If you plan in advance, it will save time, stress, and money! When it's too close to your target date and you need something soon, there is always an extra cost -- a rush fee, an overnight fee, etc. If you plan ahead, you won't have unneeded expenses.


5. Decide on what's most important. Invest the money in what you feel is most important. Talk to your fiance and discuss which parts of the budget you want to spend and save.


6. Limit your host bar to 1 to 2 hours. There are even some locations that include a 1-2 hour host bar in some of their packages. If you limit that time you will not only save money, but also possibly keep your guests safe from drunk driving.


7. Save on postage.If at all possible, personally deliver your invitations. This will not only save the cost of stamps, but will also give you an opportunity to catch up with friends and family and let them congratulate you in person.


8. Organize your guestlist. I don't advise people to cut their list, but I always have people organize and break their list down into 3 categories -- a.) Those who must be invited, b.) Those who should be invited, and c.) Those who would be nice to invite. This will not only keep you well organized, but also figure out how many people are in each category and will help with your final count.


9. Get a block rate for out of town guests. Usually hotels are happy to do this for you as long as you do it in advance and they have availability. Also, they might have a wedding package available; for example, if you block a certain amount of rooms, you can get yours for free or updated to a suite for no extra charge.


10. Save on attire. There are many ways to accomplish this. If your soon-to-be husband doesn't want to purchase a tuxedo, go to a rental place that offers a "free groom's tuxedo" special. If you don't want to purchase a designer or couture gown, go to an outlet store or on Ebay and purchase your gown there.

Good luck and happy planning!


Sources:
www.theweddingreport.com

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