Making Dollars & Sense of a Wedding Budget
In a report I read recently, it revealed that brides and grooms are very optimistic about their upcoming 2010/11 weddings. While the economy starts to point up again, bridal couples refuse to compromise on their big day, saying its their once in a lifetime dream day and they will figure out how to make it happen- their way- their milestone!
At The Wedding Guide Windsor/Essex County, we realize that there isn’t a bottomless budget with huge amounts of money to be spent , but some items will prove to be immenently more important than others due to their staying power. We’re here to help you make your day occur your way.
 Trevor Booth Photography, Windsor, Ontario Your Photographer- Your Archivist
You want to be able to look back at your wedding day and love the memory-making that your photographer captured. There is no way to go back and redo a wedding once its over, so ensure that you check your photographer’s references and make sure that their portfolio is a handsome one. Also, ask if the photographer you are meeting with will be the one shooting your day. It’s important to have a good rapport personality-wise with your shooter as you will be spending the entire day and night together.
Most photographers today do a combination of photo-journalistic style (candids) as well as some traditional shots. If your idea of pictures is spontaneous, then you won’t want to spend the day standing like statues, being posed. However, do remember to include family group shots for future viewing. It’s important to chronicle the generations that are at your wedding celebration for future posterity.
Your First Trip as a Couple!
Your honeymoon is an important piece of your planning because it is the separation between your single life and your future married days together. Find a place that you can both unwind and decompress after all the months of wedding planning. You want to do things you enjoy together and enjoy this delicious time away. Don’t compromise on your honeymoon- you’ll always remember it vividly and be able to recount together as a couple for your entire life.
And if you’re thinking of last minute travel plans- stop now and reconsider. Friends have done it, despite warnings and found themselves disappointed in sub-standard places that just weren’t suitable for a honeymoon.
Human Wedding Décor!
An artsy, actor friend of mine was recently hired to be a duo in a bride and groom “statue-like” feature at the reception. They held their poses, mannequin-like as decorative pieces in the hall, as well as mingling with the guests. It was a fun addition to the day and unique and fun!
Should you be interested in this type of entertainment- contact us and we can recommend them to you directly. I’m watching this as another new emerging trend as brides and grooms continue to personalize your days and put their signature style on everything about their wedding day.
Until next time
Register and come back often and thanks for dropping in.
Sheryl Davies
Publisher
In the past, grooms had no say in the wedding preparations-ever. His job was to propose to the love of his life and book the honeymoon, while the bride and her mother planned the day! But, a new phenomenon has emerged with the shifting of demographics.
A decade ago, the bride was 21 years of age, and the groom was 23 when they married. Fast-forward to 2010 and the ages are now 28 and 30. With that shift, we find that over 50% of the couples are living together first, and they have assets, investments and sometimes even children before they say their vows.
The tradition of the bride’s parents paying for the wedding is evolving into the couple paying for the whole bill or having their parents contribute a portion. Since the grooms are now involved with footing some or all of the bill, it only makes good sense that they have a say during the planning process. Although they aren’t having their way with colour choices, (can you see them asking for Rose Dust or Purple Orchid?), they can get involved with the entertainment by looking after the DJ, band or transportation service.
This change of attitude can be a positive for the brides-to-be because the men can reduce some of the stress from your bridal planning. These are jobs that you can trust them with to research, and once that is done, you can both attend the appointment together. You want to ensure that you are getting the service you both have decided on and of course, as the bride you’ll want to meet your potential wedding professionals face-to-face.
In the 1920′s, women got the right to vote and today men are entering the world of weddings, and have been given the right to exercise their likes and dislikes as they relate to this very important day. It is a whole new day for everyone including the wedding professionals who in the past have dealt almost exclusively with women.
The best way to begin is to pick two dominant complimentary colours and one highlight colour. Other colours can be added to intensify and highlight your dominant colours.
If you have already worked with an image consultant in the past, you will already be aware of which colours compliment your complexion and give you that wonderful glow that makes you look your absolute best.
 Windsor Wedding Guide Issue #18 Starting with a blank canvas, the process will evolves naturally. From the time you were a young girl, you may have imagined a wedding with deep red roses and crisp white linens. Or, did you envision yourself in a setting that was classy and elegant; perhaps a dramatic and always proper, black and white theme as your décor?
With spring and summer weddings, a feeling of calm waters and beach vacations come to mind with soothing Turquoise, a hot colour this season with the connotation of a faraway beach resort. Add an ocean blue and the feel becomes cool, refreshing and filled with energy.
Yellow makes a statement; its always associated with and bathed, in the warmth of summer. It is always a terrific choice, combined with shades of neutral champagne or taupe.
The new red this season is Tomato Purée, and its zippy and fun, paired with a cream infusion of florals and table linen. Touched with silver or gold, it is a rich, inviting look that is warm and inviting.
When picking your colours, think about your home and what colours you wear most often. These are the colours that are in your comfort zone; ones that you can live with in harmony and feel good about.
You may want to spend some time in the paint section of your local hardware store or building centre, where you can mix and match the chips to see what your true colour personality reveals.
Whether you are looking for a traditional look, an out-of-the-box, bold statement, or a modern feel, the palette you choose from will add glorious colour to the look and feel of your wedding day.
Whatever you decide on, your day should highlight all your favourites, from your beautiful dress to your menu to your accessories, and every colour detail in between. When you pick your colour scheme, you will set both the tone and your own distinctive, signature style for your day.
Don’t jump into something that you think you may like; be honest in your colour approach and you will have a look that you will both love and forever remember.
From urban chic, to haute couture there is a combination for you that will inspire the look and feel of your day, and put your own unique, fingerprint on it; guided by what you love.
The Wedding Guide|Windsor & Region helps local brides find and assess the professional wedding vendors in the area, that deliver first-rate service: reception venues, ceremony sites, photographers, beauty, florists, honeymoons, limousine service and more.
We wish you a beautiful day filled with love!
Be sure to visit “Planning” at the beginning of our website, where you’ll find printable checklists, a comprehensive timetable, interactive budget calculator that appropriates each wedding service according to the Canadian average, the best bridal phone resource in the area, and, lots more to assist you with all your wedding day preparations.
Check out the dynamite duo!
For over 18 years, we have watched Chalet Studio emerge as the property and business it is today. Through the tender, caring tutelage of Janet and Alan Arseneaultm, they have literally grown their dream with their gorgeous country estate studio, that pampers brides and grooms to the max. It is so calming upon your arrival, to set foot on their immaculate, manicured grounds; we can only imagine how soothing it makes brides, grooms and their wedding parties feel. Everything here is luxe, lush and relaxing- like a time long-ago but with all the modern technological advances tucked discreetly away from the eye.
This was a life-goal for this innovative couple, who took a gamble and bought country land and became “farmers” of photography. The flowers, the creek, the décor, the beach area, the wrapped decks and their studio are a one-stop for picture-taking. Weather is no longer a factor on anyone’s wedding day anymore, and they can even drive a T-bird or a fire engine in through their heavy antique doors for shooting purposes. If you want a particular picture with something you cherish, whether small or large, Chalet will make it happen for you.
Both Janet and Alan have their own strengths in this business and as a happily married couple, they work in tandem to create pictures of extraordinary beauty. It is a wonderful lifestyle they are enjoying and it speaks volumes to their commitment to living life to the fullest.
If one thinks of Alice in Wonderland, this is the ultimate in falling down the rabbit hole right into a wonderful, personal experience that any couple would be thrilled with.
Chalet Studio also welcomes family and children’s shoots, pets, graduations and any other celebratory milestones of your life. They have followed families from their engagements to their grandchildren, making them a generational business.
We wish them every success in all their future endeavours and cannot wait to see their property in the next five years, as their grounds continue to mature and, they continue to add more of their unique touches to this outstanding palette. They have a wedding playground in exquisitely good taste for every theme and personality.
The Wedding Guide is proud to have showcased Chalet Studio from their beginning, over 18 years ago. We wish them every success in their future endeavours.
The Wedding Guide invites you to join our blog www.bridaltalk.theweddingguide.ca for more bridal musing, banter and everything wedding, from your local wedding experts. We are the official bridal planner and website wedding portal for Windsor/Essex County and brides have trusted us for20 years to help them plan their weddings- stress-free and organized!
Watch for Daily Wedding Tips are posted on our Facebook site: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/group.php?gid=8871787529
We also have many give-aways, a Bride of the Month contest and more! You can win fabulous prizes!
All our photographers and brides in The Wedding Guide are Windsor/Essex residents and we salute them all!
Have you any wedding questions, or are you looking for a particular service or article for your wedding day?- contact us for complimentary advice.
Did you know there are $1000′s of dollars of money-saving offers for you on our website. www.theweddingguide.ca
Until later,
Don’t sweat the small stuff- your wedding day will be beautiful!
Making Dollars & Sense of a Wedding Budget- positive consensus!
In a report I recently read, it revealed that brides and grooms are very optimistic about their upcoming 2010 weddings. While the economy softens, bridal couples refuse to compromise on their big day saying its their once in a lifetime dream day and they will figure out how to make it happen- their way.
We, at The Wedding Guide Windsor/Essex County realize that there isn’t a bottomless budget with huge amounts of money to be spent , but some items will prove to be imminently more important than others due to their staying power.
Your Photographer- Your archivist!
You want to be able to look back at your wedding day and love the memory-making that your photographer captured. There is no way to go back and redo a wedding once its over, so ensure that you check your photographer’s references and make sure that their portfolio is a handsome one. Also, ask if the photographer you are meeting with will be the one shooting your day. It’s important to have a good rapport personality-wise with your shooter as you will be spending the entire day and night together.
Most photographers today do a combination of photo-journalistic style (candids) as well as some traditional shots. If your idea of pictures is spontaneous, then you won’t want to spend the day standing like statues, being posed.
Your First Trip as as a Married Couple!
Your honeymoon is an important piece of your planning because it is the separation between your single life and your future married days together. Find a place that you can both unwind and decompress after all the months of wedding planning. You want to do things you enjoy together and enjoy this delicious time away. Don’t compromise on your honeymoon- you’ll always remember it vividly and be able to recount together as a couple for your entire life.
And if you’re thinking of last minute travel plans- stop now and reconsider. Friends have done it, despite warnings and found themselves disappointed in sub-standard places that just weren’t suitable for a honeymoon.
Human Wedding Décor!
An artsy, actor friend of mine was recently hired to be a duo in a bride and groom “statue-like” feature at the reception. They held their poses, mannequin-like as decorative pieces in the hall, as well as mingling with the guests. It was a fun addition to the day and unique and fun!
Should you be interested in this type of entertainment- contact me and I can hook you up. I’m watching this as another new emerging trend as brides and grooms continue to personalize your days and put their signature style on everything about their wedding day.
Social Media Widgets
With the internet being the norm as day-day conversation, social online media is the newest way to share the journey of your engagement with loved ones far away. Connected to Facebook, Twitter and 50 other Social Online networks, you can now document your engagement to your wedding day, post it and watch it go global with your latest news. Add your pictures, video and words to our viewer and you have the best in today’s communication. Register for one and be part of the wedding social revolution.
These widgets are innovative, fun and practical gifts for you or your attendants! Introductory rate $199 plus tax. Our viewer protects your photographer’s copyright as your images can only be shared, not stolen. For examples, please go to The Aisle Widgets on the left hand column of this page. Or visit dmscommunications.info or 12flat.com NO ONE DOES WHAT WE DO FOR BRIDES!
Think too, about a webcast ceremony. It allows you to broadcast your vows in real time , online – instantly. What a priceless gift for you or your wedding party. For examples of big, small and in-between widgets go to The Aisle Widgets on the left side of this blog.
Sheryl Davies,
Publisher
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