Set a Budget

The most important thing you can do is set a budget and try the best you can to
stick to it. But a word of caution: be realistic.

If you are watching David Tutera on “My Fair Wedding” on WEtv and want
a “fairytale wedding” just like the one featured in the program for $10,000, you
are going to be very disappointed.

You and your fiancé must sit down and calculate the cost. Here is a great site
that can help you see how to proritize your spending: Wedding Budget Planner .
On this site you can type in any budget amount and the calculator provide
guidelines for allocating your funds. Please understand the calculator offers
suggestions which are not hard fast rules. If you just have to have that $3000
gown, that is fine, just know that you will have to cut somewhere else (or have
Grandma buy it for you).

In my experience I have learned that there are three things not to go cheap on:

1. The Photographer

2. The Flowers

3. The DJ

The Photographer

You have spent countless hours planning your dream wedding and the pictures
taken by your photographer will be the pictures you have for the rest of your life!
When you look back on your family history, what do you look at? PICTURES!
Pictures of what? A lot of times, pictures of family members WEDDINGS! You
could go to Craigslist and hire someone to take pictures, but it is unlikely to find a
good photographer on Craigslist, one who creates images. A good photographer
is invested in his trade, which means he or she is invested in YOU! And although
price is a factor, don’t just look at dollar signs, look beyond. Look at the quality of
the photos.

Does the style of photography appeal to you? Does your personality click with
the photographers? Does the photographer understand your vision? During your
consultation with the photographer, ask him or her to go through the details of
the day, how the photographer goes about planning coverage, what equipment
he or she plans to use, what backup equipment he or she keeps on hand at the
wedding, what training he or she has, and his or her professional affiliations.
You will soon understand that when you find a photographer invested in creating
beautiful images, you’re getting more for your money than you think.

The Flowers

Secondly, consider the flowers. When you see a couple’s wedding pictures,
what do you see in every picture? Your bouquet. Your bouquet is the wrong
place to try and save money. Instead, save money by scaling down on the
bridesmaid’s bouquets and focus on your flowers. Remember, it will be a
picture of you and your husband that will be hanging on your wall thirty years
from now, and what will be in that picture? Your wedding bouquet! Flowers
are a living product so you have to trust your florist. If something goes wrong,
will they be there for you? If an hour after receiving your Calla lilies you notice
they are wilting, what will the florist do? Make sure your florist has your back.

The floral people we work with here at Simple Elegance Events and Wedding
Design have, if needed, redone bouquets, or upgraded bouquets if something
goes wrong. It is important to know prior to the wedding if your florist will be
there for you. Talk with your florist about what you want. Tell them about your
dream bouquet, can you afford it? If not, can you substitute a more economical
flower to make the bouquet more affordable, keeping the look you want? When
you share the types of flowers you want with your florist, listen carefully to
their advice. Your florist has countless hours invested in knowing how flowers
respond in different seasons and situations, draw upon their experience. Outside
wedding in August and you want tulips??? Make sure you are comfortable with
any person you with whom you work.

The DJ

Third, your DJ and/or entertainment are very important to the success of your
wedding day. Your DJ can make or break the reception. Not only do they need
to have a great personality and fresh ideas, they need to have a back up system.
Ask the DJ about his or her experience. How many weddings have they done?
What will they do if people stop dancing, can he or she motivate the crowd to
return to the party? A DJ should also understand the type of music you enjoy.
What type of crowd is he or she trying to entertain? Your DJ should also ask
about your customs and family traditions. Knowing what is appropriate for
you and your guests will make sure that everybody has a fun time during your

reception. Price should not be the determining factor for finding a DJ. Quality of
service and presentation should. Talk to your DJ about what he or she does. Ask
him or her why they became a DJ. I will say it again, when a good DJ is invested
in his or her trade, he or she will be invested in you and your wedding.

Planning & Coordination

Weddings are a complicated orchestration of vendors: caterers, bakers, florists,
photographers, entertainers – the list goes on. Your time is valuable and you have other
commitments, whether work or personal. Thus, you may not have time to make numerous
phone calls, set up appointments, and drive all over town looking for the perfect site. At
Simple Elegance we have extensive knowledge of the best vendors, venues, and services
to assist you in making your wedding everything you wish it to be.
Whatever you choose, it is sure to be unforgettable! Wouldn’t it be great if it was also
stress free? With Simple Elegance it can be both.

Again, hindsight is 20/20.

I hope that this will give you a measure of insight so the day after your wedding
you do not say, “I wish we had only known.”

Every spring, people begin to congregate outdoors for all types of events. From March to
October, ceremonies, receptions and combinations of the two escape their winter cocoons and
take Mother Nature up on her dare to join the fun. However, many brides forget to take the
necessary precautions that go hand in hand with their weddings’ union with the Great Outdoors.

Precaution #1 – Plan for the Rain
When planning your outdoor affair, always operate under the assumption that it will rain
on your big day. While this may sound like a negative outlook, it will save you a lot of
stress if Mother Nature cannot contain her tears of joy. Choosing to use tents or locations
with an indoor option are popular backup plans.

Precaution #2 – Know Your Ground
Any female at an outdoor wedding is probably averse to sinking of any sort. In that spirit,
it is important to know the ground on which you walk. Many heels tend to have trouble
with sand, soft grass and cobblestone. So, take a lesson for Cinderella, and plan ahead
before you lose your shoe. The sinking soil problem also applies to tents, tables and
chairs, so be sure to keep that in the back of your mind.

Precaution #3 – Don’t Get Blown Away
While rain may bring you in, in most cases wind will allow you to stay outside. Choose
décor that can withstand great gusts. Having décor pieces that can be pinned, tied or
weighted are sensible solutions. Just remember, it’s possible to have solid and stunning
decorations.

Precaution #4 – Eliminate the Huh?
When guests arrive at your ceremony, the likely want to hear you say “I do!” Crashing
waves, gusting wind and the chirping of joyful birds may prevent your witnesses
from hearing your happy promises to one another. If you know there may be sound
obstruction, find out about obtaining a sound system of sorts. For outdoor receptions, talk
with the DJ or band about being prepared, come what may.

Precaution #5 – The Blind Side
When you invite guests to your wedding, they will likely be under the assumption that
they will be able to see you. Keeping that thought in mind, when planning your ceremony
or reception, be sure to face guests away from the rising or setting sun. It wouldn’t hurt to
take the same precautions for yourself.

Precaution #6 – Capture the Critters

Nature’s smallest inhabitants can have a big impact on your day. Flies, mosquitoes and
their insect friends can bug your guests when they are trying to pay attention to you.
Worse, they can bother you. Bug zappers and citronella candles are simple solutions to
these tiny problems.

Sometimes it is hard to keep everything straight by yourself. It’s important talk to the experts
about everything from space permits to food safety. Let them help you choose food that will keep
well in the heat, plan for garbage collection, and find ways to keep guests hydrated while dancing
the night away.

Even with all these precautions, every bride needs to note that things can still go wrong.
Therefore, the most important tool you can bring with you on your wedding day is patience.
Remember, it’s all about you, rain or shine, so enjoy your day!

Photographer: beyond the well | WEDDINGS
Ceremony Location: First Presbyterian Church, Normal
Florist: Forget Me Not Flowers
Reception: Doubletree Hotel, Bloomington
Bridalwear: Michelle’s Bridal
Entertainment: Premier Productions
Event Lighting: Premier Productions
PhotoBooth: Premier Productions

Photography: beyond the well | WEDDINGS
Ceremony: Evelyn Chapel
Reception: Doubletree Hotel
Flowers: Forget Me Not Flowers

Photographer: beyond the well | WEDDINGS
Ceremony: Calvary United Methodist Church

Affordable Weddings
Beyond The Dress
Beyond The Well Photography
Biaggi’s Italian Ristorante
Bruer Photography
Casey’s Garden Shop
Chad Mitchell Photography
The Chateau
Doubletree Hotel
Eastland Suites
Elite Entertainment
EMC Photography
Fabulous Affairs
First Edition Hair
The Foehr Group
Forget Me Not Flowers
Growing Grounds
Heart Strings
I Do Events
Kelly Lyle Photography
Kira Kwon Photojournalism
Let’s Party
Mark Romine Photography
Marriott Hotel & Conference Center
Medici
Michelle’s Bridal
Owen Nursery & Florist
Premier Productions
Scentsy (Independant Consultant)
Seno Formalwear
Simple Elegance
So Chic Events

Come visit us on April 18 from 11:00am-3:00pm at the Marriott in Normal, IL for The Wedding Show! Pre-registration for brides is here.

I have asked Sara to personally write her thoughts about her wedding and the course that she and Ben took with their planning, here is what she wrote:

“One of the best compliments we received on our wedding day was how much the wedding ceremony and reception fit our personalities and style. To Ben and I, that was the most important part of the entire celebration! When planning a wedding, it’s so easy to get lost in all the little things, like the minor details that turn into a big deal. Or your friends and family’s opinions/ideas filling your head. But when it was all said and done, this was OUR day and we really wanted to make sure our wedding reflected who we are as individuals and as a couple.

Ben and I both appreciate classic, clean, and simple (though, trust me, there is no such thing as a simple wedding). We appreciate culture and a little history. I’ll be honest; I just love the look of the 60s. Incorporating both our tastes into the planning of our wedding, well, I guess you could say that our wedding ended up having a “vintage” vibe to it. Our Rehearsal Dinner as well as a large part of our photo shoot was located at the Vrooman Mansion, a historical landmark and bed-and-breakfast in Bloomington-Normal. The mansion really set the tone for our vintage look and the attire just fell into place. The girls wore black Jackie O. shift dresses and small birdcage veils to match. Ben was in a cut-away tux and I in a very old-fashioned, yet somewhat modern, lace and taffeta gown. The best part was my pillbox hat and veil, which I fell in love with at the bridal salon at first glance!

Speaking of the bridal salon, I cannot say enough how fabulous my experience was at Dimitra’s Bridal in Chicago, IL. The staff I worked with there were more concerned about finding the right dress for me, rather than selling me the most expensive dress in the salon (which had been consistent with other experiences I have had–I’m buying my wedding dress, not a used car).

Our flowers were done by Casey’s in Bloomington, IL. Picking out flowers was a bit scary for me, but it was like they could read my mind. I had hand picked a dozen types that I liked, but I had no idea how these flowers would look when all together in a bouquet or flower arrangement. However, Casey’s was able to create exactly what I had pictured in my mind. I’m not easy to please, so this was rather impressive.

A good friend of mine, Alissa Strait, designed and assembled the save the dates, invitations, and wedding programs. I could not have asked for invitations that better suited our wedding theme than what she had created. Truly stunning artwork.

Our cake was done by Michalene Hundman, who is known throughout central Illinois for her wedding cakes–both delectable and elegantly decorated. We went with pumpkin cake, our absolute favorite, which also fit the season.

And who could have a wedding without the photographers! Katelyn and Mark from Mark Romine Photography were just as fabulous in person as they are talented. Thanks to them, our day was documented in the most beautiful, artistic manner and even the smallest details of our wedding day will never be forgotten.

The reception and catering was done through Bloomington Country Club. The club was gorgeous, the food delicious, and Carl (the wedding coordinator) was remarkable. He made sure that everything went off without a hitch. I had nothing to worry about, what a relief! I could actually enjoy my own wedding.

And Ben and I did just that. It was by far, the best wedding we have ever been to! Thank you to all of the wonderful people who put in their best efforts to make sure our day was as just as amazing and memorable as it was.

Photography by: Mark Romine Photography

Dress: Cymbelin

Florals: Casey’s Garden Shop

Ceremony Location: Evelyn Chapel

Reception: Bloomington Country Club

Here are the highlights from Tracy and Mark’s gorgeous wedding at Ewing Manor in Bloomington. We took nearly all of the portraits before the ceremony in and around the manor. This place is great for outdoor ceremonies! Then we also stopped downtown after the ceremony for a few more portraits and then a few more at Cresticke. Love these guys and their pics! Tracy is awesome thrifty and crafty– a little like me! She bought her designer dress off the rack about 10 sizes too big and had an awesome seamstress make it her size– and made the bustle turn the dress into cocktail length which she wore with boots at the reception. Love the details. So take a look and also take a look at these fine BNWeddings.com featured vendors who contributed to this day:

Photographer: beyond the well | WEDDINGS
Florist: Forget Me Not Flowers
Reception: Crestwicke Country Club

:: Karen, Beyond The Well™ | WEDDINGS