#TuesdayTips :: Tipping Suggestions

Tipping is a section of your budget you don't want to overlook. Make sure to include it when making your budget plans. It can be a significant hit at the last minute if you haven't prepared! It's suggested that 5% of your total budget be put aside to cover tipping and gratuities. Suggested tipping is as follows (percentage is of their fee):

Caterer/Banquet Manager :: 15%-20%

Bartender/Waitstaff :: $20-$50 each

Delivery Staff :: $30-$50 each 

Transportation :: 15%-20%

DJ :: 15%-20%

Band / Musicians :: $30-$50 each

Hair & Makeup :: 15%-20%

Parking Attendants/Valet :: $1-$2 per car

Wedding Planner/Coordinator :: 15%-20%

Photo by Lucero Cervantes Photography

Gown from Providence Place Bridal Boutique

Flowers from Joy's Downtown Flowers

Rentals from Borrowed Treasures

Venue: The Barn at Sparrow Creek Ranch

Another tip is to be sure and check your contracts with each vendor to see if "gratuity" is included in your service price. Some vendors will include this upfront, and if so it doesn't need to be covered twice. If it's not in your contract, put their tips in labeled envelopes to hand out on wedding day and assign your coordinator or someone else trustworthy to handle the task for you.

Happy planning!

#TuesdayTips :: 7 Wedding Planning Mistakes to Avoid

Planning any large event requires a lot of research, comparison, time and effort or you risk costly mistakes along the way. Brides-to-be are sometimes so excited to begin the planning process that they jump the gun start things too early....or maybe order too much! Here are the most frequent mistakes we hear of brides experiencing, so take heed and be sure to avoid them when planning your wedding!

Photo by Z Media

1. Making decisions before creating a budget...
It's beneficial to do things in a certain order when taking on the huge task of planning a large event like a wedding. Make sure your budget is established before you begin putting down deposits or purchasing things. You might spend $2,000 on the dress and then find out your budget was really $1,000. It saves a lot of time and headache to create your budget before doing anything else.

2. Selecting a venue that's too small...
Always have your budget established and your guest list established before you even begin looking for a venue. You'll need to know your price range for the rental, and the guest count to make sure it's large enough to accommodate everyone invited.

Photo by Studio B

3. Not creating a day-of schedule...
Things can get out of hand, off-track, and totally forgotten if there's not a timeline schedule to follow on wedding day. You can make it yourself, or have your planner/coordinator make it for you. It should be shared with the wedding party and all vendors so everyone knows what time they need to be where. Make sure it includes delivery times and locations for everyone involved, along with times for special events you don't want overlooked (dances, toasts, cake cutting, dinner served, etc..)

4. Not making a back up plan for bad weather...
Always create a Plan B or what you'll do in case of bad weather. Depending on what region you live in, that may be wind, rain, hail, hurricanes, or any weather disaster. Make sure you have a plan ready in case the week of the wedding rolls around and thunderstorms or a cold front are looming! 

Photo by Digital 504

5. Not leaving enough time for photos...
Photography is one of the most important aspects to a wedding. One reason is because it will be the thing you have on display and look at for years to come. Don't miss out on the photos that you want because you ran out of time! Be sure to work out a plan with your photographer to cover all of the photos you're looking for. If you have a LARGE family or a lot of children involved and want a pic of everyone together, be sure to discuss things like that with your photog. Gathering and posing a lot of family and children takes some time and that should be accounted for when creating the schedule for the day...otherwise, you may run out of time and not have everyone included.

6. Ordering too much food & beverages...
Food and beverage is one of the highest costs when planning any large event. Make sure to keep an accurate count of your guests so you have enough food available, but be sure to order for your minimum guest count first. You can always add a few guests at the last minute if needed, but the caterer (and bar, and cake...) generally can't decrease their order by 20 at the last minute. Be sure to keep accurate track of what you're ordering and for how many people.

Photo by Leach Photography

7. Buying your dress first thing...
It's the most exciting thing for an engaged bride-to-be to run right out and try on every beautiful dress out there! A lot of us have waited our whole life for that moment! Here's a good tip though; don't buy your dress until you've selected your DATE and your VENUE. Know what season so you can prepare for heat/cold, and know the venue so you can dress appropriately (for instance, ballgowns with trains don't work well for sandy beach weddings).

Happy Planning!

#TuesdayTips :: You're Engaged! Now What?

We're deep in the throes of "engagement season" right now, so I see a lot of questions being posted by local brides about where the heck to get started. It's always such an exciting thing to get engaged, so don't let the planning stress take away from that! Relax, take one thing at a time, and enjoy each thing as you go along.

I've been posting some response tips to the questioning brides, so I thought I'd write a blog post with the important details I keep repeating. I always suggest to start the wedding planning process by checking off these three things - - and from there you'll have a better grasp on what's happening without stressing about what's next!

Photo by EM Event Photography

1. Set Your Budget

Setting your budget first will allow you to make all of your other decisions much quicker and with less hesitation. We use budget worksheets to calculate what should be spent on each category for your wedding, so you know exactly what to spend before you get started. For example, if your budget is $10,000, budget worksheets will break that down into how much should be allocated to each vendor. This gives you a feasible number when you're looking to hire. If they're out of your price range from the get-go, you can save time by concentrating on those you love who are IN (or under) your price range. Research and use budget worksheets, or hire a planner to assist you with establishing and sticking to your budget!


2. Create Your Guest List

One of the first questions most vendors will ask you is "How many guests are you expecting?" so be prepared with a correct answer. I always suggest making three lists - A List, B List, and C List. The A List obviously being people you can't have your wedding without (family, wedding party & their dates, etc)....down to the C List which are acquaintances that you wouldn't mind trimming from the list if needed. Once you have your guest list made, you'll know a number to guest count when vendors ask; your venue, your caterer, your cake baker, your invitation designer, chair rentals, etc...


3. Select Your Date & Venue

Some brides and couples have a specific date in mind from the beginning because it's special to you and your loved one. Some of you don't have that attachment and can select any date you want. If you're on budgetary constraints, check with venues to see if non-Saturday rates are any better for you. Once you have your date set and reserved, and your venue selected and reserved, you can begin contacting other vendors to fill in where needed.

Photo by EM Event Photography

From there, you can begin to look for wedding vendors to fill your needs. I always suggest starting with a planner/coordinator so you can get the most assistance and information along the planning journey!

If you're on the fence about being a DIY (do it yourself) bride, or wondering if you should hire a planner....feel free to attend one of our DIY Brides Planning Workshops! We give a fun and informative crash course on how to get started with your wedding planning and we send you home with all the tools you'll need to do it successfully! Visit our Facebook page or Instagram page to see our upcoming workshops in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

www.facebook.com/michelleventstx
www.instagram.com/bustledbridal


Happy Wedding Planning!

#TuesdayTips :: Budget Breakdown

If you're just starting on the journey of planning your wedding, the budget is really the first thing that you should establish! Nothing should be purchased or booked until you know what you should spend on each area and what you can afford. Follow these tips when establishing your wedding or event budget:

Photo by Courtney Lynn Photography

Budget Breakdown
Accessories 1%
Hair & Makeup 2%
Printed Materials 2%
Transportation 3%
Dress 4%
Cake 5%
Wedding Planner 5%
Extra Cushion 5%
Tipping 5%
Lighting 5%
Venue Rental 5%
Photo & Video 8%
Entertainment 10%
Flowers & Décor 15%
Food & Beverage 25%


Apply your wedding budget to the above percentages to see how much you should be spending on each category. If certain areas are more important to you or if you're foregoing one section entirely, you can move the percentages around to accommodate. The budget is always a balancing act depending on your wants and needs.

Visit our additional budget breakdown posts, starting with Accessories. We cover each section individually to give you the breakdown and savings tips for each category, and each blog post links to the next! Happy budgeting! :)

Photo by Courtney Lynn Photography

#TuesdayTips :: 8 Tips for the Bride Planning Her Own Wedding

It's busy wedding season right now, and engagement season is upon us as well. A lot of today's brides are foregoing hiring a wedding planner for a number of reasons. Whether it's due to budget restrictions, their love of DIY, or having enough family to assist with all of the tasks, they are taking the reins and handling the planning on their own. During the planning process, some find that it was a much bigger task than they ever anticipated!

To accommodate brides doing it on their own, we've established a series of budget friendly workshops for the DIY Bride. We give all the tools needed so the DIY bride can spearhead planning her own wedding with confidence....an organization binder, checklists, budget worksheets, sample schedules, recommended vendors, tips on DIY projects, and planning tips that will help during the whole process.

Here are a few of the things we discuss with brides, and tips we recommend for any brides planning their own wedding:


1. First and foremost, establish your budget.
Before making any decisions, spending any money, booking any vendors, or getting your hopes set on that huge venue....establish your budget. This is the most important thing because it dictates what you can and should do with every single aspect of your wedding.

2. Take advantage of a long planning time.
Don't rush yourself through the planning process. Create ample time to save for your budget and plenty of time to research options and make decisions. Set a date far enough away that you give yourself plenty of time to slow down, do it right, make educated decisions that are right for you, and enjoy the planning process.

3. Establish your top priorities.
Make a list of the top priorities for your wedding. Maybe the flowers are your #1 love and you have expensive specifics that you want. Maybe food is your passion and you want a top of the line five star served dinner. Maybe you have your heart set on a photographer you've seen but they're way out of your budget. Establish a list of what's most important to you, and then cut back on the other not-so-important aspects in order to bump up the budget for your priorities.

4. Create a preliminary guest list.
Before you look for venues or book vendors, create the first draft of your guest list. Knowing your guest count is imperative when making a lot of your wedding decisions, and that's one of the first questions a lot of your vendors will ask when booking. Create an A list (family, wedding party, must-attend friends), B list (other friends you'd like to attend), C list (co-workers, acquaintances). If you need to cut the guest list due to budget constraints, start with the C list and work your way up.

5. Establish a team.
This isn't a task you'll be able to do on your own, so establish a team of family, friends, and of course your loving fiancé. Delegate tasks that you trust each one of them will be suitable to complete and watch your list get smaller. This will greatly lighten your load! 

6. Get organized.
Keep a binder with all of your wedding planning paperwork and details. Contracts, checklists, vendor contact information, photos or magazine pages, décor and design ideas, details you love, payment receipts, and anything else you need to keep track of for easy access. Take it with you for all of your meetings and you'll always have everything you need.

7. Do your research!
Take the time to research each vendor and compare all the facts before interviewing and booking. Read their reviews, ask them questions, know everything included in the packages, ask about any additional charges up front so there are no surprises later. Compare all of these things before making your decision and sending a deposit.

8. Create a user-friendly wedding website for your guests.
Give guests an easy-to-access location to quickly find out all the details about your wedding. Date, time, location, directions, introduce the bridal party, tell the story of how you met, share engagement photos, list your gift registries and link to it for easy access. There are many free online options as well as paid options, so research what's out there and get started!


Happy wedding planning!

Planning Tips :: 5 Ways a Wedding Planner Can Save You Money $$$

I'm on a mission these days to let everyone know what a wedding planner actually does. It's not really like the movies portray, and it's not something you can do in a couple hours over the weekend. It's a lot of moving parts, a lot of vendors to coordinate, a lot of different expenses and payment schedules...it's one of the biggest events of your entire life, so why not hire the assistance of a professional? When you're selling home, you should hire in a realtor. When you need legal advice, you should hire a lawyer. When you're getting married, you should hire a planner.

While yes, there are surely brides out there who are capable in more ways than one of planning their own wedding. It's not a matter of if you're able to or not....it's a matter of having connections and experience in the industry. A planner doesn't make the decisions for you and call the shots. We simply research and present you the options that fit with your budget and needs...then you make the decision. We're not here to take over, we're here to help make the experience more pleasurable! 

Venue :: Sparrow Creek Ranch :: Photo :: Whitney Bowman Photography

Table Settings :: Borrowed Treasures and Michéll Events

Planning + Coordination :: Michéll Events

 

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1. Contracts & Hidden Fees

All venues and vendors will have you sign a contract. That's just good business. Most couples will just pay a deposit and sign on the dotted line because they love what they see. Be sure to read the fine print in each contract. I've seen sticker shock at several small details included in the contract that weren't questioned until it was too late. Here are a couple examples of things you can avoid by hiring a planner and having them oversee the details in your vendor contracts: 

~Some venues/vendors charge a cake cutting fee. I've cut a cake before for a bride who found out it would cost $150 to have it cut at the last minute. She thought it was included in what she paid, but it wasn't and they didn't add it. It was all right there in her contract, but she didn't completely read through the end and was taken by surprise when it came time to cut the cake.

~Some vendors require that you provide a meal for them while they provide services for you throughout the day/evening. Make sure you know who requires meals and who doesn't, it should all be noted in their contracts. It's never fun to scramble at the last minute to cover extra meals with the caterer and endure the extra last minute expense and stress.

Photo :: The Mamones

Venue :: Chapel Creek Ranch

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2. Wholesale Accounts

I'm licensed with the state of Texas to re-sale, which means I'm eligible to shop at wholesalers and not pay sales tax. Not to mention, when you buy from a wholesaler and buy in bulk, the price is generally significantly less. Take advantage of the fact that your planner should have these accounts available to help with wedding purchases you need to make. Michéll Events can offer many products by using our accounts to help out! 

Flowers & Petals by Michéll Events

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3. Discounts With Vendors

As someone who's been in business for ten years, I've developed relationships with vendors through working with them. When we see a bride in need of each other's services, we recommend and refer them to each other. We trust the working relationship we have with each other and we appreciate working with each other. In many of these cases, vendors will offer discounts when recommending and referring clients back and forth. Take advantage of the knowledge your planner has from working with so many local vendors on a regular basis.

Photo :: Lucero Cervantes Photography

Venue :: Sparrow Creek Ranch

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4. Discounted Flowers, Linens & Décor

I know some planners offer this, but not all. At Michéll Events we include event design in our menu of services, which includes floral design and a large inventory of décor rental items. We have accounts with floral wholesalers and can buy in small amounts or in bulk for wholesale prices. This works out perfectly for the bride who's on a restricted floral budget, or for the bride who wants to DIY the flowers herself and needs a market to buy them. The same thing applies to other décor needed for a wedding. If you want linens, lanterns, candles, table cards, table numbers, favors, edible treats, backdrops, lighting....let us use our network to save you money across the board!

Centerpieces, Chargers, Candles, Linens

& Chair Sashes from Michéll Events

5. Overtime

Overtime will destroy the budget with every vendor involved. Make sure things are planned and double checked in advance so you don't have to run late on wedding day and endure additional expenses. What happens in the event of overtime should be listed in the contract for every vendor it applies to. Make a schedule for the day and have your planner/coordinator ensure things stay on schedule and avoid overtime charges.

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Keep these things in mind when debating on whether a planner is for you or not. The #1 important thing to look for when hiring a planner is how you mesh with them. We offer a free consult with every bride/couple to chat about what you want, what we can offer, and discuss your wedding details. This will give the couple a chance to see if we're on the same level. If your personalities don't vibe, it will be a difficult process after you book with them. Planning a wedding is a very personal experience, and we always like how our clients feel like family while we're working with them. A close relationship is important! Conversation should be easy, visions should be shared easily, and a planner should be able to answer your questions without hesitation.

Because we know there are so many brides planning their own weddings these days, we created this planning package just for them. The "DIY Bride's Planning Package" includes everything needed to plan your wedding from checklists, budget worksheets and tips, vendor recommendations and booking tips, sample schedules and itineraries, along with a meeting with a planner to ask questions and go over all the details beginning to end. This is our way of helping the DIY brides avoid the costly mistakes that sneak up when planning a wedding! The DIY package is currently on special for $299 (Regular $399) - click here to see the DIY package details!

Happy planning, y'all!

Planning Tips :: 5 Huge Wedding Disasters to Avoid

BEING OVER-BUDGET
It happens to most, and it's a stressful thing to tackle. Create a budget from the very beginning and adhere to it. If it goes awry somewhere, remember that the #1 way to trim the budget is to cut the guest list. It's a hard thing to do, but it's the quickest way to get dollars back. Cut one table of 8 guests and you'll save 8 meals, 8 beverage tabs, 8 favors, 8 place cards, 8 menu cards, 8 invitations, 8 place settings, 8 chairs/chair covers, 8 napkins...plus a table, a linen, and a centerpiece with décor. It will add up quickly! 

INSUFFICIENT POSTAGE

Weigh your invitation & all inserts before mailing so your postage is correct  and your invites  don't get returned for insufficient postage. Ask your stationer for info about additional postage for oddly shaped invites so you're not surprised when average postage isn't enough. You can check weights and rates at your local post office before stamping your invites. Also, you can quickly and easily find the perfect wedding stamps online at USPS.com without even leaving the comfort of your home. Quick and easy!

LONG BAR LINES

The general rule of thumb is 1 bartender per 50 guests to keep the beverage lines to a minimum. Be sure to adhere to that rule. Beer, wine and champagne are quick pour and serve drinks, but mixed cocktails and signature drinks can take longer to put together. If you're serving a cocktail that can't be made in advance, more hands will be needed to keep the line moving along. Make sure to go over guest count, beverage menu, and all other details with your bartender/hired staff to avoid long line disasters.

FEEDING THE CREW
Avoid last minute hiccups by reading your vendor contracts fully and making a note of which vendors require dinner provided. Plan in advance to feed your vendors in attendance. Many of your vendors are with you ALL day from start to finish, so part of their contract might require you to provide lunch or dinner. While you and your guests are eating, it's their chance to break and eat as well. It's not always necessary to provide the prime rib or lobster tail that your guests are dining on. Check into vendor meals with your caterer to see what's available, check into a vendor table for dinner (included in your reception or in another area of the venue) and check all of the vendor contracts to see what's required for dinner.

MOTHER NATURE
Mother Nature can always provide an unexpected surprise! Always have a Plan B (tents, wall panels, air conditioning/heaters, etc...) for surprise rain if you're planning an outdoor event. Temperature should be comfortable, too. Guests won't stay long if they're uncomfortable, so don't let the heat or the cold put a rush on your wedding day for your guests. Offer blankets, heaters, and warm beverages in the cool weather....fans, parasols and cold beverages in the warm weather. Certain times of year are BAD for bugs, so keep that in mind as well. If you're getting married during the swarming season, provide your guests with repellant of some sort.

Planning Tips :: Creating and Cutting the Guest List

When you begin your journey down the road of wedding planning, the first thing you should begin with is a preliminary guest list. You should have an approximate number so you can establish your budget, know what size venue you need, estimate cost of food & beverage per guest, etc...

My suggestion is always to make an A list, B list and C list. A list of course being family and important people that must be invited to attend, B list being friends and acquaintances that you would love to attend, and C list being people such as co-workers, parent's friends or distant friends who you would like to attend but could be cut if need be without diminishing the day. (You don't need to share this list with folks, just your expected guest count number - just keep your lists in your planning binder or in a spreadsheet on your computer).

If you find yourself over budget, the quickest way to remedy that is to trim down the guest list. Each guest eliminated cuts back on appetizers, meals, beverages, place settings, favors, stationery, cake, desserts, chair cover & sash, or any other items you may have reserved for your day. Cut an entire table and the savings multiply further. If you get into budget trouble, approach the C list and see what kind of cuts you can make to save.

Planning Tips :: Remember These Details!

When planning a wedding, there are a lot of details to remember and it's possible to overlook some of them in the planning process. Countless times I've heard of brides in a panic the day before the wedding because they forgot flower girl petals, a guest book, a cake knife, etc...

Here's a good list to go by so you don't forget one of those needed details for your wedding...

Printed Materials
Save the Date Cards
Invitations and Envelopes
Postage
Ceremony Programs
Escort Cards
Place Cards
Table Numbers
Menu Cards
Thank You Cards
Favor Boxes/Tags
Calligraphy
Personalized Cocktail Napkins

Attire & Accessories
Bride's Dress
Headpiece/Veil
Bride's Shoes
Lingerie/Undergarments
Jewelry
Groom's Tuxedo or Suit
Groom's Accessories
Alterations & Cleaning

Photo by Danielle Luc Photography

Entertainment
Pre-Ceremony Music
Ceremony Music
Cocktail Hour Music
Reception Music
Specialty Entertainment

Photo by Z Media

Photography/Videography
Engagement Photos
Photographer's Package
Wedding Album
Parent's Albums
Additional Prints
Videographer's Package
Video/DVD Copies
Photo Booth

Flowers/Décor
Ceremony Decorations
Bride's Bouquet
Maid of Honor/Bridesmaids Bouquets
Flower Girl Accessories
Corsages
Boutonnieres
Reception Centerpieces
Table Linens
Lighting

Ceremony/Reception
Wedding Planner
Ceremony Location
Officiant
Marriage License
Reception Site
Food/Waitstaff
Wedding Cake
Groom's Cake
Cake Knife/Server (Generally Engraved)
Bar/Bartenders
Rentals

Transportation
Couple's Transportation
Bridal Party Transportation
Guest Transportation
Parking
Tips

Photo by Terra Sol Studio

Gifts/Favors/Misc
Maid/Matron of Honor Gift
Bridesmaids Gifts
Best Man's Gift
Groomsmen's Gifts
Child Attendant's Gifts
Couples Gifts for Each Other
Parent's Gifts
Hotel Welcome Baskets
Bathroom Convenience Baskets
Favors
Ring Pillow
Guest Book & Pens
Card Box

Planning Tips :: Wedding Budget Breakdown :: Accessories

In the final installment of our Wedding Budget Breakdown feature, we're covering the final details! Your accessories are the details that go along with your attire to add that special touch...veil, tiara, undergarments, shoes, gloves, garter, handkerchief, jewelry, handbag, or any other detail you want to add to your wedding day ensemble.

Suggested budget for accessories is 1%, so if you have a $20,000 budget you should be spending $200 on your attire accessories. As with any other area of the budget, if you need more in this category you can shift the other areas around. Take a section of the budget you won't be using all of and move the extra to your accessories category.

Photo by Z Media

Photo by Becky's Photography

"Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue..." is a good-luck saying originated in the Victorian era. Brides today often incorporate special items into their wedding attire and accessories according to the rhyme.

"Something Old" symbolizes a link to the bride's family and the past. A family heirloom, such as a piece of antique jewelry or a family member's wedding dress can represent the old object. Or, a bride can sew lace or ribbon into the hem of her dress.

"Something New" represents good fortune and success in the bride's new life. A bride may wear a new string of pearls, or use her wedding gown as the new item.

"Something Borrowed" symbolizes the love and support of family and friends in times of need. A borrowed object can be a token from a happily married friend, such as a lace handkerchief.

"Something Blue" is an object that symbolizes faithfulness and loyalty. Brides commonly choose a blue garter or ribbon. 

-Yahoo

Photo by Leach Photography

Photo by Leach Photography

:: TIPS ::

1. Accessories for your wedding day attire are sometimes passed down by family members or loaned to you by your best girlfriends...take advantage! This option is not only sentimental and sweet, but the extra bonus is that it doesn't cost you anything.

2. The bridal salon where you buy your gown will have accessories as well. Sometimes if you buy them at the same time as the dress, you can get a discount that will help you out. See what's available at the bridal salons when you go looking for your dress.

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